If you ever get a chance to go to Tromsø, The Dock 69°39 by Scandic is the place to stay. This newer hotel opened in 2025, and compared to other options like Radisson Blu Hotel or Clarion Hotel The Edge, I think it’s the best hotel in the city. Tromsø is known as the “Gateway to the Arctic,” one of the best places in the world to catch the Northern Lights in winter, and just as popular in summer for the Midnight Sun, when it never really gets dark. Beyond the sky shows, it’s a genuinely walkable little city, with a lively harbor, a handful of excellent museums, and mountains that seem to rise up right behind the buildings. Between the aurora hunting, the fjord scenery, and the compact, easy to navigate downtown, it’s an easy place to fall in love with. Having a solid home base makes a big difference.

Location

The Dock 69°39 sits on the northern end of Tromsø, next to the Tromsø Bridge (Tromsøbrua) connecting Tromsøya to the mainland. That puts it slightly further out than the usual recommendations like Radisson Blu Hotel, and further from where most tours pick you up. But it’s only about a 10 minute walk from the city center, and a pleasant one at that, tracing the water with views back toward the mountains. The Polar Museum is your closest attraction, just 2 minutes south of the hotel, and from there it’s an easy walk into downtown for shops, cafes, and the cathedral. If you don’t mind the extra few minutes on foot, the trade off is a quieter stretch of waterfront and a hotel that feels like a destination in its own right rather than just a place to sleep between tours.

The Room

I have mixed feelings about the Standard Queen Bed room we stayed in. The decor looks modern and new, but the layout isn’t very practical. There’s no real closet space to hang coats, which is an odd omission for a hotel in a climate where winter coats are a must almost year round. What you get instead are a few nubs on the wall, enough for one or two outer layers, so you’ll most likely end up laying puffers, scarves, and gloves over the two chairs in the room. The closet itself is shelving rather than hanging space, fine for folded clothes but not much help for bulky gear that really needs to hang and dry out.

The rest of the room fares better. It leans into an adventure theme, with a map of the area featuring polaroid photos of local attractions, a nice touch that gives the space some personality instead of feeling like a generic chain hotel room. A small wine bar sits next to the TV with glasses, mugs, and a kettle, so you can make tea or coffee, or pour a glass of wine, without heading downstairs. The queen bed is actually two singles pushed together, typical of Norway and much of Europe, and while the mattress itself was comfortable, light sleepers should know there can be a slight seam down the middle. Overall the room felt more style forward than function forward, a bit of a missed opportunity given how practical a hotel in the Arctic really needs to be.

Facilities

There’s a gym on site, decently equipped with a solid range of equipment for a hotel this size.

The wellness area, branded Arctic Wellness, is the bigger draw. Beyond the sauna, it includes a steam room, cold plunge, and an outdoor jacuzzi with views out over the water, exactly the kind of hot-cold contrast that makes sense in a city this far north. We didn’t book it ourselves, but based on what other reviews have described, it sounds like one of the better reasons to stay in rather than head out for a spa day elsewhere. It does come at an extra fee, and access is 16+.

One thing worth noting if you’re just passing through the lobby, there’s a fireplace near the entrance which is a nice spot to sit with a coffee on a rainy day.

Service

Service at the restaurants and front desk was friendly and efficient throughout our stay, without much more to say about it. It’s pretty standard fare for a hotel at this level: staff were polite, requests were handled promptly, and nothing about check in or check out stood out as particularly memorable in either direction.

Food

The Dock 69°39 has four restaurants and bars on the property.

Ground Floor Restaurant

The large ground floor restaurant is also where breakfast is served, and the buffet here is fantastic, definitely worth booking with your room. It’s a solid mix of Norwegian and international options to fuel you up for a day of exploring, and I’d recommend adding it upfront so you’re not hunting for something to eat in the Arctic mornings, especially since options can be limited nearby before things open up in town.

Upper Dock Brasserie & Bar

On the 10th floor, the Upper Dock Brasserie & Bar gets you a great view of Tromsø, though the food itself is decent without being particularly memorable. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it, but it’s a solid option if you’re not looking to venture out after a long day in the cold.

The Igloo

The Igloo is a rooftop terrace on the 12th floor with 360° panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding landscape, and it must be reserved ahead of time. We didn’t try it, but based on the views alone it looks like a memorable spot for a special occasion, or just a quiet drink away from the crowds.

The Lookout Bar

The Lookout Bar is a rooftop terrace bar, completely open air with no covering, so it’s very much at the mercy of the weather. Opening hours are subject to conditions, which makes sense once you’ve felt the wind up there. Still, it’s a great low effort way to catch the Aurora Borealis, since you don’t have to leave the hotel or book a tour for a decent shot at seeing them.

Bottom Line

The Dock 69°39 by Scandic is part of the Scandic Friends rewards program, so you can book it with points if you’re already collecting them. Cash prices are also quite good, around $120 USD a night, which feels like a genuine bargain for a hotel this new and this well located. Between the design, the location, and the breakfast alone, it’s an easy recommendation if you’re planning a trip to Tromsø, even if I’d tell you to bring your own coat hangers.

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