Welcome to our Tromso itinerary and see how we spent our 5 days in Tromso in winter!
Tromso is situated in the Northernmost reaches of Norway, approximately 350km north of the Arctic Circle. Despite its extreme latitude, it is actually the 12th largest city in Norway, with a population of around 80,000 residents. Tromso even gained the nickname “Paris of the North” due to its rich cultural scene. You will be pleasantly surprised by the vibrant nightlife, along with a variety of concerts, art exhibitions, and festivals.
Tromso is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in winter and this reason was one of our reasons to visit Tromso. But we were amazed by its natural beauty with stunning Arctic landscapes and how much more it offers than just Northern Lights. Don’t miss our Tromso Northern Lights Guide with our best viewing spots in the city, and a review of our favorite Northern Lights tours. Also, if you want to know more about this spectacular natural display, our general Guide on how to see Aurora Borealis provides valuable information and tips on how to interpret the Northern Lights forecast.
Before we dive into our 5 day Tromso itinerary, we will begin with a brief introduction to Tromso, Norway, including information about how to get there and the best months to visit this stunning city in winter.
Note that all photography on this guide (and throughout our website) was shot by me (Alina) and if you wish to purchase any, some are available at my Etsy shop.
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How to get to Tromso Norway?
BY AIR – Tromso is well connected by air and Tromso Airport (TOS) is the main gateway, with direct flights from Oslo, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, and other European cities.
BY SEA – In case you seek to combine your Tromso itinerary with other Norwegian cities consider taking a cruise. The are 2 main cruise companies in Norway, Hurtigruten and Havila, which offer various one-way coastal itineraries that either start or end in Tromso.
BY CAR – You can drive to Tromso from other parts of Norway, as well as from Finland and Sweden. While this drive is very scenic, it can be quite challenging during winter. Make sure you have experience with snowy conditions before opting to drive.
When to Visit Tromso Norway?
Tromso can be visited throughout the year, in summer it is snow-free with comfortable temperatures, great for hiking and exploring the surrounding Fjords. However, the cold winter time is actually the high season for visiting Tromso due to the unique experiences available only in winter, such as the Northern Lights, Whale Watching, and Snowmobiling. In our opinion, Tromso is much more beautiful when it is covered in snow.
DAYLIGHT – Seeing the Northern Lights in Tromso is probably one of your main priorities, therefore, it is essential to discuss daylight hours. Due to Tromso’s northern location, the daylight hours are greatly affected by the time of the year. In the graph below, you can observe the daylight patterns throughout the months of the year in Tromso. In the summer, from May to late July, Tromso experiences the “midnight sun,” meaning it stays light all night, making it impossible to see the Northern Lights. Conversely, during the winter months from November to January, the “polar night” occurs, with continuous darkness that creates ideal conditions for viewing the auroras.
Additionally, February, March, and October offer dark nights alongside sunny days, similar to many other places in the world, making those months good alternatives for spotting the Northern Lights. We visited in early March and saw the auroras almost every night. To summarize, the best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromso is between October and March, with peak chances from November to February due to the longer periods of darkness.
CLOUD COVER – Another factor that highly affects the chances of seeing the Northern Lights is clouds. Actually, the months that we stated as the best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromso in terms of daylight, from October to March, are typically the cloudiest in Tromso, with overcast skies occurring about 80% of the time during these months.
That’s why we highly recommend taking a Northern Lights Chasing Tour in Tromso. As the name suggests, these tours chase to find the best locations for viewing the Northern Lights. Using weather forecasts, the guides strive to locate the best spots with clear skies, even venturing into remote areas such as Finland if necessary. We will review each tour we took later on this Tromso itinerary.
TEMPERATURE – Despite Tromso’s high latitude, the temperatures are milder than one might expect, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. As you can see in the chart below, the winter months have temperatures ranging between -2°C (28°F) to -6 °C (21°F) from December until February. November and March offer even milder temperatures, ranging between 2°C (35°F) to -4°C (25°F).
PRECIPITATION – In the chart below, you can see the daily chance of precipitation throughout the year in Tromso. Which are pretty constant, ranging between 32% to 49%. Of course, in the winter, between October and April, there will be mostly in the form of snow.
