I know as soon as I drive over the bridge (a one-way bridge, mind you, that curves high over the ocean below) that there’s something special about Sommarøy. Call it a vibe, maybe. Or the feeling that I was being let in on some kind of secret.
This small island about an hour outside of Tromsø in Northern Norway is indeed a bit secret. It’s somewhat popular as a summer getaway with local Norwegians, but has yet to make it onto the tourist radar for many others; they all flock to the Lofoten Islands further south.
There are barely any cars in the parking lot of the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel when I pull in, despite this being high season in Norway. When I go to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, I’m one of three people there. I order my meal…