Aurora Borealis Observatory
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Fast facts
Check in from: | 15:00 |
|---|---|
Check out before: | 10:00 |
Breakfast | Breakfast available |
Pets | Pets not allowed |
Children | Children are welcome at this hotel |
Amenities
Wi-Fi
Parking
Air conditioning
Airport shuttle
Non-smoking
First aid kit
More about Aurora Borealis Observatory
Aurora Borealis Observatory
Aurora Borealis Observatory is situated in Senja Island, 10 minutes from the city of Finnsnes and features ski-to-door access. A hot spring bath and a ski equipment rental service are available for guests.
Reviews from 
Family traveller
Comment: 2 Mar 2026
Stayed in: Feb 2026
Great time at the ABO
We stayed at the Aurora Borealis Observatory for five nights in early February 2026, and it was absolutely incredible — 5 stars all the way.
The ABO is beautifully situated for seeing the northern lights. It sits on a hilltop facing the general direction where the aurora typically appears. I can’t say for certain, but the location almost seemed to be in a pocket where the clouds thinned out. In five nights, we saw the lights every single night.
While everyone we met at the ABO was kind and helpful, Johannes deserves special mention. We went out two evenings with him for aurora hunting, and he brought us to some fantastic viewpoints. We came away with incredible photos of aurora displays over lakes and mountains. We also did a daytime tour of Senja Island with him — he took us up into the hills, along the coast, and through small villages, all while providing great commentary on the island and its history. Johannes also pointed us toward little-known eating spots that I think only a local would know about. The food was outstanding.
As for the facilities, our room was clean, spacious, and most importantly warm. It gets cold up there, and the radiant floor heating felt wonderful after a night of outdoor photography.
One note on getting there: if you plan to rent a car, make sure you’re comfortable with winter driving. We drove from Tromsø and the route to the ABO was easy and scenic. On the return, we took the ferry to Sommarøy, which was a lovely little side trip, but then hit a 30-minute whiteout. The roads can be very narrow and the weather very unpredictable. If winter driving isn’t your thing, take the passenger ferry from Tromsø to Finnsnes — Johannes will pick you up and give you a scenic drive to the ABO.
All in all, a perfect 5.0. We’ll definitely be back.
The ABO is beautifully situated for seeing the northern lights. It sits on a hilltop facing the general direction where the aurora typically appears. I can’t say for certain, but the location almost seemed to be in a pocket where the clouds thinned out. In five nights, we saw the lights every single night.
While everyone we met at the ABO was kind and helpful, Johannes deserves special mention. We went out two evenings with him for aurora hunting, and he brought us to some fantastic viewpoints. We came away with incredible photos of aurora displays over lakes and mountains. We also did a daytime tour of Senja Island with him — he took us up into the hills, along the coast, and through small villages, all while providing great commentary on the island and its history. Johannes also pointed us toward little-known eating spots that I think only a local would know about. The food was outstanding.
As for the facilities, our room was clean, spacious, and most importantly warm. It gets cold up there, and the radiant floor heating felt wonderful after a night of outdoor photography.
One note on getting there: if you plan to rent a car, make sure you’re comfortable with winter driving. We drove from Tromsø and the route to the ABO was easy and scenic. On the return, we took the ferry to Sommarøy, which was a lovely little side trip, but then hit a 30-minute whiteout. The roads can be very narrow and the weather very unpredictable. If winter driving isn’t your thing, take the passenger ferry from Tromsø to Finnsnes — Johannes will pick you up and give you a scenic drive to the ABO.
All in all, a perfect 5.0. We’ll definitely be back.
Couple
Comment: 15 Mar 2026
Stayed in: Mar 2026
If i can turn back time, I would've stayed in an airport hotel!