To summarize, any of the winter months is a great time to visit Tromso. We visited in March and according to the charts above, it has slightly lower chances of precipitation and cloud cover along with warmer temperatures when compared to other winter months.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move to our Tromso itinerary!
5 Day Tromso Itinerary in Winter
In this Tromso itinerary, we will share with you how we spent our 5 days in Tromso:
Tromso Winter Itinerary - Day 1:
On the first day of our Tromso winter itinerary, we visited the iconic Arctic Cathedral, took the Fjellheisen Cable Car up to Storsteinen Mountain, and finished our day with a Northern Lights tour. Let’s elaborate on each one.
ARCTIC CATHEDRAL:
Tromsdalen Church is known as the Arctic Cathedral, Ishavskatedralen in Norwegian, and was designed by architect Jan Inge Hovig. It was built in 1965 using 11 aluminum-coated concrete panels on each side of the cathedral, which illuminates at night. The entrance fee was 80 NOK, which was not cheap in our opinion, therefore we only admired its beauty from the outside.
FJELLHEISEN CABLE CAR:
The Fjellheisen Cable Car takes you to the top of Storsteinen Mountain, which stands at 421 meters high. It is a must-do attraction in Tromso! From the top, you will enjoy panoramic views of Tromso and the surrounding snow-covered mountains. We loved the view so much, that we’ve chosen the photo below as our feature photo of our Tromso Winter Activities Guide. If you prefer a more challenging experience, you can hike up the 1,200 stone steps of the Sherpa Staircase. In addition to offering the best views of Tromso, this vantage point provides a good chance of seeing the northern lights, as the Fjellheisen Cable Car operates until midnight.
There is no need to purchase the ticket ahead, just make sure that a cloud does not cover the mountain before going. We took a local bus from Tromso Center, which was quite convenient. Beware of the extremely high taxi prices in Tromso. We bought our tickets at the booth, a round-trip ticket costs 495 NOK. If you would like to return in the evening for a chance to see the northern lights, consider opting for a Day Pass, which costs 700 NOK.
18:00- 24:00 (even later) NORTHERN LIGHTS CHASING TOUR:
We finished the first day of our Tromso Itinerary with a Northern Lights Chasing Tour, which we recommend taking as many as you can, even each evening, simply because it gives you the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights. In our Tromso Northern Lights Guide we elaborate extensively on each of the 3 Northern Lights Chasing Tours we took. We will give a brief introduction on each tour. Note that the tours usually begin at 18:00 and take a few hours, even an hour or two after midnight. Some tours offer just snacks and not a full meal, so we recommend having an early dinner just before the tour.
The first Northern Lights Chasing Tour we took was the Arctic Circle Tours – We took the ‘Aurora Minibus Chase Tour‘ tour, which had a maximum of 15 participants. Our guide, Margaux, was exceptional and provided us with informative insights about the Northern Lights and Tromso. Although it was a cloudy day in Tromso, they managed to find an opening in the clouds in Finland. Unfortunately, we saw only a faint Aurora due to a not-favorable Northern Lights forecast. However, this was the best tour of the three we took in terms of facilities and food, as they had a toilet in a heated tent and they offered the widest range of delicious food.
Tromso Winter Itinerary - Day 2:
Moving to the second day of our Tromso in Winter itinerary, which will be extremely scenic!
9:00-16:00 ARCTIC FJORDS AND REINDEER EXPERIENCE:
We love animals so much and obviously wanted to meet reindeer! However, being a vet, animal welfare is extremely important to us. Therefore, we do not participate in any activity that uses animals for tourists, ruling out options like reindeer and dog sledding. Nevertheless, we wanted to meet these incredible animals and found the best tour that allows us to interact with them in a safe and respectful way – feeding them!
In Norway, only the Indigenous Sami people are permitted to herd reindeer, so every reindeer feeding tour offers a chance to learn about Sami culture while interacting with the animals. The Sami people have inhabited Lapland—covering Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia—since the end of the last Ice Age. Reindeer hold a sacred place in their culture, being vital to their livelihoods and heritage, particularly through herding practices established since the 17th century.
When we searched for a Reindeer Feeding Experience in Tromso, we found the Wondering Reindeer which included not only the Reindeer Feeding Experience but a Fjord Tour to Kvaløya & Sommarøy Islands as well! We had a blast! It was a full-day tour, 9:00-16:00 with a delicious lunch at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel. The small group of just 15 participants made the experience even more enjoyable, and our guide, Ole, who is Sami, was simply fantastic! He was friendly and professional, providing us with lots of information about the Sami people and the places we visited.
