Travel guide · Norway
Tromsø travel guide
Northern lights, polar nights, midnight sun and Arctic fjords
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The Municipality of Tromsø from Tromsø, Norway, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Tromsø sits on the island of Tromsøya about 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, ringed by snowy mountains and fjords, and is the largest city in northern Norway. From about September to early April it is one of the most popular bases in the world for chasing the northern lights, with dog sledding, reindeer visits with Sami hosts and, in early winter, whale-watching trips. In summer the midnight sun never sets for about two months. The compact centre has wooden houses, the Polar Museum and Polaria, and the white Arctic Cathedral and Fjellheisen cable car are just across the bridge. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are January–March and June–July.
Key facts
- Country
- Norway
- Best time to visit
- January–March and June–July
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- TOS
- Mid-range daily budget
- $280–$450 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Northern lights, Midnight sun, Polar night and Arctic Cathedral
Why visit Tromsø
- Tromsø lies under the auroral oval, and from about September to early April tours drive to clear skies along the fjords and towards the Finnish border.
- Dog sledding, reindeer sledding with Sami hosts and snowshoeing are all easy to book as half-day trips from the city.
- Between about late May and late July the sun does not set, allowing hikes, kayaking and fjord trips at midnight.
- The Fjellheisen cable car climbs to a viewpoint about 420 metres above the city, the bridge and the fjords.
- A lively centre of bars, restaurants and Arctic seafood makes it far more than a tour base.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Experience · Tromsø region
Northern lights tours
From about September to early April, dozens of operators run evening tours that drive away from city lights and coastal cloud, sometimes inland towards the Finnish border, to find clear skies for the aurora.
- Time needed
- 6–9 hours, evening into the night
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Nature
- Photo spot
Religious site · Tromsdalen
Arctic Cathedral
Jan Inge Hovig's white, triangular church of 1965, officially Tromsdalen Church, rises in stacked concrete and aluminium panels said to evoke ice and the shape of a Sami tent.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Viewpoint · Tromsdalen
Fjellheisen cable car
The cable car rises in about four minutes from Tromsdalen to Storsteinen, about 420 metres above sea level, for a panorama over the city, the bridge, the islands and the mountains.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Experience · Kvaløya and Tamokdalen
Dog sledding
Husky farms on Kvaløya and in the valleys inland run sledding trips through snowy valleys from about late November to April, either driving your own small team or riding as a passenger.
- Time needed
- 4–6 hours including transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
Nature · Tromsdalen
Sherpa steps
A stone staircase of more than 1,200 steps, built by Sherpas from Nepal, climbs from Tromsdalen up the mountainside to the Fjellheisen upper station at Storsteinen.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Sentrum
Polaria
The Arctic experience centre's building looks like ice floes toppled against each other.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Architecture
Where to stay
Sentrum is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and couples
Sentrum
Wooden houses, Storgata's bars and the harbour where tours depart
$$ · Best for budget, quiet stays and families
Tromsdalen
The mainland side across the bridge, with the Arctic Cathedral and cable car
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and families
Southern Tromsøya and Telegrafbukta
Residential streets running down to a small beach and coastal park
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and quiet stays
Breivika
University district on northern Tromsøya with the botanic garden
What to eat
- Arctic char — A cold-water fish related to salmon and trout, with pink flesh and a delicate flavour, served pan-fried, smoked or cured.
- Skrei and mølje — Skrei is the migrating Atlantic cod that arrives on the northern coast from about January to April.
- King crab — The giant red king crab, found in the Barents Sea and northern fjords, has sweet, meaty legs that are usually served simply boiled with bread, butter and lemon.
- Sautéed reindeer — Thin shavings of frozen reindeer meat fried with onions and mushrooms, then simmered in a cream sauce with brown cheese or juniper, served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.
- Bidos — The traditional Sami reindeer stew of meat, potatoes and carrots in broth, served at celebrations and to visitors at reindeer camps.
- Stockfish — Unsalted cod dried on wooden racks in the cold northern air, a preservation method used for more than a thousand years.
When to go
For the northern lights and snow, visit from late November to March, when nights are long and dog sledding and reindeer trips run; February and March add more daylight and often clearer skies. For the midnight sun, hiking and island trips, come from late May to late July. September and October are quieter, with aurora on clear nights but no snow activities.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Bright snowy days in March for sledding, skiing and aurora, then melting snow, slushy streets and the midnight sun from late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Midnight sun until late July, hiking, kayaking and island trips, cool temperatures and no northern lights. |
| Autumn | September–November | Dark nights return and aurora season starts, with autumn colour, wet weather and first snow; whales arrive in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Polar night until mid-January, deep snow, peak aurora, husky and whale season, and the busiest, most expensive weeks. |
Getting there and around
Tromsø Airport (TOS) is about 5 km from the centre on the west side of Tromsøya. The airport bus and local buses reach the centre in about 15 minutes, and taxis take about 10 minutes. Most international travellers connect via Oslo, though some direct seasonal flights operate from other European cities in winter.
The centre of Tromsø is compact and walkable, and nearly all tours collect guests from the centre or the harbour. Local buses connect Tromsøya, Tromsdalen and Kvaløya, and the airport is only a few kilometres from the centre.
Plan your days
Three nights gives two or three chances to see the northern lights, which depend entirely on clear skies, plus a husky or reindeer trip and the city sights. Four or five nights improves the odds and leaves time for a fjord trip, Sommarøy or the Lyngen Alps.
Practical information
- Currency
- NOK
- Language
- Norwegian and Northern Sami
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is clean and excellent to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 police, 113 ambulance, 110 fire
- Tipping
- Service is included in Norwegian prices and tipping is not expected.
Tromsø is generally low-risk for visitors. The main hazards are winter conditions: icy pavements, extreme wind chill on tours, and snowy roads with reindeer and short daylight for drivers. Avalanche risk applies on mountain slopes in winter and spring, so hike or ski off-piste only with a guide, and never stop on the road to watch the aurora.
Flights to Tromsø
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Tromsø?
Three nights gives two or three chances to see the northern lights, which depend entirely on clear skies, plus a husky or reindeer trip and the city sights. Four or five nights improves the odds and leaves time for a fjord trip, Sommarøy or the Lyngen Alps. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Tromsø?
For the northern lights and snow, visit from late November to March, when nights are long and dog sledding and reindeer trips run; February and March add more daylight and often clearer skies. For the midnight sun, hiking and island trips, come from late May to late July. September and October are quieter, with aurora on clear nights but no snow activities.
+What is Tromsø known for?
Northern lights, Midnight sun, Polar night, Arctic Cathedral, Dog sledding, Sami culture and Whale watching. Tromsø lies under the auroral oval, and from about September to early April tours drive to clear skies along the fjords and towards the Finnish border.
+Is Tromsø expensive?
Tromsø is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $280–$450 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Tromsø?
Not for the city or for northern lights, husky and whale trips, which include transport. A car helps in summer for Kvaløya, Sommarøy and the Lyngen Alps; in winter, drive only with real snow-and-ice experience.