Magical Kvaløya and Sommarøy

Sommarøy island is a charming fishing village outside Kvaløya in Northern Norway, known for its beautiful beaches and opportunities for outdoor activities. Kvaløya is the fourth-largest island in Norway, offering diverse natural landscapes and rich wildlife, making it a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts.

Driving through these islands you will be rewarded with the view of majestic mountains and crystal clear blue waters and white sand beaches. Kvaløya’s tall mountains and extreme peaks protects Tromsø from the Atlantic Ocean. A drive, or even a bike ride around the island, will take you to everything from old rock carvings to white sand beaches and tall peaks. A small, but vibrant coastal community has grown in the ocean gap, and in Sommarøy traditions are still being kept alive, where you can find fun activities throughout the year.

Water activities

Kayak along the coast or go on adventurous RiB-tours either during summer in the midnight sun or experience the northern lights during winter from the water. Sommarøy Arctic Hotel and Yggdrasiltunet Farm hotel offers activities such as kayaking, boat rides in summer and sea safaris during winter.

Relax

During summer there’s nothing better than bringing your bathing suit and relax on the white sand beaches around the islands. The beaches in Grøtfjord, Sandvika and Otervika are especially nice, to mention a few. If the weather’s a bit more chilly, there’s opportunities of renting saunas and jacuzzies (with a view) on Sommarøy, Kvaløya and Vengsøya.

Yggdrasiltunet farmhotel in Kvaløya has a variety of farm animals like Icelandic horses, sheep, goats, chickens and bunnies. Here's also a café and restaurant serving homemade, local food. The scenic area around the hotel offers many hiking opportunities, as well as saunas and hot tubs.

Relax and play with the over 300 Alaskan huskies at Villmarkssenterets Husky Café, while enjoying a cup of coffee and waffles. 

Culture

Kvaløya and Sommarøy has a rich culture life, both new and from the older days. One of the oldest lighthouses in Northern Norway, Hekkingen Fyr, can be reached from Sommarøy, only a 15 min boat ride away. Enjoy the rich birdlife and exotic Northern Norwegian nature. The battleship Tirpitz was attacked next to Håkøya in 1944, and in Skavberg you can see rock carvings from 2500-5000 years back. 

Getting there

Kvaløya is located across the bridge from Tromsø Airport, which is located on Tromsø Island. This is a large island, and the driving time ranges from 10 minutes to over a hour, depending on where you are going.

Sommarøy is approximately an hours drive from Tromsø. To get there you cross the bridge to Kvaløya and follow road 862 all the way to Sommarøy.