Sommarøy walks — easy coastal paths on Tromsø's island paradise
From Tromsø: Sommarøy Midnight Sun Sea Kayaking Tour
Duration: 5 hours
What walks are available on Sommarøy near Tromsø?
Sommarøy has easy coastal paths connecting the main island to smaller islands via bridges and causeways. The main walk circuits the fishing village and beaches in 2–4 km, with sea views throughout. No elevation, no special equipment — suitable for all fitness levels. Combined with sea kayaking, it is a full day activity from Tromsø.
| Where | Sommarøy, 35–40km west of Tromsø |
| Cost | Free walking; kayaking around 1,400–2,000 NOK/person |
| Time needed | 2–4 hours walking, 5–6 hours with kayaking |
| Getting there | Self-drive (~1h) recommended; bus infrequent |
| Best time | June–August for beaches and swimming |
Sommarøy sits about 35 km west of Tromsø at the outer edge of the Kaldfjord island chain. It is a small fishing village on a small island with white sand beaches and turquoise water — a combination that surprises most visitors who associate the Arctic with grey rock and dark water. In the summer months, it is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Tromsø.
The walks here are not demanding mountain hikes. They are gentle coastal paths connecting the main island to smaller adjacent islands, skirting the beaches, and giving views across the open sea toward the horizon. This guide covers what to actually do, realistically, on a Sommarøy visit.
Getting to Sommarøy
By car: Drive west on the E8 from Tromsø across the Sandnessund Bridge onto Kvaløya, then continue west and south until the road reaches the causeway to Sommarøy. Total distance about 35–40 km, approximately 1 hour. Parking at the village is free but limited — arrive early on busy summer weekends.
By bus: Line 24 from Tromsø serves Kvaløya and passes relatively near Sommarøy, but connections are infrequent and the schedule rarely aligns well with a comfortable day trip. A car is strongly recommended.
Guided tour: Several operators offer Sommarøy day trips and midnight sun tours from Tromsø with transport included. This is the simplest option if you don’t have a rental car.
The main walks
Village and beach circuit (2–3 km, flat, 45–60 minutes)
The most popular walk loops around the main Sommarøy island, passing through the small fishing village, along the beach, and back via the other coast. Entirely flat. No waymarking needed — the island is small enough to navigate by landmark. Views to sea on both sides; the beaches are the clear highlight.
Highlights: The sandy beaches on the south/west side, the old fishing boat moorings, and the causeway views toward the smaller islands.
Island-hopping to Hillesøya and beyond (up to 10 km return, flat)
The bridges and causeways connect Sommarøy to Hillesøya and Vengsøya. Walking across these bridges and circling the smaller islands extends your walk significantly — 8–12 km total is achievable without any elevation gain. The outer islands are quieter and less visited.
Views: Wide ocean panoramas, the outer lighthouse, and on clear days the open sea to the west with no land between you and Iceland.
Around the headlands (3–5 km, minimal elevation)
Several small paths lead around the rocky headlands of the main island, offering sea-level views of the rocks, seabirds, and water. These are informal paths rather than waymarked trails — follow the coast.
Sea kayaking at Sommarøy
Walking the island gives you one perspective; paddling around it gives another. The sea kayaking tours operating from Sommarøy’s waters put you at water level, passing seal haul-outs, sea eagle nesting cliffs, and rocky shorelines that are inaccessible on foot. This is the highest-quality activity at Sommarøy for those willing to invest 4–5 hours.
The midnight sun kayaking tour specifically runs in June–July, starting in the evening and paddling through the golden light with the sun still above the horizon.
Swimming and beaches
The beaches at Sommarøy are sandy — unusual in northern Norway, where most coastline is rock. In summer, the sheltered coves heat up enough to make them swimmable:
- June: Water is still cold (8–11°C) — for hardy swimmers only
- July–August: 12–16°C in sheltered areas; Norwegians of all ages swim freely
- September: Cools quickly
The beach on the south-western side of the main island is the most sheltered. There are no facilities at the beach itself — bring towels, sun cream, and water from Tromsø. The café/hotel combination at the village is the only food option nearby.
Wildlife around Sommarøy
White-tailed sea eagles: Regular sightings from the island and the kayak tours. Best seen over the outer islands.
Common seals: Haul-out on rocks around the island chain. Most reliably spotted on guided kayak tours that know the specific rocks.
Eider ducks: Common along the rocky shorelines.
Arctic tern: Nest on some of the outer islets — noisy and dive-bombing in June–July when nesting.
Combining Sommarøy with Ersfjordbotn or Kvaløya hikes
Sommarøy is at the outer end of Kvaløya island, making it natural to combine with a stop at Ersfjordbotn (about 20 minutes back toward Tromsø). The Ersfjordbotn beach and fjord views offer a different coastal character — a deep fjord backed by 700–900 m peaks, vs Sommarøy’s open ocean. A Sommarøy-Ersfjordbotn combined day trip is one of the best coastal Tromsø day itineraries in summer.
See our Ersfjord day trip guide for the details.
When to visit Sommarøy
Peak season (June–August): Best weather probability, beaches swimmable, café open, sea kayaking in full swing. Midnight sun active until late July. Can be busy on weekends — arrive before 10:00 for the best parking.
Shoulder (May, September): Fewer visitors, still good weather possible. May has midnight sun starting from the 20th. September has some colour in the moorland vegetation.
