How to See the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway (+Best Tours & Tips)
Planning a trip to Tromsø to see the Northern Lights? This guide covers everything you need to know to maximize your chances of seeing auroras in Tromsø, Norway, including the best season, viewing locations, tours, and practical tips.
Located over 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights thanks to its location right under the aurora oval, relatively mild coastal climate, and good accessibility.
While Tromsø offers plenty of winter activities, the Northern Lights are the main draw for many visitors. In this guide, you’ll find practical tips, tour recommendations, and our own experiences chasing auroras in Tromsø – including a comparison of big-bus tours vs. small-group tours – to help you know what to expect and plan your trip with confidence.
TIP: The most popular tours in Tromsø sell out weeks in advance, especially in peak season. If you plan to book, do it early. If you are looking for the best Northern Lights tours in Tromso, we share the top-rated tours below. I personally took this small-group tour and also this big-bus tour with professional photographers.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Tromso in Winter
Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Tromso
The best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromso is from mid-September to April.
While it’s sometimes possible to catch them as early as late August or into April, the best chances are between late September and March, when nights are long and dark.
That said, most aurora tours operate from early September through mid-April, which is a good sign of when sightings are most likely. You can have more intense displays around the equinoxes (late September and late March), but honestly, you can see amazing shows anytime during the season if the skies are clear.
TIP: Plan to stay at least 3–4 nights. Auroras aren’t guaranteed every evening, but with several nights you give yourself a much better chance of success.
Can You See Auroras in Tromsø City?
The best way to see the Northern Lights is to get away from light pollution, ideally by heading outside the city. That said, when the aurora is strong, you can sometimes catch it right in town.
TIP: On a clear evening in Tromsø, take the Fjellheisen cable car up the mountain. The views are incredible, and if the aurora shows up, it’s an unforgettable experience.
Alternatively, if you are renting a car, book accommodation in a remote area outside the city (for example, at Ersfjordbotn Brygge, Larseng Kystferie, or Yggdrasil Farmhotel Retreat) – that way, you can hunt for auroras from your doorstep every night.
READ ALSO: Where to Stay in Tromso
What Time of Day Can You See the Northern Lights?
According to local guides, the best chances of seeing auroras near Tromso are late in the evening, towards midnight.
But you never know – sometimes you can see them as early as 6 PM or as late as 6 AM, or they can be dancing the whole night too. So as long as it’s dark, keep looking.
Your Chances of Seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø
As I already said, Tromso is one of the best places for the Northern Lights in the world, so if there is one place on earth where you can reliably expect to see them, it’s here. If you stay for at least 3-4 nights in the right season, your chances of seeing them are very high (and with some luck, you might catch them every night). But you need to make an effort and not just expect to see them from your hotel window.
The main requirement is clear, dark skies, not too many clouds, and no light pollution. If it’s snowing or completely overcast, you won’t see anything unless you’re willing to drive and chase clear skies – that’s where aurora hunt tours come in handy.
Local tour guides said that there are very few nights when they don’t get to see at least some auroras. However, you won’t easily see weaker auroras in town, so you need to go looking for them. And if you don’t know where to start (or don’t want to drive on icy, unfamiliar roads in the dark), it’s best to join a guided tour – see further below for recommendations.
READ ALSO: Top Places to See the Northern Lights Around the World
Can You See Auroras Without a Tour?
Yes, you can absolutely see the Northern Lights in Tromsø without joining a tour. If you have a car, check the weather and Aurora forecast (see our suggested apps and websites further below) and head to a dark spot outside the city.
You can drive around to different locations in one night, but if the skies are clear and you’ve found an open area with good visibility in all directions, it’s often best to just stay put and wait. If the aurora is active and visible that night, you will see it.
It can be a little tricky to find the best viewing spots if you’re not familiar with the area, but with some preparation, it’s possible to go on your own.
That said, driving around in the middle of winter can be dangerous. Roads are often icy, visibility is poor, and accidents involving tourists happen every season. If you’re not experienced with winter driving in these conditions, it’s much safer to join a guided tour. Not only will it keep you safe, but guides also know the best viewing spots and will greatly increase your chances of seeing the aurora.
