FAR FROM ABOVE the Arctic Circle, off the northern coast of Norway, lies Sommarøy—a small island that captured global attention for an unusual idea: living without time.
In this remote community, daily life appears to flow not by clocks or schedules, but by nature itself. The reason is simple yet extraordinary—here, the sun does not set for more than two months.
MIDNIGHT SUN
During summer, Sommarøy experiences the Midnight Sun, a natural phenomenon in which daylight lasts 24 hours a day for about 69 consecutive days, from mid-May to late July.
In winter, the opposite occurs. The island endures nearly 70 days of polar night, when the sun never rises above the horizon.
With such extreme cycles of light and darkness, conventional timekeeping often feels irrelevant.
TIME-FREE ZONE
This unique rhythm sparked worldwide fascination in 2019, when reports emerged that Sommarøy had declared itself a “time-free zone.”
According to early accounts, residents had abandoned clocks, removed watches, and even hung them on the bridge connecting the island to the mainland as a symbol of leaving time behind. Shops, schools, and daily activities were said to operate freely, guided only by human energy and natural light.
Images and videos spread rapidly on social media. One widely shared post asked: “Would you live in a place without time?” The story resonated deeply in a fast-paced world exhausted by deadlines and alarms.
However, the truth later emerged. The “time-free” concept was not a legal or permanent change, but a tourism promotion campaign initiated by Innovation Norway, the country’s tourism board.
While the idea reflected the island’s real lifestyle flexibility, the abolition of time was symbolic rather than official.
ARCTIC WAY OF LIFE
Innovation Norway’s director later issued a public apology, acknowledging that the campaign had been misleading.
Reports revealed the project cost roughly 50,000 euros, spent on public relations agencies in Norway and abroad.
Though controversial, the campaign succeeded in drawing global attention to Sommarøy’s extraordinary Arctic way of life.
CARIBBEAN OF THE NORTH
Beyond the headlines, Sommarøy remains a place where nature truly shapes daily living. Located about 36 kilometers west of Tromsø, the island is home to just over 300 residents.
It is famous for its white sand beaches and turquoise waters—earning it the nickname “the Caribbean of the North.”
Life on the island continues normally, but with a distinctive twist. During summer, it is common to see people mowing lawns, painting houses, kayaking, or children playing football at two or three in the morning—under full daylight.
Many residents install blackout curtains to sleep, while others simply adapt their routines to when they feel tired or energized.
EARTH’S TILTED AXIS
The science behind this phenomenon is well established. Earth’s axis is tilted at approximately 23.5 degrees, causing regions above the Arctic Circle to remain within the sun’s path during summer months.
As a result, the sun never dips below the horizon. During winter, the tilt creates prolonged darkness.
Sommarøy is not alone in experiencing this phenomenon. Other Arctic regions—including Svalbard, Greenland, northern Iceland, Alaska, and Canada’s Arctic Archipelago—also witness the Midnight Sun. Yet Sommarøy stands out for how visibly it embraces this natural rhythm.
DISORIENTED SLEEP
For travelers, visiting the island is often described as surreal and liberating. Many report a sense of freedom from schedules, a deeper calm, and a renewed connection with nature.
Others admit initial disorientation and difficulty sleeping due to constant daylight, but most adjust within days.
In the end, Sommarøy is not truly an island without time—but it is a place where time loosens its grip.
Here, the sun dictates the rhythm, reminding the modern world that life does not always need to move by the clock.