5 DAY TROMSO ITINERARY: HOW TO PLAN YOUR PERFECT NORWAY ARCTIC TRIP THIS WINTER!

LOOKING TO PLAN THE ULTIMATE TROMSO ITINERARY?

We recently spent a magical (and very chilly) 5 days in Tromsø – Norway’s colourful northernmost city. It truly takes the gold medal for a true Winter Wonderland destination. Not to mention, one of the best places in the WORLD for northern lights.

Our itinerary here was jam-packed with all the good stuff. Dropping your jaw at the dazzling Aurora Borealis, feeding a wild reindeer herd their breakfast, spotting three types of whale out at sea and visiting a hotel made totally of ice.

Heading to Tromsø? Look no further friend, we’ve got your itinerary covered from start to finish.

Afterwards, we chat best places to stay, best day and night tours, getting around, what to wear, weather and more. So be sure to stick around!

Planning your trip to Tromsø?
Start here:

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Booking.com ↗ to browse the best places to stay in Tromsø
(The Dock 6939 by Scandic hotel in Tromsø centre is our top choice!)

🎟️ Viator ↗ to book unforgettable tours, from northern lights to reindeers.
🛡️ Staysure ↗ for easy, reliable travel insurance (UK travellers only).

5 DAYS IN TROMSØ TRAVEL ITINERARY:

DAY 1: ARRIVE, EXPLORING TROMSO CITY & HARBOUR AND FJELLHEISEN CABLE CAR

ARRIVE INTO TROMSØ AIRPORT
Fly directly into Tromsø Airport (TOS). Hop into one of the many taxis waiting outside to take you to settle into your chosen accommodation. Just a 7 minute drive to the city, costing around £15 GBP / $20 USD.

ACCOMMODATION
We absolutely loved our stay at the modern, self-catering Tromso City Apartments and highly recommend it! Here’s a few pics from our stay:

Tromso City Apartments, located in Tromsdalen, is one of the best places to stay in Tromso! — There’s two apartments, a ground and upper floor. Request upper floor, it has better views of Tromsø across the river!

It’s in the quieter neighbourhood of Tromsdalen, just 15/20 minute walk across Tromsø bridge. Conveniently near Tromsø, but set away from bright city lights and massively improving visibility if the northern lights decide to appear.

Now, I can’t guarantee northern lights for you (I wish I could!!) but to give you an idea, we saw THIS display directly above Tromso City Apartments on our last night! 🤩

incredible northern lights display above Tromsdalen, Norway — Even on my then crappy GoPro, this Aurora was so strong above Tromso City Apartments in Tromsdalen!

Click here to book your stay at Tromso City Apartments! 🌃❄️💫

CROSS THE BRIDGE TO TROMSO CITY
Today is a great day to settle in and get your bearings around the city. While still in Tromsdalen, peek inside the iconic Arctic Cathedral (free) just before walking across the bridge back into Tromsø.

A front on photograph of the iconic, modern Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø Norway, with a light blue sky and a substantial amount of snow on the floor. Photograph taken by Jordie. — Visiting the iconic Arctic Cathedral in Tromsdalen is top of our **best things to do in Tromsø list**! Photo by Jordie.

A wonderful snowy photo looking at Tromsdalen and the Arctic Cathedral from atop the Tromso bridge! — The view looking back at Tromsdalen from the bridge, spot the iconic Arctic Cathedral. This is how snowy Tromso gets in the Winter months! *Photo by Jordie.*

TROMSO HARBOUR / INNER CITY
First thing you’ll stumble across is Tromsø’s eclectic harbour front, a mix of fishing boats, ferries and colourful cafés.

On your Tromso Itinerary, make time to wander down to the picturesque Tromso harbour! — Tromsø’s colourful harbour! *Photo by Jordie.*

At the harbours end, you’ll find—

A glass building showcasing MS Polstjerna, a historical seal-hunting ship.

Pictured: MS Polstjerna - a notorious seal-hunting ship showcased in a huge glass exterior. If interested, you can wander in and read all about its history. — The glass building showcasing MS Polstjerna, a historical seal-hunting ship. *Photo by Jordie.*

Polaria Aquarium, the world’s northernmost aquarium with an intriguing “ice floe” design!
Directly opposite is the small Motorcycle Club building with vibrant street art, perfect for a colourful photo op!

