Thinking of visiting Tromsø in Northern Norway in winter but not sure how much time you need or how to plan your time? This 3-day Tromso itinerary will help you plan a truly epic winter trip. Find out!
Tromso is a real winter wonderland that has so much to offer! From snowcapped mountains and incredible winter landscapes to bucket-list-worthy winter activities like reindeer or dog sledding… Tromso is also one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the world…
So if you are wondering if Tromso is a good winter destination, yes, it absolutely is!
Furthermore, with its easy accessibility and the ability to experience the best of the area in just a few days, Tromsø is also an ideal destination for a long weekend!
In our previous articles, you can read about all the amazing things that you can do in Tromso in winter, as well as the most epic tours in Tromso. But since so many of our readers asked how to plan their time and itinerary suggestions, in this guide, I share my Tromso winter trip itinerary, exactly as I did on my very first trip to the region.
This activity-packed Tromso itinerary allows you to experience the very best of Norway’s winter wonderland in just three days. It is also perfect for those looking for ideas for a long weekend break in Norway in winter.
At the bottom of this article, you can also find practical tips for planning your winter trip to Tromso. I tried to cover all the FAQs that we get from our readers. But first – my itinerary for 3 days in Tromso. Take a look!
TIP: If you are looking for a nice hotel in Tromso, I recommend Radisson Blu. It’s one of the most popular options and is close to everything. For a unique winter stay, check out the Crystal Lavvo Overnight Experience. It includes transportation from the city, a one-night stay, meals, and some activities.
For more information and tips on the best places to stay in Tromso, read our full guide via the link below (and reserve asap for the best prices and availability!).
READ ALSO: Where to Stay in Tromso
Here’s what your Tromso itinerary in winter could look like:
Day 1: Polar Fjord Cruise – Town & Polar Museum – Reindeer Sledding
Polar Fjord Cruise
I started my 3-day Tromso trip with a fjord cruise on the first day. This cruise is one of the best things to do in Tromso at any time of the year, and so also in winter. It starts at 10 AM and takes about 5 hours.
This is one of the best ways to experience the stunning fjords around Tromso. The scenery is simply stunning and you might get to see dolphins, seals, various seabirds and also eagles. In season (+- November to February), Tromso is also a great place to see whales.
We had really dreadful weather this day, but the tour was still very enjoyable. I would definitely do it when in Tromso, no matter the weather.
Good to know: This cruise includes fishing and fresh fish soup for lunch. Small snacks and light drinks are also included, as are warm thermal overalls. It’s a family-friendly activity and suitable for all ages.
TIP: These cruises take place on a relatively small boat. Since they are extremely popular, they often sell out at least a few days in advance. So make sure to book in time! You can check availability, read customer reviews, and book this fjord cruise here.
Tromso Town
Upon return to town, I had a bit less than 3 hours before my evening tour.
During that time, I walked around the old town, visited the Tromso Library, saw Tromsø Cathedral, as well as the Cathedral of Our Lady.
If you want to, you can also go shopping or find a cozy restaurant or cafe.
Tromso Harbor & Polar Museum
Then I walked back to Tromso Harbor to visit one of the most interesting museums in town, The Polar Museum (Polarmuseet i Tromsø).
The Polar Museum is quite small, but it’s extremely interesting and eye-opening. It gives a good insight into polar expeditions and the life in the Arctic regions, but also on the sad and devastating impact that humans have had on Arctic wildlife…
If you visit just one museum in Tromso, make it this one!
Practical Information: The museum is open daily, in winter it’s normally open from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Night Reindeer Sledding
The last excursion of my first day in Tromso was a night reindeer sledding tour outside of town. Pick-up time was 6 PM, which gave me just enough time to get back to the hotel and add a couple of layers of clothing for the night tour.
Reindeer sledding with traditional Sámi sleds is a real bucket-list experience that you can only do in this part of the world. Furthermore, if you are lucky, you might also see the Northern Lights. Our local guide said that they see the auroras on most nights. However, it was cloudy and snowing on the night I was there, so I didn’t see any auroras that night.
But that really didn’t matter at all. Meeting the Sami people, getting to know their culture, cuddling the reindeer, and riding the sleds was an unforgettable experience in itself. This tour also included a warm meal and warm drinks.