As we arrived, the reindeer herd was roaming freely in their natural habitat. When the herder brought food for them, we had the amazing opportunity to feed these majestic animals by hand. Later, we gathered in a traditional Sami lavvo (tent) around an open bonfire, where we enjoyed hot chocolate, learned about Sami traditions, and even listened to a Joik (traditional Sami song).
The Fjord Tour part of our day was very scenic, we will let the photos do the talking:
Doing a Fjord Tour to the beautiful Kvaløya and Sommarøy Islands is a must! In case you would prefer to take them as separate tours, consider the next separate alternatives:
21:00- 24:00 NORTHERN LIGHTS SAILING BOAT TOUR:
We finished our second day of our Tromso Itinerary with a Northern Lights Sailing Boat Tour. Note that this is a different Northern Lights Tour than the Northern Lights Chasing Tours. We recommend taking it only in addition to the regular chasing tours and not as a sole option because there is a lower chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The concept is appealing, you sail away from the city lights on a boat to experience the Northern Lights in a serene, on-water environment. However, it is not a fast way of transport, so you will not get that far from Tromso, and if Tromso is cloudy, you simply will not see the Northern Lights.
We chose the ‘Northern Lights Sailing Tour’ by Pukka Travel and due to the downsides mentioned above we did not see the Northern Lights because it was cloudy. But on the positive side, we enjoyed the catamaran experience, the friendly staff, and the delicious fresh fish soup. If the skies had been clear, it would have been a beautiful setting for Northern Lights viewing.
As of April 2024, Pukka Travels is out of business so if you would like to take a Northern Lights Sailing Trip, consider the following tours:
Tromso Winter Itinerary - Day 3:
On our third day of this 5 day Tromso Itinerary, we took a scenic Fjord Cruise and finished the day with yet another Northern Lights Chasing Tour. Let’s elaborate on each:
10:00-14:00 ARCTIC FJORD CRUISE WITH BRIM EXPLORER
We love taking cruises and spending time on the water in general, as it gives us a relaxing vibe along with the chance to see new places. We found Brim Explorer which operates cruises around Tromso on new luxury Hybrid-Electric Catamarans. Unfortunately, during our visit to Tromso in March, we were outside of the whale watching season, which runs from the end of October until the end of January. If you are visiting during this time, do not miss the Whale Watching Tour by Brim Explorer, which is the most ethical option for whale watching, as they switch to a silent electric engine around the whales, minimizing any disturbance to these gentle giants.
Despite the absence of whales, we still wanted to take a cruise, luckily, Brim Explorer offers an Arctic Fjord Cruise, which operates on the same modern catamarans – and we absolutely loved it! The Catamarans look brand new with spacious, heated salons that provide plenty of comfortable seating options. We enjoyed being on the outside decks, as it was the best way to take in the panoramic views of the fjords, returning inside only when it got too cold. Inside the fjords, we enjoyed the silent cruise as we sailed quietly and peacefully through the calm waters.
During our scenic cruise, we disembarked at a Fish farm where we learned about the historical importance of the fishing industry in Norway and even got to do some fish and oil tastings. While it was interesting, we felt it could have been skipped in favor of more time spent exploring the stunning fjords. Overall, we loved the breathtaking scenery of the cruise and highly recommend it.
18:00- 24:00 NORTHERN LIGHTS CHASING TOUR:
The second Northern Lights Chasing Tour we took was with Enjoy the Arctic: “Tromso Northern Lights Trip with campfire and snacks“. It was the most affordable of the three tours we took in Tromso, accommodating up to 16 participants. Our guide, driver, and photographer, Alan, was fantastic. Despite the unpromising weather with rain, Alan chose a great spot near Skarsfjord that he believed would clear up—and he was right! We were fortunate to witness a spectacular Aurora show that night. However, this tour was our least favorite for a few reasons. It was the shortest of the three (we got back to the center of Tromso around 23:30), did not include a hotel drop-off, and had limited food options.
You will find more information on each Northern Lights tour and what to consider when choosing one, on our Tromso Northern Lights Guide.
