Thinking of visiting Tromso in Norway in winter and wondering what to do in Tromso during the winter months (November, December, January, February, March, and early April)? In this guide, you can find a complete selection of the VERY BEST places to see and fun activities to do in Tromso. Take a look!
You are going where? People told me I was out of my mind when I said I was going to the Arctic and visiting Tromsø (Norway) in winter. Just a few days and many pictures and stories on social media later, those same people ask me for tips to make a winter trip like this of their own…
If you are also thinking of visiting Tromso in winter and wondering what to expect, then read on! In this article, I share the very best things to do in Tromso in winter and my experience-based tips for your visit. For each activity, I also include top tips and recommendations on where and how to do it.
In addition, at the bottom of this post, you can also find some practical information for your visit to Tromso, such as some recommendations on where to eat or where to stay, as well as frequently asked questions about visiting Tromso, Norway, in winter.
Top-4 Winter Experiences in Tromsø:
In this article, we highlight the absolute best things to do in Tromsø in winter that you really shouldn’t miss when visiting for the first time.
With so many bucket list activities like dog sledding, aurora hunting, reindeer sledding, and many more, Tromso is one of the most incredible winter destinations I’ve ever visited, and I hope that this guide will inspire & help you do the same.
On the other hand, I want to show you that there’s more to Tromso than just winter activities. With trendy cafes and world-class restaurants, quirky museums, modern architecture, and a very active nightlife Tromso is bustling with life. It’s a true gem of Northern Norway just waiting to be discovered. Find out!
Tromsø is a place that captures your heart. It’s a place with many faces and many stories. If you come in summer, you’ll discover that the sun never sets here; and in winter there is a long Polar Night, Northern Lights, and so, so much more…
Recently more and more people discover Tromso in winter and go home with an unforgettable story of their own.
I visited Tromso in cooperation with Visit Tromsø and Innovation Norway. They helped to arrange this amazing winter trip for me so that I could tell my own Tromso story to our readers. It’s a destination I long wanted to visit and I hope this will inspire you to discover it for yourselves too.
One thing I am certain of is that you will have the time of your life in Tromso and no matter how much time you’ll spend there, you’ll want to go back again!
READ ALSO: How to plan your trip – Tromso winter itinerary
Without further ado, here are the best things to do in Tromso in winter:
1. Dog sledding – a must in Tromso in winter
If you have time for just one winter activity in Tromso, make it dog sledding. You’re in for a thrilling ride and an experience of a lifetime!
I can’t imagine a better way to experience the Arctic winter landscapes than this, and I can’t wait to go back and do this again, next time with kids.
From the moment you first meet the huskies, you’ll be amazed at how enthusiastic the dogs are and how much they enjoy running. You can choose to drive the sled (this tour) or just sit and enjoy the ride (this tour).
If you drive, it usually means that you switch with another person halfway. So you get to experience both – the thrill of steering the dog-pulled sled, as well as the relaxing ride sitting in the sled and absorbing the scenery.
I highly recommend you go for both – sledding as well as driving. And while I heard some people say that it’s a challenge to drive the sled, I found it extremely easy and enjoyable. The dogs are so well trained that they do the job for you. In my case, the dogs were so happy to run that pretty much the only thing I had to do is push on the break once in a while to stop them from overtaking the others.
There are several places where you can go dog sledding near Tromso. I took this tour at Tromsø Villmarkssenter and loved every minute of it.
The drive from town was so scenic, the guides and the dogs – super friendly, and the location where dog sledding takes place is simply spectacular… Highly recommended!
You can book a self-drive dog sledding tour or one where you just sit in a sled and enjoy the ride. For kids under 16, this is the only option available. For the rest these tours are identical.
TIP: Book a self-drive dog sledding tour – it’s really fun to try it yourself.
For more detailed information, check our post about husky sledding in Tromso via the link below. It should answer all your questions.
