TROMSØ IN JANUARY: AMAZING THINGS TO DO, WEATHER, EVENTS & TOP TIPS!
WONDERING WHETHER TO VISIT TROMSØ IN JANUARY?
You’ve come to the right place! Our recent 5 day trip to Tromsø Norway was at the end of January into early February, so we know firsthand exactly what Tromsø in January is like.
We’ve put together this clear, easy guide below detailing literally everything you could want to know before you go.
Like all the best tours, activities and independent things to do, chances of seeing northern lights, will there be snow, how cold it is, what to pack, etc. Enjoy, we hope you find it helpful!! 😊
TROMSØ NORTHERN LIGHTS IN JANUARY
I won’t keep you waiting, let’s answer that golden question first – Is January a good time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
The answer? Absolutely! January is a great month to see the northern lights in Tromsø, owing to its prolonged dark Winter nights. So long as you get the right conditions (clear skies and solar activity), you’ve got brilliant odds.
CLOUD COVER
That being said. January in Tromsø is known for its frequent snowfall, bringing plenty of cloudy days, particularly in the early stages of the month. Unfortunately, this can mean reduced visibility for the northern lights.
Don’t let that discourage you! This is exactly why we recommend joining a guided northern lights tour to significantly boost your chances of catching the show.
We highly recommended this Northern Lights Adventure with Greenlander tour from Tromsø.
They are the true northern lights EXPERTS, with 11 years, 1000+ tours and a 97% success rate under their belt!
With expert guides armed with solar activity trackers and detailed weather forecasts, you’ll be taken to the best possible locations away from the city — ideally with clear skies — to maximise your chances of experiencing the Aurora’s magic!!
We can absolutely vouch for this. Our 4 days spent in Tromsø were braced with thick full cloud cover!! I remember by the 4th day feeling so disappointed, and tbh, not very optimistic for the northern lights guided tour we’d pre-booked for that evening.
Boy, was I wrong!! Just because it was cloudy in Tromsø, didn’t mean it was cloudy an hour away. Look at the displays we ended up seeing 🤩—
OTHER TOP THINGS TO DO
Knee deep in Winter (and snow!!) by this point, January provides so many incredible and diverse Winter-based activities in Tromsø— it’s hard to know where to even start!! 😅
Here’s some quick links to top-rated tours to get you started. (Or read our full what to do in Tromso in Winter guide next!)
🦌🐋
WILDLIFE & ANIMALS
>>> Reindeer Visit and Sami Culture (day tour)
>>> Whale Watching RIB Experience (With Transfers) (day tour)
💎💎💎
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
>>> Arctic Ice Floating in Warm Survival Suit Tromsø (day tour option – select 9.30am or 1pm time slot)
>>> Visit Tromsø Ice Domes, a life-size Ice Hotel with jaw-dropping ice sculptures.
🛷🎿⛷️
SNOW-BASED SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
>>> Lyngen Alps Guided Snowmobile Tour From Tromso (day tour)
>>> Cross-Country Ski Lesson for Beginners in Tromso (day tour)
>>> Small-group Snowshoeing Tour from Tromso (day tour)
🏞️🏔️
ARCTIC LANDSCAPES & NATURE
>>> Arctic Roadtrip: fjords with scenic picnic | Sightseeing (day tour)
>>> Arctic Nature Tour from Tromsø by minibus (day tour)
🛥️🌊⚓
SAILING & CRUISES
>>> Luxury Sailing Yacht Polar Fjord Cruise + lunch (day tour)
>>> Half-Day Fishing & Fjord Cruise Adventure (day tour)
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NIGHT TOURS
>>> Arctic Ice Floating in Warm Survival Suit Tromsø
(night tour – select 7.30pm or 9.30pm evening slot for chance of seeing northern lights too!)
>>> Luxury Northern Lights Yacht Cruise w/ Hot Tub & Din (night tour)
🌆🍂
TROMSØ CITY & TROMSDALEN
Not forgetting, there’s also plenty to do and see in and around Tromsø itself and neighbouring Tromsdalen (neighbourhood located across Tromsø bridge), such as—
IN TROMSDALEN
>>> Take the Fjellheisen cable car up the mountain for jaw-dropping views of Tromsø from the Storsteinen viewing platform. There’s a lovely café with panoramic windows up there too to warm up.