Tromso Winter Itinerary - Day 4:
On the fourth day of our Tromso in Winter Itinerary we took a very scenic route to do snowmobiling which took almost a full day and yet again finished this beautiful day with the last of our Northern Lights Chasing Tours.
8:30-15:30 LYNGEN SNOWMOBILE SAFARI WITH BEST ARCTIC
While searching for a snowmobile safari tour in Tromso, we aimed for a scenic mountainous location and discovered the perfect spot—the Lyngen Alps! We booked the Lyngen Snowmobile Safari through Best Arctic, which lasted 7 hours and was absolutely amazing! Everything was organized perfectly, and we had a fantastic time. The snowmobiling portion lasted about 1.5 hours, while the rest of the time was spent enjoying the journey to the beautiful Lyngen Alps, which was an attraction in itself, including a scenic ferry ride.
Our Lyngen Snowmobile Safari Day Tour began with a bus ride from Tromso to the Breivikeidet-Svensby Ferry. The views from the ferry, as it crossed the Fjord towards the Lyngen Alp, were absolutely incredible.
Once we arrived at Svensby, our guides met us. After a short ride, they provided a briefing on how to drive the snowmobile and equipped us with thermal suits, boots, and helmets. The snowmobile ride took place in the stunning landscape of the Lyngen Alps. We made several stops at picturesque spots for photo opportunities and enjoyed delicious hot chocolate. The snowmobiling experience took about an hour and a half.
As it was our first time riding a snowmobile, I must say it was not as easy as riding an ATV. The steering was a bit challenging, and you need to use your body weight when turning to avoid falling.
After the snowmobile ride, we were taken to a restaurant for lunch before heading back. We got the most out of this trip, snowmobiling through amazing views of surrounding mountains, forests, and fjords, along with a scenic ferry ride. We definitely recommend this unique experience, speeding across snowy plains, and soaking in the serene beauty. Many companies provide a similar experience in the Lyngen Alps which includes a bus ride from Tromso to the ferry, ferry tickets, a snowmobile tour, lunch, and the return journey. Explore the different tours below:
18:00- 24:00 (even later) NORTHERN LIGHTS CHASING TOUR:
The third Northern Lights Chasing Tour we took was with the Wandering Owl – We booked the ‘Aurora Hunt With Citizen Science‘, a small minibus tour with just 15 participants. Our guide, Florian, and the driver, Michel, were exceptional and did everything possible to ensure we had the best chance of witnessing the Northern Lights, even though it was an overcast and cloudy day in Tromso. They took us to an incredible spot in Finland, overlooking a frozen lake. We were provided with thermal suits and boots, and we warmed ourselves by the fire while enjoying vegetable soup, coffee, and hot chocolate. Ultimately, we were treated to an amazing display of the Northern Lights in a beautiful location.
Tromso Winter Itinerary - Day 5:
We spent the final day of our Tromso Itinerary in Tromso itself, enjoying its laid-back atmosphere, without taking any tours.
TROMSO HARBOR
Port of Tromso (Tromsø Havn) is one of the largest fishing and cruise ports in Norway. It is located right in the heart of Tromso town and it is a great place to take a stroll during the day and night. It offers stunning views of the Tromso Bridge and the Arctic Cathedral.
PUST SAUNA
Pust Sauna is located right in the center of Tromso Harbor. It is a floating sauna with a designated area for jumping into the Arctic Ocean for a polar plunge. It is designed as an iconic Norwegian fish drying rack that illuminates at night. The views from the sauna are spectacular! The facilities are clean and modern, with two small changing rooms (one for men and one for women) leading to a shared sauna that accommodates up to 12 people. Additionally, there are lockers and a shower available, but no toilets.
Advance online booking is necessary, and you’ll receive a PIN code to enter the sauna one hour before your scheduled time. The operation is fully automated, so it’s important to leave on time for the next group. The water in the port is surprisingly crystal clear, and in March, its temperature is a chilling 3°C! The cold plunge gives your body a shock freeze but it is exhilarating, making you want to jump in again. TIP: memorize your PIN code and to avoid getting stuck outside after your plunge, also bring a towel. A highly recommended experience!
TROMSO BIBLIOTEK
Tromso Library is beautiful and unique from the outside, with a sliding area for snow. Make sure to go inside, you’ll be welcomed by a warm ambiance and stunning views. It’s an ideal spot to pick up a book and read or simply relax and warm yourself in one of the many seating areas. It is suitable for all ages, with the group floor dedicated to children with books and computer games.
