Review: Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, near Tromsø
Our review of the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, on an island 50 minutes from Tromsø: standard room, breakfast, sauna, hikes and northern lights, for about $300 CAD a night.
The Sommarøy Arctic Hotel offers a Nordic retreat between sea, pale beaches and mountains. It sits on the island of Sommarøy, about 50 minutes by road from Tromsø, Norway, and stands out for its spectacular setting, its sauna and its easy access to outdoor activities in every season. Here is my review after a stay in mid-September.
Sommarøy Arctic Hotel at a glance
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Rating | 10 / 10 |
| Hotel | Sommarøy Arctic Hotel Tromsø |
| Country | Norway |
| Price per night | $300 CAD, breakfast included |
| Room type | Standard (main building) |
| Hotel chain | Independent |
Highlights
- Exceptional location: the hotel sits right on the Arctic Ocean.
- Spectacular nature: northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer.
- Free parking and Wi-Fi: two useful perks on a remote island.
- Wide choice of accommodations: from standard rooms to seaside houses.
Things to consider
- A car is strongly recommended: you need one to make the most of your stay.
- Limited dining nearby: there are few places to eat around the hotel.
Booking the hotel
The Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is an independent property. That makes it a good fit for flexible travel points or the annual credits on your cards.
For this stay, we booked through American Express Travel to use the $200 CAD annual travel credit on our American Express Platinum Card, which noticeably lowered the bill. The $300 CAD per night price, breakfast included, is for a standard room. Always check that breakfast is included in the rate you choose, directly on the hotel's official website.
Hotel location
The hotel is on Sommarøy, a small island at 69°38' north latitude, well beyond the Arctic Circle. A bridge connects it to the island of Kvaløya. Plan for about 50 minutes of driving from Tromsø. I recommend the detour to see the beauty of Norway.
That remoteness is exactly what makes Sommarøy special. The landscape mixes turquoise water, pale sand beaches, rocky islets and mountains. In winter, the low light pollution helps with northern lights viewing when the weather cooperates. In summer, the midnight sun changes the whole experience.
A car is the most flexible way to reach the hotel and explore the area. Parking on site is free.
We visited Sommarøy in mid-September. At that time of year the light is unusual: the sun never climbs high and always looks about to set. You can hike during the day and watch the northern lights at night.
Arrival and common areas
On arrival, the hotel relies on its surroundings rather than showy staging. The common areas are designed to enjoy the view and extend your time outdoors. The lobby, café and lounges let you settle in and warm up between activities.
Check-in was quick, and our room was ready even though we arrived earlier than planned.
The room
The hotel offers several types of accommodation: standard or superior rooms, suites, apartments and seaside houses. Rooms have a private bathroom and a TV; some come with a sea view, a balcony or extra space.
We stayed in a standard room in the main building. It was fairly large, with quality bedding and a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower.
The decor is functional and plain. Here, a room's value comes less from its styling than from how well it frames the landscape. If your budget allows, a room with a water view is worth considering.
Breakfast and dining
Breakfast is a buffet. Whether it is included depends on the rate you book, so check at the time of reservation.
During our stay, we especially liked the quality of the food, the focus on local products and the view from the restaurant.
Facilities and activities
Sauna access is included for hotel guests. Indoor and outdoor hot tubs are also available for an extra charge. The hotel also has a lovely sandy beach and outdoor areas, but no fitness room.
Depending on the season, you can arrange activities such as kayaking, hiking, fishing, boat trips or winter excursions. The surroundings are also great for exploring on your own, whether you walk the beaches or look for a viewpoint over the archipelago.
We used our stay to go on several hikes, including the one up to the observatory, which gives a higher view of the island and the fjord.
I recommend using the AllTrails app if you plan to hike. The trails are not always well marked, and we met almost no one to ask for directions.
One more note: cell coverage in Norway is exceptional. Even on 15 km hikes, we almost never lost signal.
With its turquoise water and white sand beaches, the landscape looks a lot like the photos from our trip to French Polynesia.
Seeing the northern lights
The other big draw is, of course, the northern lights. According to Visit Tromsø, you can see them from late August to early April, weather permitting.
Paying with Amex points and credits
An independent hotel belongs to no hotel program, so credit cards are what make the difference here. The $200 CAD annual travel credit on the American Express Platinum Card® covers two thirds of a night at about $300 CAD. It applies to a hotel booking made through American Express Travel, as we did.
The Membership Rewards points also offer flexibility, since you can transfer them to several partner programs. To earn them, the American Express Cobalt® Card gives you 5 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores. To compare your options, see our ranking of the best credit cards and our guide to the unique benefits of the Platinum Card.
My verdict on the hotel
The Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is meant first for travellers who want nature at the heart of their trip. Do not pick it as a simple base for visiting Tromsø; treat it as a destination in its own right.
Its main strength is its location: the scenery immediately makes you feel far from everyday life. The sauna, the on-site dining and the activities make the getaway easy to organize, even for a short stay.
I recommend spending two nights there and, if possible, booking a room with a sea view. It is one of our favourite stops in Norway, and I would go back without hesitation.
- Annual fee
- $799
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- $1,190
- Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months
- Up to 100,000 points
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Frequently asked questions about Sommarøy Arctic Hotel
How much does a night in Sommarøy cost?
We paid about $300 CAD per night for a standard room with breakfast during a mid-September stay. The price varies with the season, the room category and the rate you choose. Breakfast is not always included, so check when you book, on the hotel's official website.
How do you get from Tromsø to Sommarøy?
Plan for about 50 minutes of driving from Tromsø. A bridge connects Sommarøy to the island of Kvaløya. We strongly recommend a car, since it lets you explore the area freely, and the hotel's parking is free.
When can you see the northern lights in Sommarøy?
Visit Tromsø says you can see them from late August to early April, when the sky is dark enough and the weather cooperates. We were there in mid-September: we hiked by day and watched the northern lights at night.
Is the sauna included at the hotel?
Yes, sauna access is included for hotel guests. Indoor and outdoor hot tubs are available for an extra charge.
How many nights should you plan?
We recommend two nights, and a sea-view room if possible. Sommarøy is a destination in its own right, not just a base for visiting Tromsø.
How can you pay less with American Express?
Book through American Express Travel with the American Express Platinum Card® to apply its $200 CAD annual travel credit. To earn Membership Rewards points, the American Express Cobalt® Card is one option.
Do you need a guide to hike in Sommarøy?
No, but an app like AllTrails helps a lot, since the trails are not always well marked. Cell coverage is excellent in Norway, even on a hike.