For a first northern lights trip, stay in central Tromsø, near an airport bus stop, and book tours that drive you to dark skies. If you want to watch from your own hotel, pick a rooftop in town, or a resort outside the city where there is less light pollution. Our top pick in town is The Dock 69°39, with rooftop igloos open until midnight.
Visit Tromsø gives the aurora season as late August to early April. Activity is often highest around 20:00–02:00. You can sometimes see it from the city centre, but darker places are better.
Our ten picks at a glance
| Hotel | Area | Airport bus stop | Aurora from the property |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dock 69°39 | Vervet, centre | Yes | Rooftop igloos and bar |
| Scandic Ishavshotel | Quay, centre | Yes | Sea-view rooms |
| Clarion Hotel The Edge | Waterfront, centre | Nearby | Upper-floor views |
| Radisson Blu Tromsø | Centre | Near Ishavshotel stop | 10th-floor sauna and gym |
| Home Hotel Aurora | Waterfront, centre | See hotel site | Harbour-view rooms |
| Moxy Tromsø | Near the airport | Yes, first stop | 11th-floor terrace |
| Smarthotel Tromsø | Centre | See hotel site | No; budget base |
| Tromsø Lodge & Camping | Tromsdalen | City bus | Darker site, trail behind |
| Sommarøy Arctic Hotel | Coast, about 1 hour | Shuttle | Dark coast |
| Malangen Resort | Fjord, 70 min | Shuttle | Dark fjord |
We do not quote nightly prices, because they change daily.
Central Tromsø
1. The Dock 69°39 by Scandic
The newest big hotel in town, opened in June 2025 at Skansegata 7 with 305 rooms. Its 12th-floor rooftop has three igloos open 12–00 and the Lookout Bar. The hotel says you are likely to glimpse the northern lights from up there on a clear night.
There is a heated rooftop running track and a 16+ wellness area, open 08–21:30, for a fee. Standard rooms are small at 16–18 m². The airport bus stops here, and garage parking costs NOK 500 per 24 hours.Our verdict: The best place in the city to wait for the aurora without a tour. Book a higher-floor room.
2. Scandic Ishavshotel
This hotel sits on the quay at Fredrik Langes gate 2, and nearly all rooms have a view. The airport is 5 km away, and the airport bus stops outside. Superior rooms face the sea.
It is also the pick-up point for the Sommarøy shuttle, which makes it a practical base for day trips.
Our verdict: Classic and convenient. Pay for a sea-view room, or you lose the point.
3. Clarion Hotel The Edge
A 12-floor waterfront hotel at Kaigata 6, built in 2014 with 290 rooms. Many rooms look over the sound and the mountains. Airport buses and city buses stop nearby.
It is the largest conference hotel in Tromsø, so expect groups. Visit Tromsø lists a Skybar and The Social restaurant.
Our verdict: Reliable and central. Ask for a high floor facing the water.
4. Radisson Blu Tromsø
A 269-room hotel at Sjøgata 7–11, about ten minutes from the airport. The gym and sauna are on the 10th floor, with views. Rorbua Pub has live music Wednesday to Saturday.
The nearest airport bus stop is Scandic Ishavshotel, close by.
Our verdict: A good choice if you want an evening sauna with a view between tours.
5. Home Hotel Aurora
A 121-room waterfront hotel at Sjøgata 19–21, with views of the Arctic Cathedral. Breakfast, afternoon fika 15–17 and a dinner buffet 18–20 are included every day. There is a sauna and a gym.
Rooms start with a 14 m² compact double. Deluxe rooms can have a harbour view and balcony on request. Parking costs from NOK 300 per night.
Our verdict: The best value in town once you count dinner. Check your tour pick-up time against the 18–20 dinner.
6. Smarthotel Tromsø
A budget hotel at Vestregata 6 with compact rooms and good beds. Breakfast is included when you book direct. In winter there is an activity desk in the lobby for aurora tours.
Check-in is at 15:00, and it is staffed 24 hours. Everything is paid online.
Our verdict: The cheapest sensible base if you will be out on tours every night. Don’t expect views.
Near the airport
7. Moxy Tromsø
Opened in June 2023 with 208 rooms, it is the northernmost Marriott hotel. You check in at the Sky Bar on the top floor, there is an 11th-floor terrace, and the lounge has a telescope. It is the first stop on the airport bus.
Our verdict: Fun and good for early flights. You will rely on the bus to reach the centre.
Just outside the city
8. Tromsø Lodge & Camping
Heated cabins in Tromsdalen, across the bridge from the centre, at Arthur Arntzens veg 10. The site sits away from most of the city’s lights, so you can look for the aurora on the property. A trail runs up the valley behind it, and after 30–40 minutes you reach a lavvo where you can light a fire.
Buses 20 and 24 run from Sjøgata to Båthavna, then it is a ten-minute walk. From the airport, bus 24 takes about 45 minutes.
Our verdict: The best budget choice for watching the sky yourself. Bring a head torch for the trail.
Worth the transfer
9. Sommarøy Arctic Hotel
A coastal hotel about 52 km from the airport, roughly an hour by car or taxi. A shuttle costs NOK 800 per person per trip from outside Scandic Ishavshotel, booked 48 hours ahead. The hotel warns that winter driving needs experience.
Our verdict: Darker skies and sea views. Worth it for two nights or more.
10. Malangen Resort
A fjord resort at Mestervik, about 70 minutes’ drive south of Tromsø. A winter shuttle runs from 1 December to 19 April for NOK 595 per person, leaving Tromsø at 08:00 and 12:30. A taxi costs from NOK 2,000 for one to four people.
The meeting point is behind Enter Amalie Hotel, and you must book 48 hours ahead.
Our verdict: A real escape from city lights. Plan around the shuttle times.
Bonus: Lyngen Lodge
If you have more time, Lyngen Lodge in Djupvik is about 2 hours 45 minutes from Tromsø. In aurora season, November to March, it sells three- and four-night full-board packages with shared transfers. Children must be 12 or older in winter.
How to choose
- First trip, short stay: Central hotel plus a guided tour. Tours drive to clear skies when the coast is cloudy.
- Watch from the hotel: The Dock rooftop in town, or Tromsø Lodge & Camping on a budget.
- Want dark skies: Sommarøy or Malangen for at least two nights.
- One cheap extra: Take the Fjellheisen cable car to 421 metres. It runs 09:00–00:00, and an adult return costs NOK 645.
Getting from the airport
The Airport Express costs NOK 125 one way and NOK 200 return, and takes about 20 minutes. It stops at Moxy, Polaria, Storgata, Prostneset, Scandic Ishavshotel and The Dock. You pay by card only, online or on board.
Our verdict
The Dock is our pick for most first-timers. Home Hotel Aurora is the value choice, and Malangen is the pick if you want darkness.
See our northern lights hub, our guide to the best places to visit in Norway, and our Oslo guide if you are stopping there first. Norwegian readers can use our version for Norwegians.
The Airport Express costs NOK 125 one way and stops outside The Dock and Scandic Ishavshotel.