Month guide · Tromsø · Norway
Tromsø in May
What May 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
May is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 21.9 hours of daylight. Snow melts in the city and the midnight sun begins around 20 May; a quiet, slushy shoulder month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 21.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 6°C (43°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Tromsø: days average 8°C (46°F) against a yearly average high of 6°C (43°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with April (4°C (39°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 01:39
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 23:42
- Daylight
- About 21.9 hours
- Sea
- 6°C (43°F)
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.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in February). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Constitution Day parades (17 May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Viewpoint · Tromsdalen
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.
- 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
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
Religious site · Sentrum
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.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
What to pack
For highs near 8°C, lows near 2°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Tromsø?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, January–March and June–July are better overall. Compare every month.
Tromsø in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Tromsø?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Snow melts in the city and the midnight sun begins around 20 May; a quiet, slushy shoulder month.
+How warm is Tromsø in May?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tromsø in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.