TROMSØ IN NOVEMBER: AMAZING THINGS TO DO, WEATHER & TOP TIPS!
WONDERING WHETHER TO VISIT TROMSØ IN NOVEMBER?
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 November!
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 NOVEMBER
I won’t keep you waiting, let’s answer that golden question first – Is November a good time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
The answer? Absolutely! November is a great month to see the northern lights in Tromsø, owing to its extended dark Winter nights and – from late November – technically no “sunlight” at all! As long as you get the right conditions (clear skies and solar activity), you’ve got brilliant odds.
CLOUD COVER FROM SNOW
Snowfall continues to steadily arrive in Tromsø throughout November, now the Winter chill has well and truly set in. Brilliant for that Winter Wonderland feel, not so great for northern lights. Heavy snow = cloud cover, aka reduced visibility.
BOOK AT LEAST ONE GUIDED TOUR
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
Since there’s not enough snow on the ground yet, some snow-related activities like snowmobiling or visiting Tromsø’s Ice Hotel aren’t available, as they depend on a lot of snow and constant freezing temperatures to operate.
But don’t worry, there’s still PLENTY of epic things to do in Tromsø in November. Here’s some quick links to top-rated tours and suggestions of free / low cost things to do around Tromsø city and Tromsdalen in November 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 – you’re in luck, whale watching season begins in November!!)
🧊🦞🏊♀️
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
>>> Arctic Ice Floating in Warm Survival Suit Tromsø (day tour option – select 9.30am or 1pm time slot)
A stay in a “glass igloo” – a bucket-list accommodation with a transparent “glass roof” to experience the night sky from bed. The best option we found around Tromsø is—
ÆRA Panorama Glass Lodge >>>
36 minute drive away (32km) from Tromsø centre. ÆRA offer a super convenient airport shuttle service at just 50 NOK per way, or can also arrange a car rental service for you.
Psst! The image below shows the “Panorama Glass Lodge” accommodation option at ÆRA.
🛷🎿⛷️
SNOW-BASED SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
>>> Small-group Snowshoeing Tour from Tromso (day tour)
🏞️🏔️
ARCTIC FJORD LANDSCAPES & NATURE
>>> Arctic Road Trip from Tromsø (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, all the way from the mid-1800’s!
(free activity)
TROMSØ NOVEMBER WEATHER
TEMPERATURE
Though Tromsø in November is starting to feel that Winter chill, it’s still not as cold as you might think! November temperatures typically range from 2°c to -2°c (35°f to 28.4°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 / RAINFALL
Tromsø’s November weather tends to be more unpredictable too, with chances of snowfall increasing rapidly as the month progresses.
Tromsø can occasionally get rainfall still in November, turning the city from snowy to slushy overnight.
It’s usually not quiteee enough snow for major snow-based activities yet, but of course this varies year by year.
DAYLIGHT HOURS
November in Tromsø daylight hours reduce rapidly throughout the month. Then finally, from the end of November, you’ll experience the Polar Night in Tromsø — a natural phenomenon where the sun never rises above the horizon!! This will then be the case until mid-January.
🌅 1st November daylight hours—
08.11am sunrise, 2.42pm sunset (6 hrs 31 minutes).
🌅 30th November daylight hours—
Technically, none!! 🌙🌑 The Polar Night season starts around 26th November.
This means the later you go in November, the shorter your days will be. But if you do go late November, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’ll be in total darkness all day long.
It just means you’ll briefly experience a heavenly golden glow in the sky for the short “should be” sunrise / sunset periods. The rest of the time, Tromsø’s will don an enchanting deep blue twilight sky.
SEEING WILDLIFE IN NOVEMBER
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, November 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. We would suggest visiting mid-November earliest to make sure tours are running, in case the whales don’t arrive for early November.
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.
SEMI-WILD REINDEER EXPERIENCE
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 opt for a guided tour to visit a genuine semi-wild 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 NOVEMBER EVENTS IN TROMSØ
There’s a few events that happen annually in Tromsø every November, which if you can, you should absolutely try to align your dates to experience—
TROMSØ ARCTIC PRIDE
Tromsø Arctic Pride is an annual celebration and supportive event of the northern LGBTQIA+ community. Taking place around mid-November, there’s so much to get involved in, like fun family events and live performances.
For more info, check out the official website here.
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
It’s not too early to turn on the festive cheer!! In mid-November, you can catch the annual ‘Lighting of the Christmas street’ celebrations in the heart of the city.
For more info, check out this VisitTromso page.
PACKING LIST FOR TROMSØ IN NOVEMBER
November’s dropping temperatures and increased snowfall mean it’s a good idea to think about some warm layers—
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Layers
- Under-layers are ideally breathable wool, natural materials like Merino Wool.
- Long-sleeved tops
- Thick jumper / sweater to go over the top.
- A warm coat, like a puffer coat. Ideally waterproof so it doesn’t get soaked by Tromsø’s increasing rain and snow in November.
- Thermal leggings.
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Accessories
- Bobble hat.
- Ear muffs (if windy)
- Scarf or snood.
- A lanyard to keep your phone around your neck during tours would actually be very handy. Something like this.
- A couple of thick thermal socks.
- Comfortable walking boots with good grip.
- A small retractable umbrella in case of rain.
- Walking boots with good grip, especially near end of November.
- Chapstick / lip balm to prevent dry lips from the cold!!
CONCLUSION: VISITING TROMSØ IN NOVEMBER
November is the month where Winter fully takes hold in Tromsø, beginning to wash the landscapes in white as snowfall ramps up and skies darken for longer during Polar Night season.
The majority of Winter tours are in full swing, like northern lights expeditions, Sami reindeer and culture, ice floating, Arctic fjord sailing and of course, November marks the beginning of Tromsø’s whale watching season!
Though it’s not plummeted to severely cold temperatures yet, it’s absolutely worth packing lots of warm layers, and waterproofs!
We hope this guide has been helpful, and that you have the most INCREDIBLE time in gorgeous Tromsø.
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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