Aurora Hut Disappointment in Early March I hoped for a magical aurora escape, but this "resort" felt eerily dead—especially in early March, still within aurora season. Tucked in the middle of nowhere, it made exploring or other activities nearly impossible. The vibe was straight out of an apocalypse movie—utterly lifeless. No Fjosn restaurant at evenings, despite website photos suggesting otherwise. We booked a table our first night, only to learn it wasn't operating. With no on-site options, meals meant a 15-minute drive to town restaurants or shops. Taxis ran £25–35 one-way, so £70+ just for transport per meal out. Over four nights without the restaurant? That's £280 in taxis alone, on top of food costs. Everything felt barren. Not allowed to use hot tub (contrary to marketing images), no reindeer (missing from social media promises), no lunch/dinner restaurant, no bar. Our four-night aurora hut stay was cute—I booked for that charm—but clouds ruined half the skies, and we saw only one faint aurora display even on clear nights. We also had a separate basement staff-accommodation unit for the living room, kitchenette, and toilet. The sink leaked (towels on the floor to mop up), and just two toilet rolls for four nights. Camp fire not operating even though on the website. No welcome drinks. No info on tours. Even the bed mattresses are cheap. Honestly, I'd pick an airport hotel next time. Breakfast was good and tasty to be fair. Bottom Line Pure false advertising. They brand as a resort but it's more like an air-bnb banking on aurora hype (which you can chase elsewhere, often better). I would have stayed in Tromsø center. I'm not even sure why does it qualifies to be called an observatory - it's just an air-bnb with bigger windows which is false advertising, ripping off tourist and misleading people. My only regret in coming to tromso is staying in this place - book somewhere else!
Couple
Comment: 30 Jan 2026
Stayed in: Apr 2025
Decent experience marred by owner refusing to offer refund and needing my credit card company to step in after 4 months
Two couples stayed at this resort in April of last year for a few days, and overall, it was a decent experience with a mix of highlights and SIGNIFICANT frustrations.
The Good:
Incredible Food & Service: Every meal we had was fantastic, with delicious food that exceeded our expectations. Hamad, who provided excellent service throughout our stay, deserves special mention for his warm hospitality and attentiveness, even despite spilling wine all over one of the guests.
Relaxing Facilities: The hot tub was a great way to unwind late at night in the cold and snow. The sauna was also a nice touch, though it could have been hotter for our preference. Hopefully they fixed that.
Northern Lights Experience: While the weather didn’t cooperate as hoped, we followed ABO's suggestion to go on a Northern Lights tour with Andre. It was a highlight of the trip! We saw moose, visited a WW2 bunker & traveled about an hour away from the resort, where we eventually caught the Northern Lights. We recommend you asking the hotel for Andre's contact info. It's truly an experience that's dependent on luck and weather, but it's well worth it when it happens.
Isolated and Peaceful: The resort's location, accessible by ferry from Tromso, made for a peaceful and secluded retreat. It was exactly what we needed to disconnect and enjoy the natural beauty around us. The resort will pick you up from the ferry port which was a nice offering.
THE BAD:
Theres still a lot left to be desired with this place. Its not a typical "resort" so lower expectations.
Frustrating Communication and Customer Service: Unfortunately, the resort's communication aspect of customer service was very disappointing. I had multiple issues with the booking and post check out/refund process, and the the owner, Anders, was very slow to respond to both emails and phone calls, eventually becoming completely unresponsive and uncooperative.
Incorrect Invoice at Check-Out: Upon checking out, I was provided with the wrong invoice, which led to confusion. More troubling, the resort canceled the Aurora Hut we had booked months in advance just a week before our arrival, which was disappointing. They offered another apartment as an alternative, but we chose a refund.
Refund Issues (for nights and lodging we didn't need/hotel cancelled on us): Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of our stay was the long delay in processing a refund. We had adjusted the number of nights in our booking well within the allowed window, and the owner initially agreed (in writing) to honor the refund as per the hotel's policy. However, after over four months post checkout of follow-up emails, phone calls, even involving my credit card company, I never received any response, which resulted in a massive delay to recoup money as the credit card company required a response from ABO. Eventually, after much chasing, and still never a response from ABO either via phone or e-mail or directly to my card company, I managed to recover a significant amount owed to us, but the process was incredibly time-consuming and stressful.
Final Thoughts:
While the resort has a lot of potential with its amazing isolated location, great food, and services like the hot tub and Northern Lights tour, the poor communication and lack of follow-through on financial matters were significant disappointments. If you decide to visit, I highly recommend ensuring that everything is confirmed in writing and clear in advance to avoid potential issues. I would return to the area BUT not this property under the same ownership. It needs to addresses the communication and customer service problems that, unfortunately, overshadowed what could have been an otherwise perfect stay.
The Good:
Incredible Food & Service: Every meal we had was fantastic, with delicious food that exceeded our expectations. Hamad, who provided excellent service throughout our stay, deserves special mention for his warm hospitality and attentiveness, even despite spilling wine all over one of the guests.