Good to know: This is a family-friendly experience that kids will enjoy as well. Thermal overalls for all sizes are provided. The tour lasts about 5 hours, so you’ll be back in Tromso at around 11 PM.
TIP: Just like all the winter tours in Tromso, this is a very popular excursion. You can check availability and book it here.
Day 2: Tromso Ice Domes – Polaria or Beer Tour – Northern Lights Tour
Tromso Ice Domes
Tromso Ice Domes is an ice hotel, ice bar, and so much more. Located in stunning surroundings about 95 km outside of Tromso, it’s a place that you also best visit with a tour that includes a transfer from Tromso town.
The 1.5 hrs drive is worth it in itself and the scenery is really beautiful during the entire ride. Furthermore, the ice hotel is a real masterpiece created at the beginning of every winter and always somewhat different than the previous year.
Good to know: The tour starts at 10.30 AM, and takes about 5 hours in total. Lunch is not included, but you can have lunch at the ice restaurant. There is enough time foreseen for that.
Alternative: Instead of just visiting the Tromso Ice Domes, you can opt for a tour that also includes husky sledding. It’s a great way to experience the stunning landscapes of the beautiful mountain valley where the ice hotel is located. The only difference is that this tour starts earlier in the morning (usually around 8.30-9 AM), so you’ll be back in town at the same time as with the regular tour.
If you are feeling really adventurous and have the money, you can opt to spend a night at the ice hotel at Tromso Ice Domes. But most people, myself included, simply come here for a few hours with a guided tour from Tromso.
LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Visiting Tromso Ice Domes
Polaria
I visited Tromso Ice Domes as a day trip and so I was back in town in the afternoon. My next stop was Polaria.
Polaria is the world’s northernmost aquarium. It’s a rather small aquarium and while it’s nice to see, I wouldn’t consider it an absolute must. However, it’s a good place to spend an hour or so when it’s cold and dark outside, and it’s especially fun for families with kids.
There are several aquariums inside with lots of educational emphasis and activities for the children. The main attraction is the feeding of the bearded seals. They also show short educational films; one about Svalbard and also one about the Northern Lights.
Practical Information: Polaria is open daily. You can find more info on their website.
or… Beer Tour
If you are not interested in visiting an aquarium, you may want to visit the nearby Mack Brewery. It’s the world’s northernmost brewery and they run frequent tours.
You can also just visit the oldest pub in Tromso – Mack’s Brewpub Ølhallen. So even if you aren’t interested in a tour, the pub is a nice place to spend an hour or two when it’s dark and cold outside.
Alternatively, you can also join the Tromso Beer Safari, but it’s a 3-hour tour that starts probably just too early to be able to make it if you do it on the same day as Tromso Ice Domes.
Northern Lights Tour
In the evening, I took a small-group aurora tour that started at 7 PM.
Alternatively, you can also opt for a Northern Lights and Husky experience.
TIP: Even though these experiences usually include some warm meals, make sure you get something to eat in town before going on a Northern Lights excursion. Even the tours that include dinner, usually just serve warm soup, some cookies, and warm drinks. It’s delicious, but if all you eat each day is warm soup on every tour you take, you’ll probably want something else and a bit more filling for a change.
LEARN MORE: How to Increase Your Chances of Seeing the Northern Lights in Tromso
Day 3: Dog Sledding – Arctic Cathedral – Fjellheisen Cable Car & Hiking – Northern Lights Tour
Husky Sledding
I saved the best for the last day and went dog sledding with this tour. What an unbelievable experience. If you take just one tour in Tromso, make it dog sledding. It’s so much fun!
Various departure times are possible for daytime dog sledding. Most tours start somewhere in between 8 AM and 1 PM. I recommend that you go early in the morning so that you still have enough daylight time left for the best view of Tromso (see further).
TIP: Dog sledding tours are extremely popular and sell out fast, so book these well ahead. Most tours I took (and link to in this guide) offer free cancelation up to 24 hours in advance, so you can always modify or cancel your reservation if your plans change. You can check availability and book your husky adventure here.
LEARN MORE: Dog Sledding in Tromso
Arctic Cathedral
I returned to town early in the afternoon and set to explore the eastern part of Tromso (on the other side of the bridge). My first stop was the Arctic Cathedral. It’s an impressive modernistic triangle structure that you’ll see from town. It’s as impressive on the inside as it is on the inside and well worth a stop.
