If you’re planning a trip to Norwegian Lapland, Tromsø is the place to be. In fact, many travellers only go to this region for a city trip lasting a few nights in Tromsø.
This raises the question of accommodation. And as well as choosing a hotel to stay in in Tromsø, you also need to decide which part of the city to visit. And this guide to accommodation should help you make up your mind. We’ll show you the main places to stay in Tromsø: the city centre and the surrounding area. We’ll also look at the best hotels or rental accommodation for a few days’ stay in northern Norway.
Things you need to know
Before going into detail on each area to help you decide where to stay in Tromsø, here are some key things you need to know about the city. This’ll give you a better idea of the city.
Our favorite places to stay
If you’re in a hurry, here are our top places to stay in Tromsø:
- $ This hotel ideally located in the centre of town and reasonably priced,
- $$ This accommodation, features family rooms with superb views,
- $$$ This luxury establishment, is certainly the best in the city in terms of services.
Map of different areas to stay in Tromsø
Here’s a map which includes our picks of hotels and flats. You can also use this map to pinpoint the different areas we’ll cover in this guide.
We’ve used the following colour code: green for budget hotels, blue for mid-range hotels and red for luxury hotels.
Essentials to stay in Tromsø
Areas where to stay in Troms
To find the right area for your accommodation, you need to take the time to understand how the city is divided up. In this section, we’ll look at the main geographical areas in which to stay when travelling to Tromso. We’ll also share our accommodation recommendations: hotels, aparthotels, studios and tourist rental accommodation.
Staying in the centre of Tromsø: the best option!
Staying in a hotel in the city centre is clearly the best option. The few streets in the centre are vibrant. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops. In terms of accommodation, it's clearly in this area that you'll find the overwhelming majority of tourist accommodation: hotels, but also aparthotels and rented flats. As elsewhere in Norway, accommodation prices in Tromsø can be quite high, but there are a few reasonably priced establishments.
The city centre is not very large and is easy to walk around. It takes around ten minutes to walk from the north to the south of the district (around one kilometre). The centre is centred around Storgata, the city's main shopping street.
It is also the starting point for winter activities such as dog sledding and sea excursions. The main tourist attractions are also located here. These include
- Tromsø domkirke, Tromso cathedral (not to be confused with Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic cathedral)
- Polarmuseet, a museum located on the harbour
- Polaria, the aquarium on the edge of the centre
If you're planning to stay in this area, it's worth bearing in mind the parking situation if you're travelling by hire car. Street parking can be complicated (and expensive). So it's best to opt for a hotel with a car park. However, you can still park your car in a public underground car park (there's a huge one!), especially if you plan to stay in winter.
To sum up, this is the ideal place to stay in Tromsø. You can take advantage of the vibrant city centre and stroll around on foot.
Our recommendations
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Located on Vestregata, a stone's throw from the centre's main thoroughfare, the Smarthotel is Tromso's best bet. A basic hotel with modern but small rooms. It's the most affordable accommodation if you want to stay in the centre.
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Centrally located, this is a good place for families to stay in Tromsø. This hotel has family rooms for up to 5 people. A real asset for keeping your budget down and not having to book 2 rooms. The location is ideal and the hotel has a sauna with a beautiful view!
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The Scandic Ishavshotel is located on Tromsø harbour. It's the best hotel in town. If your budget allows, consider a room with a sea view. You'll have a magnificent view of the surrounding area! Finally, as with all Scandic establishments, breakfast (buffet) is included in the nightly rate.
Tromsdalen, a district facing the city centre
The Tromsdalen district faces the island of Tromsøya, on which the town centre is located. Tromsdalen is mainly residential, with few shops. However, it is easy to get to on foot from the town centre. All you have to do is cross the Tromsøbrua bridge (which offers a superb panorama), which takes around ten minutes.
As far as accommodation is concerned, unfortunately there is very little on offer. Finding a hotel to stay in this part of Tromso can be a real challenge! There are simply no hotels in this part of town. You can find accommodation such as flats or studios, but here again, there are very few on offer.