LEARN MORE: Dog Sledding in Tromso
2. Northern Lights
Most people I met in Tromso told me that the main reason for the trip was seeing the Northern Lights. Good choice! Tromso is without a doubt one of the best places to see the northern lights in the world.
I once visited Iceland in winter and was lucky to have good weather and see the auroras there too. But generally speaking, the weather is much more stable in Tromso and therefore your chances of seeing the auroras are much higher.
As you may already know, you need several factors in order to see the auroras, and dark clear skies are a must. It’s still a gamble, of course, and you need to go looking for them instead of just staying in town hoping for a nice show despite the light pollution in town…
I took two different aurora hunting tours in Tromso. One was a small group tour and the other was a big bus tour with Northern Shots. Both were very different and both have their advantages and disadvantages.
There are many companies organizing aurora tours in Tromso so the choice is yours to make. Just remember to book in advance as many tours (especially small group tours) sell out very quickly. Here is one of the best-rated small group aurora tours in Tromso. If you want to take this one, you’ll have to be quick – it was fully booked during my entire stay.
LEARN MORE: Practical tips and information for watching the Northern Lights in Tromso
TIP: Aurora tours in Tromso aren’t cheap and it’s never guaranteed that you’ll see them on any specific night. If your primary focus of the trip is to see the Northern Lights, then you may consider booking a few night tours, or at least one aurora tour in the beginning of the trip. That way, if you don’t get to see auroras on your first night, you can try again before you leave.
But once you see the auroras, you’ll just get addicted and won’t mind chasing them again and again. So you can just as well do a different tour every night, as I did. 🙂
3. Tromso’s best view – Fjellheisen cable car
No trip to Tromso would be complete without a ride on the Tromso cable car, Fjellheisen. No matter the season, this is one of the best things to do in Tromso! So don’t miss it.
Fjellheisen cable car is Tromso’s most popular tourist destination and it’s easy to see why. Panoramic views over the city surrounded by islands, fjords, and mountains are simply phenomenal!
In the summer it’s an ideal place to see the Midnight Sun, and in winter you may even get lucky and spot the Northern Lights.
TIP: If you have an hour to spare, make sure to go for a short hike in the direction of Steinbohytta. There is another viewpoint, a bit higher, from where you can see even more spectacular views. It’s not an easy walk, however, and especially in winter you need good winter boots (hiking poles and crampons would make it even more enjoyable), but it’s so worth it!
Good to know: The easiest way to get to Fjellheisen cable car is with this shuttle bus from the town center.
4. Fjord cruise
One of the most popular day trips in Tromso is a fjord cruise.
In the winter whale season (+- November to February), you can expect to see whales (orcas) as well. But even if you come outside the season, a fjord cruise is a really nice day trip from Tromso. The scenery is beautiful, and if you are lucky you can see dolphins, seals, or eagles.
There is also a possibility to fish from the boat. At the end of the trip, they serve a freshly made soup with the catch of the day.
I went on this Polar Fjord Cruise on a cold, windy, and snowy winter day. Despite that, it was still a really fun trip. Warmly dressed in a thermal suit provided on the boat, I spent hours on deck enjoying the views, fishing, and trying to spot some wildlife. If this trip was so enjoyable even in such bad weather, it can only be better in other conditions. Recommended.
TIP: Dress warm and in winter use the free overalls provided by the tour company.
5. Reindeer sledding
Have you ever decided to take a trip based on pictures? I’ve been following Visit Tromso Instagram account for a while and it was their cute reindeer pictures that convinced me to visit the place. I knew that there was so much more to Tromso than the reindeer, but I just had to see them! And then there was this little girl’s dream of riding in a reindeer-pulled sled…
If reindeer sledding is on your bucket list too, then you’ll be happy to know that you can do this in Tromso as well. It’s a really family-friendly experience as the sleds don’t go that fast and you can enjoy the scenery, cuddle the animals, and learn a bit about the Sami people and their culture.
I went on an evening reindeer tour and was happy to find that the actual sledding took longer than I expected. It was snowing so there were no Northern Lights that night, but the auroras would have just been the cherry on the cake. What a unique experience – reindeer sledding in a beautiful winter landscape, followed by a warm meal and some Sami stories at the end.
