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The aim of this article is to help you choose the accomodation that suits you best on Senja island. It won’t be too complicated, as there really isn’t much choice, given that the island has very little infrastructure. But I will show you the main hotels, their advantages and disadvantages, and the best locations. I’ll also show you the possibilities of staying in a family home. So you’ll have dedicated sections for :
- the main hotels on the island
- houses for rent
- cheap accommodation
So that there’s an option for everyone.
Where to sleep in Senja
So Senja is big. But as it’s a sparsely populated island with little infrastructure, you could say that you’re spoilt for choice, and I’d say that’s all to the good, as it will make writing this article a lot easier 😀 But above all, it will simplify your choice of where to sleep and where to stay. So Senja is big, but basically there are 3 roads for 3 areas:
- Finnsnes, in concrete terms, I think you should forget about it. The appeal of Senja lies in its landscapes and environment. Finnsnes isn’t interesting, not a beautiful town, the landscapes around it are not the best ones, there’s nothing accessible by foot. What’s more, there are very few hotels. It’s not like being in Tromso, for example.
- The northern fjords, from Gryllefjord to Fjordgard. This is Senja. A string of superb little fjords one after the other along Route 862, this is where you’ll find (almost all) the nicest places to rest and visit. Nice little villages to stay in include Gryllefjord, Hamn, Skaland, Mefjordvaer and Fjordgard.
- The Western Fjords and Anderdalen Park, a place too often neglected by tourists. Yet both the park and the fjords are really worth seeing. Accommodation, on the other hand, is far more complicated. Sifjord and Stonglandseidet further south are good places to stay. But if you’re in that area, it takes longer to get to the north of the island.
Skaland and Hamn are super-central, perhaps the easiest to get to the central road to Anderdalen, so you can get out and about. Gryllefjord and Fjordgard are more off-center, but are really atypical villages, a bit like Husoy on his island. Mefjordvaer is a good compromise, right next to Tungeneset and a very pleasant place to be.
To make it easier for you to get around and find what you’re looking for, I’ve put everything together in a most complete map of Senja. You’ll find :
- the most beautiful places
- accommodation in many places, with prices and ratings
- hiking trails
- supermarkets
- cafés and restaurants
- some activities
All with photos!
Senja’s main hotels
Well, as we’ll see, it’s really easy to find all the hotels on Senja, as there are only a few 😀 And yet the island is a tourist destination, especially in summer, when it’s popular with Norwegians who have their own family homes. So, as far as hotels are concerned, I’m going to tell you which ones are worth a visit, but I’m going to avoid those on Finnsnes for two reasons. Firstly, it’s not a good place to stay, and the few hotels that are there aren’t crazy
Hamn i Senja
Hamn i Senja is more than just a hotel. It’s a small (heavenly) complex on its own island, with classic hotel rooms but also modern cabins and apartments. I really liked it, especially the surroundings, which are exceptional.
It’s on the north coast, in a small archipelago with crystal-clear water, no one around and close to major points of interest like Gryllefjord, Bergsbotn, Tungeneset or an hour’s drive back to Finnsnes.
The rooms are comfortable. The most basic ones are decent but still affordable. Cabins and apartments are much nicer, but much more expensive.
The hotel offers (paid) activities such as snowshoe outings, whale-watching boat trips (they have their own harbor) and Northern Lights tours.
In fact, Hamn i Senja is an excellent place to see the aurora, as there’s very little light and a great view.
Last but not least, a big plus is the typical Norwegian breakfast buffet, with quality products and local salmon.
The second photo below was taken just after Hamn, which you can also see in the photo. The third is taken from the hotel at sunrise, an exceptional setting, really.
- Advantages:
- magnificent setting
- very good rooms and bungalows
- breakfast
- away from light pollution
- Disadvantages:
- apart from the very small rooms, accommodation is expensive
Aurora Borealis Observatory
The Aurora Borealis Observatory, if you hang around a bit on social networks, you’re bound to have seen some of their videos about the northern lights. It’s a place really dedicated to those who want to be taken care of from start to finish, as the hotel offers activities that are generally included in the price, such as Northern Lights tours.
I can’t give you as many details as I did for Hamn, but knowing someone who has worked there, it’s a quality accommodation with good services. Well, I’m not going to lie to you, it’s expensive. But the surroundings are nice. It’s not on the water, but on a small hill with a clear view of the northern lights. And this high price normally also includes activities in particular, so it’s to be put into perspective compared with a more conventional hotel.
- Advantages:
- Away from it all, well placed for the aurora
- Excellent breakfast
- Disadvantages:
- it’s really expensive
Mefjord Brygge
I’ve been there a couple of times and I like it.
First of all, Mefjordvaer is a pretty little village, very well situated in the fjords and rather central. Mefjord Brygge is a hotel ranging from tiny rooms to large cabins, with sauna and spa (and the sauna is pretty good). The view of the mountains is great, it’s in the village so it’s not like Hamn, but it’s pleasant and there are a few hikes within walking distance.
If you want to stay there for a while, they have very practical apartments.
What I like about this hotel is the team that looks after it: they’re very friendly and accommodating. And the services are good. We get good value for money I think, prices haven’t risen exponentially like in Hamn.
- Advantages:
- the team is very friendly
- even if prices have gone up, it’s still good value
- the environment is great
- Disadvantages:
- When the tunnel before Senjahopen is under renovation, it’s a real handicap.
Senja Fjordhotell
A brand-new hotel on Senja that has set up in a different location, in the very south-west of the island, in Stonglandseidet, where there’s absolutely no one else.
