Best Hotels in Tromsø for the Northern Lights
Northern lights over Tromsø Brige (Picture credit Pascal Debrunner)
If you’re chasing the Northern Lights in Norway, Tromsø is usually the first name you hear — and for good reason.
The city sits right under the auroral oval, surrounded by mountains, fjords, and more cozy hotels than anywhere else above the Arctic Circle.
You don’t have to trek into the wild to see the aurora — sometimes it dances right above your balcony. That being said, if the aurora is on the weaker side, your best shot is far from the city lights. And you’ll find awesome options in the surroundings!
Here are the best Tromsø hotels for Northern Lights lovers, whether you want views, comfort, or a cabin-in-the-snow vibe.
Why stay in Tromsø for the northern lights
Northern Norway is one of favorite regions to watch the northern lights!
Tromsø is easy to reach (just a two-hour flight from Oslo), but it still feels like another world in winter.
From September to April, nights are long, skies can be clear, and the aurora often appears just outside the city.
The trick is picking a place that lets you see the lights without freezing.
Some hotels offer rooftop views or glass-ceiling igloos; others arrange wake-up calls when the aurora shows up.
Did you know?
Tromsø is nicknamed “the Paris of the North” — not for its fashion (although we love winter gear!), but because 19th-century visitors were surprised by how lively, educated, and social people were this far above the Arctic Circle. Locals still love to joke that their nightlife shines almost as bright as the Northern Lights.
Picture credit: Munir Rani
The best hotels in Tromsø for the northern lights
Best for: Waterfront views & easy aurora sightings
Right on the harbour with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the fjord.
If the lights appear and are intense enough, you’ll see them from bed. Great breakfast, warm rooms, and walking distance to most tours.
Best for: Rooftop bar + modern comfort
This is Tromsø’s design hotel — sleek, central, and with one of the best rooftop bars in town. Ask for a room facing the bridge for possible aurora reflections over the water.
Best for: Silence & starry skies
Less than an hour from Tromsø but worlds away from city lights.
Cabins right on the beach, fresh seafood dinners, and endless horizon views — perfect for Northern Lights photography. Extremely picturesque in summer too with the turquoise water.
Best for: Budget travelers who want charm
Simple, affordable (for Tromsø), and just uphill enough for clearer skies.
Staff share nightly updates on aurora forecasts, and you can walk to tour pick-ups in five minutes.
Best for: Forest setting + aurora reflections
Stay in small riverside cabins surrounded by snow and birch trees, only a couple of kilometers from the city center.
You can see the lights right above the river — magical on calm nights.
Best for: Aurora wake-up calls & wild Arctic views
Located about an hour south of Tromsø, this resort has glass-roof cabins and an “aurora alarm” system that rings your room when the lights appear.
Perfect if you’re looking for a weekend of quiet skies and sauna time.
Quick planning tips
We saw this amazing aurora in October!
Best months: October to March for darkest skies.
Best time of night: 8 pm–1 am but they can appear anytime it’s dark. Find out the best time to see the northern lights in our guide.
Stay: at least 3 nights (chances rise each night, and the weather can be moody)
Join a tour: even if your hotel has views — guides take you where the skies are clearest
Penguin Trampoline tip:
We use Heymondo on every trip to the Arctic — it’s affordable, covers cancellations, and includes winter activities like dogsledding.
Get 5–15 % off Heymondo travel insurance through our link.
Tromsø is often called the Arctic Capital, and it’s probably larger than what you would expect at this latitude. It’s also surprisingly accessible. Whether you’re watching the aurora from a glass rooftop, a cozy fjord cabin, or right outside your hotel door, few places on Earth make the Northern Lights feel this close.
Pick a base that suits your style — central if you love cafés and tours, or outside town if you crave silence and stars — and let the Arctic nights do the rest. With a little luck, Tromsø will reward you with that unforgettable green swirl in the sky.
Planning a northern lights trip in northern Norway? Check out our guides:
❄️ Alta, Norway — Ice hotels, rock carvings, and one of the best places on Earth to spot the aurora.
🌌 Northern Lights Tours in Alta, Norway — Clear skies, quiet roads, and a front-row seat to the aurora.
🦌 Alta vs. Tromsø — How to choose the perfect Norwegian Arctic getaway.
🧊 Svalbard & Jan Mayen — Polar bears, ghost towns, and next-level Arctic mystery in Norway’s far north.
⛰️ Lofoten Hiking Guide — Dramatic ridges, secret beaches, and cod-drying racks in Arctic Norway.
🏠 Best Hotels to see the Northern Lights in Europe — Watch the aurora from your bed.
✨ Northern Lights for Dummies — How to actually see the aurora (without freezing your butt off or waiting 12 nights in vain).
📅 Best Time to See the Northern Lights — Month-by-month, season-by-season, when the sky is most likely to dance.