Relaxing Facilities: The hot tub was a great way to unwind late at night in the cold and snow. The sauna was also a nice touch, though it could have been hotter for our preference. Hopefully they fixed that.
Northern Lights Experience: While the weather didn’t cooperate as hoped, we followed ABO's suggestion to go on a Northern Lights tour with Andre. It was a highlight of the trip! We saw moose, visited a WW2 bunker & traveled about an hour away from the resort, where we eventually caught the Northern Lights. We recommend you asking the hotel for Andre's contact info. It's truly an experience that's dependent on luck and weather, but it's well worth it when it happens.
Isolated and Peaceful: The resort's location, accessible by ferry from Tromso, made for a peaceful and secluded retreat. It was exactly what we needed to disconnect and enjoy the natural beauty around us. The resort will pick you up from the ferry port which was a nice offering.
THE BAD:
Theres still a lot left to be desired with this place. Its not a typical "resort" so lower expectations.
Frustrating Communication and Customer Service: Unfortunately, the resort's communication aspect of customer service was very disappointing. I had multiple issues with the booking and post check out/refund process, and the the owner, Anders, was very slow to respond to both emails and phone calls, eventually becoming completely unresponsive and uncooperative.
Incorrect Invoice at Check-Out: Upon checking out, I was provided with the wrong invoice, which led to confusion. More troubling, the resort canceled the Aurora Hut we had booked months in advance just a week before our arrival, which was disappointing. They offered another apartment as an alternative, but we chose a refund.
Refund Issues (for nights and lodging we didn't need/hotel cancelled on us): Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of our stay was the long delay in processing a refund. We had adjusted the number of nights in our booking well within the allowed window, and the owner initially agreed (in writing) to honor the refund as per the hotel's policy. However, after over four months post checkout of follow-up emails, phone calls, even involving my credit card company, I never received any response, which resulted in a massive delay to recoup money as the credit card company required a response from ABO. Eventually, after much chasing, and still never a response from ABO either via phone or e-mail or directly to my card company, I managed to recover a significant amount owed to us, but the process was incredibly time-consuming and stressful.
Final Thoughts:
While the resort has a lot of potential with its amazing isolated location, great food, and services like the hot tub and Northern Lights tour, the poor communication and lack of follow-through on financial matters were significant disappointments. If you decide to visit, I highly recommend ensuring that everything is confirmed in writing and clear in advance to avoid potential issues. I would return to the area BUT not this property under the same ownership. It needs to addresses the communication and customer service problems that, unfortunately, overshadowed what could have been an otherwise perfect stay.
Family traveller
MA
Comment: 18 Sep 2025
Stayed in: Dec 2024
Our "luxury suite" was a dingy converted garage with only one window.
My family and I went here in December, hoping to see the spectacular auroras. While Senja Island is a great location for auroras, and we spent our nights dashing to different locations on the island to catch some spectacular views, this "luxury" observatory was awful.
We booked what I believe was billed as an apartment that had two bedrooms and a little common area. But the place was clearly a converted garage with cement floors what appeared to be temporary walls. And no real windows except, I imagine, where the garage door used to be. It was definitely not a cozy retreat, but a depressing place to spend time.
The main building and on-site restaurant look nice enough and are in what appears to be a converted barn. But the place is chronically understaffed, and the people working in the reception also work in the restaurant. Throughout our stay, we have had a mix of staff who at least tried to be helpful and others who are just rude and dismissive because they were overloaded. We had a few meals there, but the service and the food quality did not make us want to return. We were told by one employee that they were underpaid and treated badly, and that there was constant turnover.
Since we are going to be there on New Year's Eve, we booked what they advertised as a New Year's celebration that was supposed to have some sort of music or entertainment. We arrived at the scheduled time and took our table as the restaurant filled up with the other guests. Due to their understaffing, serving food was a significant challenge. Trying to serve everyone simultaneously meant that each course took an excessive amount of time, and even at the same table, the same course arrived at different temperatures and sometimes with gaps between when one of the three of us got our food and when the other two did.
The advertised entertainment never appeared, and we were given vague excuses as to why it wasn't going to happen. We asked about being reimbursed for part of the cost of the "celebratory" dinner, but that went nowhere.
