One week in Northern Norway in March: Tromsø, Lofoten, and Senja?

Hi everyone,

I’m planning an 8-night trip to Norway in early March 2019, specifically around Tromsø and the surrounding area. I’d love to experience the Nordic winter, its vast landscapes, the northern lights, discover the local wildlife, and most of all, take some amazing photos in these magical settings.

But I’ve got a few questions, especially about how to split my nights and plan the route.

I’m planning to land in Tromsø and stay there for 2 or maybe 3 nights—so far, so good—but after that, I’m torn between the Lofoten Islands or Senja Island for the remaining nights.

The Lofoten Islands seem magical for a photography enthusiast like me, with their little harbors and steep mountains, but the downside is the distance from Tromsø, especially in winter. What do you think? Is it doable to make a round trip from Tromsø to Lofoten in a week, especially in winter (are the roads passable? Is the weather unpredictable? Is the drive worth it?)? Because ideally, I’d like to return the rental car to the same agency in Tromsø to avoid extra costs.

After doing some more research, I came across Senja Island, which some blogs call a "mini Norway." The big advantage is that it’s only a 2-hour drive from Tromsø, but is it as charming as the Lofoten Islands?

And if you’ve got any tips for this route, I’m all ears! 😛

I’d love to hear about your experiences or knowledge, and thanks in advance for your replies! 😉

Arnaud

Hi there,

I know the area really well—Tromsø and Senja especially—since I go there every winter. I love it and know I’ll keep going back for a long time. So, plan for about 4 solid hours to get from Tromsø to Senja, because the real magic isn’t in Finnsnes but rather in Medfjordvær or Hamn i Senja. That’s way up north.

And I can confirm it’s just an incredible place. I prefer Senja over the Lofoten because there are more fjords and fewer people. Okay, the beaches aren’t as stunning, and the mountains are steep but maybe a little less so than in the Lofoten. But it’s wilder, and you can truly be all by yourself with tons of spots for the northern lights.

Off the top of my head, for a first trip up there, I’d recommend 3 days in Tromsø (there are some cool things to do and beautiful fjords on Kvaløya) and 4 days in Senja, in the north—not the south of the island.

For the Lofoten, it’s worth spending a whole week there since it’s not exactly easy to get to. From the start of the Lofoten to the end (like in Å or Reine) is a few hours’ drive, so it’s pretty far from Tromsø. But there’s a bit more life there than in Senja.

If you want more info, don’t hesitate! :) And if you’d like some inspiration for the area, here’s something for you: http://souvenirs.vincent.voyage/norvege/

Thanks so much for your really thorough reply!

That definitely confirms what I’ve seen—3 days in Tromsø and 4 days on Senja island sounds great.

Do you have any accommodation recommendations or websites to suggest in the area?

I’d heard that not much is open in March, but can you still find what you need (groceries, restaurants, etc.)?

Even though it’s March, I’m hoping the weather won’t be too much of a hindrance.

Your photos are amazing! :)

Oh yeah, there’s not much on Senja But in the tiny towns like Mefjordvær or Gryllefjord, there’s a grocery store. Also a "supermarket" in Husøy. Since I usually stay at Hamn i Senja (amazing hotel on its peninsula, with a harbor, lighthouse, and stunning scenery), I stock up in Gryllefjord. There are a few Airbnbs in the north, but personally, I prefer hotels with a breakfast buffet (like Hamn i Senja, which also has a restaurant) because it lets me go until dinner without too much hassle. For restaurants, up north isn’t great in winter—same with cafés. Mostly, grocery stores and gas stations double as cafeterias. It’s livelier in the south around Finnsnes, a real town, but you’re pretty far from Route 862 and the fjords. And weather-wise, it’ll probably be cold, though temperatures can vary by 20°C from year to year. But if you protect your extremities, double up on socks, wear thermal leggings and Damart layers, you’ll be fine

Thanks so much for all this info. The hotel in Hamn looks amazing, I'm already excited 😉 Well wrapped up, I shouldn’t have too many issues. Are all the roads (even the smallest ones) on the island passable even in the middle of winter?

Still a bit unsure about March or February... Which month do you usually go? Sunset and sunrise are even longer in February, which is great for photos...

Anyway, after everything I’ve seen on blogs, this place looks absolutely fascinating :)

Well, I’m still there at the end of January / beginning of February. The only downside to this period is that the days are quite short. Even though the daylight increases really quickly—for example, over 10 days, I gain more than an hour of sunlight—it still makes for short days, so you’ve got to maximize your visits and hikes

The upside is that it brings the auroras out from 5 PM And the sunrises and sunsets last forever—it’s amazing, really.

If you want to maximize your chances of snow, I’d say late February rather than March. You’ll have daylight and snow, so some great hikes. The roads on Senja are doable without any issues—there are snowplows often, and the cars are really well equipped. Though, I should say there are only three roads on the whole island, so that limits your options You might find the road to Andersdalen Park closed if there’s snow, since they don’t prioritize it much in winter—it’s way more popular in summer.

True, I’m heading for a trip in February—those long sunrises and sunsets are photo paradise 😉.

Andersdalen Park must be really nice in summer, but in winter...

Thanks for all your tips; they’re super helpful for planning this trip.

Can’t wait for February now! :)

Hi Arnaud, I just got back from a 13-day trip to the island of Senja, from September 10th to 23rd. We landed in Tromsø and spent our first night at a hotel there. With our rental cars, we headed to the island of Senja, to the village of FROVÅG, where we rented a chalet by the fjord. The landscapes on Senja are stunning—you can check out the photos I’m uploading to my travel journal on the site.

