Tromsø, Norway, is sometimes called the “Gateway to the Arctic,” on account of its location 220 miles (350 kilometers) above The Arctic Circle in Northern Norway. And whereas Tromsø was the jumping-off level for expeditions additional north into the Arctic, at the moment it is a worthy vacation spot in and of itself.
Tromsø is a year-round vacation spot that’s nice to go to in all seasons of the yr – you’ll be able to expertise the Midnight Solar right here throughout the summer time months, and see the Northern Lights at nighttime winter months.
I’ve visited Tromsø in every of these seasons. And whereas I did benefit from the metropolis within the brighter summer time months, I believe I really favor Tromsø within the winter! Winter is a superb time to go to Tromsø if you wish to expertise wintertime actions like cross-country snowboarding, dogsledding, and naturally chasing the Northern Lights.
Learn on for my preferrred 3 days in Tromso itinerary that will help you plan your individual journey!
(Need to embrace Tromsø in an extended Norway in winter itinerary? I’ve received you lined there, too! Take a look at my 10 days in Norway in winter itinerary, too.)
When to go to Tromsø in winter
You may suppose that “winter is winter, clearly,” however winter within the northern a part of Norway can fluctuate vastly relying on which winter month we’re speaking about!
As a consequence of its far-north location, Tromsø experiences Polar Night time starting in late November and lasting by mid-January. Right now of yr, the solar by no means totally rises, and Tromsø solely experiences a couple of hours of twilight-like “daylight” every day.
By mid-February, nevertheless, the solar is correctly rising round 7:30 a.m. and setting round 4:30 p.m., with the times getting longer by about 10 minutes each day.
So, for my part, the very best time to go to Tromsø in winter is in February or March, once you nonetheless have snow and an opportunity to see the Northern Lights, however when the times are lengthy sufficient so that you can really get outdoors and do issues.
3 days in Tromso in winter itinerary
Tromsø is situated at 69.6492° N latitude above the Arctic Circle. Town of 75,000 individuals is the “capital” of Northern Norway, and is likely one of the largest cities discovered within the Arctic. There’s lots to do right here – particularly throughout the winter months.
You could possibly simply spend an entire week in Tromso in winter and nonetheless discover issues to do. However for this itinerary, we’ll cowl the highlights in simply 3 days.
Day 1: Tromso outside adventures
I like to recommend both arriving this morning (each Norwegian and SAS have direct flights to Tromsø from Oslo, and you will get there in simply 2 hours), or arriving the night earlier than so you’ll be able to match a full day in at the moment. (Keep in mind, daylight are restricted in winter, relying on which month you go to in.)
In your first day in Tromsø, I like to recommend embracing Norway’s love of out of doors winter journey. I might make your first exercise both cross-country snowboarding or dogsledding – get the blood pumping to heat you up a bit!
Cross-country snowboarding in Tromso
Cross-country snowboarding is not only a sport in Norway; it is a nationwide pastime! Youngsters discover ways to ski at school, and it is common to see individuals out on skis always of the day in winter. If you are going to strive just one bodily outside exercise in Tromsø, make it cross-country snowboarding.
Tromsø Out of doors presents an ideal 3-hour course for beginners. (And so they additionally supply enjoyable showshoeing tours if that is extra your velocity.)
Dogsledding in Tromso
Another choice is to check out dogsledding, which is one other well-liked winter sport in Norway. And sure, it’s most positively a sport. Sled canines aren’t simply any canines – they’re particularly bred to like to RUN, and are thought-about athletes.
If you wish to strive the game out, I can advocate the Tromsø Villmarkssenter for dogsledding excursions. They decide you up from Tromsø and take you out to their heart on Kvaløya, the place you’ll be able to stand up shut with the canines. You see precisely the place the canines stay and the way they’re cared for – once I visited, I noticed blissful and playful canines who had been excited on the probability to get hooked as much as a sled.
The sled experience itself lasts for about an hour, with a cease midway by to take pictures. The surroundings is gorgeous, and afterwards you will return to the middle for a lunch of reindeer stew. (Book this tour here.)
There’s an choice to drive your own dogsled in Tromsø, too, however I might be completely sincere and inform you that that is NOT straightforward work! It is rather more than simply standing in the back of the sled – you must push and pull and lean, and generally run up snowy hills to assist the canines. I do not advocate the driving except you are in good bodily form and are prepared for a exercise!
Northern Lights tour
Tonight, if the climate cooperates and the excursions are going out, join your first Northern Lights tour! There are a LOT of Northern Lights excursions in Tromsø to select from, so I like to recommend searching for one which guarantees a small group and a information who will help you are taking pictures.
Small-group Northern Lights excursions to take a look at embrace this one and this one, each of that are “chase”-style excursions, that means you will have the very best probability of recognizing the aurora, even when the climate is not the very best.
RELATED: Chasing the Northern Lights in Arctic Norway
My high Tromsø tip: Lots of the sidewalks in Tromsø are literally heated so as to shed the snow and ice. However different components of the town will nonetheless be very slippery! Be sure you’ve received boots with good gripping soles, or put money into some Yaktrax to assist in giving you higher traction.