TIP: There are many options when it comes to reindeer sledding in Tromso – during the day, as well as in the evening, as I did. Some rides are longer, some shorter, or you can meet the reindeer without booking the ride… So do your research and find a tour that meets your dream.
If I were to go back with the family, I would opt for a daytime reindeer sledding experience. I think the kids would enjoy it more during the day. On the other hand, if you get to see the Northern Lights, it would be magical…
6. Tromso Ice Domes – The Ice Hotel of Tromsø
If you want to visit an igloo complete with an ice bar, ice cinema, ice restaurant, and an ice hotel, then don’t miss Tromso Ice Domes in winter. The beautiful location in the heart of the Arctic wilderness, as well as some incredible world-class ice art, turns this place into a real winter wonderland.
Tromso Ice Domes was first opened in the winter of 2017/2018. Following the big success, the project is now open every winter and is now expanded. Sometimes they also call it the Ice Hotel of Tromso – it’s the same place.
If your budget allows it and you want to experience something unique, you can opt to spend a night there. But you can also just visit the Ice Domes on this half-day excursion from Tromso. Sometimes, it’s also possible to visit the Ice Domes and visit reindeer or go husky sledding in the beautiful surroundings (see all the best tour options here).
Via the link below, you can find more information about visiting Tromso Ice Domes. Take a look – it’s a real winter wonderland (lots of pictures and a short video included)!
LEARN MORE: Tromso Ice Domes
TIP: If your budget allows it, opt to spend a night in an ice hotel. It must be an unforgettable experience!
7. Tromso museums and other attractions
No list of things to do in Tromso would be complete without mentioning the main sights in the city itself!
For a rather small town, Tromso has quite a big variety of interesting attractions and museums. From the world’s northernmost University, Brewery, Cathedral, or Glass Blowing Studio to some interesting museums, art galleries, and also an aquarium.
With kids, don’t miss the Tromso Troll Museum with its Augmented Reality Experience. It’s a nice place to spend an hour when it’s dark and cold outside.
Tromso also has a really nice waterfront area – Tromso Harbor, and if you like shopping don’t miss the main shopping street – Storgata.
TIP: If you’d like to explore Tromso with a local guide, check out the city walking tours. It’s a nice way to get to know this unique Arctic city a bit deeper and discover its history, culture, and landmarks.
As you can probably see from all the activities I described above, my three days in Tromso were packed, so I only had the time to visit just a few places in town.
The first one that my travel guide recommended as a must-see in Tromso was Polar Museum. I see that it’s also been selected as one of Norway’s top-10 museums by Trip Advisor, so if you visit just one museum in Tromso, make it this one.
The Polar Museum has an interesting and eye-opening exhibition about the first polar expeditions, as well as hunting and trapping in the Polar regions. It’s difficult to stay indifferent to the stories, especially when you realize what people did to the Arctic wildlife: hunting of whales, seals, hundreds of polar bears… But it’s a big part of the region’s history, a part of our history as a human race too. And so I strongly recommend visiting this museum when in Tromso.
The Arctic Experience Center Polaria is a nice place to visit if you are in Tromso with the family. The main attraction of Polaria is the bearded seals, so try to be there at the feeding time (12h30 and 15h30 in winter and 12h30 and 15h00 in summer).
There are some smaller aquariums and you can also watch two beautiful movies – one about Svalbard, and one about the Northern Lights. It’s not a very big place and exposition is limited, but if you are visiting Tromso with kids, it might be worth checking out.
Just next to Polaria you can visit MS Polstjerna – a historical Seal hunting vessel. There is also a statue to Helmer Hanssen – a Norwegian polar explorer who was one of the first people to reach the South Pole in 1911. And if you like colorful street art, you’ll find it in the same area too.
Tromso Arctic Cathedral is one of the most recognizable and iconic buildings in town. Sometimes they have concerts and the acoustics is amazing. So check it out when in town.
