About Sommarøy
Around 35km from Tromsø, Sommarøy offers a quieter side to Northern Norway. White-sand beaches, clear Arctic waters and mountain views surround a small island community whose history is closely connected to fishing and the sea.
The name Sommarøy, meaning ‘Summer Island’, dates back to a time when neighbouring Hillesøya was the main settlement and Sommarøy was used for summer grazing. As fishing developed and larger boats arrived, the island grew into an established fishing community. Today, its coastal location provides wide views towards the surrounding islands, the mountains of Kvaløya and, to the south, the coastline of Senja.
Arctic coast and wildlife
The sea is central to life on Sommarøy, and exploring the coastline provides another perspective on the island. Its waters support marine wildlife and seabirds, while neighbouring islands, mountains and fishing communities create a distinctly Norwegian Arctic landscape.
This makes Sommarøy more than somewhere to spend an evening waiting for the Northern Lights. Days can be spent discovering the coast and understanding the community’s relationship with the sea before attention turns upwards after dark. Combining these daytime experiences with Northern Lights hunting gives travellers a rounded introduction to coastal Northern Norway, while Tromsø remains close enough to provide a natural second element to the journey.
Northern Lights in Sommarøy
Sommarøy’s position away from the artificial light of Tromsø gives it darker surroundings for Northern Lights viewing. Open stretches of coastline also provide broad views of the sky, with the sea, beaches and surrounding mountains forming the landscape beneath the Aurora when conditions are favourable.
The island works particularly well alongside Tromsø. You can experience the restaurants, culture and activities of Northern Norway’s largest city before travelling west to a much smaller coastal community when it is time to search the skies. Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed, but darkness, clear skies and sufficient auroral activity provide the conditions required to see them.
