Are you going to the Norwegian city of Tromsø? Lucky you! This blog gives you the most beautiful photo spots in and around Tromsø. We visited Tromsø in winter, with a nice layer of snow, but all these spots must be beautiful in other seasons too!
Have lots of photo fun!
#1 Sommarøybrua
The long bridge to the island of Sommarøy is beautiful! The bridge leads to numerous small islands and is surrounded by turquoise water. The bridge itself is heated, so you’ll never find a layer of snow or ice on it.
Sommarøybrua is especially beautiful to photograph from the air, so ideal for those travelling with a drone. 👉 Check out all the drone footage we took at this place here.
Don’t have a drone? Then you can admire the bridge from height from the mountain next to it. Just hike to this point. Note, if you do this hike in winter, you really need some good snowshoes!
#2 Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral, or Ishavskatedralen, is a unique piece of architecture and definitely not to be missed when in Tromsø. From the bridge from the city centre, you have a great view of the church. Walk a little further towards the church for a nice view of the side.
Want to take photos with a long exposure? Make sure you hang a backpack (or something else) on your tripod, as there can be quite a lot of wind here.
Good to know: you are not allowed to use your drone here, as you are less than 5 kilometres from the airport.
#3 Rørvikneset
From the car park located just before the Sommarøybrua, you have a great viewpoint.
Here you can see beautiful, snow-capped mountains, a golden beach, turquoise water and a typical red, Norwegian cottage. We can hardly make it more idyllic.
#4 Leirstrandvegen
Sometimes you just fall in love with a place. Leirstrandvegen is such a location for me. This long road offers great views of the mountains on the island of Senja. And with a bit of luck, you’ll spot otters, moose, reindeer and large birds of prey here.
The best tip we can give you is to spend the night at Buvik Sea Lodge. Then there is also a very good chance that you will spot the Northern Lights here at night, just from your balcony! Of all the accommodation we have seen around the world, this one is definitely in my top 3.
#5 Sandviksletta
Sandviksletta is a large, beautiful beach. Here too – again – you have great views of the Norwegian mountains—this time on the island of Tussøya.
Take a lovely beach walk and photograph away!
#6 Sommarøy
The island of Sommarøy itself is also very photogenic. Beautiful little beaches, lots of red, wooden houses and a lot of small islands. In Norway, you never cease to be amazed at how beautiful nature can be.
Those who fancy a long hike can take a hike up Mount Hillesoy. You will find even more beautiful, hidden beaches and bays here. Again, if you do this hike in winter, make sure you have good snow gear.
We unfortunately stayed far too short on Sommarøy because we got caught in a snow storm 😉 The FOMO is still there when I look at the drone pictures you see above….
#7 Fjellheisen
The cable car is definitely not to be missed in Tromsø. From the top, you can see Tromsø and surrounding islands. Just make sure you have enough layers of clothing on, as it’s colder here than on the ground. There is also a serious wind sometimes.
By the way, there is a restaurant where you can warm up if it gets too cold. It is also really recommended to go up in daylight and then wait until dark. It is beautiful to see the city and its surroundings in daylight, but also so special during blue hour when all the city’s lights come on. And if it’s not cloudy…, it must be wonderful to spot the Northern Lights over here!
Tip: check the Fjellheisen website in advance, sometimes the cable car closes if there’s too much wind.
#8 Tromsø harbour
What makes Tromsø so special? You’re in a city full of cosy bars, restaurants, and shops, yet right in the middle of nature. In short: a lively city with an idyllic backdrop.
The harbour is, therefore, a wonderful place to walk around, you just keep taking pictures here!
#9 The Lyngen Alps
For us, the Lyngen Alps equals complete tranquillity. There are few places on earth where we have been so ‘zen’. The silence of the mountains, the sea, … It’s hard to put into words.
We went to the Lyngen Alps via a snowmobiling tour. We were picked up from downtown Tromsø and jumped on the snow scooter an hour later. Camera in the ‘boot’ and off we went! We did this excursion on my birthday and it was the best birthday EVER. How much I enjoyed this place.
Good to know: drones are banned here.
How do you get everywhere?
Although public transport is pretty well established in and around Tromsø, we recommend renting a car. Then it’s much easier to get to all the places, and you can come and go as you please.
We stayed 5 days in the city without a car and then left for 2 days with a rental car to the neighbouring island of Kvaløya. There we stayed at the idyllic accommodation Buvik Sea Lodge.
The roads in and around Tromsø are very good, which also makes it very doable for those not used to driving in the snow.
Rent your car through Sunny Cars, and you’ll be all-in insured and get the best service if you have unexpected breakdowns. You can easily take the bus from downtown Tromsø to the airport to pick up your rental car.
Watch our Tromsø aftermovie
Want to see more footage of Tromsø? Check out the video we made of our week in this beautiful city and surrounding islands!