From a tourist point of view, this is still a good place to go in Tromsø. Not necessarily for accommodation, but at the very least to discover 2 of the city's must-see places of interest:
- Ishavskatedralen, nicknamed Tromsø Arctic Cathedral, is a must-see for its stunning architecture. It is particularly magnificent at dusk.
- Take the Fjellheisen cable car to the top of Storsteinen. You can then admire the most beautiful (and famous) panorama of the island where Tromsø is located. A place to see during the day, at night or to admire the midnight sun in summer.
Even if you absolutely have to go here, you can stay in a hotel in the centre of Tromsø and walk here during your stay. There is no real point in booking accommodation here.
Stay in Tromsdalen
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This flat for rent by the night is located in the Tromsdalen district, opposite the town centre. It's conveniently located, with just a 5-minute walk from the entrance to the bridge leading to the centre. And the accommodation has a definite bonus: free parking! It can accommodate up to 3 people and has all the facilities you would expect to find in this type of tourist accommodation.
Is staying in another district in Tromso a good idea?
You often have to go outside the city centre to find reasonably priced accommodation. There are several other districts in the city of Tromsø. Unfortunately, whether you're looking for a hotel or a flat to rent, the supply is very limited. Outside the city centre, you'll often find one or two types of accommodation, rarely more. And these are often studio flats or flats rented on a tourist basis.
Places to stay on the island of Tromsøya include :
- Bjerkaker is the district at the southern end of the island. Although it is not the best spot in the region for watching the Northern Lights, Telegrafbukta beach is a well-known place to see them close to the centre.
- the Strandkanten district lies between the city centre and Bjerkaker, just south of Polaria, Tromsø's aquarium
- Breivika and Stakkevollan are located in the eastern part of the island, north of the centre. They are more remote and not really of interest to tourists.
There is very little tourist accommodation in these different parts of the town. There are mainly a few studio flats and flats for rent, but they are still very few in number.
Accommodation in another district
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Although not directly in the centre, its location is still good. This Airbnb-like rental flat is within walking distance of the city centre, just above it. If you're looking for a last-minute hotel and can't find anything at an affordable price, this accommodation could be an affordable alternative.
Choosing accommodation around Tromsø?
An alternative to a hotel in Tromsø is to stay in the area surrounding the city. In addition to the districts mentioned above, it is possible to find accommodation in the surrounding area. These are often more remote areas. However, choosing accommodation outside the city can be a good option for 2 main situations:
- a holiday focusing on hiking
- or for prolonged observation of the Northern Lights in winter.
In the latter case, it's best to stay away from the city to avoid light pollution. Staying outside the city may therefore be the best option for enjoying this spectacle without having to travel miles to leave the centre of Tromsø. For example, by staying near Ersfjordbotn on the island of Kvaløya, you can take advantage of one of the most beautiful spots for observing this natural light phenomenon.
Bear in mind, however, that there are not many places to stay here either. The area around Tromsø is mainly made up of very small villages, sometimes just hamlets. Accommodation is therefore fairly scarce and you won't find any restaurants nearby. So it's best to stay in a rented flat or studio.
Accommodation recommendations
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This typical Norwegian cottage is about a 30-minute drive from Tromsø. It is less than a kilometre from the famous Ersfjordbotn fjord, the most famous place to see the Northern Lights near the town. This spacious accommodation can accommodate a whole family, with a capacity of 10 people. For accommodation of this type, the price is still very reasonable.
Summary
As you can see, the choice of area in which to stay in Tromsø is fairly limited. In fact, apart from its central location, the city centre is home to the overwhelming majority of accommodation. Whether it’s Tromsø hotels or flats or studios for rent by the night. What’s more, with its relatively limited size, staying in the centre means you can enjoy the city on foot.
As for the budget, as elsewhere in Norway, prices are generally fairly high. However, it is still possible to find a hotel at a reasonable price, especially if you can book in advance. Saving around thirty euros per night in a hotel can be quite considerable if you’re staying 4 or 5 nights in Tromso. And don’t forget that the high season is winter. Particularly from November to April. During these months, remember to book your accommodation several weeks or even months before you leave.