VIEWPOINT – TROMSO UTSIKTSPUNKT
This viewpoint offers nice views over Tromso, it is named ‘Tromsø Utsiktspunkt’ in Google Maps, (coordinates: 69.6547964912449, 18.955524435616432). It is located within a few minutes walk from the nearest bus stop, Sjømannsskolen, and buses 20 and 24 go there from Tromso’s center.
Where to Stay in Tromso Norway?
We stayed in two different hotels during our Tromso Winter Itinerary because we wanted to try different accommodation types:
Tromsø Lodge & Camping
Since we visited Tromso mainly for Northern Lights, we wanted to maximize our chances of seeing them by staying in a more remote location with lower light pollution, while being still close to the city center. We chose Tromso Lodge & Camping, a 4-star hotel situated in the Tomasjord neighborhood (which is not on Tromso Island). The Lodge features cabins and cottages nestled in beautiful natural surroundings, with a river flowing right beside the cabins.
We chose the new Explorer cabin and it was modern and cozy with big windows and a skylight, especially for Northern Lights viewing right from your bed. Although the cabin and bathroom were on the smaller side, we really loved the design and the balcony overlooking the river. Plus, the breakfast was fantastic and plentiful!
Our desired distant location came with its challenges, as the nearest bus stop is a 10 to 15-minute walk away. This is not particularly convenient when carrying luggage through the snow, and taxi rates are very high. Additionally, the cabins are located within another few minutes walk from the reception, so you will still need to drag your luggage through the snow even if you are taking a taxi to the lodge. All in all, it was worth it, as we saw the Northern Lights from the comfort of our cabin and the scenery was absolutely stunning.
Scandic Ishavshotel Tromsø
The second hotel we chose was the Scandic Ishavshotel, is a modern 4-star hotel, located right in the heart of Tromso, at Tromso Harbor. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city, the harbor, and surrounding mountains. We stayed in a King Room on the top floor. The room was elegantly designed and offered amazing views of the harbor. The location could not be more perfect for participating in our suggested Tromso winter activities, with some tours having a pick-up point right at the entrance of the hotel. Also, we loved the very abundant breakfast which was delicious.
Our Recommended Restaurants in Tromso Norway
We will finish our Tromso in Winter Itinerary with a brief overview of the restaurants we chose to dine in.
Bardus Bistro – This was the best meal we had in Tromso! What a wonderful experience! Reservations are a must, as the restaurant is always busy. We enjoyed a Reindeer Steak and a Steamed Cod, both of which were simply amazing. We finished our dinner with a delicious Chocolate Fondant. Highly recommended!
Art Café Bistro – A small, chic bistro. While a reservation is recommended, we managed to find a table when we stopped by for a quick snack before our Northern Lights tour, which included dinner. We both had a delicious King Crab Bisque Soup.
Tromso Tapas – WOW! We loved our amazing dinner at Tromso Tapas! The restaurant is big and beautifully designed, the service was great, and everything we ordered was so tasty. We had King Crab gratinated with garlic butter and Grilled Entrecote, both were fantastic dishes.
Suvi – We had a fantastic dinner at Suvi, a small cozy and stylish sushi restaurant. We started with Tuna Tataki and Chicken Gyoza, then had three sushi dishes: Surf and Turf, Scampi Deluxe Red Suvi, and Scampi Green Suvi. Every dish was super fresh and tasty, complemented by top-notch service.
Casa Inferno – What a great experience! A genuine Italian restaurant in Tromso, with a special pizza tray on top of each table which is an amazing idea for a pizza place. We took the Fungarola Pizza with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, and truffle cream along with Caprese e Parma, both very tasty!
Koseverden & Koselig Café – A lovely café with a cozy and inviting atmosphere. We had the Borscht Soup, a traditional Eastern European dish we love, and it was excellent. Additionally, we ordered Pasta à la Carbonara and a Reindeer Stew, both of which were tasty. We wrapped up our meal with Cappuccinos and a Napoleon Cake. Overall, it was a wonderful dinner with amazing service.
Well, this is it! We hope our Tromso itinerary on how to spend 5 days in Tromso in winter will help you plan your trip.