TIP: In the peak winter season, there are also nice midnight concerts inside this beautiful church (they start around 10.30-10.45 PM and end around midnight). You may want to check the calendar to see if there is anything planned for your travel dates.
Practical information: The Arctic Cathedral is open daily for regular visits (there is a fee to enter). In winter, it’s open from 1 PM to 6 PM. You can check the opening times here.
Getting there: You can either take bus #26 from town, a shuttle bus (when available), take a taxi, or walk over the bridge. Since buses were running very infrequently when I visited, I walked there and also to the Fjellheisen cable car (see further). The 1.5km walk from Polar Museum to the Arctic Cathedral takes about 20-25 minutes. From there, it’s an additional 1km (15 min) to the cable car.
Fjellheisen Cable Car
Going on top of the mountain by Fjellheisen Cable Car is a must when in Tromso. The views from the top are UNBELIEVABLE! There are also lots of hiking paths on top and even in winter, you can make some beautiful walks there.
If you have some extra time, I highly recommend a short hike in the direction of Steinbohytta. Here is another viewpoint with even more spectacular views. It’s not an easy walk and I spent about an hour going there and back, but it’s really worth it! There is a lot of snow in winter and you need good winter boots (hiking poles and crampons would help a lot).
Practical information: Cable car runs every half an hour and, in general, is open daily between 10 AM and 11 PM or even midnight, depending on the season (more info here). You get a small discount if you book the tickets online in advance, but you can also just get them on the spot. Student and family discounts are available. You can reach the cable car by public bus or taxi, or you can even walk (I did).
TIP: Keep an eye on the weather forecast and do this excursion on the day when the weather is best. While you can visit Tromso museums in any weather, the views are obviously better when there are not too many clouds.
Good to know: This is also a very good place to go hunting for auroras in Tromso, especially when aurora activity is high and city lights in the distance don’t disturb too much. You can just go on the mountain by yourself – no need to take a tour.
Northern Lights Tour
On my last night in Tromso, I went on one more aurora tour outside the city. For more information on the Northern Lights tours, please check the day 2 itinerary above.
PRO TIP: If you are visiting Tromso in winter with the goal of seeing the Northern Lights, you will highly increase your chances by going aurora hunting every evening. I went on aurora hunting tours every night.
Planning Tromso Winter Trip: FAQs
Below, you can find some practical advice for planning your winter trip to Tromso.
How Much Time Do You Need in Tromso in Winter?
As you can see from the above itinerary, 3 full days (4 nights) are really the minimum time you should plan when visiting Tromso in the winter season. And those three days will be packed!
If you want to take it easy and explore Tromso at a somewhat slower pace, or if you are visiting Tromso in December or January when the daylight hours are really limited, you may want to spend a week in Tromso.
Good to know: This itinerary is completely based on my personal experience visiting Tromso at the beginning of March. The days were getting longer already and it was possible to do quite a lot every day.
You may want to check Tromso daylight hours to see how much light you can expect in the period when you’re visiting. Just keep in mind that not all ‘daylight’ hours are equal. When it’s a cloudy day, it might stay quite grim and darkish for a long time, even on sunny days, the first and last ‘light’ hours are more like twilight.
TIP: Plan your outdoor activities during the daylight hours and spend the long dark evenings exploring Tromso town. At night, go hunting for auroras outside of town.
Where to Stay for this Tromso Itinerary
I recommend staying in the city center. That way you are close to shops, restaurants, and also to all the tour transfers. Radisson Blu is one of the best options in the heart of the old town. The dog sledding tour that I did has a pick-up at this hotel, and many other tours also start here or just nearby.
On this winter trip, I stayed at Thon Hotel Polar. It’s a nice mid-range hotel with an excellent breakfast buffet (included) and just a short walk from the main sights.
On our more recent visit to Tromso with the whole family, we stayed at Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora and it was good too. The rooms are bigger here, the hotel is located right by the harbor, AND it includes breakfast, afternoon tea/cake, and dinner. It’s a great value for Tromso!
For more tips and recommendations, see our complete guide to Tromso hotels and accommodations.
Do You Need a Car in Tromso in Winter?
No, you don’t need to rent a car in Tromso in winter. Since most winter activities in Tromso are organized tours that you cannot do on your own anyway, you’ll have transfers included. If you stay in Tromso center, you can easily walk everywhere. All tour transfers depart from the hotels by the harbor.
Renting a car wouldn’t make any of the tours any cheaper and I’d only do it if you prefer to go looking for auroras on your own. However, car rental is usually so expensive in Norway (you can check prices and find some of the best deals for car rental on this website), that it’s not really worth renting a car just for that unless you’re traveling with a big group/family.
If you decide to rent a car, please only do that if you’re used to driving on ice. The roads in Northern Norway in winter resemble an ice skating rink…
How to Get to Tromso from the Airport
Tromso Airport is serviced by several public buses and it’s an extremely easy and convenient way to get from the airport to the city center. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, just note that taxis in Norway are really expensive.
If you don’t want to worry about public buses or how expensive your taxi will turn out to be, you can also pre-book a private airport transfer. It’s really convenient and quite reasonably priced, especially if you are traveling with more people.
How to Get Around in Tromso
If you are staying in Tromso city center, you can easily walk everywhere. The town center is very compact and everything is within a short walking distance. For longer distances, e.g. to get to Fjellheisen cable car, you can take a public bus or – if available – a shuttle bus.
TIP: Pack traction cleats or stabilicers when visiting Tromso in winter. The pavements and streets can be very icy!
What to Wear in Tromso in Winter
You’ll need warm winter clothing when visiting Tromso in the winter months.
While in town you might be fine with light winter shoes and jeans, you’ll want to wear warm windproof winter clothing for outdoor activities.
Most tour companies provide warm thermal overalls and some also provide winter boots and gloves, but it’s not really enough. You have to wear warm thermal underwear and your own warm winter pants and jackets if you want to enjoy the outdoors.
LEARN MORE: What to Wear in Norway in Winter
So, this is my Tromso itinerary for activity-packed 3 days in Tromso. You can use this itinerary to plan a long weekend in Tromso in winter, but you can also adjust it and make it a longer and more relaxing trip.
In addition to all the attractions and activities mentioned above, Tromso has a lot more to offer. If you have more time, you can go winter hiking/ snowshoeing, skiing, or join one of the popular snowmobile tours, etc.
TIP: If you have a few more days to spare and are looking for an even more unforgettable winter trip, you can take a short flight from Tromso to Svalbard. Just 1,050 km from the North Pole, Svalbard is a bucket-list destination where you can experience a real Arctic winter wonderland.
LEARN MORE: Svalbard in Winter
Planning a winter trip to Tromso and have any questions? Feel free to leave a reply below!
More tips for your trip to Tromsø & Northern Norway:
- Destination guide: Tromso in Winter
- Accommodation: Where to Stay in Tromso
- Auroras: How to See the Northern Lights in Tromso
- Packing: What to Wear in Norway in Winter
- Huskies: Dog Sledding in Tromso
- Ice hotel: Tromso Ice Domes
- Tours: Best Tromso Tours
- Budget: How Expensive is Norway
- Road trip: Northern Norway Itinerary
- Lofoten Islands:
- More: For more destinations and travel tips, please check our Norway travel guide.
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Swadeep
Monday 29th of July 2024
Hi Jurga, This 3 day Tromso winter itinerary is perfect for me, but how do I book it ? In the tab "Book Your Trip" it further takes me to "Get Your Ride" and "Viator" websites but they have tours which are hour based and not 3 day tour. Can you connect me with any guided tour operator for "3 day Tromso winter itinerary". Thank you.
Jurga
Monday 29th of July 2024
Hi Swadeep, this is a travel blog where we share our travel experiences and show our readers how to organize and book their own trips just as we do - using websites like Booking, GetYourGuide, or Viator. If you prefer to go to a travel agent and pay multiple times the price, you can probably find someone to arrange the same trip for you. But it's so easy to book everything yourself, also because you can compare, read the reviews, and know exactly what you are booking and what you are paying for. I know people who have been quoted ridiculous amounts for these trips, often 3-5 times higher than what we paid, and so I want to show our readers that they can easily do it themselves, save money, and make their own choices. So no, I cannot recommend any tour operator; it's just not how we travel.