Located not too far from the Tromso cable car (Fjellheisen), it’s a nice stop if you are walking there from the city center. The shuttle bus also makes a stop here on the way to the cable car, so you can hop off and visit the Cathedral before going there.
Tromso Public Library is another sample of modern architecture that you can’t miss in town.
It’s worth a short visit and is a nice place to warm up on a cold winter day.
Yet another nice thing to do in Tromso in winter is a visit to Magic Ice Bar. It’s a really cool experience (literally and figuratively!).
If you are visiting Tromso during the coldest winter months – it will likely be warmer here than outside.
Where to eat in Tromso
If there’s one thing you don’t have to worry about in Tromso, it’s finding a good place to eat. From trendy coffee shops and bistros to cozy little restaurants serving local specialties, to big seafood restaurants and international fast-food chains – Tromso has it all.
Below you can find some restaurant recommendations I received from the locals:
- Restaurants: Emma’s Dream Kitchen ($$$)- Mathallen ($$$) – Art Cafe ($$) – Bardus Bistro ($$) – Hildr Gastro Bar ($$$) – Arctandria seafood restaurant ($$).
- Coffee: Risø – Smørtorget – Helmersen Delikatesser- Kaffebønna.
- Bars: Bardus bar – Cafe Sånn – Mack’s Beer Hall (Ølhallen – the oldest bar in town and connected to the world’s northernmost brewery Mack).
TIP: Try the famous fish gratin at Emma’s and a very Instagrammable coffee at Riso’s.
Where to stay when visiting Tromso in winter
Tromso city center is small, so if you choose one of the most centrally located hotels, you don’t need to rent a car in Tromso at all.
You can walk to all of the attractions in town, take a bus to the airport (or book an airport transfer), and walk or take a bus to the cable car. All the organized tours and excursions have a pick-up in the old town center as well.
Here you can find our complete guide for where to stay in Tromso. Alternatively, see some hand-picked suggestions below.
Here are some suggestions for the best-located hotels in Tromso:
- Clarion hotels are among the best-located in town: Clarion Collection Hotel With, Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora, and Clarion Hotel The Edge. Some of them include breakfast and dinner in the rates, which is often an amazing deal compared to other accommodations nearby.
- Scandic Ishavshotel has the most beautiful location in Tromso. If you can afford it, book a sea view room. In the winter, you may even get lucky and see auroras from your room.
- Radisson Blu Hotel Tromsø is one of the most popular upper-mid-budget choices in the heart of the city center.
- Quality Hotel Saga – great price/quality ratio on a somewhat lower budget.
- Thon group hotels are a little bit further from the water, but still within a very short walking distance from everything in town. Thon Hotel Polar and Thon Hotel Tromso are just across the street from each other and offer great price-quality stays.
Good to know: If you are visiting Tromso in winter, make sure to book your accommodation (and tours) in advance. Especially February and the beginning of March are extremely popular months with lots of visitors.
Our experience: On this winter visit in Tromso, I stayed at Thon Hotel Polar. It’s a simple modern hotel that is a bit further away from the harbor, but still very close to everything.
On a recent summer trip, we stayed at Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora and I have to say that it’s one of the best price-quality-location hotels in Tromso. The rooms are a bit dark (but you are not here to sit in a room) and their standard rates include breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner. Taking into account how expensive dining out is, the value you get at this hotel is excellent. Their rooftop hot tub with the views of the harbor is amazing too.
Practical information for visiting Tromso in winter
- Visit Tromso in September through mid-April for the Northern Lights, November to January for the whales, December – January for the Polar Night, or in February – March for more daylight for your winter activities.
- Book your trip (hotels, tours, airport transfer) in advance.
- You can rent a car in Tromso and explore the area individually (keep in mind that the roads are covered in ice), but all tours provide pick-up and drop-off in the city center, so the car is not a must.
