Things to do in Tromsø
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Tromsø
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Peak aurora, dark and snowy, whales until late January, highest prices and sell outs.
Aurora in March with more daylight, ski touring peaks, April is the weakest all round month.
Midnight sun late May to late July, hiking, kayaking and golf, no aurora.
Aurora returns, autumn colour, calmer city and prices 20 to 30 percent lower.
Polar night deepening, snow and tours not yet in full swing, fewest events.
What's on
- Polar Night Half Marathon early January
Norway biggest winter race, run in the dark.
- Tromsø International Film Festival third week of January
Norway largest film festival, with outdoor cinema in polar night.
- Northern Lights Festival late January to early February
Classical and jazz in Arctic settings.
- Sámi Week early February, around 6 February
Markets, lasso throwing and reindeer racing around Sami National Day.
- Norwegian Reindeer Racing Championships early February
Reindeer racing down Storgata during Sami Week.
- Midnight Sun Marathon June
Marathon run at night in daylight.
- Bukta Open Air Festival July
Rock festival on the beach at Telegrafbukta.
- Riddu Riđđu July
Major Indigenous peoples festival in Kafjord, about 2 hours away, Sami led.
- Insomnia Festival October
Electronic music festival in the hometown of Royksopp.
Best things to do in Tromsø
Fjellheisen
Four minute gondola to Storsteinen for the best city, fjord and Arctic Cathedral orientation view.
Arctic Cathedral
White triangular church evoking icebergs, strongest for its exterior and the view back to the city.
Pust Sauna
Floating harbour sauna with a cold Arctic plunge and a window framing the Cathedral and bridge.
Polar Museum
Best city museum for polar hunting, trappers and the Nansen and Amundsen expeditions.
Polaria
Iceberg shaped Arctic aquarium and science centre with seals, fish and a panoramic film.
Ølhallen
Tromso oldest pub from 1928, attached to Mack brewery, for one Arctic beer on a Storgata wander.
Telegrafbukta
Sandy bay with fire pits and open sky, the in city aurora spot and a summer family beach.
Prestvannet
Small lake loop with birdlife in summer, ski tracks in winter and low light pollution for aurora.
Where to stay in Tromsø
Downtown Tromsøya - Harbour and Storgata
first trip, all-round base
Walkable harbour grid where tours pick up, restaurants are on foot and late tour returns are minutes to bed.
Tromsdalen
families, longer stays, repeat visitors
Quieter mainland valley by the Cathedral and cable car, with space and often lower prices, 10 minutes by bus.
Kvaløya
aurora-first trips with a car
Scattered lodges and cabins under darker skies with fjord views and sledding and kayaking on site.
Langnes and Airport area
first or last night, work trips
Modern chain hotels near the airport and mall with easier parking, but you bus into town for everything.
Sommarøy, Malangen and Lyngen
second base for 2+ nights
Beach, fjord and wilderness lodges that are holidays in themselves, not a Tromso hotel substitute.
Think twice about
- Unlabelled short-let apartments far up the Tromsøya hillside or in Tromsdalen without a bus route
A steep ice sheet walk with luggage in winter. Check the exact address against a bus stop before booking.
- Properties marketed as Tromso in Ramfjord, Olderdalen or Kvaløysletta with no transfer
Distances of 30 to 60 minutes are routinely soft pedalled in listings.
- Airbnb-style whole-building short lets in the centre
Not a safety issue, a civic one. Investor short lets tighten housing for students, and aparthotels give the same kitchen.
Best restaurants in Tromsø
Restaurant Smak
Tiny tasting menu room, seasonal and local, the anniversary and one big night reservation in Tromso.
Mathallen Tromsø
Open kitchen modern North Norwegian restaurant, the safest first night polished dinner in the city.
Fiskekompaniet
Harbour seafood flagship for shellfish, Lyngen prawns, king crab, halibut and cod.
Bardus Bistro
Locals bistro for fish soup and reindeer fillet, with Bardus Bar next door for a pre dinner drink.
Emma's Dream Kitchen
Beloved institution with upstairs tasting menus and a famous fish gratin at lunch downstairs.
Hildr Gastrobar
Creative small plates and a chef menu in a low lit central room, the foodie pick.