Swati Yadav
Friday 1st of March 2024
Hi Jurga, I am living in Trondheim and planning to visit Tromsø in the easter holidays. I found your article interesting and very helpful. However, I am a bit worried if going to Tromsø at March-end would be worth spending time and money on. Since the chances of watching Auroro lights would be low, plus I read in your article that the season for watching whales is also from November to February. Plus things might be affected due to the easter holidays. Could you guide me related to these doubts? Thank you.
Jurga
Monday 4th of March 2024
Hi Swati, I think that Tromso is always a good idea and March is the peak winter season. The end of March should still be more than ok for auroras, but you never have a guarantee. Fjord tours are very enjoyable even if you don't see whales. And there should still be enough snow for winter activities. Although, you may want to check availability because I see that many experiences like husky sledding are already sold out pretty much for the entire month. In short, yes, it's worth a trip. But expect it to be very busy and if you decide to go, book all activities asap.
John Connaughton
Sunday 9th of July 2023
Hi, so one small problem I am finding reading thru this page and your "7 Things to do in Tromso in Winter". In many places, embedded in your writing, you have a link that says something like "3-day Tromso trip with a fjord cruise" or "book this tour", etc. But the links just seem to go to the "Get Your Guide" page and I cannot see the specific one you mention, let's say "Polar Fjord Cruise" or "Ice Hotel with Dog Sledding". Can you help with this?
John Connaughton
Wednesday 12th of July 2023
@Jurga, Thanks for those links. We are considering getting a rental car, so we can journey every night to see Aurora, if need be. If so, some of the things we'd like to do, can they be done by driving to the location and just paying there. Reindeer Sledding, Ice Hotel, Dog Sledding, especially. I used the link on car rental you gave and it looks like for $400 USD with full coverage for the time we will be there. That would be a lot less expensive than if we need to do Aurora Tours almost every night. If we did get a car, how are most hotels as regards parking in Tromso? We're considering Comfort Express Gronnegata.
Jurga
Monday 10th of July 2023
Hi John, we have no influence how GetYourGuide (or other websites) decide to show the urls when we link to them (and we talked to them about this time and again). Because some tours are seasonal or get replaced, they think that it's better to show the tour we linked to together with many other options in that area. Still, as a general rule, if the tour that we linked to is available, it always shows up as the very first one on the page that opens when you click on it. Polar Cruise is this one. Ice Hotel with Dog Sledding is not available now from what I see. This is probably because it's way too early for the season (ice hotel is built again every winter, so they'll probably show it as available when it's up and running again), so try again a few weeks before your trip. The Northern Lights tour is this one. Husky sledding - this one for a guided ride and this one for a self-drive. I hope these links now open correctly for you with just one tour per page. Once again, otherwise, it's the first one you see on the top left of the screen (if available). Hope this helps.
Pete
Sunday 9th of October 2022
Can you tell me about the includied meals at Clarion .. I'm a fussy eater, and the room price may be a tad high if I dont eat anything!!
Pete
Monday 10th of October 2022
@Jurga, cheers!!
Jurga
Monday 10th of October 2022
Hi Pete, we recently stayed at Clarion Aurora in Tromso and found the meals great and excellent value taking into account the prices you pay at local restaurants. Breakfast is pretty much like anywhere else in Norway, afternoon tea - two kinds of cake and tea/coffee, and dinner - one or two main courses, a salad bar, and soup. It really depends on the day and what the cook decides. So nobody can tell you in advance what kind of food you'll get. If you want to be able to choose, then no, it's probably not the best option for you since dinner options are limited. That being said, one of our kids is also a fussy eater and he found plenty of things that he liked. Also, at least when we traveled, this hotel with food included was cheaper for the 5 of us than most others in the same location without any food options at all. So we found it more than worth it. But this might be different depending on your travel dates. Hope this helps.
Michael Cicchi
Sunday 2nd of February 2020
Interesting, I never heard of this town.
Jurga
Monday 3rd of February 2020
How is that possible, Michael?! As one of our most loyal readers, it's hard to imagine you missed all the pictures and blog posts I keep sharing about Tromso. :) It's a wonderful place and one of my all-time-favorite winter trips.