Norways hidden gem: Full guide and itinerary for visiting Senja

From March to end May 2023 we got to live in a beautiful cottage on Hadseløya, an island just off the Lofoten islands - it was one of our all-time favourite places to live and work from. At the end of our stay, we took a roadtrip to Tromso (full itinerary and tips here!) and discovered that also outside of the famed Lofoten, Northern Norway boasts some of the most breathtaking landscape we've seen on our travels. One such gem I'm introducing here: Senja!

Senja is an island in Northern Norway, located just north of the Lofoten. After Hinnøya it is the second largest island in Norway. The sea currents in the region mean that Senja gets milder winters than typical for this climate. While the western shores of the island are rugged and bare, the eastern side of the island receives lots of rain and has a lush vegetation.

Getting to and around Senja

Rental car

The easiest way to get to and around Senja is with your own (rental) car, driving from the airport you'll fly into (probably Tromsø or Narvik). Going with this option will give you the opportunity to make the most of your time in Senja, and also allow you to explore at your own pace, stopping if you come across a beautiful place.

If you decide to go with this option, I can recommend Lofoten Rental Car. We rented with them for the two months we spent in the region and they made us a very good offer, given that it was the low season. They also delivered the car to Narvik Airport and we had a very smooth experience with them.

If you are flying into Tromso, Rent a Car Tromsø and Rent A Star Tromsø seem to be good options.

Public transport

The day rates for car rentals in Northern Norway - especially if you are travelling during the high season - are quite high and getting a car might not be an option for everyone. Fortunately, you can also look into taking public transportation. This option might take you longer to travel between sights and you might have to arrange your explorations around the bus schedules, but it is definitely possible.

From Tromso, there are regular (think every 2 hours) busses and boats going to Finnsnes, the administrative centre of Senja. Boats take ~1.5h, the bus journey is a bit longer at ~2.5h. From there, you can catch a bus to travel through Senja. They leave three times a day, in the morning, around lunchtime and in the evening.

You can check all schedules on Svipper.

Map Overview

Here's a quick map overview of the main sights on Senja:

Senja is all about natural beauty and outdoor activities. However even if you are not a big outdoor person, there's still plenty to do on Senja. The next section provideds an overview of the main activities and sights you should not miss when on the island.

What to do on Senja: The best Hikes

We went on quite a few hikes while on Senja, but here is an overview of my favourite ones:

Hesten Summit: When you google Senja, the views from this hike are the ones used most often. The landscape is beautiful and you get great views of the Segla summit all the way. Be careful if you are visiting in spring / autumn as the paths can still be

Segla Summit: Right next to the Hesten hike, this hike goes to the top of the Segla, which is the summit next to the Hesten. Both hikes are worth it though as you can marvel at the other summit!

Skaland to Husfjellet: If you feel Segla and/or Hesten are too challenging a hike for you, this is the hike you should pik. It's less challenging but the views are as good as on the two most famous hikes.

Sukkertoppen: Often translated as "Sugar top", this is a moderately challenging trail. It winds through lush terrain before opening up to panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and fjords. It’s an ideal choice if you are looking for a scenic climb without being overly strenuous.

Finnsnes to Vardfjellet: This hike takes you from Finnsnes, the municipal center of Senja, up Vardfjellet. The trail gradually ascends through forests, passing streams and small clearings. At Vardfjellet’s peak, you’ll have a great panorama of the sea, the surrounding islands, and the rugged skyline of northern Norway.

Hikes in Ånderdalen National Park: This is a beautiful national park on the western side of Senja that also has quite a few easier hikes. As it's not on the coast, the vibe is completely different and you'll be hiking through lush forests.

A general word of caution - if you are visiting in the off season like we did, you need to exercise caution on all of these hikes. Most of them are not easy hikes, the weather can be unpredictable and oftentimes, the paths are still covered in snow. Depending on the weather that year, you can encounter deep snow up until early June. I'd advise you either get snowshoes and/or spikes or are very careful and ready to stop a hike if it feels unsafe.

What to do on Senja: Visit beautiful fishing towns

Senja boasts several quaint fishing towns that are worth exploring. Here are my favourites:

Gryllefjord

Gryllefjord is known for its scenic harbour and its still vibrant fishing culture. It feels quite sleepy, but the houses are beautiful and you can get something to eat at this quaint little takaway place. In the summer, there is a regular ferry link to Andenes that departs here.

Bøvær

Bøvær is a small settlement overlooking white sands and turquoise waters. Its beach is marvelous! The surrounding mountains provide a striking backdrop to the beach area.

Husøy

Husøy is perched on a tiny island connected by a narrow bridge. Its cluster of colourful houses and active fishing industry offer a great glimpse into daily life in remote northern regions.