For more details on the best aurora tours in Tromsø, check out the section below.
Best Northern Lights Tours in Tromsø
There are dozens of Northern Lights tours in Tromsø, and choosing one can feel overwhelming. Before my trip, I thought small-group tours were always better, but after joining both a minibus tour and a large bus tour on two consecutive nights, I realized it doesn’t matter as much as I expected.
On a cloudy night, every tour ended up in the same area, and everyone saw the same faint aurora. On a clear night, I joined a big bus tour to a remote beach, and it was fantastic – well organized, comfortable, and with plenty of space to spread out. I actually preferred this experience, even though I had expected the small-group tour to be better.
That said, small-group tours do feel more personal and often include extras like a campfire, stories, and hot drinks, which makes them great if you’re looking for a cozy, atmospheric evening rather than focusing on photography. In addition, some small group tours really chase auroras, meaning that they’ll go as far and as long as needed to find clear skies and see the lights.
Here are some of the best-rated aurora tours in Tromso at the moment of the last update:
- Small group (max 8 people) with guaranteed sightings (4.9* rating).
- Small group (max 15 people) minibus tour (4.9* rating).
- Medium-size group (max 19 people) aurora chase (4.8* rating – good price/quality).
PRO TIP: Whichever tour you choose, book well in advance – Northern Lights tours in Tromsø often sell out weeks ahead, especially in peak season. The website we use and recommend offers a very flexible cancellation policy, so it’s much easier to cancel later if needed than to scramble for a spot last minute.
Small Group vs. Bus Tours
Your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø are largely the same, no matter which type of tour you choose. That said, small-group and big bus tours offer very different experiences.
Here is a breakdown based on my observations – the main differences between the small group and big bus Northern Light tours in Tromsø:
Small Group Tour Experience
- Thermal suits are usually included on small and medium-sized bus tours (8-19 people), but make sure to check the tour description.
- Bonfire & snacks: Many tours provide a bonfire with a warm meal (soup, local specialties, or sausages to roast) plus drinks and treats like marshmallows or cookies. Sitting by the fire is a cozy way to pass the time while waiting for the auroras.
- Photography support: Small group tours often provide tripods, and guides help with camera settings. Most guides also take their own photos and share them with you (check tour descriptions to see if photos are included!).
- Duration & service: Tours usually last 7–8 hours and include hotel drop-off. Many small-group tours include an aurora chase, meaning the guides will drive as far as needed to find clear skies and the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights. This can make a big difference on cloudy nights, giving you a much higher likelihood of a spectacular show. If the weather is poor, they often contact you to reschedule.
- Cost: Small-group tours are more expensive than big bus tours, but you get a more personalized and interactive experience. For a good price/quality option, check this highly rated small-group tour with guaranteed sightings.
PRO TIP: Book your Northern Lights tour well in advance, especially if you prefer a small-group tour or a tour with guaranteed sightings. When I visited Tromsø in early March, all the small-group tours were fully booked on nights with good weather, also because some tours rescheduled guests from previous cloudy nights. If your preferred tour is full, look for additional options here. Just be sure to read the descriptions since not all tours include the same things!
Bus Tour Experience
- Big bus Northern Lights tours are very well organized, with a set schedule that ensures the tour goes on regardless of individual preferences. Big group tours are less flexible in terms of staying longer, but it also means they won’t end early just because some people want to leave.
- Dedicated guides handle everything except driving, giving them time to explain the auroras, answer questions, and assist with photography. Most are experienced photographers who can help you with camera settings and take photos of you. Unlike small-group tours, the photos usually aren’t free – you get a link afterward to view and purchase them. But the quality is excellent.
- Thermal suits aren’t provided on big, 40-50 passenger buses, but the bus usually stays warm. You can stay inside until the auroras appear. Dress appropriately for the cold, and you’ll be comfortable outside as well (see our Norway winter packing list). Hot drinks and cookies are served on the bus.
