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Are you looking for the best things to do in Tromsø in winter? You are in the right place! Experiencing Tromsø in winter is magical and every traveler should visit at least once. There are many things to do in Tromsø, including bucket-list experiences like seeing the northern lights, whale watching, and more! If that’s not enough, Tromsø is known as the Paris of the North because of the incredible food scene. Ready to plan your trip to Tromsø in winter, perfect for foodies and adventurers alike?
Where is Tromsø?
Tromsø is located in Norway, north of the Arctic Circle. The main city of Tromsø is on the island of Tromsøya but the urban area is also on parts of the nearby mainland and the island of Kvaløya. Tromsø is connected to the mainland and the island of Kvaløya by bridges.
23 Things to do in Tromsø
See the Northern Lights
The northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a common bucket-list experience for most people – and it is easy to understand why! After seeing them for myself, I can attest that they are worth the hype and the difficulty of finding them.
Tromsø is in the Arctic Circle and the center of the Northern Lights oval, so it is a great place to catch this phenomenon. The northern lights are typically visible from September until early April but mid-November to mid-January offer more viewing opportunities because of the polar night.
Seeing the northern lights in Tromø is not guaranteed, since this is a natural phenomenon, but 2024 is forecasted to be a spectacular year for northern lights activity. I recommend trying to see the northern lights early on in your trip and allowing additional nights to search in case it doesn’t work out.
The northern lights can usually be spotted if there are no clouds. While you can sometimes see the northern lights right in Tromsø, you will have a greater chance of seeing them well away from the city’s light pollution. They are most likely to appear between 11 PM to 2 AM.
The best way to see the northern lights is with a tour because you will have a driver or guide who is familiar with driving in wintery conditions and finding the best place to view the lights. They provide snacks, water, thermal suits, and sometimes a fire to keep you warm. Some tours will also help you set up your camera and provide a tripod to best capture the lights.
I recommend this Northern Lights tour, which has a great cancellation policy if the chance of seeing the lights is low due to the weather. This tour will also snap photos of the lights for you, for an additional fee, if you aren’t confident in taking your own.
Another way to experience the northern lights is on a cruise, where you can stay warm in the cabin while waiting for the lights to appear.
The other option is to rent a car and search for the lights by yourself. We used getaround, a car-sharing app that allowed us to use someone’s car for a few hours one night to find the lights. Of course, you can rent a car for your entire trip instead and have more freedom to explore.
Experience the Polar Night
The polar night is a unique experience to have in Tromsø in winter! During the polar night, the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. The polar night lasts from November 27th to January 15th.
This is a good time to visit Tromsø in the winter because it allows you more opportunities to see the northern lights. While the sun doesn’t technically rise, it still gets light out for a few hours and the sky is bathed in blue with a pink hue along the horizon as long as it isn’t cloudy.
Keep this in mind when considering what activities you want to do in Tromsø because it is hard to do certain things when it’s completely dark.
It is typically light between about 9 AM to about 2 PM during this time. When we were there on December 2, it was already pretty dark by 2:30 PM. The darkest day of the year is the Winter Solstice, around December 21st.
Visit the Troll Museum
Learn about Norweigan mythology and fairy tales at the Troll Museum. This museum, located right in downtown Tromsø is a great way to escape the cold weather for a few hours.
At this museum, you will learn about Olav, a king of Norway from 1015 to 1020, featured in many fairy tales alongside trolls and giants. There is also information about the authors who contributed to Norweigan fairy tales and how this helped Norweigan become a language in its own right.
You will learn about the different types of trolls featured in Norse mythology including mountain trolls, forest trolls, sea trolls, and giants. There are exhibits that display scenes from the stories and myths, troll statues, and augmented reality stations.
This museum has a great audio guide available in English that provides much more detail than the signs.
We spent about an hour and a half here. Museum entry is 180 Krone (or $16 USD). The museum is open every day from 9 AM to 7 PM except in April, May, September, and October when they close at 6 PM instead.
Stroll through Tromsø’s City Center
Downtown Tromsø is especially beautiful in the wintertime, with twinkling lights dangling between traditional Norweigan-style wood buildings, painted in yellows and reds, with steep slanting roofs.
We especially loved the heart lights that were hung on certain streets. In the falling snow, it was truly magical.
I recommend exploring the small downtown area. There are plenty of shops and restaurants. Also, check out the Tromsø Cathedral which sits in a square in the middle of town. The wooden church was built in 1861 in the Gothic Revival style.