The scenery in the Lofoten Islands isn’t all that different from Senja’s. FROVÅG, where we stayed, is 215 km from TROMSØ, about 3 hours and change by road.

During our stay, we were lucky enough to see the northern lights on 7 evenings, with the two most spectacular displays happening from our hotel in Tromsø on the first and last nights.

Hi Vincent,

You seem to know your way around Norway.

So I’ve got a few questions.

I’m planning a little trip at the end of January/beginning of February in northern Norway.

I’ve scheduled a week with: - 3 days in Tromsø (including a dog-sledding excursion)

And I’m torn between 3 days on Senja or 3 days on Kvaløya.

If you can help me out.

Just so you know, it obviously takes longer to get to Senja.

Thanks a lot!

Julie

For a first winter trip, I’d recommend the Lofoten Islands. To save time if your budget allows, I’d suggest taking a flight to Leknes or Svolvær via Oslo and Bodø from Paris, and renting a car once you’re there.

In our case, we’re taking the train from Cherbourg early in the morning and arriving at our destination at 9 PM. It all depends on where you’re coming from, of course.

If you want decent photos of the northern lights, you’ll need some gear (ideally: a DSLR with a good high-ISO sensor, a wide-angle lens in manual mode, and a tripod).

It's true that the Lofoten Islands really captivated me too. I wrote more about it on this blog: https://un-tour-dans-le-sac.fr/voyage/itineraire-lofoten/ I’ll admit, though, that I only know these islands in summer... The atmosphere in winter must be incredible, but I imagine quite a few hikes are impassable then...

Hi,

So, 3 days in Tromsø usually includes Kvaløya. That’s because it’s the most easily accessible spot (about an hour to Sommarøy or Tromvik, the far ends of the island). At first glance, I’d suggest 4 days in Tromsø, including 2 days of trips to Kvaløya (there are two routes, each taking a full day with breaks, depending on sunset time). But that might be a bit short for Senja, so I’d say 2 days in the Lyngen Alps instead. Alternatively, if you can fit Kvaløya into the 3 days in Tromsø, then 3 days in Senja (check out Hamn, Mefjordvær, or Gryllefjord—skip Finnsnes, no interest there).

Hello,

Great site—just spent quite a while browsing it! I’m planning to visit from June 6th to 13th. 😉

But I’m still hesitating: Lofoten for 6 days, flying into Narvik, or Senja, flying into Tromsø.

The photos of Lofoten are dreamy, but recent feedback suggests there’s heavy tourist pressure (e.g., packed parking lots full of campervans). Is the time I’m planning still relatively quiet?

So, is it better to have the best spots but be surrounded by crowds, or something a little less stunning but with more solitude? Tough call—I’d love to hear your thoughts to help me decide! 🙂

Thanks in advance, Max

Hey Jean-François,

Tough choice!

Both are great, but we really loved Senja—it’s less touristy, and we hadn’t been to the island before. That said, the Lofoten Islands ❄️ and the Vesterålen Islands 🐑 are must-dos if you’ve never been to Norway. Sure, it might be crowded, but it’s worth it once! !

For a first trip, with just one week, I’d still say Lofoten—it’s stunning with its chain of islands and mountains plunging into the sea. We’ve only been once in summer, ten years ago, and since then, we’ve only returned in winter, and we’re heading back in February. I’m not sure how bad the tourist pressure is in summer now, but I imagine the biggest challenge is still finding the nicest accommodations (rorbu and sjøhus). It’s probably urgent to book. I’d recommend 3 days around Reine and 3 days further east in a more isolated spot (why not Laukvik? But honestly, it’s beautiful everywhere). For arrival, why not fly directly to Leknes (via Bodø)?

Hi Olivier,

Okay... so long live the Lofoten! 🙂

I was thinking of 3 nights, either around Henningsvær or on the north coast (near Laukvik, which you recommend).

Then 3 nights either around Reine or on the other side near Fredvang.

Thanks for your help

Hi Nathalie,

It's true you've explored the area... I hadn't thought of that

As you said, since it's our first time... we'll go for the Lofoten and forget about the crowds.

Thanks and see you soon, I hope! 🙂

Jean-François

Hi Nathalie,

It's true you've explored the area... I hadn't thought of that

As you said, since it's our first time... we'll go for the Lofoten and forget about the crowds.

Thanks and see you soon, I hope 🙂

Jean-François

Yes, we made a travel journal on our site!

See you,

Here we go—Lofoten, here we come! 😎

Thanks so much to everyone for your help.

Max / Jean-François

Hi there, we did Tromsø, the Lofoten Islands, and a day in Senja on our way back last March during a 10-day road trip. You can find my travel stories on my blog hello le monde. I had the same questions as you when planning our itinerary, and we managed to include a bit of Senja by taking the Hurtigruten up and then crossing with the ferry from Senja to Sommarøy to get back to Tromsø. It runs year-round now. Senja was very wild, heavily snow-covered, and we didn’t see a soul. There’s little infrastructure—it’s nature in its raw form. It’s very different from the Lofoten Islands. The drive between Tromsø and the Lofoten is long, and we chose to stop for the night in Harstad, expecting bad weather. In the end, we had great weather, but we were glad to break up the trip because the road is monotonous and straight for a long stretch before reaching the Vesterålen. If you had more time than we did, I’d recommend a more scenic route, but time will be tight for you. 3-4 full days in the Lofoten are fine, but to save travel time, look into taking the Hurtigruten for an overnight crossing either way.

You can find my posts on each leg of the trip here: https://hellolemonde.fr/tromso-lofoten-en-hiver-articles/

Feel free to message me if you have any questions! :) camille

Hi there,

Thank you so much for your feedback... I’ll be happy to read your blog! 🙂