3 days in Tromsø

Day by day

1. Day 1: Arctic Cathedral and Fjellheisen cable car

   Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen cable car and Sherpa steps, then Northern lights tours in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Fjellheisen cable car

      Go up before sunset in winter, or late in the evening between late May and late July, for the most dramatic light.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Arctic char

      Restaurants serving Arctic cuisine along the harbour and Storgata.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Northern lights tours

      Book on your first night, so a cloudy night leaves room to try again, and choose an operator that offers a retry if you see nothing.

2. Day 2: Dog sledding and Polaria

   Dog sledding, Polaria and Polar Museum, then Midnight sun in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Dog sledding

      Wear the thermal suits and boots the operator provides; you sit still for long periods and the wind chill on the sled is intense.

   2. Late morning

      Polaria

      The Arctic experience centre's building looks like ice floes toppled against each other.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Skrei and mølje

      Seafood restaurants in the centre during the winter skrei season.

   4. Afternoon

      Polar Museum

      Combine it with a walk along the old harbour and the wooden houses around Skansen.

   5. Evening

      Midnight sun

      Take the cable car or climb the Sherpa steps around midnight for the sun circling low over the islands.

3. Day 3: Tromsø Cathedral and Reindeer and Sami culture visits

   Tromsø Cathedral, Reindeer and Sami culture visits and Whale-watching trips, then Ølhallen in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tromsø Cathedral

      Built in 1861 in the Gothic Revival style, Tromsø's Lutheran cathedral in the city centre is one of the largest wooden churches in Norway.

   2. Late morning

      Reindeer and Sami culture visits

      Choose a camp run by Sami herders, where you hear about reindeer husbandry directly from the families involved.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: King crab

      Seafood restaurants in Tromsø, and on king-crab fishing safaris further north.

   4. Afternoon

      Whale-watching trips

      From roughly November to January, orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into fjords north of Tromsø.

   5. Evening

      Ølhallen

      Ask for a tasting paddle to try several local beers without paying Norwegian prices for full pints.

Before you go

• Northern lights tours: Popular small-group tours fill up in the peak months of December to March; book a few days ahead.
• Dog sledding: Book well ahead for December to March, when trips sell out.
• Whale-watching trips: Book early for December; the season is short and boats fill.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Sentrum keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Tromsdalen ($$) suits budget, quiet stays and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 28–41 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 0 hours in January to 24 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Tromsø
• 2 days in Tromsø
• 5 days in Tromsø

Questions travellers ask