Take a Whale Watching Tour
Another bucket list item for Tromsø in winter is to go on a whale-watching tour! The fjords of Norway are home to orcas, humpbacks, minke whales, and more! The best time of year to see whales near Tromsø is from November to January.
For this experience, you will need to take a tour. We took a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) whale-watching tour in Skjervoy, which I highly recommend! The tour includes a comfortable bus ride from Tromsø to Skjervoy, a guide once you arrive in Skjervoy, thermal suits, about three hours of whale watching, and a sandwich and hot chocolate afterward.
The tour departs early so that you reach Skjervoy in the brief daylight hours. The bus has a bathroom on board and is kept dark so it is easy to sleep. It is a 4-hour drive to Skjervoy, but the experience is worth it.
We chose the RIB over other more comfortable boat tours because it allows you to get closer to the whales. This is an experience I will remember forever. We saw orcas, humpback whales, and a minke whale! Plus the fjords are gorgeous. Although you will not be guaranteed to see whales on this tour, it is very likely because they travel north for the herring this time of year.
Want to adventure in comfort? Check out this tour that takes you whale-watching on a silent hybrid-electric catamaran, which limits noise pollution for the whales!
Taste Norweigen Dishes
Being so far north, there are some unique dishes that you can try in Norway! Try pinnekjøtt, or dried lamb ribs, traditionally a holiday dish, if you can find it. The meat is dried so that it can be preserved through the winter months.
We tried it at Bardus Bistro, which I highly recommend. It was delicious! Though it was bone-in, the meat was so tender it fell right off the bone. It was served with a corn puree, sauteed greens, and lingonberries.
Lutefisk, a dried white fish cured in lye, is another traditional Nordic dish. We tried it at Mathallen, an iconic restaurant in Tromsø with a set menu featuring Norwegian foods. Klippfisk, salted and dried cold, is also common in Norwegian cuisine.
Other things to try include reindeer, brunost or brown cheese, farikal (mutton and cabbage), lapskaus (stew), or kjøttkaker (meatballs).
Sip Cocktails Surrounded by Books
Bardus Bar, related to Bardus Bistro, is a cozy bar lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. It is the perfect place to warm up in Tromsø in winter! The cocktails are excellent, each one uniquely crafted to highlight local ingredients. They also serve wine and beer.
Learn About Life in the Arctic at the Polar Museum
The Polar Museum is another great activity in Tromsø when it is cold outside. This museum focuses on the harsh and unforgiving realities of historical life in the Arctic. There are exhibits on walrus and polar bear hunting, not my favorite, and expeditions to the Arctic where early studies were performed on sea depth, ice temperature, and magnetic poles, which was interesting!
I think this museum is worth visiting as it provides more context for understanding life in the Arctic; however, it is popular and the rooms are small so it does get crowded. Additionally, most of the signs are in Norwegian, but they have information packets available in different languages at the check-in desk. The packets are packed with information and require a lot of reading but they are interesting.
Entry is 110 Norweigan Krone per adult. The Polar Museum is open every day from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Go on a Reindeer Sled Ride and Experience Sámi Culture
Another popular thing to do in Tromsø is a reindeer experience with a Sámi reindeer herder. Sámi are the indigenous people of the Sápmi territory, which encompasses the northern parts of Norway, Finland, Sweden, and parts of Russia.
This tour involves visiting a Sámi camp, feeding reindeer, taking a ride in a sled pulled by a reindeer, a traditional Sámi meal, and stories about Sámi culture told around a fire.
There are daytime and nighttime tours available. If you choose the nighttime tour, there is a chance you will see the northern lights too! However, remember that you aren’t guaranteed to see the lights.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do this on our visit, but I will be doing it next time. From the reviews, it is a highly-rated tour and people really enjoy the experience of learning about Sámi culture even if they don’t see the northern lights.
Visit the North Norwegian Museum of Art
If art museums are more your speed, check out the North Norwegian Museum of Art. This small museum rotates exhibits. When I was visiting, there was an exhibit called Gába, which is the Sámi word for female resistance. This exhibit highlighted women artists with roots in Sápmi, the traditional territory of the Sámi people.
The entrance fee for adults is 80 Norweigan Krone. The museum is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM, except on Thursdays when they are open until 8 PM.
Watch Extreme Auroras at the Planetarium
Extreme Auroras is a 27-minute short film with footage of the aurora borealis captured by a local photographer. It can be viewed at the Science Centre of Northern Norway planetarium in the full-dome theater.
