A travel pass that takes you between fjords, islands, rocky coastlines and endless wilderness in a multi-cultural region at Europe’s northern extremity is a godsend for the advanced travellers. It allows you to venture well off the beaten track.
The far north of Norway, Norway’s top end province of Troms og Finnmark, enjoys daylight 24/7 during the summer. All this daylight makes you want to explore the fabulous landscapes. From the fjords and islands in the west across the endless wilderness plains to the remote eastern coasts there is endless variety. Culturally, the area is equally rich, with Sami, Finnish and Norwegian cultures living side by side. Some of the memorable moments are often found at the end of the road. The Summer Ticket of Troms og Finnmark helps you find them for a good price.
Travel limitless across Troms og Finnmark
Buses, both local buses and long distance, high speed catamaran boats, local boat to islands and even the passenger fare on ferries across fjords; most things called public transport are included in the Troms og Finnmark Summer Ticket. It is valid in the summer season and allows you to cover large distances and many means of transportation for a fixed, low price, NOK 990 in the summer of 2022. Children, seniors and others entitled to a discount pay NOK 495.
Express buses connect the main centres
Comfortable and fast buses run along the main arteries of Northern Norway. Bus 64 from Kirkenes takes you around the Varanger Fjord to Vardø, offering countless stop-over possibilities along this culturally rich road. Bus 150 from Tromsø to Alta takes you on two ferry crossing to and from the majestic Lyngen Alps. Bus 100 runs from Narvik to Tromsø, and is maybe the busiest of them all. Bus 60 runs from Alta to Sami Karasjok, with connections to Hammerfest and the North Cape.
Local buses lead to beautiful secrets
If you take the minibus from Kjøllefjord to Gamvik, you end up in a little village of 100 people with a fantastic little museum, an archaeological trail and the northernmost lighthouse on Europe’s mainland, complete with simple accommodation. Find your own Gamvik, on the northernmost coasts, along a blue fjord or in an inland valley.
Catamaran boats ply the western waterways
The Tromsø-Harstad catamaran runs up to four times a day and takes you from Tromsø to Harstad in less than three hours. Use it to reach historical Harstad, or jump ship in Finnsnes for the scenic island of Senja. VargsundXpressen from Alta to Hammerfest is a comfortable alternative to the bus, stopping at minuscule settlements under high mountains. Make sure to take the bus the other way, the vast plains look very different. The Tromsø-Skjervøy catamaran takes you between the towering Lyngen Alps and the majestic cliff islands around Skjervøy.
Local boats go to island communities
Anyone seeking solitude and local life should try the local boats. They run to those places where you can’t go by car. From the fishing village of Havøysund (some 1000 inhabitants) the MåsøyXpressen, a small, yet covered, safe and comfortable boat sails to notably Ingøy (13) and Rolvsøy (80). Buy your in-a-plastic-cup coffee from an vending machine, and maybe stay the night in a small guesthouse. This is as remote as it gets. Busier, and with more frequent departures, the catamaran from Harstad to the numerous islands in Bjarkøy parish. Use it to look for your own private midnight sun beach.
How do you buy the ticket?
In this day and age, you of course fix it online. Download the apps Snelandia Mobilett or Troms Billett and purchase the ticket there. Troms and Finnmark are two distinct parts of the same county, with separate apps. A summer ticket bought in Snelandia (Finnmark) is valid in Troms Billett (Troms) and vice versa, so this works seamlessly. Do not that the ticket is valid from the moment you buy it, so don’t buy it before you need to travel with it. More information on the ticket, the conditions and anything else is explained on the website of Snelandia.
How to get off the beaten track in the north
Northern Norway itself is off the beaten track. The advanced traveller, however, of course seeks out the remote little pearls in the north. Here we have listed some of them we know, but you might find others even more enchanting.
How do I plan?
For day-to-day planning, use the travel planner. For the Finnmark area (rought Alta and north/east), you use the Snelandia website. You download it as an app too. For the Troms area (Harstad/Tromsø/Nordreisa) you use the Troms Fylkestrafikk app and website. There is also an information telephone, 177, for advice. Local tourist boards are usually very well versed in boat and bus timetables and help out if the geography is a little overwhelming. Another option is the EnTur website, a national website will all public transportation in the country.
Does it get full?
In general, there is plenty of capacity on boats, buses, and ferries, and prebooking is never done. The buses Narvik-Tromsø and Tromsø-Alta can get full at times. But then a new bus is provided. The catamaran Tromsø-Finnsnes-Harstad can also be full at times, so we recommend coming early to the dock.
How do you travel in the north?
We have a few tips on how to do things and where to go by public transportation
What is not included?
The ticket covers all transportation run by the county, or province, of Troms og Finnmark. The shipping line of Hurtigruten is not run by the county and is consequently not included. All air traffic is privately run and hence not included. Car fares on ferries are equally unincluded, here there are other means of discount. Also the Flybussen, the airport express buses, are not included. However, there is usually a buss from Troms Fylkestrafikk or Snelandia nearby.
Why use public transport?
Today’s travellers think more about the footprint they leave behind. A bus somewhere in rural Troms and Finnmark is hardly ever full but receives a financial support from the county to ensure this service exists. When you take this bus, it means you take a bus that would run anyway, and your ride is thus carbon neutral. The experienced travellers also value contact with the local community as they travel. Expect to meet locals travelling to festivals, visiting relatives, heading to sport activities and cultural events. Finally, compared with renting a car, the Summer Ticket comes out more economical.
Read more about the destinations in the north
Browse through our presentation of all destinations covered by the Troms og Finnmark summer ticket.