Villa Havblikk, Tromsø: the One Independent Hotel Worth Knowing About
A 1917 Norwegian wooden villa between the Arctic Cathedral and the cable car — and one of the very few hotels in Tromsø that isn't a chain.
Back in time at Villa Havblikk (with all the modern comforts!)
Tromsø's hotel scene is dominated almost entirely by chains. Scandic, Radisson, Clarion — if you've looked at where to stay in the city, you've scrolled through a lot of familiar names. Villa Havblikk is different. The owner, Frits, found a 1917 Norwegian wooden villa in poor condition, bought it, and rebuilt it from the ground up — with modern comforts throughout, but featuring vintage decor and furniture that give a lot of character to the place. It sits directly across the Tromsø bridge from the city center in Tromsdalen, near the Arctic Cathedral and the cable car, with fjord views and a bar that locals enjoy. We spent time here and came away with a clear opinion on who it's right for.
Jump to: Is it worth it? · Location · Rooms & suite · Bar & café · Northern lights · FAQ
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Is Villa Havblikk worth staying at in Tromsø?
Perfect spot for a morning coffee!
Absolutely — with a clear understanding of what it is. The owner took a derelict 1917 villa and rebuilt it entirely: proper insulation, modern bathrooms, all the infrastructure of a comfortable hotel, wrapped in vintage furniture and décor that gives a lot of character to the place. The result is a boutique hotel with a genuine atmosphere, breathtaking views, a bar worth spending an evening in, and a team that treats the place like they care about it. It is not a large modern hotel with a spa and conference facilities. The rooms are comfortable and have character rather than corporate logos all over the place. If you're choosing between a well-known chain and Villa Havblikk, the question is whether you want a reliable but anonymous room or a place with charm. Personally, we always prefer hotels with a soul as opposed to impersonal chains.
Location — Tromsdalen, 200 meters from the Arctic Cathedral
The mighty Arctic Cathedral
Villa Havblikk sits in Tromsdalen, on the east side of the Tromsø bridge. It’s not in the city center, but you can walk to it in 20 min or hop on the bus for a 5 min ride (the bus stop is not even 200 meters from the hotel). The Arctic Cathedral, one of the most recognizable buildings in Norway, is a two-minute walk. The Fjellheisen cable car that takes you up above the city is 700 meters away, or, outside of winter, you can walk up the Sherpatrappa (stairs) to the top. We did both the gondola in March and the stairs in May (we still needed spikes and slid down on our bums, which was a lot of fun). The top of Fløya is a fantastic northern lights and midnight sun spot.
For more activities, read our full guide to the things to see and do in Tromsø.
And speaking of which, the Tromsdalen location is actually an advantage for some of what people come to Tromsø for. The area sits away from the densest city lighting, which matters if you're watching the sky at night. Plus, the fjord views from the hotel — across the water toward the Tromsø skyline and the mountains behind it — are the kind of views you pay considerably more for elsewhere.
Penguin tip:
If your main reason for coming to Tromsø is the northern lights, Tromsdalen's position away from the brightest city glow gives you a marginal but real advantage over properties in the center. You can also see a reasonable stretch of northern sky directly from the hotel grounds, which the staff confirmed.
The rooms and the suite
The views from our room (can you spot Mac?)
The hotel occupies two buildings — the original 1917 villa to the south, where the rooms carry the most character, and a north building with additional rooms. In May 2026, they were working on renovating the single rooms. The décor across both is the owner's work: vintage furniture sourced and placed deliberately, and cozy period details. It's comfortable in the way that a well-thought-out private house is comfortable — everything works and nothing feels clinical. The rooms aren't large by chain hotel standards, but that's the trade-off for staying somewhere with an actual identity. We stayed in a superior room that had enough room for a sofa, a table and chairs, and a lovely view over the fjord from two big windows. On a cold and rainy day, we definitely appreciated the heated floor in the bathroom! There’s also a cozy balcony available to all guests for morning coffee or evening drinks, and an “office” corner (although with these views, it was hard to focus).
The suite in the 1917 building is on another level. They left it open so we could see it, and it's the kind of room that resets your expectations for what a hotel in a converted villa can actually be — generous space, views directly over the fjord from the super-cute seating area, a vintage bathtub with Arctic Cathedral views, and enough personality that you'd book the hotel specifically for it. If it's available on your dates, it's worth considering.
The bar and café
The bar and breakfast room
The bar at Villa Havblikk is one of the things that separates it from a standard hotel bar. It pulls a local crowd — not just guests, and we had a lovely chat with a lady who grew up here and told us about the time when she reached Tromsø by rowing boat, way before the bridge was built. We had a reindeer burger here that was tasty, and the breakfast buffet the following morning was impressive for a small hotel: well-stocked, properly made, and obviously with Norwegian salmon (yum!). The team mentioned the cocktails are a particular point of pride and that the bar gets busy in the evenings — a useful thing to know both if you want a lively atmosphere and if you're hoping for a quiet night.
🐧 Penguin tip: Even if you're not staying at Villa Havblikk, the bar is worth a stop if you're spending time near the Arctic Cathedral.
Northern lights from Tromsdalen
Imagine the northern lights from the top of Fløya!
Tromsø at 69°N sits inside the auroral oval, and the northern lights appear here regularly from September through early April. The city center has enough light pollution that getting away from it makes a meaningful difference — and Tromsdalen, where Villa Havblikk sits, is a better position than a central hotel for watching the sky directly without driving somewhere. The hotel grounds face the fjord with an open northern horizon, and the top of Fløya is a prime spot.
For everything on timing, forecasting, and what to actually expect from the aurora in northern Norway, our northern lights in Norway guide covers it in full.
Plan your trip to Tromsø
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FAQ: Villa Havblikk in Tromsø
Where is Villa Havblikk in Tromsø? Villa Havblikk is in Tromsdalen, on the east side of the Tromsø bridge — 200 meters from the Arctic Cathedral and 700 meters from the Fjellheisen cable car. It's a short walk or one bus stop from the city center.
Is Villa Havblikk an independent hotel? Yes — it's one of the very few independently owned hotels in Tromsø. Most accommodation in the city is operated by major Scandinavian chains. Villa Havblikk is a privately run boutique hotel in a building that has stood since 1917.
Does Villa Havblikk have a restaurant? The hotel has a bar and café rather than a formal restaurant. It serves food including a buffet breakfast and meals through the day. The bar is popular with locals and the team takes the cocktail offerings seriously.
Is Villa Havblikk good for seeing the northern lights? The Tromsdalen location is an advantage over central Tromsø for northern lights viewing — the area sits away from the densest city light and has an open sky toward the fjord. You won't be driving out of the city to find darker sky. That said, guided aurora excursions into the countryside give you the best conditions, regardless of where you're based.
What is the suite at Villa Havblikk like? The top suite is in the original 1917 building and is the most impressive room in the hotel — significantly larger than the standard rooms, with views over the Tromsø Fjord and the character of the historic villa at its most intact. Worth booking specifically if available.
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Given the limited room count — particularly in the 1917 building — booking ahead makes sense, especially during aurora season (October through March) when Tromsø fills up across all price points.
→ Book Hotel Havblikk in Tromsø
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