What to do on Senja: Explore the beaches

Additional to the beach at Bøvær which I mentioned above these two beaches are also beautiul:

Ersfjord Beach

Ersfjord Beach is framed by dramatic peaks and is a popular spot for photography. It can get very windy - this was the main reason we just took a quick picture and left! If you want to stay longer, bring a good coast.

Bøstranda

Bøstranda is known for its long stretch of sand and calm waters, so it is ideal for a peaceful walk - or, if you are feeling brave, a quick dip in the arctiv water. The beach is less visited compared to other parts of Senja, so you can often enjoy it with few other people around.

Sea Kayaking

Explore Senja from the water and embark on a Sea Kayaking tour, for example with Senja Wild. They organise different water activities both in winter and in summer.

What to do on Senja: Senja scenic route and lookouts

The Senja Scenic route winds around the island and is a must drive if you have your own car. It features several lookout points and scenic stops you shouldn't miss:

• Tungeneset
• Bergsbotn utsiktsplattform
• Mefjordvær

What to do on Senja: Senja in Winter

If you visit Senja in winter, you can still drive the Scenic Route mentioned above. Additionally, winter offers these great activities:

Northern Lights

If you visit Senja in winter, you should be able to see the Northern Lights. You can either book a tour or monitor the current probability in your location via an app. As settlements in Senja are far in between, you should have no issue to see a beautiful display of the aurora borealis. Maybe even drive up to one of the viewpoints I mentioned - I am sure it will be a gorgeous sight!

Dog sledging

I haven't been dog sledging myself, but it sounds dreamy! If you are lucky, you can combine this with hunting the aurora. Senja Husky Adventures offers tours.

Skiing, Sledging and Snowshoeing

There is a skiing hill close to Finnsnes that you could go to. For snowshoeing, you could rent equipment and just set out on an easy to moderate hike through the snowy hills. If you are very experienced, you can attempt to go on a ski tour.

How long to stay and itinerary for 2 - 5 days

How long do you need for Senja?

In my opinion, the perfect amount if you don't want to rush is 3 days. If you're an avid hiker and want to explore as much as you can on foot, 5 days woulf be ideal. If you don't like hiking too much or are pressed for time, 2 days will give you enough time to explore the highlights without feeling rushed.

Itinerary for 2 days on Senja

Spend day 1 driving the Senja Scenic Route and stopping in the villages along the way. Pick a hike to do on day 2 - I recommend Segla or Hesten.

Itinerary for 3 days on Senja

If you have 3 days on Senja, you can hike 1-2 hikes more. Additional to Segla/Hesten, I recommend you add Skaland and Sukkertoppen. And/or you could go on a kayaking trip to experience Senja's beauty from the water!

Itinerary for 5 days on Senja

Additional to the above, add one more hike and consider exploring the Ånderdalen National Park.

If you have 5 days and have the budget, I would really urge you to stay at Tranøya (see Hotel section). I only discovered this gem while doing some more research on Senja for this article, and it went straight to my bucket list.

Where to eat and stay in Senja?

For an overview of all my recommendations of where to eat and where to stay as well as some hidden gems, head to our Travel Map for Northern Norway.

Hotels and AirBnBs

• Polar Panorama Lodge: Clean and modern lodge with breathtaking views of the landscape around.
• Tranøya: If you are looking to get away from it all, this is the place you should go. A quaint hotel on its own tiny island, you will have to take a boat from Senja to reach here.
• This AirBnB: Is where we stayed. It was very nice, with a great view of the jetty and the ocean beyond.

Restaurants

• Senja By Heart Restaurant: Serves authentic Norwegian dishes (fresh fish is a must-try!).
• Vertshuset Gibostad: A tiny local place that we happened upon while exploring the island. Don't expect anything fancy, but it's food prepared with love.
• Draugen Kro&Bar Pizzeria: Very good pizza! And it comes with a beautiful view - what more could you want? :-)

Where to travel to after Senja?

After exploring Senja to your hearts content, if you have your own car you could continue up or down the coast of Northern Norway - here is an article to help you plan an unforgettable roadtrip through Northern Norway. Otherwise, I highly recommend spending some time in Tromso and of course on the Lofoten!

From Finnsnes, it's an 8 hour journey by bus to Svolvaer on Lofoten, or you can opt for the slow way and take the Hurtigruten or Havila (14h). The upside of this option is that you get to experience the beautiful scenery on the way to Svolvaer from the water - and it's not as expensive as you might think! Both Havila and Hurtigruten offer Port to Port journeys that don't include food or accommodation (they do allow you to take your own food): As of 2025, the price from Finnsnes (departure 4.40am) to Svolvaer (arrival 6.30pm) with Havila is 54EUR per person. Here is the Havila website and this is the Hurtigruten website.