- Big buses have toilets, which is very useful on a 5–7 hour tour, especially if traveling with children.
- Big bus tours generally don’t offer free cancellation due to weather. They go out and do their best to find clear skies. If you don’t see the auroras, you can usually rebook for the next night at a discounted rate.
TIP: I took this big bus aurora photography tour and really enjoyed it. It’s comfortable, well organized, and maximizes your chances of seeing the Northern Lights without breaking the bank.
Northern Lights Tours with Extra Activities
In the Arctic winter, daylight is short and evenings are long, so many tour companies offer activities after dark. You can visit huskies, go reindeer sledding, book an aurora dinner cruise, and other night tours, and if you’re lucky, you might catch the Northern Lights while doing them.
The main limitation of these multi-activity tours is that you’re not flexible in terms of location. These tours can be incredible experiences, but they don’t compare to dedicated aurora tours that actively chase clear skies and maximize your chances for a good display.
I went on a reindeer sledding tour near Tromsø one night. We didn’t see the auroras, but it was still a wonderful experience. I can only imagine how magical it would have been if the lights had appeared.
Think of it this way: even if the auroras don’t show up, you still get a memorable winter adventure. According to our guide, auroras are visible on average three out of four nights during these tours.
READ ALSO: Best Tours in Tromso
Best Aurora Forecast Apps for Tromso
There are plenty of apps and websites that promise to predict the northern lights in Tromsø. But both my own experience and what local guides told me is the same: don’t rely on them too far in advance. Forecasts can change quickly, and they’re only really useful a few hours ahead of time or on the actual evening when you plan to go aurora hunting.
That said, a few tools we use and recommend for last-minute planning:
- Arctic University of Norway. This local website provides 1-4 hour aurora forecasts for several locations across Norway, including Tromsø. It’s one of the most reliable sources for short-term updates and can be handy if you’re heading out on a last-minute chase.
- My Aurora Forecast & Alerts (iOS & Android). This is my go-to aurora app. I’ve used it in Norway, Lapland, Iceland, and Alaska, and it’s consistently helpful. It shows both forecasts and real-time data like current activity and cloud coverage. You can also set alerts for your location, so you don’t miss a sudden display.
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Yr.no is my favorite weather app, not just for auroras but for travel in general. It gives detailed, accurate hour-by-hour forecasts and shows cloud coverage broken down into high, middle, and low clouds (important, since low clouds block the view completely). Their website includes extra features you won’t find in the app.
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (by USA government). If you like digging deeper, NOAA’s site has comprehensive solar activity data. The most useful part, though, is their hourly Kp index forecast and 30-minute aurora forecast. It’s most reliable on the actual night itself.
- Geophysical Institute of Alaska University. I first used their website when traveling in Alaska, but it works worldwide. They publish both a 27-day outlook (not very precise but helpful for general planning) and a 3-day forecast, which I’ve found surprisingly accurate. On my last trip to Rovaniemi, it was the only source that correctly predicted auroras three days out – useful if you need to pick the best night to book a tour (that’s if they aren’t sold out yet…).
Once again, local guides in Tromsø told me they see auroras almost every clear night in winter. So your best strategy is less about checking dozens of forecasts and more about finding clear skies and getting away from city lights.
What to Wear for Aurora Hunting
What you should wear for Northern Lights hunting depends a bit on how you plan to go. Small-group tours often provide thermal suits (always check the tour description!), while big bus tours or DIY outings mean you’ll need to rely on your own gear. Either way, you’ll want to dress very warmly.
Check out our complete Norway winter packing list, which includes a dedicated section on clothing for aurora viewing. You can also download your own copy by filling in the form below.
TIP: If you are interested in aurora photography, don’t miss our beginners’ guide to Northern Lights photography.
More tips for your winter trip to Tromso:
- Accommodation: Best Hotels in Tromso
- Airport transfers: Book your Tromso airport transfer here
- What to see: Things to Do in Tromso in Winter
- Itinerary: Tromso Itinerary for 3 Days in Winter
- Bucket-list: Dog Sledding in Tromso
- Ice Hotel: Tromso Ice Domes
- Budget: How Expensive is Norway
- Travel inspiration: Svalbard in Winter & Best Things to Do in Lofoten & Northern Norway Itinerary
If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!