Maskinverkstedet
Big industrial former workshop in Vervet doing North Norwegian dishes and grills for groups.
Full Steam Tromsø
Preserved cod fishing building and restaurant serving bacalao, fish soup, whale and reindeer.
Outdoor things to do in Tromsø
Northern Lights Chase by Minibus
Small group minibus hunt that drives inland for clear skies, with suits, fire, food and photos.
Tromsø Wilderness Centre
Self drive dog sledding on Kvaloya with a large husky yard and puppy visits, about 30 minutes away.
Camp Tamok
Wilder valley base for self drive dog sledding and snowmobiling, about 90 minutes inland.
Brim Explorer
Silent hybrid electric catamaran whale watching to Skjervoy in season, late October to late January.
Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
Sami camp to hand feed reindeer, take a short sled ride and eat bidos in a lavvu by the fire.
Sommarøy
Fjord road trip through Ersfjordbotn and Grottfjord to Sommaroy white sand Arctic beaches.
Senja
Scenic route island day or overnight with Bergsbotn, Tungeneset, Husoy and Anderdalen National Park.
Sea Kayaking Sommarøy
Guided sea kayaking among skerries and white beaches at Sommaroy, with drysuits provided.
Best hotels in Tromsø
Scandic Ishavshotel
Landmark wedge shaped quay hotel facing the Cathedral, with fjord view rooms and tours outside.
Clarion Hotel The Edge
Big modern waterfront hotel with the city best known sky bar as an all weather aurora fallback.
The Dock 69°39 by Scandic
Newer design hotel in the Vervet shipyard quarter with Arctic wellness and sauna, calmer north harbour.
Enter St. Elisabeth Suites & Spa
Suites and spa in a quieter position above the centre, best for couples and longer luxury stays.
Radisson Blu Hotel Tromsø
Most practical tour heavy base, with departures at the door, harbour views and a sauna.
Home Hotel With
Harbour hotel with breakfast, fika and light evening meal included, plus a rooftop hot tub.
Home Hotel Aurora
Sensible sibling to Home Hotel With, with included meals family rates and a sauna.
Skaret by VANDER
Aparthotel with full kitchens near a supermarket, steered to apartment seekers instead of Airbnb.
Is Tromsø expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | NOK 1,200 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | NOK 2,750 a person |
| Splurge | NOK 5,500 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Fjellheisen: a few days ahead
- Pust Sauna: a few days ahead
- Northern Lights Chase by Minibus: weeks ahead
- Tromsø Wilderness Centre: weeks ahead
- Camp Tamok: weeks ahead
- Brim Explorer: weeks ahead
- Tromsø Arctic Reindeer: a few days ahead
- Sommarøy: a few days ahead
- Aurora hunts and dog sledding in December to February book days to weeks ahead, early in your stay.
- Restaurant Smak books weeks to months ahead, then Mathallen, Emma's and Bardus dinners weeks ahead.
- Hotels book cancellable 3 to 6 months out for winter peak, 2 to 3 months for summer.
- Book Fjellheisen at sunset and Pust at night in season, and whale watching in November to January.
Is Tromsø safe?
- Tromso is very safe with no district to avoid for street safety. Real risks are ice, cold, avalanches and winter roads.
- Check Varsom for avalanches and Yr for weather. Never kayak or swim unsupervised in fjords.
- Watch for reindeer and moose on roads year round. Emergency care applies late at night around bars.
Tromsø travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Guaranteed northern lights offers. No one can guarantee them.
- Big bus basecamp aurora trips at concierge markup when a small operator costs similar.
- Magic Ice Bar and Troll Museum as headline activities, and king crab without checking weight and total price.
- Whale products outside late October to January, and underdressing for a seven hour aurora night.
Getting around Tromsø: public transport and more
- Fly to Tromso Airport Langnes, 5 km from centre. No train reaches Tromso.
- Walk the flat compact centre. Use city buses via the Svipper app and buy before boarding.
- Airport bus Flybussen to harbour hotels, local buses 40 and 42 are cheaper.
- Do not drive in winter without snow and ice experience. Studded tyres do not substitute for it.
Who Tromsø suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Tromsø your trip
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