TROMSØ IN MARCH: AMAZING THINGS TO DO, WEATHER, EVENTS & TOP TIPS!
WONDERING WHETHER TO VISIT TROMSØ IN MARCH?
You’ve come to the right place! After our 5 day trip to Tromsø Norway, we’ve put together this clear, easy guide detailing literally everything you could want to know before visiting Tromsø in March!
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 MARCH
I won’t keep you waiting, let’s answer that golden question first – Is March a good time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
The answer? Absolutely! March is still a great month to see the northern lights in Tromsø, and the last month to do so until next Winter season begins!
Despite now enjoying 10+ hours of daylight, March in Tromsø is still early enough in the year for longer dark nights, ideal for northern lights viewing. So long as you get the right conditions (clear skies and solar activity), you’ve got brilliant odds.
LESS CLOUD COVER
February’s notorious cloud cover in Tromsø begins to slowly reduce as you progress through March, and falls significantly especially by end of March. Less cloud cover allows for more nights with clear skies for optimal northern lights viewing.
SOLAR EQUINOX
When on a northern lights tour in Tromsø, we were surprised when our guide told us March (and September) are actually fantastic months to see the northern lights due to the Solar Equinoxes. The increased solar wind, bringing some seriously strong and bright displays!!
BOOK AT LEAST ONE GUIDED TOUR!
Definitely join at least one Tromsø guided northern lights tour! With expert guides armed with solar activity trackers and detailed weather forecasts, you’ll be taken to the best possible hotspots seriously maximising your chances of experiencing the Aurora’s magic, away from the city’s light pollution.
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!
This is what we did, as we hadn’t seen northern lights in Tromsø city for 4 days. On the guided tour, well away from the city lights, just look at the displays we ended up seeing 🤩—
OTHER TOP THINGS TO DO
If Goldilocks swung by Tromsø, she’d call March the “just right” month for everything! Winter’s snow sticks around in the cool temperatures, while longer daylight hours crank up possibilities for epic daytime adventures, from sightseeing to exploring.
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, finishes end of March)
💎💎💎
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, finishes end of March)
>>> Cross-Country Ski Lesson for Beginners in Tromso (day tour)
>>> Small-group Snowshoeing Tour from Tromso (day tour)
🏞️🏔️
ARCTIC LANDSCAPES & NATURE
>>> 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)
🌘
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 & Dinner (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 MARCH WEATHER
TEMPERATURE
Yes, Tromsø in March is still relatively cold, with temperatures typically ranging from -4°c to 1°c (25°F to 34°f). Considering how far north Tromsø is, these ‘mild’ Winter temperatures are brought on by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, which Tromsø experiences being on the coast.
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 / RAINFALL
Tromsø’s new, fresh snowfall does taper off considerably the further you reach late March, owing to clearer skies and less cloud cover from snow.
There should still be ample snow on the ground in Tromsø in March thanks to the previous Winter months bringing heavy snow, still allowing snow-related activities like snowmobiling or snowshoeing to go ahead.
March in Tromsø can also see a bit more rainfall, so remember to also pack an umbrella just in case!
DAYLIGHT HOURS
The polar night in Tromsø — a natural phenomenon where the sun never rises above the horizon — ended in mid-January. Since then, Tromsø’s daylight hours have been steadily increasing.
We couldn’t believe the change in Tromsø’s daylight hours from the start of March, to the end of March. Check this out!
🌅 1st March daylight hours—
7.10am sunrise, 4.45pm sunset (9 hrs and 35 minutes).
🌅 31st March daylight hours—
05.50am sunrise, 7.45pm sunset (13 hrs and 55 minutes).
That’s a difference of approximately 4hr 20 mins more daylight hours! So the later you go in March, the longer your days will be!
SEEING WILDLIFE IN MARCH
We’re big fans of adding an ethical wildlife experience to our travels whenever we can, and Tromsø was no exception! While February marks the end of whale-watching season here, don’t worry, there are a few epic animal encounters to enjoy in March—
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!
FEED A ‘WILD’ REINDEER HERD
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 MARCH EVENTS IN TROMSØ
There are two big events that happen annual in Tromsø every March, which if you can, would be super fun to try and align your dates to experience—
ARCTIC SNOWSHOE RACE
Late March hosts the annual Arctic Snowshoe Race in Tromsø at the Storelva Ski Stadium on Kvaløya. Anyone who wants to join can sign up for a 8km competitive race or a 5km trim class for beginners, even you!
Snowshoe rentals are available for international visitors, and spectators are welcome to just come along and enjoy the hustle and bustle of race!
For full info (and to register) check the official website.
SPIS UKA FOOD FESTIVAL
Fellow foodies!! This one is for you. Spis Uka is an annual food festival in Tromsø, typically held at the end of March or beginning of April. A multiple of local restaurants offer special dishes at reduced prices, encouraging both locals and visitors to explore the entire city’s diverse culinary scene.
PACKING LIST FOR TROMSØ IN MARCH
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 MARCH
To conclude, March is pretty much the last full month of the Winter season in Tromsø, and is still a fantastic month to visit.
While there’s less and less fresh snowfall as March goes on, there’s still plenty of snow still on the ground from the backlog of Winter! Perfect conditions for fun snow-related tours and activities, like Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country ski— that kind of thing.
It’s technically still dark enough during the night to provide optimal conditions for northern lights — should you get the perfect pairing of clear skies and solar activity.
While March typically has a higher average of clearer skies than January or February, you still can’t rule out a cloudy day due to March’s slightly increased rainfall.
Maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights away from the cloud and chasing pockets of clear skies by pre-booking yourself onto a guided northern lights tour.
Late March hosts two fun annual events too, the Arctic Snowshoe Race and the Spis Uka Food Festival.
We hope you have the VERY best time visiting Tromsø in March. Just remember, bring plenty of layers, warm accessories (especially ear muffs for wind) and maybe a small umbrella in case of any rain showers!
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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