Halfway through this expensive night, the auroras outside suddenly brightened, and we could tell it was going to be the best show of our stay. We looked at each other, looked at our sad meals, and decided it wasn't worth it. We ran back to our room, grabbed some Cliff Bars, jumped in the car, and drove to the north end of the island to photograph the auroras.
I would gladly go back to Senia, and there are some beautiful places to stay on the island, but this is not one of them. Do some research and pick a place that doesn't advertise as well, but it's gonna give you better value and more comfortable place to stay.
We booked what I believe was billed as an apartment that had two bedrooms and a little common area. But the place was clearly a converted garage with cement floors what appeared to be temporary walls. And no real windows except, I imagine, where the garage door used to be. It was definitely not a cozy retreat, but a depressing place to spend time.
The main building and on-site restaurant look nice enough and are in what appears to be a converted barn. But the place is chronically understaffed, and the people working in the reception also work in the restaurant. Throughout our stay, we have had a mix of staff who at least tried to be helpful and others who are just rude and dismissive because they were overloaded. We had a few meals there, but the service and the food quality did not make us want to return. We were told by one employee that they were underpaid and treated badly, and that there was constant turnover.
Since we are going to be there on New Year's Eve, we booked what they advertised as a New Year's celebration that was supposed to have some sort of music or entertainment. We arrived at the scheduled time and took our table as the restaurant filled up with the other guests. Due to their understaffing, serving food was a significant challenge. Trying to serve everyone simultaneously meant that each course took an excessive amount of time, and even at the same table, the same course arrived at different temperatures and sometimes with gaps between when one of the three of us got our food and when the other two did.
The advertised entertainment never appeared, and we were given vague excuses as to why it wasn't going to happen. We asked about being reimbursed for part of the cost of the "celebratory" dinner, but that went nowhere.
Halfway through this expensive night, the auroras outside suddenly brightened, and we could tell it was going to be the best show of our stay. We looked at each other, looked at our sad meals, and decided it wasn't worth it. We ran back to our room, grabbed some Cliff Bars, jumped in the car, and drove to the north end of the island to photograph the auroras.
I would gladly go back to Senia, and there are some beautiful places to stay on the island, but this is not one of them. Do some research and pick a place that doesn't advertise as well, but it's gonna give you better value and more comfortable place to stay.
Group traveller
Comment: 19 Mar 2025
Stayed in: Mar 2025
Not worth the price
Wonderful place, but they can not handle.
The room is very large, but rather baked (there are no bedside tables, sockets are far from the bed, no TV or radio, only one glass for water...).
The “private” jacuzzi tub is very far from the room, there is no place to leave the bathrobe (which we had to expressly ask because it was not in the room) and if there is snow, the whole platform on which it is placed, as well as the steps, are covered (and are not cleaned).
The room was not redone, nor were the bathrobes changed.
There is no phone to call reception but only a WA number, which they answer after hours.
Breakfast without infamy and without praise, very good restaurant.
The staff is not helpful in resolving problems that may occur (for example we were cancelled an excursion and asked if there were alternatives to be told to watch on the internet).
Too bad because the potential is very high, but for the asking price we really did not
The room is very large, but rather baked (there are no bedside tables, sockets are far from the bed, no TV or radio, only one glass for water...).
The “private” jacuzzi tub is very far from the room, there is no place to leave the bathrobe (which we had to expressly ask because it was not in the room) and if there is snow, the whole platform on which it is placed, as well as the steps, are covered (and are not cleaned).
The room was not redone, nor were the bathrobes changed.
There is no phone to call reception but only a WA number, which they answer after hours.
Breakfast without infamy and without praise, very good restaurant.
The staff is not helpful in resolving problems that may occur (for example we were cancelled an excursion and asked if there were alternatives to be told to watch on the internet).
Too bad because the potential is very high, but for the asking price we really did not
Location
Torsmoveien 16, Jonagård, 9303, Norway|0.36 km from city centre
Check in and check out
Check in from:
15:00
Check out before:
10:00
Good to know
Children are welcome at this hotel
Please contact the hotel for details about adding extra beds.
Please contact the hotel for details about adding a cot.
Pets not allowed
Breakfast available
Breakfast options
Continental breakfast
Breakfast price
Rs 4,439 (≈NOK 150)/person
Please inform Aurora Borealis Observatory in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.
This hotel accepts the following payment methods:
Aurora Borealis Observatory: FAQs
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