Senja and Harstad by boat: fishing villages and midnight sun

Senja and Harstad offer two very different kinds of boating. On Senja's outer coast the mountains drop straight into the sea, and small fishing villages such as Husøy, Mefjordvær, Gryllefjord and Hamn i Senja shelter behind islets and breakwaters. From Harstad the trips run in calmer water on the Vågsfjord, past the medieval church at Trondenes and out to the islands of Grytøya and Bjarkøy. In summer you can boat under the midnight sun, but the outer coast demands respect for weather and swell.

Where can you rent a boat on Senja and in Harstad?

Private owners rent out their own boats both on Senja and in Harstad. See boats for rent on Senja and boats for rent in Harstad. Each owner states the licence and experience they require for their boat, and some owners can come along as skipper if you would rather not drive yourself. Senja and Harstad are two separate areas, so plan your trips from one base at a time.

6 boat trips on Senja and in Harstad

The distances below are rough estimates measured on the map. Always use a nautical chart or a chart app, for example Norgeskart from the Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket), and allow margins for weather and detours around skerries.

1. Hamn i Senja and the islets of Bergsfjord

From Hamn i Senja to Bøvær is approx. 3.5 nautical miles through the sheltered part of Bergsfjord. Allow 2 to 3 hours with stops. Hamn sits where a cluster of islets forms a natural harbour, with the Sukkertoppen (Sugarloaf) mountain just south of the village. The nickel mine just beyond Hamn ran until 1886, and in 1882 Hamn got one of the world's first two hydroelectric power plants. North of Hamn lies Bergsfjord with around 98 islands and islets, and at the outer end is the beach at Bøvær.

• Stop: Hamn i Senja is on Visit Senja's list of guest harbours (gjestehavn, a harbour with berths for visiting boats) and has a restaurant.
• Tip: There are many shallows between the islets. Go slowly, follow the chart and keep well clear of half-submerged rocks.

2. Senjahopen, Mefjordvær and Husøy

From Senjahopen it is only approx. 1.5 nautical miles out the Mefjord to Mefjordvær, and on around the headland and into the Øyfjord to Husøy is approx. 7 nautical miles more. The whole trip takes 3 to 4 hours with stops. Mefjordvær is a small, traditional fishing village with old houses around the harbour. Husøy sits on its own island in the Øyfjord, and some of its houses are anchored with cables to withstand the winter storms. Husøy is a lively fishing village with cod fishing in winter.

• Stop: Mefjord Brygge in Mefjordvær and Husøy Marina are both on Visit Senja's list of guest harbours. Mefjord Brygge has the restaurant Salteriet.
• Tip: Between the fjord mouths you are on the open sea. Check the wave forecast before you round the headland.

3. Gryllefjord to Hamn along the outer coast

From Gryllefjord to Hamn i Senja is approx. 6 nautical miles along a completely open coast. Allow 1 to 2 hours each way. Gryllefjord lies between the fjord and the open ocean, and the summer ferry across the Andfjord to Andenes leaves from here. Heading north you pass steep mountainsides that plunge straight into the sea, and finally Sukkertoppen and the islets around Hamn.

• Stop: Gryllefjord harbour and Hamn i Senja are both on Visit Senja's list of guest harbours.
• Tip: Only do this trip in settled, calm weather. Swell from the ocean can roll in even on a day with little wind.

4. Ersfjord and Tungeneset from Senjahopen

From Senjahopen out the Mefjord and west to the Ersfjord and Tungeneset is approx. 5.5 nautical miles. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the round trip. From the water you see the jagged Okshornan peaks, and at Tungeneset a walkway of Siberian larch leads out across the rocks. At the head of the Ersfjord lies Ersfjordstranda, a white-sand beach and one of the rest areas on the Senja National Tourist Route.

• Stop: We have not confirmed any guest pier in the Ersfjord. Plan your break in Senjahopen or Mefjordvær.
• Tip: This is a good evening trip under the midnight sun, but turn back if swell is running into the fjord mouth.