As well as seeing the spectacular displays of northern lights, you will learn about the perceptions of the lights throughout history and the science behind the phenomenon.
It is interesting and gives you a better understanding and appreciation of the northern lights when you are standing in the snow with frozen toes waiting for them to appear! Some of the reviews of the film say that seeing it is better than seeing the actual northern lights. I am not sure I would go that far, but it is very close.
The film is available with English, German, and Norwegian narration. The English narration is available at 2 PM every day and noon on the weekends. It is 130 Norwegian Krone per person.
Visit Tromsø’s Smallest Bar
Raketten Bar & Pølse claims to be the smallest in the universe. I can’t confirm that’s true, not having explored the entire universe myself, but it is likely the smallest bar in the Arctic at least!
This bar is famous in Tromsø and visitors will line up even in the dark and cold. There is no indoor seating, but you can sit on a reindeer pelt near the fire and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine, called gløgg in Norway. I can’t picture anything more Norwegian!
They also serve several types of hot dogs: reindeer and beef, pork and beef, and soy vegan!
We didn’t get to try the hot dogs, unfortunately, but the gløgg was good! It was a little different than other mulled wines we’ve had because this one had almonds and raisins in it! Those are optional though. You are not allowed to walk around with the wine because of Norway’s strict liquor laws.
Visit Pust Sauna and Take a Dip in the Arctic Ocean
Saunas are a favorite pastime of Scandinavian people so another must-do activity in Tromsø in the winter is visiting Pust Sauna. It is a floating sauna just off the docks in town. At night, it is lit up with changing color lights.
Reserve a timeslot online, typically an hour, and you will be given a code to enter the sauna, which is a simple, unmanned structure. Each entrance is a changing room, so women and men enter through opposite sides.
Change into your swimsuit, store your belongings, and then enter the center of the building that houses the sauna. It provides views of the Arctic Cathedral and the neighborhood of Tromsdalen across the Tromsøysundet strait.
If you are feeling brave, you can exit the structure and jump into the Arctic Ocean to cool off. But be careful, the water is freezing!
We enjoyed this experience, the only thing that put a slightly negative spin on it was that the dressing room was small, and as we were changing back into our clothes, the next group was also trying to change into their swimsuits. The women’s side of the dressing room was too cramped for the group to do so which resulted in their frustration. I would recommend getting to your appointment early and then leaving a few minutes before your appointment expires to change back into your clothes.
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See the Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral, or Tromsdalen Church, is a striking example of architecture and can be seen across the Tromsøysundet strait from the island of Tromsøya when it is lit up at night.
Visiting the Arctic Cathedral is another great thing to do in Tromsø. The front of the church displays a large cross against a glass facade and the other has stained glass.
You can visit the Arctic Cathedral for NOK 80 per adult. Children under 12 are free. The cathedral is usually open from 1 PM to 5 PM but the hours vary depending on the day and time of year so check opening hours before visiting.
View Tromsø from Above on Fjellheisen
Fjellheisen is a cable car that takes you up the mountain opposite the island of Tromsøya. In the winter you can see gorgeous snow-covered mountains and the whole island from the top of Fjellheisen. It is a unique viewpoint.
After taking the cable car, you can grab a warm drink or snack at the Fjellstua Cafe and Restaurant (although the food isn’t anything special) or hike or snowshoe up the remainder of the mountain.
Many people recommend doing this in the evening with the possibility of seeing the northern lights. I went during the day and found it was still beautiful. Whatever time you go, just make sure it is a clear day so you can see the view.
The cable car operates every full and half hour. Tickets can be purchased online or at the cable car station and cost 495 NOK or $45 USD.
Drink a Beer at One of the Northern Most Breweries
One of our favorite discoveries in Tromsø was Ølhallen, meaning “The Beer Hall”, which we returned to several times. This cozy, primarily underground, brewpub is covered in warm wood tones, historical artifacts, and depictions from the Arctic.
A taxidermy polar bear stands watch over the many beer drinkers who come in to avoid the chill of the Polar Night. Pick-axes and model ships line the walls. They have 72 different taps featuring beers from Mack and other Norwegian breweries.
They don’t serve food, but they have a few board games available.
When we visited they had several Christmas beers, all denoted on the menu with little Santa hats!
Take a Tour to see a Fjord
Norway has the highest concentration of fjords in the world. A fjord is a deep, narrow ocean inlet with mountains on three sides, open to the ocean on the fourth side.