Day 2: Get to know Tromso metropolis
Right this moment I like to recommend taking a while to discover Tromsø itself. So many individuals come to this metropolis for the Northern Lights, however then spend all their time reserving actions outdoors of the town. Town itself, although, is fairly cool, and positively price exploring.
Some issues you are able to do embrace:
- Go to the Arctic Cathedral (formally Tromsdalen Church) throughout the sound from the primary a part of Tromsø. It is an iconic constructing in Northern Norway, and generally you’ll be able to hear concert events contained in the church.
- Experience the Fjellheisen aerial tramway up above Tromsø for the very best view within the metropolis. The automobiles run from 10 a.m. to midnight all through the winter months, and the views are significantly nice day or night time.
- Take a look at the Polar Museum, which presents an enchanting look into Arctic trapping and searching and the early polar explorers.
- Go to the Polaria aquarium, which is housed in a constructing that resembles an ice floe and has reveals about Arctic sea life.
- Cozy up in a espresso store. Tromsø has a really giant variety of espresso outlets, contemplating how small (comparatively) the town heart is. There are two Risø places (one a espresso bar, the opposite a full cafe) that I like.
In the event you’re searching for one thing distinctive to do within the afternoon, contemplate a Tromsø Beer Safari, which incorporates tasting some native beers and snacks.
Extra Northern Lights
Tonight, if circumstances are good (or if circumstances had been dangerous on Day 1), contemplate one other Northern Lights tour! (I promise, you will by no means get bored with seeing them.)
Once more, small-group chase-style Northern Lights excursions like this one and this one are those I would personally advocate attempting.
RELATED: How to Photograph the Northern Lights
Day 3: Journey from Tromso
In your final day in Tromsø, let’s have a “select your individual journey” form of day! There are quite a lot of cool adventures you’ll be able to have from the town, together with:
Personally, I might select the Sami tradition/reindeer sledding expertise, because it’s one thing distinctive to this a part of the world.
One other final probability at Northern Lights
And, lastly, tonight you will have another probability to go on a Northern Lights tour in Tromsø. In the event you’ve already performed one or two small-group chases, you may contemplate a Northern Lights boat tour tonight.
This boat tour contains an Arctic tapas dinner on a hybrid-electric boat, whereas this boat tour is extra of a chase-style crusing with sizzling drinks.
However notice: You will not be capable to get the identical form of Northern Lights pictures from a ship as you’ll be able to on land, as a result of lengthy publicity pictures might be blurry due to the motion of the boat! So this might be extra for the distinctive expertise quite than for pictures.
A notice on excursions in Tromsø: For a lot of the excursions really helpful on this itinerary (together with dogsledding, snowmobiling, and most Northern Lights excursions), the tour corporations will provide heat thermal jumpsuits, and generally thermal boots, as properly! So don’t fret about placing 17 layers of clothes on.
The place to Keep in Tromso
I like to recommend the Scandic Ishavshotel, which is situated proper on the Tromsø Sound. Many rooms have nice views, they usually all include free wifi and included breakfast. The on-site restaurant right here can also be fairly good.
To high it off, the Scandic Ishavshotel is one in every of two foremost resorts on the town the place a lot of the tour corporations do free pickups from. (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room at the Scandic Ishavshotel here!)
In the event you’re searching for an alternative choice, Thon Hotel Polar is one other good lodge in Tromso. It is additional up from the harbor, however near the town’s foremost procuring road. I cherished the modern and well-designed rooms, and the Egon Restaurant downstairs was good, too.
You probably have extra time…
You probably have extra time to spend in Northern Norway in winter, you could have some nice choices. You could possibly add a couple of nights in Alta, which is even additional north than Tromsø, and thought to be the “City of the Northern Lights.”
Or you would head barely south to the well-known Lofoten Islands, that are well-liked in winter with photographers. Simply notice that you simply WILL want a rental automotive within the Lofoten Islands in winter, as there’s probably not public transport accessible that will help you get round. (And I do NOT advocate driving in Norway in winter except you could have expertise driving in snow/on ice.)
Climate in Tromsø in winter
As you may guess, winter is chilly in Tromsø. However as Norwegians like to say, “There isn’t any such factor as dangerous climate, solely dangerous clothes.” So long as you come ready with correct clothes and kit, you will do exactly positive in Tromsø throughout winter.
- The coldest months are January and February, the place the imply temperature hovers round 26° F and the common excessive is round 31° F.
- December is barely hotter, with a imply temperature of 29° F and a median excessive of 34° F, however as talked about above, there’s little or no daylight at the moment of yr.
- The “warmest” month of winter to go to Tromsø is March, when the imply temperature is 29° F and the common excessive is 34° F.
Regardless, you are going to want winter coat, heat snow boots, a comfy hat and gloves, and maybe some hand/toe heaters to sort out Tromso in winter.
Take a look at my full Northern Norway in winter packing list for actual recommendations.
READ NEXT: 10 Reasons Why Northern Norway in Winter is Awesome
Who’s able to plan a winter journey to Tromsø?