- Dress in layers with lots of wool. Good winter boots are a must. Most outdoor activities (dog sledding, reindeer sledding, polar fjord cruise, small-group aurora tours, etc) provide warm overalls, some companies even provide boots, gloves, etc. So no need to worry about getting cold in Tromso, even if the temperatures are really low in winter. Here you can read more about what to pack for Norway in winter.
- I spent 3 days/4 nights discovering the best of Tromso in winter and my days and nights were packed with activities. If you want to see and do the same things that I did, consider spending at least 5-6 days in Tromso. It will be a much more relaxing and enjoyable trip. And – if you have more time in Tromso – your chances of seeing auroras are also bigger because you have more evenings when you can go aurora hunting.
LEARN MORE: Tromso Itinerary in Winter
Tromso in Winter FAQ
Here are some popular questions about visiting Tromso in winter that our readers asked in the past:
The best things to do in Tromso in winter are dog sledding, watching the Northern Lights, reindeer sledding, visiting Tromso Ice Domes, and a polar boat cruise. Also Fjellheisen cable car and museums in the city center are perfect winter activities.
Yes, absolutely! Tromso is one of the most magical winter destinations in the world. A winter trip to Tromso is worthy of any bucket list!
Yes, you can explore Tromso and the area in winter by car. However, most winter activities require an organized tour anyway and so renting a car is not necessary.
You can see the Northern Lights in Tromso between September and March.
Yes, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights in Tromso city. If the auroras are strong enough, you can see them everywhere. For a better chance, head to the darker areas outside the city center. If you want to maximize your chances, however, it’s better to take an organized Northern Lights tour that looks for the best location on that particular night.
Average winter temperatures in Tromso are between -1 and -5 °C (22-30°F). That being said, you can also experience much colder temperatures of -10 to -15°C (5-14°F). Some areas outside the city and further from the sea can experience temperatures of -20°C (-4°F) and colder.
No, it’s not always dark in Tromso in winter. While the days are indeed very short in Tromso in December and January, there are always at least a few hours of some twilight. In February, there are already 5-8 hours of daylight.
More tips for your trip to Tromsø in winter:
- Accommodation: Tromso Hotels & Where to Stay in Tromso
- Itinerary: 3 Days in Tromso in Winter
- 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
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Svalbard in Winter
Some more travel inspiration for Northern Norway:
- Northern Norway Itinerary (Lofoten, Vesteralen, Senja, Tromso)
- Best Things to Do in Lofoten
- Lofoten Travel Tips
- Where to Stay in Lofoten
- Best Rorbuer in Lofoten
- For more destinations and travel info, please check our Norway travel guide.
If you found travel inspiration in this post, don’t forget to bookmark it for future reference and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!
Shahad
Sunday 5th of November 2023
Hello
We are planninh to visit either iceland or tromso in the end of january,,,which one do you recommend? I heard iceland in january is very windy and stormy.
Jurga
Sunday 5th of November 2023
Hi Shahad, you can't really compare Tromso to Iceland. First, one is a city and the other one is an entire country. Even comparing Reykjavik to Tromso is very difficult. Purely weather-wise, Iceland has more wind, storms, and the weather changes all the time. It can always be windy and stormy, not just in the winter. Tromso has more stable weather, it's much colder, but it should be drier with more chance of snow rather than rain. But you never really know what you get. In Tromso you have better chances to see the Northern Lights and you have activities like dog sledding, reindeer, ice hotel, etc. In Reykjavik, you have geothermal pools and a big variety of scenic tours outside the city, plus, there is more to do in the city itself. You can't really go wrong with either, but they are totally different destinations. You may take a look at our guide to the best of Reykjavik and also the best winter day trips from Reykjavik in order to get a better idea of what you could see and do there. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!
Santiago Chacon
Monday 4th of September 2023
Thanks for the wonderful insight Jurga. I would like to book a full tour for Tromso in January 24, one that includes various activities. Can you recommend tour companies that offer such broader tours rather than individual activities?
Thanks so much!
