Northern lights · Northern Lights Safari Tromso
Northern lights bus tour with camp stop
A bus tour with a camp stop that takes you away from the city lights at night.
- Duration About 6 hours
- ✓ Free cancellation
Tromsø in winter
A guide for the months between October and April: when the sun disappears, where to look for the northern lights, how to get around on icy streets, and which trips are worth your few hours of daylight.
Polar night from about 27 November to 15 January · Northern lights from late August to early April
Plan your trip
Tromsø sits at almost 70 degrees north, but warm Atlantic water keeps the coast milder than the latitude suggests. The light is what changes most. Start with the month you are travelling in, then sort out clothing and transport.
The winter in seven months
Average temperature in town (1991–2020) and hours from sunrise to sunset on the first of each month in the 2026/27 season.
October3.1 °C11 h 08 min
November0.2 °C6 h 33 min
December−1.7 °CPolar night
January−3.0 °CPolar night
February−3.3 °C5 h 06 min
March−1.9 °C9 h 32 min
April1.2 °C13 h 58 min
Sources: yr.no climate statistics (MET Norway) and the MET Norway Sunrise API. Month-by-month guide
Things to do in winter
Husky sledding, reindeer camps and whale watching take you out of town. In the city itself a dark afternoon can go to the Arctic Cathedral, the cable car or a floating sauna in the harbour.
OverviewThings to do in Tromsø in winter 
In townSights and museums in Tromsø 
ViewpointFjellheisen cable car 
LandmarkThe Arctic Cathedral 
Beyond the cityDay trips from Tromsø in winter 
CultureSámi culture in Tromsø 
FoodFood and drink in Tromsø 
On the waterFishing and king crab trips 
ActiveCross-country skiing in Tromsø 
Warm upSaunas and hot tubs in Tromsø Winter tours across the big themes
A mix across the season: one tour for each of the big themes, plus the cable car and a daylight trip to the coast. Each topic page has more options.
Husky sledding · Arctic Adventure Tours AS
Drive your own husky team on Kvaløya
Drive your own team, with 70–80 minutes on the trail on Kvaløya.
- Duration 4 hours
- Meeting point Scandic Ishavshotel, city centre
- ✓ Free cancellation
Reindeer · Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
Reindeer sledding and feeding with a Sámi guide
Feeding and a short sled ride with a Sámi guide at a large reindeer herd.
- Duration 4 hours
- Meeting point Prostneset bus terminal
- ✓ Free cancellation
Whale watching · Brim Explorer
Whale watching on a hybrid-electric catamaran
A full day by boat towards Skjervøy in the whale season, usually November to January.
- Duration 7–9 hours
In town · Fjellheisen Tromsø
Fjellheisen cable car return ticket
The cable car to Storsteinen runs until midnight, so it also works after dark. Wind can close it at short notice, so check the Fjellheisen site on the day.
- Duration Valid for one day
- Meeting point Lower station, Tromsdalen
- ✓ Free cancellation
Day trip · Jeshua As
Sommarøy fjord tour with salmon picnic
A daylight trip across Kvaløya to the beaches of Sommarøy.
- Duration 4.5–5 hours
- Meeting point Radisson Blu
- ✓ Free cancellation
Prices and ratings in these cards come straight from the booking platform and are shown in euros per person. If you book through them we earn a commission, and your price stays the same.
Dates for winter 2026/27
9 January 2027
Polar Night Half Marathon, run through town in the blue light before the sun returns.
18–24 January 2027
Tromsø International Film Festival, the largest film festival in Norway.
21 January
Soldagen, the day Tromsø celebrates the sun coming back with sun buns and cocoa.
31 January to 7 February 2027
Sámi Week, ending with the Norwegian championship in reindeer racing in the city centre.
11–20 February 2027
Northern Lights Festival, a music festival that turns 40 in 2027.
Mid-November to Christmas
Christmas lights, small markets and concerts in the Arctic Cathedral.
Guides to single activities
For the big activities we run separate sites that compare the tours in more detail.
Husky sledding, self-drive or as a passenger: husky-tromso.com
Reindeer sledding and Sámi culture: tromso-reindeer.com
Whale watching from Tromsø and Skjervøy: tromso-whalewatching.com
Northern lights tours by bus, minibus and boat: northern-lights-tromso.com
Fjord cruises: tromsofjordcruises.com
Snowmobile safaris: tromsosnowmobiles.com
Snowshoe hikes: tromsosnowshoe.com
Sea kayaking: tromso-kayaking.com
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Tromsø in winter?
For the polar night and whale watching, late November to mid-January. For more daylight on deep snow, February and March. The northern lights season runs from late August to early April.
How dark is Tromsø in winter?
From about 27 November to 15 January the sun does not rise. Around midday there are still a few hours of twilight, so it is never completely dark during the day.
Can you see the northern lights from the city?
On clear nights the aurora can be visible from Tromsø itself, for example at Prestvannet. Away from the city lights the chances of seeing it well are better, which is why many people join a guided trip.
How cold does it get?
In town the average temperature in January and February is around −3 °C (1991–2020). Temperatures vary between the city, the coast and inland areas, and for Arctic activities and northern lights trips Visit Tromsø advises preparing for −25 °C to +5 °C.
Do I need a car in Tromsø in winter?
No. The city centre is a good size for exploring on foot, city buses run every day and many tours include transport from town. In winter, Visit Tromsø recommends public transport or tours with transport included rather than driving yourself.