How to Get from Tromsø to Sommarøy

Sommarøy sits at the far southwestern tip of the Tromsø island region — roughly 55–60 km from the city center, about an hour’s drive on a good day. There are exactly three ways to cover that distance: rent a car, catch the one bus that goes there, or join a guided day tour. Here’s the honest breakdown of each.

Driving: the simple option

From Tromsø, cross the bridge west onto Kvaløya (“Whale Island”) and follow road 862 the whole way. The route runs down Kvaløya’s southern coast through Kattfjord and past Brensholmen before a final elegant bridge carries you onto Sommarøy itself. Allow about an hour without stops — but budget more, because this is one of the most photogenic drives in the region: fjords, sharp peaks, and in the last stretch, sudden flashes of turquoise water and white sand that look nothing like 69°N. Our Sommarøy map marks the pull-offs and beaches worth stopping for.

The road is paved and maintained year-round, but in winter it’s a proper Arctic drive: snow, ice, and long dark stretches. If you haven’t driven on winter tires before, this is not the place to learn — take a tour instead.

The bus: possible, but read the fine print

Public bus route 420 (operated under the regional Svipper network, formerly Troms fylkestrafikk) runs from Tromsø Prostneset to Sommarøy via the southern Kvaløya coast and Brensholmen. The ride takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes.

Now the catch: departures are few — on the order of three a day, and on weekdays only in practice. Worse, the outbound and return times don’t combine into a usable day trip; by the time you arrive, the last practical bus back is close behind. If you go by bus, plan to stay overnight — which is genuinely worth doing anyway (see the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel guide). Check current timetables at svipper.no before committing; rural schedules change seasonally.

Taxi: the expensive mistake

A taxi from Tromsø will get you there, but you’re paying a metered fare for an hour-long ride each way — and unless you arrange a pickup, getting back is your problem. We won’t quote a number because rates change, but expect it to cost several times a rental car day. For two or more people, a rental or a tour beats it every time.

No car? A day tour is the practical answer

This is the part where a tour site telling you to take a tour sounds convenient — but the math is real. With no car, no usable bus day-trip, and taxis priced out, a guided day tour is the one option that gets you from Tromsø to Sommarøy and back in a day, with stops at the viewpoints and beaches along the Kvaløya coast that a bus sails past. The Sommarøy fjord tour is the classic version — see all Sommarøy tours for what’s running in your dates.

Once you’re here

The island is small enough to explore on foot — start with things to do in Sommarøy, or get on the water with a guided kayak trip. And if you’re timing the trip around light, check the midnight sun window before you book.