Comprising just twenty or so rooms and mostly pretty bungalows and fishermen’s cabins, it’s well located, on the water’s edge with its little harbor, a bit Hamn-like, offering quite a few activities. It’s in a different part of the island, which makes it easy to get to nice places like Skrollsvika, Rodsand or Anderdalen Park. On the other hand, we’re quite a long way from the northern fjords, around 1h30, but that’s fine as the road is superb.
- Advantages:
- a great team
- beautiful surroundings
- great bedding
- fair prices
- Disadvantages:
- it’s a bit far, not very practical for going to the north
Skagi Senja Lodge
Skagi is one of the newest hotels in Senja. I still haven’t been able to sleep there but it has a correct reputation, with classic rooms and also lodges available, which is super convenient.
Also the buffet breakfast that we love in Norway, but above all what’s great about this hotel is its location. Skaland is a good location, ultra convenient because it’s really close to everything.
Tungeneset and Bergsbotn are 10 minutes away, the pretty beaches of Bovaer are just around the corner, Mefjordvaer is 15 minutes away… in short, it’s a really good alternative, even if the hotel isn’t as popular as Hamn or Mefjordbrygge, and the price is still pretty reasonable!
One of the many beaches just outside Skaland, ideal for the aurora
Summary and other hotels
Some cheap accommodation in Senja
Fortunately, there are some more affordable accommodations. During the low season, the main hotels cut prices, so that’s fine. In high season, you’ll find a few less expensive establishments. Not necessarily hostels, but nice, well-located places, usually with shared kitchens. Let’s take a look.
Rent a vacation home in Senja
If you don’t want to stay in a hotel, cabin or lodge, there are some good alternatives. Indeed, many Norwegians have a family home on the island and rent it out as it’s only used in summer. And frankly, it’s great! They’re typical wooden front houses, sometimes kitschy because they’re so old, but well-equipped and heated. This winter, for example, I stayed in this big house in Skaland. Roughly speaking, a house costs between €100 and €150 a night for at least 4 people, so it’s not bad. Here’s a small selection from west to east: a rorbu-style 85m² chalet in Gryllefjord, this other big house in Skaland, this lovely apartment in Fjordgard, or if you’re numerous, this huuuuge in Gibostad!
Activities at Senja
So I won’t repeat what’s already been said, but the activities at Senja are pretty damn nature-oriented. It makes sense. We’re going to find:
- seeing the Northern Lights, a really perfect place for this as there are few tourists, little light pollution, great scenery and unobstructed views. Hotels (Hamn i Senja, Mefjord Brygge) offer these outings in particular, but you can easily do it yourself – there are plenty of good spots! You can find them in this article
- see whales and other marine animals – in autumn and winter, it can be possible, as they hang around here. Of course, there are no certainties – I’ve been on two outings without seeing any – but it’s more or less possible, depending on the year. And the same hotels offer boat trips to try to see them.
- In winter, it’s not easy, but as soon as there’s no more snow, there are dozens of great hikes to be had. Whether it’s Gryllefjord or Segla, the island’s most emblematic mountain, or Anderdalen Park, you’ll be sure to get your boots warmed up!
- Snowshoeing: in winter, instead of hiking, you can go snowshoeing. You can rent them from hotels, but they also organize outings for you.
- simply enjoy the scenery. You’ll really get a taste for it in Senja, so take the time to take the roads, visit the fjords, go to Anderdalen, to Sifjord.
Some practical information
How long to stay in Senja
Oh I’m not objective at all. Some people do the whole thing in 2 days, the time it takes to do the main road, 2/3 photo stops and off you go. It’s sad because you can really spend a lot of time there. 4 days would really be a minimum, a week is not bad at all.
My advice would be to visit Senja during a 2-week itinerary in Northern Norway, including Senja, Tromso and Lofoten
What’s the nearest airport?
So the closest is Bardufoss. We’re 1 hour from Finnsnes, 2 hours from the northern fjords. The easiest way is to fly to Oslo with a regular airline, then check out the flights between Oslo and Bardufoss with Wideroe, an internal flight company. Alternatively, there’s Tromso, which is further away (4h drive) but cheaper. I’d say you save almost €100 on the journey, but Bardufoss is really more practical if you’re not spending a few days in Tromso. Don’t hesitate to compare airlines with comparators and flights over several days, as prices really do vary from one day to the next. For my part, I use Kayak, which I think is a safe bet
Getting to and around Senja
Here, you have no choice but to rent a car. There are buses, but they only connect the villages a few times a day. So if you want a bit of flexibility, or want to go to places that are a bit out of the way, it’s going to be complicated in terms of transport.
I’d advise you to pick up your car at the arrival airport, otherwise you’ll be in Finnsnes, and that’s really expensive. Generally speaking, a rental car costs between €30 and €50 a day, and as with flights, compare! I use Kayak and Discover Cars, because they vary from time to time, so they’re both good values for me. In the following article, I’ll give you all the solutions for getting to Senja and getting around.
Conclusion about housing in Senja
As you can see, the majority of accommodation is located in the north of the island. You can choose between hotels and family homes.
The hotels really have the advantage of being very good quality (and great breakfasts!) and also offer activities. But they’re not cheap.
Family houses are bigger, not necessarily cheaper, but it’s a house and therefore more space and beds. And you’ll be mostly in the fjords, with an exceptional environment. So it’s hard to make a bad choice 🙂
Resources about Senja:
