Month guide · Tromsø · Norway
Tromsø in January
What January is really like in Tromsø: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is one of the best months to visit Tromsø. Expect average highs of -1°C (30°F), lows of -6°C (21°F), about 17 rainy days and roughly 0 hours of daylight. Polar night ends in mid-January; days are twilight-blue for a few hours, snow covers everything and aurora tours run nightly.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -1°C (30°F) / -6°C (21°F)
- Rainy days
- About 17
- Daylight
- About 0 hours
- Sea temperature
- 5°C (41°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Tromsø: days average -1°C (30°F) against a yearly average high of 6°C (43°F), and nights fall to about -6°C (21°F). Rain falls on roughly 17 of its 31 days. Compared with December (0°C (32°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 11:30
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 12:16
- Daylight
- About 0 hours
- Sea
- 5°C (41°F)
Winter (December–February). Polar night until mid-January, deep snow, peak aurora, husky and whale season, and the busiest, most expensive weeks.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 4 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in February). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in 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)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Aquarium · Sentrum
Polaria
Time your visit for a seal feeding session, which children love.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Architecture
Museum · Sentrum
Polar Museum
In an 1830s customs warehouse on the harbour at Skansen, the Polar Museum tells the story of Arctic trapping, sealing and hunting on Svalbard and of the polar expeditions that set out from Tromsø, including those of Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Tromsø region
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.
- 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
What to pack
For highs near -1°C, lows near -6°C and 17 wet days: 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.
Is January a good time to visit Tromsø?
One of the best months to visit Tromsø, with 3 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are February–March and June–July. Compare every month.
Tromsø in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Tromsø?
It is one of the best months to visit Tromsø. Polar night ends in mid-January; days are twilight-blue for a few hours, snow covers everything and aurora tours run nightly.
+How warm is Tromsø in January?
Average highs are around -1°C (30°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tromsø in January?
Expect rain on about 17 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.