This site contains affiliate links, which means that we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, for qualifying purchases. More info: Disclosure.
I am spending two nights in Tromso in Feb and am traveling via cruise ship. The ship’s passengers are a bit on the older side and I am looking for smaller groups. How to best get from the port to the tour? Do tours usually pick up people from the port?
Hi Kora, as far as I know, Tromso cruise port is right in the city center (see map) where most tours depart. So you can book a tour online – we use and recommend this website – and simply walk to a pick-up point.
For example, this small-group tour departs just a 5-minute walk from the cruise terminal. This tour is even closer, departing next to the tourist office, like 2-3 minutes walk from the cruise port. Tromso city center is so small and walkable that you can just book pretty much any tour you like without having to worry about getting to the pick-up point if your ship docks in Tromso.
Just book well in advance because many tours sell out.
Hello, we are looking at traveling to tromso mid September 2024 for about 3 nights, do you think we will be able to see the northern lights?
Hi Susanne, yes, there is a good chance to see the Northern Lights in Tromso from about mid-September. The rest depends on Mother Nature.
Have a great trip!
Hi,
thanks for the very informative article.
I am living in Oslo for the next 3 months and have the option to choose between Oct or Nov to go to Tromso to chase the Northen lights in a weekend, which month would you pick to have the best chance to see it, Oct or Nov?
Hi Fernanda, if you don’t have to decide now, I’d just wait and see how the weather forecast looks like and then book last minute. Otherwise, it’s always a gamble anyway.
It’s not that much about the chances to see the auroras, more about the weather and cloud coverage. Statistically, November has fewer rain days than October, but you just never know in advance.
One more thing to consider is that October will normally be much warmer than November which might be important if you are planning on doing some hiking or other outdoor activities.
If you go and the weather isn’t great, try booking a Northern Lights tour since they’ll drive outside the city and look for the places that have the best chances on that specific night.
Good luck!
Grreings Ms Jurga,
I am planning a first visit to see the northern & looking into Nov. 2023, please advise flying out of Orlando,,what is the best possible options to flying into Tromso? I’m in my 60s & planning a solo trip. Planning on a week.
Regards
Cam
Hi Cam, to get to Tromso in winter, you’ll likely need to fly via Oslo. There are very few places from where you can fly to Tromso outside of Norway.
There are tons of websites where you can research all the possible flight options for you – Google Flights, Skyscanner, Momondo, Kiwi, etc. Try any of them and see what they suggest.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
The links is not poiting to a specific company. Can you please tell me the name of the companies you took the tours?
Hi Caroline, the very first tour link points to the exact Northern Lights tour and I think I already explained to someone else that the first tour you see, is normally the one we link to. We can’t always control what other websites show when we link to them… Anyway, here it is once again.
Have a great trip!
Very informative article. Thank you. Can you please provide names of the tours recommend here? The links don’t necessarily take you to the correct sites. Thanks again.
Hi Ankit, sometimes, the tours disappear and then appear again and they get redirected, etc.
Anyway, when possible, I’m linking directly to the tours that I took so it should open correctly. For the big bus tour, I took this one with Northern Shots.
For the small groups, the one I took isn’t available anymore, but this one with Polar Adventures is great. I took another tour with this company and it was excellent.
Hope this helps.
Super helpful blog, great job Jurga! Now that we’re allowed to travel again, I can hopefully fulfil my bucket list dream of seeing the aurora from Tromso with my wife. I’ll be using everything you’ve detailed to help make this is a memorable trip whether the sky shines or not! Thanks for all the information.
Glad you found this useful, Paul. Good luck with the planning and hope you get to see the Northern Lights!