A great thing to do in Tromsø is take a tour to see some of the northern fjords. This highly-rated tour takes you to see Grøtfjord or Sommarøy depending on the conditions.
Go Dog Sledding
Tromsø is an excellent place to go dog sledding if you haven’t before. We didn’t go on this trip to Tromsø, but I wanted to because I enjoyed my experience dog sledding in Salida so much!
Try your hand at being a dog musher with this tour, where you get to drive the sled, ride as a passenger in the sled, and meet all the sled dogs!
Visit a Tiki Bar in the Arctic Circle
What is one thing you can’t imagine existing in a city in the Arctic Circle? For me, it might have been a tiki bar. But in Tromsø that is not the case! Escape to a tropical island for a while at Misfit Tiki Bar!
The drinks were delicious: we tried the Colada, which was a simple, classic colada (not blended), and the Zombie. We also tried two of their specialty drinks. Necessary Evil was a spirit-forward rum drink. The second, Norweigan Paralysis, contained two types of aquavit, a Nordic spirit.
The decor was very on-point so we were almost surprised when we opened the door to snow falling and remembered we were in the Arctic.
Try Snowshoeing
Tromsø is a great place to go snowshoeing. You can rent snowshoes or other outdoor gear at Tromsø Outdoor. A good place to try on your own this is Prestvannet Lake, which is about 10 minutes by car or 15 minutes by bus from the center of Tromsø.
If you prefer to have a guide, try out this tour, which includes snowshoes, transportation, a guided hike, and lunch.
Read More: Snowshoeing in Colorado
Eat Your Heart Out in the Paris of the North
Tromsø is known as the Paris of the North because of the many high-quality restaurants serving delicious eats! Some of our favorite restaurants were Bardus Bistro for Norweigan food, Kaffebønna Stortorget for coffee, and Størhus for delicious pizza. You can find various types of food in this northern city, from tapas to sushi to traditional taverns, all with a dash of Nordic charm. While the food was pricy, everything we had was high quality and memorable.
Experience Cross-Country Skiing
Another winter activity you can experience in Tromsø is cross-country skiing! You can rent your own skis at Tromsø Outdoor or if you are a beginner, you might want to go with a guide first. This beginner-friendly skiing tour is highly rated and offers pick-up and drop-off from Tromsø city center, instruction for skiing, and a break near a bonfire to warm up.
Warm up at Kaffebønna Stortorget
One of our favorite things to do in Tromsø was duck into Kaffebønna Stortorget and warm up with a cup of coffee and a delicious kanelsnurr, or cinnamon roll. You can’t help but feel grateful while sitting at their retro window-facing bar, sipping a warm beverage, and watching people scurry about in the cold.
The kanelsnurr, which is a must-try, is soft and lightly sweet. It is one of the best pastries I’ve had and I am still dreaming about it. You can also try a waffle with brunost, or brown cheese, a type of Norwegian cheese where the milk sugars are caramelized, resulting in a brown color.
Where to Stay in Tromsø in the Winter
Stay in a Glass Cabin
If you have been wondering what it is like to stay in one of those dreamy cabins where you can see the northern lights from inside, check out Aera Glass Cabins near Tromsø.
Some of the cabins on this property have big windows in front of the bed where you can cozy up and hopefully watch the northern lights! Just be careful when booking because not all the cabins are the same.
The cabins are not on Tromsøya Island and are about a 30-minute drive from downtown Tromsø, so I would recommend renting a car if you decide to stay here. While it may be possible to take an Uber, taxi, or bus, it will be either expensive or time-consuming.
Stay on Tromsøya
We stayed on Tromsøya Island because we wanted to be closer to downtown Tromsø. We stayed in a great Airbnb on the hill overlooking Tromsø. It is small but comfortable with a living room, kitchen, one bedroom, one bath, and a big balcony with beautiful views of the city. It is close to a bus stop so you can easily take the bus into town.
We preferred an Airbnb so we could cook on occasion since Norway is notoriously expensive, and so we could do laundry since we were living nomadically! This was the perfect place for us.
From the balcony, you might get lucky and see the northern lights on a clear night like we did! The northern lights might not be as bright as seeing them away from the city light pollution, but there is the added benefit that you can go inside on occasion to warm up.
You can also use this map to look for local stays:
Guide to Visiting Tromsø in the Winter
That concludes 23 things to do in Tromsø in winter! Have I inspired you to enjoy a snowy winter trip up north? For us, visiting Tromsø was a different experience as we usually focus on warmer destinations, but this was so much fun. I can’t wait to explore more of the Arctic!
