Tromso

The Ultimate Tromso Travel Guide

Tromso Trip Planner

Q: How many days to spend in Tromso?

Plan your Tromso trip for at least four days, but ideally one week.

Q: Are Tromso summers cold?

The temperatures in Tromso in the summer aren’t cold, but they may be chillier than you’re used to. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 54°F.

If you’re visiting the Capital of the Arctic for the first time or you want to plan the ultimate Northern Lights getaway, you need this Tromso trip planner. Below, you’ll find everything you need to plan a trip to Tromso, from the best activities and hotels, to what to pack and how to get around.

Planning a Tromso trip step-by-step

This Tromso trip planner will guide you step by step, so you cover all the bases:

1. Things to do in Tromso

There are countless things to do in Tromso, from chasing the Northern Lights to reindeer sledding and scenic hikes. There are also lots of museums and attractions to discover, so check out the top activities in Tromso below!

Tromsø Northern Lights tours may be the most popular, but there are lots of other incredible excursions in Tromso. Whether you want a sporty adventure, a whale-watching cruise, or a chance to explore the natural landscapes, we’ve got you covered.

Northern Lights in Tromso - Fact Sheet

You’ll have the highest chances of seeing the aurora if you book one of the best Northern Lights tours from Tromso.

Check out our tips on how to see the Northern Lights in Norway, including when to go and where to see the most beautiful displays.

Plan your trip for the best time to see the Northern Lights, when the sky conditions and solar activity are optimal.

Find out what makes Tromso one of the top places to see the Northern Lights.

If you want to photograph the Northern Lights, read our tips to help you capture stunning images of the aurora borealis.

Check out our lineup of the best cameras for Northern Lights photography with the perfect settings and lenses to shoot the Green Lady.

Stay at one of the best Northern Lights hotels in Norway for an unforgettable adventure and a comfortable place to watch the show!

Don’t forget to check the Northern Lights forecast so you get the best light conditions possible!

2. Best time to visit Tromso

The best time to visit Tromso depends on what you want to do. There are lots of things to do in Tromso in summer, thanks to the midnight sun and the nice weather. However, if you go during winter, you can see the Northern Lights and wild orcas, and of course, spend Christmas in Tromso!

Tromso in winter

You'll get the cheapest prices if you visit Tromso in the winter. Plus, this is when whale-watching tours and the Northern Lights in Tromso are in full swing. Of course, you can also enjoy the holidays, one of the most magical times of the year to spend in Norway.

TROMSO WINTER ACTIVITIES

Tromso in summer

If you visit Tromso in the summer, you can enjoy great weather with pleasant temperatures and minimal rain. Plus, the midnight sun gives you more time to go hiking, camp outside, take a Tromso fjord cruise, and attend festivals.

TROMSO SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Tromso weather by month

To help you plan your trip, below is a chart of Tromso temperature and weather by month:

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Hours of daylight	1-2 hrs	7 hrs	11-12 hrs	16-17 hrs	22-23 hrs	24 hrs	23-24 hrs	17-18 hrs	13 hrs	9 hrs	3-4 hrs	0 hrs
Hours of sunshine	0 hrs	1 hrs	4 hrs	6 hrs	7 hrs	8 hrs	7 hrs	6 hrs	3 hrs	2 hrs	0 hrs	0 hrs
Average low temp.	22°F	21°F	25°F	29°F	37°F	42°F	48°F	46°F	42°F	35°F	29°F	26°F
Average temp.	26°F	26°F	29°F	35°F	43°F	48°F	54°F	52°F	47°F	39°F	33°F	30°F
Average high temp.	29°F	30°F	34°F	40°F	50°F	55°F	61°F	59°F	53°F	43°F	36°F	33°F
Days with precipitation	13	11	11	11	10	10	11	12	13	15	13	14
Average precipitation (rain + snow)	456 mm	450 mm	307 mm	190 mm	69 mm	61 mm	77 mm	75 mm	93 mm	180 mm	275 mm	375 mm
Northern Lights	Yes	Yes	Yes	Maybe	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Whales	Yes	Maybe	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
WEATHER IN TROMSO MONTH BY MONTH

How many days to spend in Tromso

It’s a long way to Northern Norway, so to make your visit to Tromo worth it, plan to spend about a week there. I recommend spending at least 4 days traveling in Tromso so you can take the most popular tours and see the top attractions.

3. How to get to Tromso, Norway

Once you decide on the dates for your Tromso trip, it’s time to book your flight.

The flights to Northern Norway are usually expensive and require a layover. Some of the most popular layover stops are Oslo, Copenhagen, and Frankfurt. I recommend checking Kiwi or Skyscanner for the best deals on flights.

As for ground transportation, there aren’t any direct trains to Tromso, so you’ll have to fly into Tromso Airport.

After booking your flight to Tromso, be sure to get travel insurance for Europe and a Schengen visa, if necessary.

15% OFF your travel insurance

4. Where to stay in Tromso

Depending on the Tromso attractions and activities you’re interested in, you may want to stay in the heart of the city or closer to the great outdoors. We’ve got you covered with our guide on where to stay in Tromso.

Best hotels in Tromso

We've selected the top hotels in Tromso, so you can find great accommodation regardless of your budget. All of these hotels are centrally located near the most popular city attractions.

Cabins near Tromso

If you want to escape the city and stay somewhere in nature - perhaps by the Nordic fjords - discover the best cabins near Tromso. These rustic lodges are perfect for seeing the aurora.

Tromso campsites

Whether you want to sleep in a tent or a cabin, these beautiful Tromso campsites are the perfect place to stay. Spend some time in the great outdoors surrounded by glacial fjords, mountains, and hiking trails.