(low cost activity)
>>> Visit the Arctic Cathedral. Have a quick look inside Tromso’s most iconic building located just before the bridge.
(free activity)
IN TROMSØ
>>> Walk along Tromsø Harbour. You’ll come across —
- A glass building showcasing MS Polstjerna, a historical seal-hunting ship.
- The Motorcycle Club building with vibrant street art.
- Polaria Aquarium. The world’s northernmost aquarium! Go in or just admire the ‘ice floe’ inspired architecture from outside.
>>> Arctic Spa Experience onboard Vulkana (New!). Vulkana, an authentic wooden fishing vessel from 1957, has been transformed into the most unique Arctic spa experience, including an on-board wood-fired sauna and jacuzzi, Turkish Hammam, ice bath and Zen Lounge.
Usually, you’ll find Vulkana docked near The Polar Museum. She hasn’t completely hung up her sails just yet though! You can join a special “Fjord Spa Cruise” too. Contact Vulkana.no directly to arrange and book!
>>> Sunset at Telegrafbukta Beach. A stunning stretch of coast renowned for being the best spot in Tromsø city to spot northern lights without a tour. We can vouch, it also has killer sunsets! I mean, just look at this photo we took –
It’s an easy 30 minutes on foot to Telegrafbukta from Tromsø Harbour (or catch local #33 or #34 bus).
(free activity)
>>> Ølhallen pub. The oldest pub in Tromsø (and the World’s northernmost pub)! Pop in to try some of this microbrewery delicious 72 taps of Norwegian beer. Conveniently on route between Tromsø centre and Telegrafbukta Beach.
>>> Perspektivet Museum. Free to enter. This museum exhibits the fascinating history and evolution of Tromsø city.
TROMSØ JANUARY WEATHER
TEMPERATURE
Yes, Tromsø in January is of course cold, but not as cold as you might think! January temperatures typically range from -5°c to -1°c (23°F to 30°f), which – considering how far north it is – is pretty mild. This is thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, which Tromsø experiences being a coastal city.
That being said, on a windy day it can feel a lot colder. I’d never been more grateful for my big fluffy earmuffs the day we went up the Storsteinen viewing platform!!
The mild temperatures stop at the coast. If you head inland, like on a northern lights tour, the temperature drops CONSIDERABLY. It can even get to around -20°c (-4°f) at night!! 🥶
SNOWFALL
As we mentioned before in the northern lights section, January in Tromsø sees a lot of snowfall. In fact, it’s known as the Winter month that receives the most snow!!
This abundance of snowfall makes Tromsø’s magic truly sparkle, blanketing its already stunning landscapes in fresh, white powdery snow.
Not to mention this snow provides excellent conditions for snow-related activities, like snowmobiling or snowshoeing for example.
DAYLIGHT HOURS
Between 1st to around 14th January, you’ll experience the Polar Night in Tromsø — a natural phenomenon where the sun never rises above the horizon!!
This incredible experience finally ends around 15th January, where you’d see the sun just peak over the horizon for about 1 hour!! 🙈
From then, Tromsø’s January daylight hours steadily increase—
🌅 1st January daylight hours—
None!!! 🌙🌑
🌅 15th January daylight hours (first day the sun rises)—
11.24am sunrise, 12.23pm sunset (59 mins)
🌅 31st January daylight hours—
9.28am sunrise, 2.28pm sunset (5hrs)
This means the later you go in January, the longer your days will be. But if you do go early Jan, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’ll be in total darkness.
It just means you’ll briefly experience a heavenly golden / orange “sunset” glow in the sky instead!
SEEING WILDLIFE IN JANUARY
Where are you, fellow animal lovers?! 🙋🏼♀️
We personally love to squeeze in an ethical wildlife experience anywhere we go if possible, Tromsø being no exception!! You’re in luck, January is a fantastic month to see Tromsø’s most loved wildlife, such as—
WHALE WATCHING
November to February is Tromsø’s whale watching season, with a possibility to see incredible species like Humpback whales, Orcas and the elusive Fin whale out in the northern fjords.
