Best Tours in Tromsø: 6 Epic Experiences You Can’t Miss!

Looking for the best tours in Tromso, Norway? The choice can be overwhelming, indeed. In this guide, we feature a hand-picked selection of the VERY BEST Tromso tours and excursions for all seasons.

Tromsø is one of Northern Norway’s top destinations offering a wide variety of activities. Whether you come in summer or in winter, by plane, traveling around Northern Norway by car, or on a Norwegian cruise, there is always so much to see and do.

However, if you do some research, you’ll quickly realize that most of the best Tromso activities can only be done with an organized tour. After all, you can’t go whale watching or dog sledding on your own…

So what are the best tours in Tromso?

Below, you can find all the details, but if you have no time to read it all and are simply looking for the very best experiences, here are our top 5 tours that you really shouldn’t miss in Tromso:

1. Whale Watching
2. Northern Lights
3. Polar Fjord Cruise & Fishing
4. Reindeer
5. Dog Sledding

 

When preparing for our family’s multiple visits to Northern Norway, I have researched tens of tours and excursions and hand-picked some of the best guided tours and day trips in Tromso. To make your trip planning easier, I share my selection in this guide. I have done quite a few of these tours myself and most of those experiences were just WOW and absolutely unforgettable.

Some tours are only available in winter, some can be done in any season. From whale watching or fishing to reindeer- and dog sledding, Tromso is a fantastic place to tick many unforgettable experiences off your bucket list. The choice is yours to make.

Good to know: As you will see in the article below, where available, I recommend booking Tromso tours via the GetYourGuide website. They have the best prices on the market, unparalleled customer service, and the most flexible cancelation policy (which is a must when visiting destinations in the Arctic where the weather is unpredictable!).

   

These are the best Tromso tours:

1. Fjord cruise

There is probably no better way to explore the magnificent mountain scenery around Tromso than by taking a fjord cruise. Depending on the season, you might get to see some marine wildlife or try fishing as well.

I went on a fjord cruise on a really cold and windy grey winter day, yet it was still amazing. If you are interested, you can read about this and other great things to do in Tromso in winter. But if you’re wondering whether it’s worth it, all I can say is that everyone on our boat was very enthusiastic about the trip.

Here are some of the best fjord cruises, whale watching trips, and other boat trips in Tromso:

• Polar fjord cruise (includes fishing!). This is the tour that I did when I visited Tromso in March. It’s now one of the most popular excursions in Tromso and is available the whole year.
• Whale and sea bird boat cruise. This tour only runs from November till the end of January (whale season) and is the best option if you want to see whales.
• Arctic fjord cruise by electric catamaran. This Tromso fjord tour is great for those who are looking for a smoother ride on a more luxurious boat. The boat also has huge windows, so you can opt to stay inside if it’s too cold on the deck.

 

2. Northern Light tours

The most popular winter excursions in Tromso are without a doubt the Northern Lights tours.

I am always a bit hesitant to suggest booking a tour for something that you can see for free. However, there are many reasons to consider taking a Northern Lights tour in Tromso.

First, the Northern Light tours bring you to a place where the chances to see auroras are highest for that specific night. Second, you don’t need to rent a car and drive in the dark on the icy roads. Third, you can benefit from the knowledge and experience of the guides, who will often also give you aurora photography tips. And finally, if you book a small group tour, you also get a warm suit as well as a really nice bonfire experience.

For more information and to get a better idea of what to expect from the Northern Lights tours in Tromso, you can read my personal experience and practical tips for chasing the Northern Lights in Tromso.

Here are some of the best Northern Lights tours in Tromso:

• All-in small-group aurora tour. This is the best-rated small group aurora tour in Tromso and often sells out many days in advance.
• Big-bus tour with professional photographers. This is a highly-rated and somewhat cheaper aurora tour in Tromso.

I did both these tours and can highly recommend both. If the conditions are right, you’ll see auroras on any of these tours. The difference is that the small-group tour includes thermal packs, a campfire experience, and some warm snacks.

 

3. Dog sledding tours in Tromso

My personal favorite tour in Tromso in winter is husky sledding. It was a real bucket list item for me and it didn’t disappoint.

If you book just one tour in Tromso in winter, make it dog sledding! Note that dog sledding tours are only available in winter, from November till early April. Here you can find some of the best-rated dog sledding tours in Tromso.

I did this self-drive husky sled tour and highly recommend the experience and the location!

Here you can find a somewhat cheaper dog sledding tour in Tromso. This is also one of the few tours that allow kids (from around the age of 7).