Winter (Oct–Apr): Sommarøy in winter is dramatically different — stormy, minimal facilities, inaccessible beaches. Interesting for northern lights photography if the sky clears, but not a walk/beach destination.
Practical information
Parking: Free at the village, limited spaces. Overflow parking along the approach road.
Café/food: Sommarøy Café and the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel restaurant are the main options. Limited menu, Norwegian prices (lunch mains 180–250 NOK). Open in summer season. Bring food from Tromsø for reliability.
Toilets: Public toilets at the main parking/harbour area.
Mobile signal: Coverage is patchy on the outer islands. Download any maps before leaving Tromsø.
Dogs: Allowed on leads on paths. Keep away from nesting bird areas on the outer islets.
The Sommarøy Arctic Hotel — what it is and whether to stay
The Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is a medium-sized hotel built around the old fishing village infrastructure. It is marketed heavily as a luxury Arctic escape, and the setting is genuinely beautiful. Honest assessment: the rooms are standard Norwegian hotel quality, the restaurant is good but not exceptional, and the prices reflect the remote location rather than exceptional service. A double room runs 1800–3500 NOK per night depending on season.
If you are visiting Sommarøy for a single day from Tromsø, staying the night at the hotel adds cost without dramatically improving the experience — you can see everything Sommarøy has to offer in 3–6 hours. An overnight stay is worthwhile if you want to catch the midnight sun over the open ocean from the hotel terrace, or if you are continuing west toward Senja the next day.
The hotel restaurant serves a short menu of Norwegian seafood and meat dishes. Lunch runs 180–280 NOK; dinner mains 250–380 NOK. The fish soup is consistently good. Book a dinner table in advance in July — it fills quickly.
Sommarøy photography
Sommarøy is one of the most photographed locations in the Tromsø region, and the images tend to be accurate rather than misleading — the turquoise water and white sand really do look the way they appear in travel photography. The challenge is getting a shot without other visitors’ cars or boats prominently in the foreground.
Best photography times:
- Early morning (07:00–09:00): Almost no visitors, light is low and directional, water reflections are clear
- Midnight sun period (late May–July): The low sun at 23:00–01:00 creates exceptional warm light over the water from the north-northwest
Camera considerations:
- A circular polarising filter significantly improves water colour on sunny days — rotate until the turquoise pops
- The white sand beaches can cause overexposure — apply -0.5 to -1 EV exposure compensation in bright conditions
- A wide-angle lens (16–24 mm on full frame) captures both the water and the sky in a single frame
The outer islands (Hillesøya, Vengsøya) are less photographed and offer foreground variety — rocks, mooring ropes, traditional fishing equipment — that the main village lacks.
Comparison with other beach destinations near Tromsø
Sommarøy is the best-known beach destination in the Tromsø region, but it has some competition:
Ersfjordbotn: 20 minutes closer to Tromsø. A deep fjord rather than open ocean. The beach is narrower and the water is slightly colder (more sheltered from the warming Gulf Stream influence). The mountains above Ersfjordbotn are more dramatic as a backdrop for photography.
Hillesøya and Vengsøya (outer Sommarøy islands): Less visited than Sommarøy main island, accessible by walking the causeways. Rawer, less developed character. Similar water colour, fewer visitors.
Kaldfjord beaches: South coast of Kvaløya. More exposed to Atlantic swell, rougher sand, excellent for seal spotting and sea eagle watching but not beach bathing.
For most visitors from Tromsø, Sommarøy is the right choice — it has the most reliably beautiful water colour, the best beach infrastructure (basic as it is), and the easiest access.
Northern lights potential from Sommarøy
Outside the midnight sun period (from late July through to May), Sommarøy’s open ocean position makes it an interesting aurora location. The island’s west-facing shores give unobstructed views to the sky in the direction the aurora often builds. Light pollution is minimal outside the small village.
The practical challenge is the 1-hour drive from Tromsø — most aurora chasers prefer to be mobile (able to follow the aurora as it develops) rather than parked in one location. Sommarøy works well as an aurora photography destination if you have local knowledge about when a clear window will open on a specific night. Our self-drive aurora guide covers the strategy.
Planning the rest of your Sommarøy day
If you’re deciding whether to drive yourself or join a tour, or want the fuller practical breakdown (petrol costs, parking, when tours run), the Sommarøy day trip guide is the companion piece to this walking-focused guide — read that one first if logistics are still undecided, then come back here for the specific paths.
Frequently asked questions about Sommarøy walks
How far is Sommarøy from Tromsø?
About 35–40 km west of central Tromsø — approximately 1 hour by car on the E8 across Kvaløya. Bus access exists but is infrequent; a car is strongly recommended.
Is Sommarøy worth visiting?
Yes, particularly in summer. The beaches and turquoise water are genuinely attractive. The village is very small; plan for scenery and outdoor activity, not for dining and shopping.
Can you swim at Sommarøy?
The beaches are sandy and the water warms to 12–16°C in July–August — the most swimmable beaches in the Tromsø region.
What sea kayaking is available?
Guided tours visit the surrounding islands and sea eagle territory. A specific midnight sun kayaking tour runs June–July. Duration 4–5 hours, cost approximately 1400–2000 NOK.
Is Sommarøy good for families?
Very good — flat walks, child-friendly beaches, safe shallow water for swimming. Sea kayaking tours have minimum age requirements.
How long do you need at Sommarøy?
2–4 hours is sufficient for the main walks and beach time. Combined with a kayaking tour, allow 5–6 hours plus driving time.
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