In the city, pop into the small Perspektivet Museum (free) exhibiting Tromsø’s transformation from the 1800s to today.

Walking along the idyllic Tromso harbour all the way up to the unique Polaria Aquariam is a must on our Tromso itinerary! — Pictured: The intriguing ‘ice floe’ design of Polaria Aquarim (left), the vibrant street art covering ‘The Motorcycle Club’ just next door (right)! Photographs taken by Jordie and Liam.

FJELLHEISEN CABLE CAR / OBSERVATION DECK
Back in Tromsdalen, before you head back to your accommodation, walk 15 minutes to the Fjellheisen cable car. At the top, you’ll find an observation deck with stunning panoramic views over Tromsø, with mountains that seem to go on forever!

Time your visit just before sunset to catch daylight, golden hour and nighttime city lights all in one go! Pre-book your visit direct here to avoid any queues.

There’s a large cafe with panoramic windows up here too, perfect for escaping the cold while still enjoying the views. It serves food, plus hot and cold drinks and is open 9am-11.30pm everyday. Try the hot chocolate, it was delicious!

One of the best low cost things to do on your Tromso Itinerary in Winter is to visit the Fjellheisen cable car viewpoint! — View from Fjellheisen observation deck by day. *Photo by Jordie*.

Night time view across Tromso city from the Fjellheisen observation deck in Tromsdalen — View from Fjellheisen observation deck by night. *Photo by Jordie*.

DAY 2: FEED WILD REINDEER, SAMI CULTURE & NORTHERN LIGHTS ADVENTURE TOUR

FEED A WILD REINDEER HERD (HALF DAY TOUR)
From November to April, one of the most highly rated experiences near Tromsø – and the highlight of our trip!! – is this Reindeer visit and Sami culture tour.

Shake your pellet-filled buckets and watch 200+ reindeer trot towards you, eager for their breakfast. Some gently eat from your hand, others just shove their head straight in! 🤣

An absolute must do on your Tromso itinerary in Winter (and one of the best tours in Tromso) is a sami wild reindeer feeding experience! — Jordie feeding a wild reindeer their breakfast, one of our favourite things we did in Tromsø!!

After feeding is finished, head into a traditional Sámi Lavvu tent, sitting around a roaring fire whilst listening to the Sámi folk stories and songs! It’s a wonderful glimpse into the deep rooted Norwegian culture and history.

Fun Fact: The reindeer herd are brought down from the mountains during the Winter for protection. The rest of the year they roam wild & free!

Book your spot on this ‘Reindeer Visit and Sami Culture (with lunch)’ tour! 🦌⛰️

NORTHERN LIGHTS ADVENTURE (EVENING TOUR)
Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, which I imagine, is why you want to come here in the first place, right?

Maximise your chances away from the city lights on this 5* small-group Northern Lights Adventure with Greenlander “Badge of Excellence” rated tour.

They are the northern lights EXPERTS, with 11 years, 1000+ tours and a 97% success rate under their belt!

Your knowledgable guides will drive out to multiple remote locations following live solar forecasts, with sheer determination to catch a glimpse of the northern lights!

Pictured: The 2nd northern lights we saw on this Northern Lights tour by Minibus. This giant snake-like Aurora came out of nowhere as we were driving to another spot!! We had to quickly pull over roadside! — Pictured: This giant snake-like Aurora came out of nowhere as we were driving to another spot!! Our driver had to quickly pull over by the side of the road! 🐍🐍🐍

With our tour we actually had low solar activity predicted for that evening, but our guides were relentless! Deep in the Fjordlands we travelled and ended up seeing the most breathtaking Northern Lights we’ve still EVER seen, including vibrant greens, purples, pink and white colours!

Just take a look, no more words needed:

Still crying at how amazing this Aurora was on our northern lights tour during our 5 day Tromso itinerary. Look at all the white, pink, purple and green colours!! — Pictured: The final Aurora we saw, it was vividly pink, white, purple and green in colour (pictured), it made me even cry happy tears!!

Top Tip: The best months to see the Northern lights in Tromsø are between September and March.

Top Tip: Another brilliant city in northern Norway known for its northern lights is Alta, just a 35 minute internal flight from Tromsø. See how to maximise your chances of seeing the Alta Norway northern lights!

Book your spot on this ‘Northern Lights Adventure with Greenlander’ tour! 🌌

DAY 3: FULL-DAY TOUR (SUGGESTED: WHALE WATCHING)

FULL-DAY TOUR: WHALE WATCHING
Today is a brilliant day to get completely out of Tromsø for the full day, exploring it’s surrounding beauty and wildlife. Our top tour suggestion is this full day 5* Whale Watching RIB Experience (With Transfers).

From November to February (Tromsø’s whale watching season), this small-group tour takes you up to Skjervøy for the chance to see incredible species such as Humpback whales, Orcas and even the elusive Fin whale!

An epic activity to also do on your Tromso itinerary in Winter is whale watching! — This Whale Watching RIB Experience tour on a speedy RIB boat is an absolute must-do in Tromsø for all wildlife lovers!

A WHALE WATCHING ALTERNATIVE
Or, this Silent Whale Watching tour is a great alternative if you wanted comfort and warmth on a larger boat, with the option to go inside and relax if you get too cold.

Related → 4 days in Tromsø travel itinerary

DAY 4: TROMSO ICE DOMES, SUNSET AT TELEGRAFBUKTA BEACH & ØLHALLEN PUB

TROMSØ ICE DOMES (HALF DAY TOUR)
Take a guided day tour to the masterfully sculpted Tromsø Ice Domes – a complex of hotel rooms, restaurant, cinema room and bar made completely out of ice! Open mid-December to early April, you’ve got to see it to believe it!

The Tromso Ice Domes, one of the best ice hotels in Norway to visit, are one of the most unique must do things on your Tromso itinerary in Winter! — Marvel at the jaw-dropping spaces sculpted completely out of ice at Tromsø Ice Domes!
© All photo rights reserved by and kindly gifted for use by Norwegian Travel.

GETTING TO TROMSO ICE DOMES

This “Tromsø Ice Domes Snow Park & Wilderness Experience (incl. transfers)” is the link to their official guided tour, the most hassle-free option too as there’s no public transport to get there.

This exciting all-inclusive day tour packs in more than just Tromsø Ice Domes, like Tandem Skiiing, Campfire Crafting and getting up close and personal with reindeer and huskies too! The guided tour includes a meal too.

Address: Tamokveien 1374, 9334 Øverbygd, Norway
Opening times: 11:00am – 18:00pm
Entrance ticket price: Adult 795 NOK, Child (2-11) 397 NOK – applicable for those visiting independently. The guided tour covers this cost.

Psst! Tromsø Ice Domes are on our list of best ice hotels to visit in Norway!

Related: 4 of our top 12 igloos in Norway are based in and around Tromsø!

SUNSET AT TELEGRAFBUKTA BEACH
Finish off your day at Telegrafbukta beach, on Tromsø’s Western edge. This peaceful snow-covered beach offers stunning sunset views and a clear Northern Lights vantage – if conditions are right – because of its minimal light polluton!

On the way back, cosy up in Ølhallen, Tromsø’s oldest pub with 72 taps of Norwegian beer.

The best free thing to do on your Tromso Itinerary is to watch a sunset at Telegrafbukta beach in Tromso. It is also one of the best palces to see the Northern lights in Tromso city centre! — Seeing the sun set at Telegrafbukta Beach is one of the best free things to do in Tromsø. *Photograph taken by Jordie.*

You must add visiting Tromso's oldest pub, Olhallen, onto your Troms itinerary! — Treat yourself to a drink from Tromsø’s oldest (and World’s northernmost) pub, Ølhallen! *Photograph taken by Jordie.*

Top tip: Telegrafbukta beach is a 30 minute walk one-way or you can catch local buses #33 or #34 bus from the city centre.

DAY 5: A DAY OF OPTIONS!

Today is your last full day in Tromsø! You can make this day as action packed or relaxing as you would like, depending on whether your flight home is scheduled for later this evening or tomorrow (Day 6).

Either continue to explore the city, or go on your own self-guided adventure via a daily express ferry service to explore neighbouring islands and villages straight from Tromsø Harbour!