Hi Jurga. I’m glad to stumbled upon your page. Very easy to understand and informative!! My partner and i will be in Tromso in first week of March 2022. Hope we are lucky and be able to catch the aurora
Thanks for your kind words, Anne. The beginning of March is a beautiful time to be in Tromso. Fingers crossed you get to see auroras, but I’m sure you’ll love it either way. Be sure to go dog sledding too – it’s amazing.
Enjoy your trip!
Hey! Thanks for all the detailed info!
Thinking of driving by myself, by any chance do you know the name of that beach where you saw the lights? Thanks and good trips!!!
Hi Mirko, I think it was this place, but I’m not 100% sure. But it really doesn’t matter. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon. When they appear, you’ll see them anywhere where the sky is clear. If they are strong enough, you’ll even see them in towns and through your hotel window…
If you have a car and the roads are somewhat ok, you should drive to a place that has no clouds and ideally far open views in all directions. That’s it really – for the rest, it’s just luck. Tromso is a great place to see the Northern lights – because of its unique position, you can see nice auroras at that altitude even if the activity is very low.
Good luck!
hi i just wanna ask is it ok to go in february in tromsø to see the northern lights cause we would thinking to go there in february in the middle. Is that the best month to go. Pls advice.
Hi Lisa, the Northern Lights season is between September and March, so yes, February is a good time for auroras in Tromso. The rest is pure luck, depending on the weather, aurora activity, and your effort to actually go outside and try to see them.
Good luck!
My daughter and I will be visiting Tromso from 2/28-3/3/22. Were renting a car and are hoping to view the lights on our own in order to keep costs down. We’re from New England and used to driving carefully on winter roads. I’d appreciate your recommendations on dark locations to try depending upon weather conditions. Also, are roads treated with sand? Are there street lights on most roads? We want to do this safely. If we carefully drive the speed limit will this aggravate locals. I greatly appreciate your time, help and information. Thank you very much. Stay awesome, well and blessed!!!
Hi Paul, I really don’t know what to say – it depends on what exactly you want to see and do. In general, for all the winter activities, you can just stay in Tromso and book tours, and you don’t need a car at all. For many things, you need a tour anyway – dog sledding, reindeer, snowmobiles, fjord cruises, and similar and they offer pick-up in town. So renting a car is a waste of money. Here you can find an overview of the best things to do in Tromso in winter.
I didn’t drive in/near Tromso myself but sitting on the bus/ mini-bus when doing tours, I could see that most roads looked like an ice skating rink – pure ice. No sand, not even in the city. Also the pavements in the city were pure ice and it was useful to have spikes for your shoes. As for the lights, some roads in/around town are lit, many others are not.
As for dark places, there are plenty and also close to town, so you could just walk or take a bus if you want to get just a bit outside of the city center. Taking the Fjellheisen cable car can be a good option if the aurora forecast is favorable, and they run quite late at night. But it all depends on the weather/ aurora forecast. What tours do is look for the places that have the most chances for clear skies and take you there. Sometimes it might mean driving for an hour or two outside of town. Sometimes, you can also see auroras in town. You just never know in advance.
Sorry I can’t help you more. Nobody can tell you in advance how the roads/ weather will be. So it all comes down to what you are planning to do and how much you’ll actually need a car.
Also, keep in mind that car rental/parking/tolls are very expensive in Norway. Also, check the car rental prices for your travel dates before making any further decisions. Winter should be ok, in general, but this summer, there was a huge shortage of cars, with prices of 2000-3000 EUR for a week if you could even find a car…
Good luck!
You don’t need to fork out for a trip. Walk west from the city centre towards Telegrafbukta beach….about 40 mins walk. Clear night can’t beat it ????
Thanks for sharing your tips, Mark! I agree with you that – when conditions are good – you can see auroras just near the city and also from the town itself.
But many visitors only come to Tromso for a day or two, which often means that they don’t have ideal conditions, and for that, it’s still worth taking a tour that will do their best to find an ideal location with no clouds. Also, walking on icy pavements in Tromso in the dark isn’t for everyone…
Hi! Found this article and the Packing List really helpful. Can I ask do the mini bus not have toilets? What to do when toilet breaks are needed?
