Free things to do · Tromsø · Norway
5 free things to do in Tromsø
Tromsø without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kjetil r assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Tromsø without paying an entry fee: Sherpa steps, Midnight sun, Prestvannet and Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden are all free. Visit in September, October, April or early summer for much lower hotel prices than December to March.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Very expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- April–May and August–October
Free sights and experiences
Nature · Tromsdalen
1.Sherpa steps
Climb up and take the cable car down to spare your knees, and do not attempt it when the steps are icy.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Experience · Tromsø region
2.Midnight sun
Take the cable car or climb the Sherpa steps around midnight for the sun circling low over the islands.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Tromsøya
3.Prestvannet
Walk the loop on a summer evening, or bring snowshoes or skis in winter.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
Garden · Breivika
4.Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden
Visit in July for the best flowering, and combine it with the university area at Breivika.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Southern Tromsøya
5.Telegrafbukta
Bring a flask of something hot and look south-west for the aurora on a clear night away from street lights.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Views
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Tromsdalen | Sherpa steps | 1–1.5 hours |
| Tromsø region | Midnight sun | An evening |
| Tromsøya | Prestvannet | 1 hour |
| Breivika | Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden | 1 hour |
| Southern Tromsøya | Telegrafbukta | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Tromsdalen
Arctic Cathedral
Walk over the Tromsø Bridge in about 20–25 minutes for the classic view of the cathedral with the mountains behind, then continue to Fjellheisen.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Museum · Sentrum
Polar Museum
Combine it with a walk along the old harbour and the wooden houses around Skansen.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Sentrum
Tromsø Cathedral
Look in during the day, then return at night when the church is lit against the snow.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
Experience · Sentrum
Ølhallen
Ask for a tasting paddle to try several local beers without paying Norwegian prices for full pints.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- History
More ways to save
- Visit in September, October, April or early summer for much lower hotel prices than December to March.
- On clear, active nights you can watch the aurora for free from dark spots such as Telegrafbukta or Prestvannet, though tours reach clearer skies.
- Climb the Sherpa steps instead of buying a return cable car ticket, in the snow-free months.
- Supermarkets sell sandwiches, fish cakes and hot meals at a fraction of restaurant prices; choose a room with a kitchen.
- Buy wine or spirits duty-free on arrival at Oslo or Tromsø airport if you plan to drink.
- Compare tours carefully; small-group tours cost more but some include free retries if you see no aurora.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Tromsø expensive to visit?
Tromsø is very expensive for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Tromsø?
Sherpa steps: Climb up and take the cable car down to spare your knees, and do not attempt it when the steps are icy.