Here are some additional tips to help you plan your best trip to Tromsø in the winter!
How cold is Tromsø in the Winter?
The average daily temperature in Tromsø in the winter ranges from 23°F (-5°C) to 32°F (0°C). Thanks to the city’s closeness to the sea and the Gulf Stream Current, temperatures in Tromsø are more comfortable than places of similar latitude.
When is the best time to visit Tromsø for snow activities?
Tromsø typically experiences snow from October into early May. The snowiest months are January through March.
When is the best time to visit Tromsø in the winter?
The best time to visit Tromsø in the winter is between November and January, but it depends on what you want to do. Winter is high season in Tromsø, so hotel prices are more expensive than other months, but in my opinion, it is worth it.
The best time to visit if you want to see the northern lights is between November and January, although the lights ca be viewed from September to April on occasion.
If you want to go whale watching, the best time to visit Tromsø in the winter is between November and January.
The polar night also begins on November 27th and lasts until about January 15th. The nights will last longer during this time, which can increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, but it also makes it difficult to do other activities. Even though the sun doesn’t technically rise above the horizon during this time, there are still a few hours a day when it is light outside. So don’t worry, you won’t be whale watching in the pitch dark!
We went in late November into early December and we were able to see the northern lights and whales!
How to pack for Tromsø in the Winter?
Packing for Tromsø in the winter is different than packing for other destinations. The most important thing is to pack layers.
The most important articles of clothing, in my opinion, are a base layer top and bottom, preferably made out of merino wool. I wore these every day. If we were simply taking the bus to a restaurant, I skipped the base layer top but wore the base layer bottoms because otherwise, I would overheat. For other activities like viewing the northern lights or going on a whale-watching trip, wearing both will keep you so warm.
You also need to bring gloves and a warm hat, at the least. I brought a gaiter so I didn’t have any gaps near my neck.
Waterproof or water-resistant boots and warm merino wool socks are also a must. I bought a pair of Timberlands specifically for this trip and they were perfect. They kept my feet warm and dry, and they come in all kinds of colors now!
Finally, I recommend wearing a mid-layer fleece jacket or sweater and an outer-layer shell with some sort of wind protection.
You do not want to skimp on warm clothes when visiting Tromsø in the winter, it could easily prevent you from enjoying your trip to the fullest!
If you go on any outside tours, like whale watching or northern light viewing, make sure they provide thermal suits. Most of the tours do, but they were very helpful in keeping us warm.
Finally, if you plan to photograph the northern lights, bring a tripod for your phone or camera. Without a tripod, your pictures will be blurry because you have to use a longer exposure time.
How to get around Tromsø?
There are plenty of options for getting around Tromsø.
Renting a Car
The option that allows the most flexibility is renting a car. Check out DiscoverCars to find affordable rentals in Tromsø! This is great if you are staying outside the city or want to be able to hunt for northern lights by yourself. This is also a good option if you plan on going snowshoeing or skiing by yourself.
Just be aware that driving in the snow or ice is difficult if you aren’t used to it. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road in Norway.
Car-Share
An alternative to renting a car for your entire trip is using getaround, a car-sharing app. This is like Airbnb but for vehicles. People list their cars on the app and you can borrow them for a certain amount of time.
We tried this for the first time in Tromsø so we could have an opportunity to search for the northern lights on our own and it worked flawlessly.
Ride-Share
Uber is available in Tromsø, as well as other ride-share apps. We took an Uber to the airport when we departed. It was about $20 for a 15-minute ride.
I wouldn’t recommend using Uber everywhere you go because it is expensive.
Public Transportation
The public transportation in Tromsø is excellent! I didn’t have high hopes for it for some reason but I was pleasantly surprised. If you are staying in Tromsø for several days, I highly recommend trying it out.
The buses run consistently seven days a week. You can purchase tickets at certain bus stops, like the Fredrik Langes Gate bus stop in front of the KIWI in downtown Tromsø, or download the Svipper App, where you can purchase multi-day tickets.
Single ticket fares start at 44 NOK (about $4 USD) but increase if you are going to multiple zones. Period tickets are good for 1, 7, 30, or 90-day periods. We purchased a 7-day pass for 294 NOK (about $28 USD).
We used Google Maps to determine bus routes around Tromsø and it worked well.
Reflections on things to do in Tromsø in Winter
I hope I have convinced you that there are many fun things to do in Tromsø in winter! I loved our visit to Tromsø and hope to visit again sometime.
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