No, minibusses don’t have toilets. When you take an aurora tour with a minibus, they’ll usually do their best to stop at a petrol station or somewhere similar at least once or twice during the evening. In general, most tours take 4-6 hours and so one stop is usually sufficient. Don’t drink too much tea and you’ll likely be ok the whole evening anyway. 😉
hello ! I really enjoyed reading this article. I want to ask you do the tours provide warm clothes ? If they dont what do I have to wear? Thanks in advance
Hi Hay, yes, small-group aurora tours like this one do provide thermal suits. Big-bus tours don’t, but usually you can stay inside the warm bus while waiting for auroras to show up…
But, of course, you should be wearing other warm clothes of your own in any case. Thermal suit is great, but it’s not enough if you are not wearing warm winter clothing. For practical examples, please refer to our guide on what to pack for Norway in winter.
Hi Jurga,
Very nice information. We are planning on going to Tromoso end of Jan 2020. After reading your blog I feel we can even do it in Feb 2020. Is it better to book the tours well in advance. we are planning on staying in Tromoso for four days and then take a ferry to Lapland of Finland for three days and stay in Igollo for a night to see the northern lights. Reason being we are flying all the way from Sydney we thought of finishing Santa’s land also. We have already seen the midnight sun in Norway and also from Finland
Hi Usha, if your travel dates are flexible, then I think February is a bit better indeed. You’ll have a bit more daylight to enjoy outdoor activities.
While you don’t have to book activities too far in advance, I’d certainly book your Tromso hotels asap. I also recommend booking tours that you really want to do. If you book Tromso tours that we link to in this post, you can still cancel (most of) them up to 24hrs in advance, whereas if you don’t book, you risk that some of them will be sold out. That’s especially the case for dog sledding and the Northern Lights tours.
Enjoy your trip! It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing winter adventure!
Glad to find this site, detailed information and very helpful. We will visit Tromso in the first week of March too, may I know how early you book the small group tour? We are worried that it’s too soon to book the tour without weather forecast, while I find some tours are already fully booked. Thanks!
Hi Musetta, I also visited Tromso in the first week of March. Many tours were fully booked and I couldn’t go on a small group aurora tour one night due to that. The problem is that everyone waits to see the forecast and then if it’s somewhat favourable, they all start booking tours. Small group tours sell out, sometimes a few days in advance. This was also the case for dog sledding, for example, as it’s less weather-dependant, so people book it upfront as well.
What I advice to do instead is book tours that have 24 hr free cancelation policy (most tours we suggest on our site do). Then, in case the weather looks really bad, just cancel it at least 24hrs in advance.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga, thanks for your advice. It’s really helpful. I will discuss with my friends.
Best Regards
Musetta
What are the chances of seeing the lights from the deck of our cruise ship? We will be on Viking Ocean Cruise and will stop in Tromso and Alta.
Quite high, actually. All you need is darkness, clear skies, and high aurora activity. Cruise ships usually offer plenty of chances to see auroras as you are sailing in the dark the whole night and pass so many different areas that there are bound to be some places with no cloud coverage at the right time.
Fingers crossed for you! Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga
Your posts are lovely and I am glad I stumbled on them when looking for information arounf travel to Tromso.
What I am unable to figure out is what sort of budget would be sensible for two adults and a teenager for food?
Also we are vegetarians?
Is it better I look into packing some food on my travel to TRomso?
Thank you very much
Hi Divya, it’s really hard for me to advise on the budget as everyone travels differently and so much depends on your restaurant choice… Here you can find some examples of how much (including food) costs in Norway, so maybe this will help a bit.
I wouldn’t worry about finding vegetarian food, it’s really not an issue in Scandinavia.
hi may i know which month did you go?
I visited Tromso in the first week of March.
Hello there,
I am lucky that i discovered your blog. I loved the posts about Tromsø.
I want to book flight tickets to Tromsø as a bday gift for my boyfriend. Your posts helped me a lot to decide that Tromsø is the ideal choice for nothern light.
