RegionOutline guide

Senja

Second-largest island in Norway

Photo: User: (WT-shared) Tensaibuta at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Senja is the second largest island in Norway. The island is in Northern Norway, between the city of Tromsø and the town of Harstad. Visitors are drawn to the island by the Ånderdalen National Park's coastal pine forests and mountains, traditional fishing communities, and small museums documenting local history, notably the Halibut Museum ("Kveitmuseet") in Skrolsvik.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Finnsnes is easy to reach by plane (Bardufoss airport) from Oslo. Several catamarans depart for Harstad and Tromsø daily.

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Getting around

Basically, there are good bus connections from Finnsnes out to most of the western villages. However, getting between the villages on the western side are difficult by public transportation. Good planning is essential.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Bardufoss Airport

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Read before you go to Senja

Articles and travel topics about Senja and Norway.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandSince 2020 Senja is a single municipality, with its administration in Finnsnes. Formerly the island was divided into four municipalities.

Get inFinnsnes is easy to reach by plane (Bardufoss airport) from Oslo. Several catamarans depart for Harstad and Tromsø daily.

Get aroundBasically, there are good bus connections from Finnsnes out to most of the western villages. However, getting between the villages on the western side are difficult by public transportation. Good planning is essential.

SeeBasically, the reason to go to Senja is to see the rugged coastline on the Western side.

EatFresh fish is all the rage, cod in the winter, coalfish in the summer. Try out skreimølja in the wintertime, fish, roe and liver cooked together. In summer, there is seimølja, same thing, but with coalfish (saithe).

DrinkMoonshine? A few local pubs are found in the villages. Note that pubs are only open in tourist season (early Summer to Spring).

Stay safeSenja is the kind of place where one forgets to lock the door. The major threat to the visitor is the visitor himself.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Senja" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Senja", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Tensaibuta at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

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