5. Harstad to Trondenes on the Vågsfjord

From the guest harbour in central Harstad to Trondenes is approx. 1.5 nautical miles north. Allow 30 minutes each way. The Trondenes peninsula was the power base of the Viking chieftain Asbjørn Selsbane, and Trondenes Church from the 1200s is the world's northernmost preserved medieval stone church. It looks out over the Vågsfjord and is built like a fortress.

• Stop: Harstad Havn runs a guest harbour in the city centre with a service building, showers, power and water. You pay in the GoMarina app. You can also walk to the church, about 4 km along coastal paths from the centre.
• Tip: The church is open daily in summer. In 2026 it was open from 23 June to 15 August, 11:00 to 14:00.

6. Harstad, Toppsundet, Grytøya and Bjarkøy

From Harstad to Toppsundet, the sound between Hinnøya and Grytøya, is approx. 4 nautical miles. Continuing along Grytøya to Nergårdshamn on Bjarkøy is approx. 12.5 nautical miles from Harstad. The whole trip takes a day. Bjarkøy was the home of Tore Hund, who killed King Olav the Holy at Stiklestad in 1030, and the Selshevneren monument stands on the island. On the north side is the Sundsvollsundet nature reserve, a bird cliff that according to Explore Harstad holds Norway's largest kittiwake colony.

• Stop: We have not confirmed any guest pier on Grytøya or Bjarkøy. Carry enough fuel to get back to Harstad.
• Tip: Keep well away from the bird cliff and do not disturb the birds.

Rules and safety on Senja and in Harstad

• Open sea: Senja's outer coast faces the open ocean, and Visit Northern Norway describes the weather there as raw and stormy. Swell and cross seas can build quickly at the fjord mouths. The Norwegian Coastal Administration's (Kystverket) wave forecast on BarentsWatch shows wave height, period and direction up to 60 hours ahead and also warns of cross seas.
• Bird reserve: In the Sundsvollsundet nature reserve on Bjarkøy, wildlife is protected against unnecessary disturbance and dogs must be kept on a lead.
• Ferry and ship traffic: The Gryllefjord–Andenes ferry runs in summer, and there is also a ferry between Botnhamn and Brensholmen. Harstad is an active port with cruise calls. Keep clear of larger vessels.
• Shallows and islets: Bergsfjord and the waters around the fishing villages have many skerries. Use a chart and go slowly.
• Boat licence: Norway requires a boat licence (båtførerbevis) for people born on or after 1 January 1980 who drive a boat over 8 metres or with an engine over 25 hp. Foreign visitors should read our Norwegian boat licence guide to see what applies to them.

Best time for a boat trip on Senja and in Harstad

Summer is the high season. According to Visit Senja, the midnight sun shines on Senja from 20 May to 24 July, with bright nights from April to September. In Harstad the midnight sun lasts from 25 May to 18 July, according to Visit Norway. In June and July you can therefore take your trip in the evening or at night. Winter is the skrei (spawning cod) season from January to April, but it is dark, cold and stormier, so in winter only go out with a local skipper. From the water you may see sea eagles, porpoises and seals.

FAQ

Can I drive a small boat from Harstad to Senja?

It is a long way across partly open water. For most visitors it is better to choose Harstad or Senja as a base and reach the other by car or ferry.

Where are the guest harbours on Senja's outer coast?

Visit Senja lists, among others, Husøy Marina, Mefjord Brygge in Mefjordvær, Skaland Marina, Hamn i Senja and Gryllefjord harbour. Check conditions with the harbour before you go.

Do I need a boat licence?

It depends on your age, the boat's length and the engine power. The owner also states their own requirements in the listing. If you are unsure, ask whether the owner can come along as skipper.

Can I fish from the boat?

Yes. Visit Senja mentions cod, pollock, halibut, haddock, redfish, wolffish and flounder. Check the current rules for recreational sea fishing before you go.

When is the midnight sun on Senja?

According to Visit Senja, from 20 May to 24 July. In Harstad the period is somewhat shorter, from 25 May to 18 July.

Heading further north or south? Read Tromsø by boat in summer or Lofoten by boat.