Head out on a small-group whale watching excursion for a chance to see these magnificent creatures in the wild, like on this 5* up-close Whale Watching RIB Experience (With Transfer Tromso-Skjervoy) experience.
If you didn’t fancy being out in the elements on the smaller RIB (Rigid-Inflatable Boat), there’s also this Silent Whale Watching tour. A great alternative for little more comfort on a larger boat, with the option to go inside should you get too cold.
SEA EAGLES
An hour or so’s drive from Tromsø is the breathtaking archipelago of Sommarøy, a hotspot for sea eagles all year round. Head out on a Winter Sea Eagle Safari for your best chance of getting up close and personal to these powerful birds!
REINDEER
If you head out of Tromsø city centre, either self-driving or on a guided tour around the Arctic landscape, you are likely to bump into a few free-roaming reindeer!
Failing that, you can always opt for a guided tour to visit a genuine reindeer herd, owned by local Samí people.
One of the most highly rated experiences near Tromsø – and the highlight of our trip!! – is this Reindeer Visit and Sami Culture (with lunch) tour.
ANNUAL JANUARY EVENTS IN TROMSØ
There are three big events that happen annually in Tromsø every January, which if you can, you should absolutely try to align your dates to experience—
TROMSO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
This is one of Norway’s biggest and most popular film festivals, held annually in mid-January. It features a diverse selection of international and Norwegian films, often screened outdoors in the Arctic winter.
For more info, check out the official website here.
POLAR NIGHT MARATHON
Otherwise known as ‘Mørketidsløpet’, this truly unique running event in early January sees participants race under the dark polar skies, often illuminated by the northern lights!
For more info, check out the official website here.
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL
The Northern Lights Festival in Tromsø is a stand-out music event held annually in late January and early February.
This once small classical music gathering has gotten bigger and better over the years, now hosting 10 days of large-scale performances from both established and upcoming artists! Hosted in Tromsø’s iconic Arctic Cathedral no less!
For more info, check out the official website here.
PACKING LIST FOR TROMSØ IN JANUARY
Two words for you, my friend—
🧥👚
Layers
- Under-layers are ideally breathable wool, natural materials like Merino Wool.
- Long-sleeved thermal tops
- Thick thermal jumper / sweater
- A big puffer coat. Ideally with a hood and water/snow proof.
- Thermal leggings (double up with two pairs on night tours).
🧣🧤🧦🎧
Accessories
- Bobble hat.
- BIG ear muffs.
- Thick scarf or snood.
- Thick gloves (something like this – waterproof, cold-proof and enables touchscreen)
- A lanyard to keep your phone around your neck during tours – rather than keep fumbling for it in thermal suit pockets – would actually be very handy. Something like this.
- A couple of thick thermal socks.
- Walking boots with very good grip.
- Removable shoe cramp-ons – Easily removable and gives you extra peace of mind on very icy pathways.
- Chapstick / lip balm to prevent dry lips from the cold!!
CONCLUSION: VISITING TROMSØ IN JANUARY
To conclude, from personal experience, January is a fantastic month to experience the Winter Wonderland magic that Tromsø is so well known for!
You are basically guaranteed snow on the ground, and potentially plenty of snowfall while you’re there, making for stunning Arctic landscapes and perfect conditions for fun snow-related tours and activities. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country ski— that kind of thing!
It’s technically still in the “dark night” Winter season, providing optimal conditions for northern lights — should you get the perfect pairing of clear skies and solar activity.
Remember though, being in the thick of Winter means January’s snowfall can bring with it multiple cloudy days. To maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights away from the cloud and chasing pockets of clear skies, pre-book yourself onto a guided northern lights tour to be safe!
We hope you have the VERY best time visiting Tromsø in January. Just remember, bring plenty of layers, warm accessories (especially ear muffs for the wind) and — if you’re concerned about the slippery paths — investing in removable snow spikes are a must!
This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!
Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com
A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.
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