Lyngseidet, Nord-Troms – Exploring Norway
Lyngseidet is a village in in Troms County in the far north of Norway. It is the administrative center of Lyngen Municipality. Approximately 740 inhabitants live on an isthmus between the two fjords, Ullsfjorden and Lyngenfjorden. The village itself lies along the shores of Lyngenfjorden and has a ferry connection across the fjord to Olderdalen. This community, located far into the Arctic, has a smaller commercial center and other businesses that serve this remote area.
A Short History of Lyngseidet
The church in Lyngseidet dates back to 1782 and the village was a known trading post already by 1789. The surrounding area includes cultural remains from all three people that lives in the area. These are the Sámi, the Kven, and the Norwegian people. The isthmus has been used for reindeer herding for for centuries. Up until 1972 it was Swedish reindeer herders that used the area for pasture. The local Sámi people belonged to the Sea Sámi. They lived on the sea and surrounding area trying to be self-sufficient. There was also the Kven people who arrived here in the 18th and 19th century. They came from what is today northern Finland and Sweden. The earliest Norwegian settlers were mostly working within the church of the local administration.
Things to Do and See
With the fjord and mountains right next door, there are plenty to explore in Lyngseidet. You might even see reindeer in the area. Not to mention that the village lies far within the Arctic Circle. If you are lucky, you might see the midnight sun during the summer or the northern lights during the dark winter,
Lyngenfjorden
Having a fjord nearby is in most cases a guarantee that there are some spectacular views to enjoy. Lyngenfjorden is no exception. Whether you walk along the harbor, find some coastal path, or head out on a boat excursion, you will enjoy the scenery. There is also the option to take the ferry across the fjord to Olderdalen.
Lyngentrappa
Do you like hiking? Do you like walking up stairs? Then there is one good option to be found here. Lyngentrappa, or the Lyngen Stairs, is your path to the Lyngen Alps. Climbing the 1200 steps, a climb of 450 meters, will take you to an altitude of 468 meters. The effort will grant you some great views of the village and the Lyngen Alps. The stairs was built by Sherpas from Nepal and was inaugurated in 2023.
The stairs will take you to a place known as Verdens Ende – “The End of the World”. From here, you can choose to continue along a different hiking path. This path leads to Rundtinden, which is at an altitude of 897 meters.
How to Get to Lyngseidet
- Flights: The nearest airport is Tromsø Airport (TOS). The airport has both domestic and international routes and is a popular gateway to the Arctic and Norway’s far north.
- Car: Lyngseidet lies along Road 91, with Svensby to the west and the ferry to Olderdalen to the east.
The driving distance from 5 major Norwegian cities, according to Google Maps:
- Oslo – 1691 kilometers (21 h)
- Bergen – 1810 kilometers (27 h)
- Trondheim – 1116 kilometers (16 h 10 min)
- Narvik – 221 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Kirkenes – 739 kilometers (9 h 40 min)
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