Best Tours in Tromso: 5 Epic Experiences You’ll Never Forget (+Tips)

Looking for the best tours in Tromsø, Norway? The choice can be overwhelming. 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 and epic Arctic adventures. Whether you are visiting in summer or in winter, there is always so much to see and do in Tromso!

However, if you do some research, you will quickly realize that many of the best, most epic 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? And which ones are worth your time and money the most?

Below, you can find a complete guide with all the details and our hand-picked experiences. But first – my personal recommendations.

My Favorite Tours in Tromso

If you have no time to read the entire guide and are simply looking for the most epic experiences in Tromso, here are my favorites based on personal experience during multiple visits to Tromso.

Simply click on the tour name for more details and availability:

• Whale Watching. These tours are available year-round. Depending on the season, you might see Humpback, Fin, Sperm whales, or Orcas.

• Dog Sledding. These tours require snow, so they usually run between November and April. Dog sledding is extremely popular, but availability is limited (there are only so many dogs and they have to rest), so they often sell out. I recommend booking these as soon as you know your travel dates.

• Northern Lights. To see auroras, you need darkness, so these tours only run in the winter season, between September and early April. Aurora chasing tours (especially small-group experiences) are very popular, so book well in advance.

• Polar Fjord Cruise & Fishing. These tours run year-round. It’s a great way to see the stunning scenery of the fjords around Tromso. You can even try fishing. It’s so much fun!

• Reindeer Sledding & Feeding. No trip to Northern Norway would be complete without seeing reindeer. On these tours, you can also meet local Sami people and learn more about their culture. It’s a unique experience and available in all seasons (apart from sledding, which requires snow). Don’t miss it!

READ ALSO: Where to Stay in Tromso

   

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!).

READ ALSO: Tromso Winter Itinerary

     

These are the best Tromso tours:

1. Fjord Cruises

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.

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.

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 in the detailed article via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Northern Lights in Tromso

   

3. Dog Sledding

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 highly-rated 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).

For more info about husky sledding and my experience-based tips, see the detailed guide via the link below.

LEARN MORE: 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 camp dinner, Sami culture, and a chance to see the 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 tour. Similar to the one above, but – in addition to all the rest – it also includes reindeer sledding.

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 City 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.

LEARN MORE: Things to Do in Tromso in Winter

   

Additional Recommendations

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. This is an ice hotel that they build every winter. 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).

PRO TIP: Book your Tromso tours online in advance! This gives you the possibility to compare offerings and prices, read the reviews, and make sure that you can do the tours you want, rather than risk them being fully booked (which happens all the time, especially in winter). Most of the tours we recommend can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance, so you have nothing to lose.

If you want to take a transfer from the airport, be sure to book it in advance because taxis are really expensive. Alternatively, public buses are a good option as well, especially if your hotel is in the city center.

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.

More tips & travel inspiration 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 the 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