5. How to get around Tromso

As for Tromso’s public transportation, the city has a very reliable bus system. You can even download the Troms Billet app to purchase tickets on your phone.

Renting a car in Tromso

Even with a great bus system, there are lots of remote locations around the city that are worth visiting, so renting a car in Tromso is a good idea.

Tromso airport to city

After landing in the Arctic Capital, you can take bus lines 40 or 42, or a taxi, into the city center. The Airport Express Coach, Tromso’s airport bus, is another way to get to your hotel.

6. Best restaurants in Tromso

As a coastal city, Tromso serves up plenty of fresh fish and seafood, although you can find options for all dietary preferences.

Despite its small size, the city has lots of places to eat, and I recommend dining at one or two of the best restaurants in Tromso.

These Scandinavian and Norwegian restaurants focus on regional food with lots of fresh, local ingredients. So, check out our article and dig in!

Tromso's must-eat foods

The most popular foods in Tromso, Norway center around fish and seafood, but you can find vegetarian options and meat-based dishes, too. Of course, the national dish, Fårikål (mutton stew), is a must-eat in Tromso! Here are some other foods to try during your visit:

Tørrfisk (dried cod)
King crab
Salt cod stew
Smoked salmon
Herring
Seagull eggs
Reindeer meat
Brunost (brown goat cheese)
Rømmegrøt (sour cream porridge)
Raspeball (potato dumplings)

7. How much is a holiday to Tromso?

Everyone has different preferences, time constraints, and budgets, so calculating the cost of a trip to Tromso isn’t always easy. Here is a price breakdown to help you out, as well as some Tromso travel tips to help you make the most of your visit!

Accommodation

Meals

Attractions

Tours

Transportation

Total cost

Accommodation

Meals

Attractions

Tours

Transportation

Total cost

How to travel to Tromso on a budget

The best time to visit Tromso depends on what you want to do during your trip, although if budget is a concern, January to March is the cheapest time to go.

Many of the best things to do in Tromso (visiting the Arctic Cathedral, seeing museums, taking tours, etc.) are in the city center. Staying in a centrally-located Tromso hotel will help you cut down on transportation costs.

8. Tromso packing list - What to wear in Tromso

Warm clothing is a must if you’re visiting Tromso, Norway in the winter. You’ll want to pack woolly layers to keep you cozy in the cold Tromso climate. Even the summer temperatures in Tromso are on the cooler side, so layers are still a good choice. Think light, windproof jackets, a heavier jacket for when the temps dip, and a hat to shield you from the midnight sun.

Tromso winter packing list

Hat, gloves, and scarf
Long underwear & wool socks for layering
Wool sweaters
Parka
Hiking boots
Crampons for snowy or icy hiking trails
Skiing/snowboarding gear
Camera

Tromso summer packing list

Summer hat
Light, windproof jacket
Jeans
Hiking boots/sneakers
Hiking backpack
Gloves for chilly days
Long johns for layering
Camera

9. Download a tourist map of Tromso

Tromso may be small, but it has lots to offer, so keep track of all the details with this map of Tromso:

10. Other tips for visiting Tromso

Here are some final tips to keep in mind while you’re doing your trip planning for Tromso:

The supply voltage in Norway is 230V (50Hz), and they use Type C and Type F plugs with round prongs, so you’ll want to bring an adapter for your electronics if you’re visiting from a country that doesn’t use the Europlug.

In Tromso, as in the rest of Norway, the local currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK). The current exchange rate is 0.10 USD for 1 NOK; 0.13 CAD for 1 NOK; and 0.081 GBP for 1 NOK. Bank cards are accepted just about everywhere; just be sure to notify your bank!

The official language in Tromso is Norwegian, although you can get by with English, as most locals speak some level of it.

The price of eating out in Tromso can really add up, so if you want to buy groceries during your trip, it might be a good idea. There are different supermarkets in Tromso‘s city center, including Rema 1000 and Kiwi. The price of groceries in Tromso is about the same as food prices in the U.S. Most grocery stores are closed on Sundays.

There is free roaming in Norway if you use a SIMCard from Europe. However, if traveling from somewhere else, we recommend the Holafly eSIM card. You can keep your phone and get unlimited Internet access for as low as $19 for a 5-day trip.

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Don’t forget to get travel insurance with COVID coverage for your trip! We highly recommend Heymondo, which is the company we’ve been using for years.

Tipping in Tromso isn’t common, but if you want to leave a tip for good service, 10% is sufficient.

Tromso travel guide FAQ

To finish up this Tromso trip planner, here are the answers to some common questions about the Capital of the Arctic:

Is Tromso worth visiting?

Absolutely! This beautiful city offers incredible scenery and unique experiences like the Northern Lights, whale tours, and majestic fjords.

How expensive is Tromso?

Tromso isn’t a cheap city but it’s a much cheaper alternative to Oslo.

How many days to spend in Tromso?

Plan your Tromso trip for at least four days, but ideally one week.

What is the best month to visit Tromso?

It’s worth visiting Tromso any time of year, so the best time to visit Tromso depends on what you want to do.

For the Northern Lights, visit Tromso between September and April. If you want to go whale-watching, visit between November and January. To see the midnights sun, plan your Tromso trip for late June or early July.

What is Tromso known for?

The Northern Lights in Tromso are a huge tourist attraction, although the city is also known for its whale tours, the midnight sun, and the polar night.

Where can I see Northern Lights in Tromso?

Tromso is one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis, although you must plan accordingly to make sure you have the highest chances. The best way to ensure you see the most spectacular aurora display is by booking a Northern Lights tour in Tromso.