Since i am planning on a rather small budget 🙁
Question to all of you and especially to Alina : you wrote you went to great places by rent car by yourself. Could you name us a few? A street? A place a beach?
I calculated the expenses and I cannot afford a guided tour 🙁
Thanks in adavance for reply.
Yours
Sophia
Hi Sophia, I don’t think Alina will answer to you as she probably won’t see this (readers don’t get notification about the comments, only I do).
I’d say try not to overthink it. Your best bet is to stay a bit outside the city where the chances of light pollution are smaller. I assume you’ll rent a car? Then just check the weather forecast (best some kind of weather radar that shows clouds) and head to a place that has least chances for clouds for that night. It’s not about a specific place to be, it’s about being in a dark place with no clouds. And then just wait. You can always ask at your accommodation for people to recommend a nice desolate place nearby (based on the forecast). There are so many beautiful landscapes around Tromso where you can sit and wait for auroras (make sure to dress warm).
If you don’t rent a car and stay in Tromso itself, then it becomes a bit more tricky. You can only see auroras in town if they are extremely bright. The best place to watch auroras in Tromso is by taking Fjellheisen cable car to the top of the mountain. It’s also not cheap though, but such a nice thing to do, the views are amazing.
Hope this helps a bit.
Hello Jurga,
thank you for providing me with tips.
I really want to rent a car for the trip to be more flexibel. Was is save /or difficult to drive on snowed roads?
I couldnt find well connected public transportation like bus or so to go around. so I thought having a car would be cheaper.
Did you also explore the areas around Tromso?
Yours Sophia
Hi again Sophia, I didn’t drive in Tromso in winter. I visited the city and did tours from there. You can read about my trip here: best things to do in Tromso in winter.
Every time I went on a tour, whether it was dog sledding, reindeer sledding, Tromso Ice Domes, or aurora tour, it was always quite far from town. I was really glad that I didn’t have to drive. The roads were covered in ice. Locals drove 80km/h as if it was nothing, but if it was me, I think I wouldn’t have driven more than 40km/h and would have been terrified… And in general visibility was good as the weather was mostly dry during my visit. I can’t imagine driving there in a snow storm or in the mist. I don’t want to scare you, as you really never know how the roads will be… Just be aware of this and don’t over-plan your days, leave enough time to get to places. Also keep in mind that the days are short.
Great advice, thank you. My wife and I will be in Tromso for 4 nights, starting October 18th. So many of the “tour” companies want our business and all pretty much offer the same thing. We would prefer a small tour rather a big bus. How do we choose which company to go with??
I honestly think it doesn’t matter that much. I did two tours, small and big group, and actually enjoyed the big bus tour more. (Which was completely opposite to what I expected.)
All the companies try to give you the best experience, it’s the little extras that make the difference. Some will give you a thermal suit (most small group tours do), some will give you warm soup, others will let you fry a sausage, or some other meal, etc. But in terms of seeing the auroras themselves, they all look at the forecast and try to find the best suitable place for that specific night.
Hello!..May i ask how much is the price of photo that the tour guide sold to you online?.thanks..
Hi Mendio, please check my answer to another reader from just a few days ago.
Hi,
Do u still remember,how much to purchase the picture(bus tour) online…thx
The pictures were 350 NOK each (around 36 EUR). Not cheap for sure, but the good thing is that you can decide after you see how the picture turned out. I guess it’s all relative; if you’d hire a professional photographer for any job, it would cost many times more.
Hi Jurga, which dates were the photos taken? October? November? December?
Hi Basia, I was in Tromso in the first week of March, that’s when these pictures were taked. The best season for Northern Lights is anywhere from mid September till the end of March (+- a few weeks).
We are headed to Tromso in March of 2019. What was the name of the beach you went to?
Thank you for a nice article.
Hi Marilee, I don’t remember the exact location for sure now (because we didn’t drive there ourselves but went with a tour). But I think it was a beach next to the road Fv.304 a few kilometres past Hansnes where the road makes a sharp turn. Just keep in mind that it was the best location for auroras chosen for that specific night based on the weather radar and aurora forecast for the area. What you need in order to see the Northern Lights is a clear sky with no clouds and ideally an open space with good visibility in all directions. You can always call one or the other aurora company when you’re in town and ask which areas have the biggest chances for that night. Good luck chasing auroras in Tromso next winter!
