Best time to visit · Tromsø · Norway
The best time to visit Tromsø
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Olivier Bruchez, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
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.
Key facts
- Best months
- January–March and June–July
- Shoulder season
- September–December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 15°C (59°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high -1°C (30°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~17 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- April–May and August–October
Seasons
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Tromsø is much milder than its latitude suggests: winters average just below freezing on the coast, with plenty of snow, and summers are cool. The polar night lasts from about late November to mid-January, and the midnight sun from about 20 May to 22 July. Weather is changeable, and coastal cloud is common.
March–May
Spring
Bright snowy days in March for sledding, skiing and aurora, then melting snow, slushy streets and the midnight sun from late May.
June–August
Summer
Midnight sun until late July, hiking, kayaking and island trips, cool temperatures and no northern lights.
September–November
Autumn
Dark nights return and aurora season starts, with autumn colour, wet weather and first snow; whales arrive in November.
December–February
Winter
Polar night until mid-January, deep snow, peak aurora, husky and whale season, and the busiest, most expensive weeks.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C | -6°C | 17 | 5°C | 0 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | -1°C | -6°C | 15 | 4°C | 7.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| March | 1°C | -5°C | 15 | 4°C | 11.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| April | 4°C | -2°C | 12 | 4°C | 15.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 8°C | 2°C | 11 | 6°C | 21.9 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 12°C | 6°C | 11 | 8°C | 24 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 15°C | 9°C | 12 | 10°C | 24 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 14°C | 9°C | 13 | 11°C | 18 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 10°C | 5°C | 15 | 9°C | 13.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 5°C | 1°C | 17 | 8°C | 8.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 2°C | -3°C | 15 | 6°C | 3.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 0°C | -5°C | 17 | 5°C | 0 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Polar Night Half Marathon (usually early January); Tromsø International Film Festival (usually mid-January); Northern Lights Festival — classical and contemporary music (usually late January) |
| February | Sami Week, with reindeer racing on Storgata (usually early February, around 6 February) |
| May | Constitution Day parades (17 May) |
| June | Midnight Sun Marathon (usually June) |
| July | Bukta — open-air music festival at Telegrafbukta (usually July) |
| October | Insomnia — electronic music festival (usually October) |
| December | Christmas concerts and markets in the centre (December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in April–May and August–October, and the sights are quietest in May.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month 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.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Tromsø?
Usually in April–May and August–October. Nights become too bright for the aurora by mid-April; ski touring in the Lyngen Alps is at its best.
+What is the rainiest month in Tromsø?
January, with about 17 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Tromsø get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 15°C (59°F) and lows of 9°C (48°F).