Jurga
Monday 4th of September 2023
Hi Santiago, I don't have any experience with tour companies. It's so easy to book everything yourself (and likely much cheaper too). Plus, you know exactly what you choose and what you pay for, can read the reviews, and make informed decisions based on your own interests and the schedule that fits you best. You may want to take a look at our Tromso winter itinerary to get an idea of how you could plan it all. Hope this helps.
Prasanna
Thursday 10th of August 2023
Hi Jurga,
Your post is very insightful and informative. We are planning to spend 1 week in February 2024. During the trip, I would like to experience travel by Bus, Rail & Ferry and cover most of the region and also do these as many exciting activities possible.(Aurora Borealis, Dog Sledding, Fjords etc) Would you recommend me the cities/towns that I can or should really cover within 7 days that will give me an opportunity to travel by Bus, Rail & Ferry (Fjord)? I have come across Alta, Tromso, Bodo, Trondheim, Alesund, Ferry to Geiranger, Bergen, Odda, Stavanger, Kristiansand & back to Oslo to return home. Would much appreciate some advice from you which of these cities/towns should be on top of the list & are a must visit ones (even if its 4 or 5) in February winter given that we have only 7 days to spend in Norway.
Thank you very much in advance for your time and help to us
Jurga
Friday 11th of August 2023
Hi Prasanna, unfortunately, we have no time to help our readers with individual itinerary suggestions. Just a few things - there is no railway in the north of Norway, so you'll have to fly. An alternative is a cruise that makes a few stops in the north as well. Also, some places like Geirangerfjord are very difficult to access in the winter by car. There is no railway there either. If you want to take a train, most people do the Norway in a Nutshell trip between Olso and Bergen via Flam, but I'm not sure if it's ideal in winter. Based on the places that you say you want to see and the time of the year when you are visiting, I think you should consider a cruise. Take a look at Hurtigruten website, maybe you'll find a journey that suits your interests. Alternatively, do Oslo-Bergen train journey, spend a few days in both cities, and also fly to Tromso for a few days of winter activities. Good luck!
John Connaughton
Sunday 9th of July 2023
We are thinking of a trip to Norway next Feb. Would spend a couple days in Oslo, then fly up to Tromso (arr Feb 14 and return to Oslo Feb 20), then spend 2 more days in Oslo before return to Florida. We visited Iceland in about the same time of Feb 2016. Would this be a good plan and would we have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. We did not see them in Iceland, was always too cloudy, although we never had any "bad weather"
Jurga
Monday 10th of July 2023
In general, Tromso is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights and your chances are much better than in Iceland. That being said, you never know what kind of weather you get, but with a week there, you would have to be very unlucky not to see them. You can increase your chances by taking a tour (or driving if you are ok with driving in the dark in winter conditions) out of town. Tours always do their best to look for places with no clouds if possible, so sometimes they even drive for a few hours if it's too cloudy in Tromso. You may want to check our guide to seeing the Northern Lights in Tromso for more tips and info.
Richard Stevens
Thursday 16th of February 2023
Hi everyone...just back from an amazing 3 days in Tromso. But.......the weather was terrible! Cloudy, rainy/sleety and from Tromso could not see any Northern Lights. But on Tuesday we decided to rent a car and drove to Kilpsjarvi in North Finland - it's about 150km but it's the highest road in Finland and notorious to get a great view of the NL, and boy, it did not disappoint!!! Tjis would be my advice is Tromso is covered in cloud.
Jurga
Thursday 16th of February 2023
Hi Richard, glad to hear that you got to see auroras. At least you had that in this exceptionally strange weather. Going to Finland is what most tours do if conditions around Tromso aren’t good. But it’s very different driving there on your own in the dark when the roads are icy as it usually is in this season. So I will leave this out there for everyone who might consider - if it’s icy and full of snow and you are not used in driving in winter conditions, do yourself a favor and take a tour rather than drive on your own. Winter weather is not to be underestimated and it can change in a few minutes. The weather Tromso has experienced in this past few weeks is totally not normal for the season.