TROMSØ IN SEPTEMBER: AMAZING THINGS TO DO, WEATHER & TOP TIPS!
WONDERING WHETHER TO VISIT TROMSØ IN SEPTEMBER?
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 September!
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 SEPTEMBER
I won’t keep you waiting, let’s answer that golden question first – Is September a good time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
The answer? Absolutely! In fact, we were surprised when you northern lights guide told us September (and March) are actually IDEAL months to see the Aurora in Rovaniemi because of the Spring / Autumn Equinoxes.
The Equinoxes basically mean more solar wind, which creates beautifully bright and strong displays, especially with different ruska colours like pink and oranges!! The Autumn Equinox you’ll be interested in peaks around mid-September.
Despite enjoying 11-15 hours of daylight, September in Tromsø still provides sufficient dark nights perfect for northern lights viewing, as you get the right conditions (clear skies and solar activity), you’ve got brilliant odds.
We would say go around mid-late September earliest.
NO NEED FOR ESKIMO COATS!!
The added bonus of seeing northern lights in Tromsø in September is its mild temperatures, averaging 5-11°c, meaning you won’t have to endure freezing temperatures outside!
MINIMAL CLOUDS FROM SNOW
After Summer, September is the first month where it’s possible to see the first snowfall in Tromsø, though hardly any still at this point. Less snowfall = less snow cloud cover, allowing for more nights with clear skies for optimal northern lights viewing.
That being said, as September in Tromsø progresses – rainfall increases, bringing their own cloud cover.
BOOK AT LEAST ONE GUIDED TOUR
So – Definitely join at least one Tromsø guided northern lights tour! Your expert guides will be armed with solar activity trackers and detailed weather forecasts, taking you to the best possible hotspots, away from light pollution and cloud cover. This will seriously maximise your chance of seeing the Aurora.
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, and well away from the city lights, just look at the displays we ended up seeing 🤩—
OTHER TOP THINGS TO DO
Since there’s little to no snowfall yet, snow-related activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing or even visiting Tromsø’s Ice Hotel aren’t available, as they depend on sufficient snow cover and constant freezing temperatures to operate.
While it is considered “early” to visit Tromsø in September, and many Winter tours don’t begin operating until October earliest, there’s still a few great things you can see and do!
Here’s some quick links to top-rated tours and suggestions of free / low cost things to do around Tromsø city and Tromsdalen in September to get you started.
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WILDLIFE & ANIMALS
>>> Arctic Wildlife and Fjord Sightseeing (day tour)
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GLASS IGLOO HOTEL
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.
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ARCTIC FJORD LANDSCAPES & NATURE
>>> Arctic Road Trip from Tromsø (day tour – available to book from mid-September onwards)
🛥️🌊⚓
SAILING & CRUISES
>>> Luxury Sailing Yacht Polar Fjord Cruise + lunch (day tour)
>>> Half-Day Fishing & Fjord Cruise Adventure (day 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 SEPTEMBER WEATHER
TEMPERATURE
September in Tromsø offers pretty mild weather, with temperatures typically ranging from 5°C to 11°C (41°F to 52°F). For a city so far north, this makes it a comfortable time to visit, especially for those who prefer to avoid extreme cold!
September also marks the start of Tromsø’s seasonal transformation. The landscapes are usually blanketed in stunning autumnal hues, making it a beautiful time to visit before Winter truly hits and blankets the entire place in snow.
SNOWFALL / RAINFALL
Tromsø’s weather in September tends to be more stable compared to the wetter months of October and November, with occasional sunshine breaking through.
September sometimes sees the first light snowfall of the season (though not a lot, just a few inches at most) — a magical reminder that winter is just around the corner!
Chance of rainfall – and its resultant cloud cover – increases A LOT as September progresses, so it’s worth packing a lightweight waterproof jacket or an umbrella just in case!
DAYLIGHT HOURS
The midnight sun in Tromsø — a natural phenomenon where the sun never sets below the horizon — ended around mid July. Since then, Tromsø’s daylight hours have been steadily decreasing, bringing back darker nights.
🌅 1st September daylight hours—
5.02am sunrise, 8.23pm sunset (15 hrs 21 minutes).
🌅 30th September daylight hours—
06.55am sunrise, 6.10pm sunset (11 hrs and 15 minutes).
That’s a difference of approximately 4hr 6 mins less daylight hours! So the later you go in September, the shorter your days will be and – most importantly for northern lights – the longer your nights will be!
SEEING WILDLIFE IN SEPTEMBER
REINDEERS, OTTERS & SEA EAGLES
We’re big fans of adding an ethical wildlife experience to our travels whenever we can, and Tromsø was no exception!
September may be too early for whale watching in Tromsø (the season is November to February), but there’s still plenty of wildlife to see near the city.
Reindeer, sea otters and sea eagles are common on Kvaløya, an island close to Tromsø. In particular, Sommarøy – a charming fishing village on Kvaløya’s west coast – is a prime spot!
Book this super convenient 5* Arctic Wildlife and Fjord Sightseeing day tour for a chance to see Tromsø’s wildlife plus all the best scenic spots in the region!
PACKING LIST FOR TROMSØ IN SEPTEMBER
As mentioned, September’s relatively mild temperatures mean you can leave the eskimo style duvet coats at home, though its still a good idea to pack some lightweight 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. Ideally waterproof!!
- Thermal leggings.
🧣🧤🧦🎧
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 lightweight waterproof poncho.
- An umbrella.
CONCLUSION: VISITING TROMSØ IN SEPTEMBER
So in a nutshell – Tromsø is not a snow-covered Winter Wonderland in September, it’s actually in full Autumnal bloom with red, orange, brown foliage and little to no snow.
It’s the perfect month to visit if—
- You want to see the northern lights (mid-Septembers Autumn Equinox can bring some incredibly bright and strong displays). Mid to late September is better to give the nights a chance to get darker.
- You don’t mind that there’s little to no snow.
- You prefer to milder temperatures that (on average) shouldn’t hit minus temperatures.
If a snow covered Winter Wonderland experience is what you want, or if you want to do Winter-based tours that rely on snow (i.e. sledding, snowmobiling etc), we’d suggest not visiting Tromsø in September, and instead leaving it until later in the year, like November onwards.
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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