If you are interested to learn more about husky sledding, here you can read all about my personal experience and tips for dog sledding in Tromso.

   

4. Reindeer sledding and Sami culture tours

Another bucket-list item for many people traveling to Northern Norway is seeing reindeer.

Northern Norway, as well as Finland, is home to the Sami tribe and reindeer are an indispensable part of their culture. Therefore the area around Tromso is a perfect place to see them.

There are many possibilities to see or feed reindeer, as well as do some reindeer sledding in Tromso. Note that the tours that involve reindeer sledding only run in winter (usually from around mid November till mid April).

Here are some reindeer sledding tour options near Tromso:

• Reindeer sledding and feeding with Sami guide. This is the best-rated reindeer tour in Tromso.
• Reindeer ranch and Sami culture tour with lunch. This is the cheapest reindeer tour, but keep in mind that it doesn’t include any sledding.
• Reindeer camp dinner, Sami culture, and a chance of Northern Lights. This is an evening tour, mostly focused on Sami culture, but if you’re lucky, you may get to see auroras as well.
• Night Reindeer Sledding, Dinner & Chance of Northern Lights. Similar to the one above, but includes some reindeer sledding as well.

TIP: Reindeer sledding vs. dog sledding. If you are not sure which tour to choose, reindeer sledding or dog sledding, and don’t have the time or the budget for both, I recommend dog sledding. They are both very different experiences, but dog sledding goes much faster and takes much longer.

 

5. Tromso town tours

All the tours mentioned above start and end in Tromso, but they are all located outside the city. If you want to explore the town a bit more, consider one of these excursions.

• Historical Tromso city walk or a private Tromso city tour.
• Tromso beer safari. This tour takes you to the world’s northernmost brewery. If you are just interested in the pub and the beer, you can simply visit on your own, without a tour.

TIP: For more ideas on what to do in Tromso town, please check our post on the best things to see and do in Tromso in winter. Among others, it contains the entire section of the main Tromso attractions.

 

6. Other suggested tours in Tromso

The excursions I described above are the most popular tours in Tromso. If you are looking for the most memorable experiences, then look no further – seeing the Northern Lights, reindeer or dog sledding, as well as fjord cruise, are the main options to consider when visiting Tromso.

There are of course many more tours and day trips, so if you are looking for more ideas, read on.

Here are some other tours that you can do in Tromso:

• Snowmobile tours. Available from +-December till the end of March.
• Guided snowshoe hiking tours. Winter only.
• Cross-country skiing for beginners. Winter only.
• Visit Tromso Ice Domes – various tours available. I loved loved this place!

LEARN MORE: Tromso Ice Domes

 

So, this is my selection of the best Tromso tours. Once again, this is just a small part of all the excursions that are available in Tromso. I hand-picked these tours based on reviews, best date availability, and the easiness of booking (and cancelation).

You can also just go to Tromso’s visitor center upon arrival and try to book some tours directly. However, my experience in visiting the city shows that many tours get sold out. Small group Northern Lights tours are extremely popular, just as dog sledding.

PRO TIP: Book your Tromso tours online in advance! This gives you the possibility to compare offerings and prices, read the reviews, and to make sure that you can do the tours you want, rather than risk them being fully booked. You don’t necessarily have to book Tromso tours months in advance, but if your travel dates are fixed, you might as well do.

Most of the tours we suggest in this post can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance, so you have nothing to lose. As a minimum, I would try to book the tours you really want to do at least two weeks upfront, especially the Northern Lights tours and dog sledding tours in winter.

I hope that this helps you to plan your trip to Tromso and tick some amazing activities off your bucket list.

 

TIP: If you are visiting Tromso in winter but are not sure how to plan your trip, please check our suggested itinerary for 3 days in Tromso in winter.

If you are looking for an airport transfer to your hotel in Tromso, here you can book a (reasonably priced) airport transfer. Alternatively, public buses are a good option as well, especially if your hotel is in the city center.

More tips for your trip to Tromsø:

• Accommodation: Tromso Hotel Guide
• What to see & do: Things to Do in Tromso in Winter
• Winter trip: Tromso Itinerary for 3 Days in Winter
• Summer trip: Northern Norway Itinerary (don’t miss Lofoten Islands!)
• Auroras: How to See the Northern Lights in Tromso
• Packing: What to Wear in Norway in Summer and What to Wear in Norway in Winter
• Huskies: Dog Sledding in Tromso
• Ice Hotel: Tromso Ice Domes
• Budget: How Expensive is Norway

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Featured image by Sharon Ang via Pixabay