Amazing photos! I’m planning to visit a friend in Tromso this coming September and I’m so glad that in that month I will able to witness that beautiful Northern Lights. It will be the best memorable trip of my life. Thanks for sharing this.
Hi Keith, I hope so for you. Seeing the Northern Lights is a truly unique experience and Tromso is a really nice town that has plenty of things to see and do. Enjoy your trip!
Ohh how amazing is that? I can;t wait to go and see auroras myself <3 Planning a trip to Iceland soon, wish I had known that Tromso has better chances
Iceland in winer is a truly amazing experience too! But as far as the weather goes, yes, Tromso is much more stable. Icelandic weather is changing all the time… So if you don’t see the auroras there, you know where to go next 😉
I completely agree with the comment about the forecast – I visited Tromso 3 weeks ago and we saw auroras every night we left the city to escape light pollution (cable car is possible, but then anyway stronger aurora is needed). Even when it was showing that current KP index is 1, we saw amazing auroras dancing in the sky! An absolute dream come true! We didn’t book any tours, just rented a car, googled for the best aurora spots and went ourselves (and saw many tour buses with people grilling something!).
Thanks for sharing your experience, Alina. That’s indeed in line with what I experienced and heard from the guides. Just go and look for auroras every winter night in Tromso and the chances are very high that you’ll get lucky.
Hello Alina,
Could you tell me which places you went by car?:)
Thanks.
Sophia
Thank your for all these tips! I’ve been to the Tromsø before, but it was during the summer and we saw the midnight sun – also a great spectacle! Would love to go back in the winter now though and see the northern lights like you!!
Glad you fond this useful, Kathi. And we hope to go and visit Northern Norway in summer 🙂 I think it’s a region that is truly beautiful any time of the year.
I was wondering how you got such amazing pics! The photography skills of the tour guides alone seem like a compelling reason to do the tour! Among the many others – epsecially bathrooms on the bus 🙂
As I said, photography is my hobby. So much that I spent the whole evening outside and didn’t even get to the bathrooms 🙂 I did go back to the bus for some hot chocolate and cookies though :))).
But it is really good to have the guides who can help you with the camera settings, and all aurora tours in Tromso seem to offer this guidance. Everyone who had a decent camera and a tripod got some good pictures I think – the guides were really helping out.
Jurga, can a normal DSLR handle the cold there? I’d love to take tons of photographs but I’m afraid it would ruin my camera or something like that.
Thanks!
Bruna
Of course, Bruna! The only risk you have is that the batteries run empty quickly, so I always carry a spare battery and keep it close to my body in an inside pocket. In case of hunting for Northern Lights in Tromso it’s not even that cold really as the climate is very mild there. The coldest I had in Tromso was -6°C (21F), so nothing to fear when it comes to camera equipment.
I think it is a big big difference between the big and small tour groups offering you the photos for free. Your photos are incredible. Or are they ones that you took? If so do you have special equipment do that?
Hi Tanya, yes, indeed if you want to have nice pictures and know nothing about photographing the Northern Lights then it’s really nice to have the pictures that small group tours offer for free.
Photography is my hobby though, so I rather take the pictures myself. I’m one of those people who enjoy the aurora more if they can play with the camera trying to get some nice shots rather than sit by the fire and just watch it. 🙂
As for the pictures in this post, yes, I took all of them myself, except for that one picture that the guide from Northern Shots Tours took for me. You can never take that kind of picture of yourself without the external help and those guides are professional photographers who do it every night, so they know what they do.
As for the equipment you need, check this post that has more tips for aurora photography.
Great post with fabulous, detailed information and some beautiful images. Northern Lights are on the bucket list!
Thanks Lynne. I always try to provide lots of practical tips for our readers so that they travel well prepared and can make a memorable trip of their own. 😉