Or, browse more unmissable Tromsø experiences below to make the most of your time here—

EVEN MORE AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN TROMSØ

🌞
TOP DAY ACTIVITIES FROM TROMSO:

🧊🦞🏊‍♀️
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

>>> Arctic Ice Floating in Warm Survival Suit Tromsø
(select 9.30am or 1pm time slots for day tour)

>>> Arctic Spa Experience onboard MS Vulkana (New!). (includes an on-board wood-fired sauna and jacuzzi, Turkish Hammam, ice bath and Zen Lounge)

what-to-do-in-tromso-winter — © All photography copyrights are reserved by MS Vulkana.

🛷🎿⛷️
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)

🌙
TOP NIGHT ACTIVITIES FROM TROMSO:

🧊🦞🏊‍♀️
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

>>> Arctic Ice Floating in Warm Survival Suit Tromsø
(select 7.30pm or 9.30pm evening slot for chance of seeing northern lights too!)

🛥️🌊⚓
SAILING & CRUISES

>>> Luxury Northern Lights Yacht Cruise w/ Hot Tub & Dinner (night tour)

🦌🌌
WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE

>>> Reindeer Feeding & Sami Culture (with chance for Northern Lights)

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN TROMSO

TROMSDALEN ACCOMMODATION

Tromso City Apartments
(where we stayed on our Tromsø itinerary and loved! modern fully-equipped scandi apartment, request 1st floor apartment for best views of Tromsø cityscape and bridge. 3 minute walk from Arctic Cathedral)

TROMSO CITY ACCOMMODATION

Clarion Hotel The Edge
(2 people, modern hotel, brilliant location)

Vindlys Luxury Penthouse Apartment
(up to 6 people, luxury apartments in new area of Tromsø right near the bridge).

OUTSIDE OF TROMSO FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS VIEWING

AERA Panorama Glass Lodge
(A hidden gem! 35 minutes away, airport shuttle service available. Book the “Glass Lodge” accommodation for full experience!)

Steam Pier
(15 minutes from Tromsø airport, 42 Bus stops right outside accommodation and connects you to and from Tromsø city every 15 minutes).

WHEN ARE YOU VISITING TROMSØ?

Check out these articles detailing everything you could possibly know about visiting Tromsø during these Winter months—

GETTING TO TROMSØ

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO TROMSO?

When deciding how to get to Tromso, the best way is undoubtedly to fly into its main airport, Tromso Airport (TOS). It’s also pretty convenient, being just a short 7 minute drive from the city centre!

CAN YOU FLY DIRECT TO TROMSO?

It is possible to fly direct to Tromso from the UK. Norwegian Airways flys direct to Tromso from London Gatwick in just 3.5 hours.

They offer 4 services per week, with one flight per day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Likewise, WIZZ Air now offer direct flights to Tromso for London Luton airport.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN TROMSØ

80%

Tromso City and Tromsdalen (25 minute walk across the bridge) are very accessible by foot. Visiting in Winter? Wear shoes with extra grip – the pathways can be layered with frozen snow & very slippery!

10%

Alternatively, there are frequent bus services linking Tromso City centre to the airport and neighbouring Tromsdalen.

10%

Airport and city taxis are available if you require an immediate service from town or Tromso Airport. Tromso Taxi is the main taxi provider.

WEATHER IN TROMSØ IN WINTER

HOW COLD DOES TROMSO GET IN WINTER?

Despite its northernmost location in Norway, the weather in Tromso city centre experiences relatively “mild” Winter temperatures due to it proximity to the coast, averaging -4°c in January. We visited Tromso in January, and we discovered while the air feels dry, but it does still feel very cold!

That being said, from personal experience, any wind feels extremely cold and bitter, making it feel much colder. Likewise, if you undertake a Northern Lights safari tour at night, heading inland makes the temperature drop to as low as -20°c! 🥶

DOES IT SNOW IN TROMSO IN WINTER?

Yes! The snow in Tromso is what makes visiting Tromso in the Winter so magical. Expect to see lots of fallen snow especially around the later Winter months (January – February) where snow at this point is stockpiled nice and high!

A photo of a beautiful snowy scene in Tromsdalen, one of the best areas to stay for a Tromso itinerary! — A photo of a very snowy Tromsdalen when we visited Tromso in Winter! Photograph taken by Jordie.

DOES TROMSO EXPERIENCE A POLAR NIGHT IN WINTER?

In the Winter months, the earliest Tromso sunrise is mid-January at 11.24am, setting again just 58 minutes later at 12.23pm! Between December – mid-January, Tromso experiences the polar night phenomenon, which is when the sun never rises!

Does this mean you’ll be in complete darkness for the majority of your Tromso Itinerary in Winter?

No, not at all. It simply means that the sun won’t be visible (as it doesn’t technically rise above the horizon line), but resultantly the sky during the shorter daytime hours will have that constant warm glow.

HERE’S WHAT TO BRING TO TROMSO IN WINTER

CLOTHING LAYERS

– Under-top vests
– Long-sleeved thermal tops (we love the Heattech range from Uniqlo)
– Thick thermal jumper or sweater (merino wool or something fleece-like is ideal)
– A big puffer coat. Ideally waterproof for snow with a hood.
– Thermal leggings (double up with two pairs on night tours).

CLOTHING ACCESSORIES

– Bobble hat
– Ear muffs.
– Thick scarf or snood.
– Thick gloves (something like this – waterproof, coldproof And enables touchscreen)
– Thermal socks (bring a few pairs!)
– Walking boots with very good grip.
– Removable cramp-ons. In January when we visited, Tromsø centre was (in parts) like an ice rink! Where snow had fallen, and frozen over.I slipped so many times and I wished I had bought cramp-ons. Easily removable and peace of mind.

USEFUL FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

– Portable power bank – freezing temps make phone batteries drop very fast. Have this charged and ready to avoid missing out on those once-in-a-lifetime shots!
– Retractable 360° rotating tripod with Bluetooth remote – Get your own incredible northern lights photos with this sturdy tripod / wide-range Bluetooth remote that connects to your phone. This honestly is our favourite product, we bring it everywhere now!

QUICK FUN FACTS ON TROMSO

Norwegian Krone
£1 (GBP) = 14 (NOK)
(figures as per 2024)

Time Zone
Tromso’s time zone is 1 hour ahead of the United Kingdom.

Plug Adaptors
You will require an adaptor to suit Type C & F (Europlug). Their standard voltage is 230V.

Supermarkets
The best and most convenient Tromsdalen supermarket is Eurospar: Large and plenty of food choice and just 4-minute walk from Arctic Cathedral. Click here for all Tromso city based supermarkets.

Tromso Norway Weather and Seasons
Tromso Summer: June-August
Tromso Autumn: September-November
* Tromso Winter: December-February
Tromso Spring: March-May

* = The best period to see the Northern Lights!

Best Time To Visit For Northern Lights
The optimal time to see the Tromso Norway Northern Lights is the Winter (or Polar Night season) when it is darkest. Tromso will receive just 1-hour of daylight at the most!

We would say the best time to visit is end of January to early March: Optimal Northern Lights viewing at night plus the days are much lighter!

ABOUT TROMSO:
“KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” FAQ’S

IS TROMSO WORTH VISITING IN THE WINTER?

You may be asking the question, why should you visit Tromso? What is so special about visiting Tromso in Winter?

Tromso is an extremely special location in Norway that everyone must visit in Winter once in their lifetime!

Not only is it Norways northernmost city (home to the world’s northernmost: cathedral, aquarium and university), it is mostly famous for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights in Winter!

WHAT ARE THE BEST WINTER MONTHS TO VISIT TROMSO?

Tromso is a quirky and colourful town which would be a delight to visit anytime of year. However, it is the Winter months (October – February) that are best months for visiting Tromso truly comes alive with its magical Winter tours and activities!

The Winter months are also the best time to visit Tromso because it is the best time of year where you can see the Northern Lights!

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN TROMSO?

As there are so many incredible Tromso tours to do and things to see in Tromso in Winter, we would suggest your Tromso itinerary should be at least 5 days (4 nights) to really make the most of your time here and to make sure you don’t miss anything!

CONCLUSION: 5 DAYS IN TROMSO ITINERARY

And that’s a wrap on the ultimate 5 day Tromsø winter itinerary, filled with dazzling Arctic fjords, 200+ wild reindeer, seeing the swirling magic of the Northern Lights and a visit to a real-life ice hotel.

Tromsø completely stole our hearts, and five days gave us the perfectly paced mix of epic adventure and relaxed exploring.

Use this guide as your ready-made blueprint and feel free to tweak the days to match the weather, your travel plans or preferences! Please do get in touch if you follow this guide, we’d love to hear from you 😊

ENJOY TROMSO!

A photo of Jordie, the author of this specific blog post and owner of the wesbite.

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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