Tromsø in December
In December the sun never rises over Tromsø. Around midday there are about four hours of twilight, and the rest of the day belongs to lamps, candles and the northern lights.
December is the heart of the polar night. The sun stays below the horizon all month, but the middle of the day brings a few hours of blue and pink twilight. Whales are still in the fjords near Skjervøy, the snow usually lies deep enough for huskies and snowmobiles, and the town fills with Christmas markets and concerts.
Light and darkness
| Date | Civil twilight begins | Civil twilight ends |
|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 08:49 | 14:16 |
| 15 December | 09:25 | 13:54 |
| 21 December | 09:31 | 13:53 |
| 31 December | 09:28 | 14:06 |
On the shortest day, 21 December, the sun is only about three degrees below the horizon at noon. You can see the landscape clearly between about half past nine and two. A husky or reindeer trip in the morning uses that light, while afternoon departures run in darkness. The northern lights can appear at any hour of darkness, and in December that means most of the day.
Weather and snow
The average temperature in December is −1.7 °C at the station in town, with about 110 mm of precipitation. Thaws with rain can happen even now, and they leave icy streets behind, so ice spikes for your shoes are worth packing. Temperatures differ a lot between the city, the coast and the inland valleys, so a trip to Tamok or the border can feel much colder than the town.
What runs in December
- Whale watching continues through the month.
- Dog sledding and reindeer sledding run on snow, near town and in the inland valleys.
- Snowmobile safaris start: Visit Tromsø gives the season as generally from the beginning of December to the end of March. Trips to Camp Tamok usually begin around mid-December.
- Fjord sightseeing boats mostly rest from November to January. Several boats also sail in the evening to look for the northern lights.
Morning or afternoon husky trips in the polar night: husky-tromso.com compares the departures.
Christmas and New Year
The Christmas market at Jekta runs until 20 December, the one on Stortorget until 3 January. The Arctic Cathedral holds Christmas concerts in December and on 24 December is open only for services. Many shops close on 25 and 26 December, and on 24 December they close at 16:00. Polaria is open on 24 December from 10:00 to 16:00. For New Year’s Eve, Visit Tromsø suggests watching the fireworks from the Fjellheisen cable car. Our page on Christmas and New Year in Tromsø has the opening times and the programme.
Is December a good time to visit?
If you want the polar night itself, yes. It is the darkest month, with whales, snow activities and Christmas all at once. Book early for the Christmas weeks. If you would rather have daylight on the snow, wait for February or March.
Tours for December
Plan daytime trips in the midday twilight and keep the evenings for the aurora.
Whale watching · Brim Explorer
Whale watching on a hybrid-electric catamaran
Whale watching by catamaran, with the trip timed around the short twilight.
- Duration 7–9 hours
Husky sledding · Arctic Adventure Tours AS
Drive your own husky team on Kvaløya
Self-drive husky sledding on Kvaløya. Afternoon departures run in twilight or darkness.
- Duration 4 hours
- Meeting point Scandic Ishavshotel, city centre
- ✓ Free cancellation
Reindeer · Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
Reindeer sledding and feeding with a Sámi guide
Reindeer sledding and feeding with a Sámi guide; the 10:00 tour spends its camp time in the midday twilight.
- Duration 4 hours
- Meeting point Prostneset bus terminal
- ✓ Free cancellation
Snowmobile · Camp Troll
Snowmobile safari in the Lyngen Alps
A full day of snowmobiling in the Lyngen Alps, with bus and ferry from Tromsø.
- Duration Full day, about 8 hours
- Meeting point Prostneset, 08:30
- ✓ Free cancellation
Northern lights · Brim Explorer
Northern lights cruise on an electric boat
An evening on a quiet electric boat in the fjord.
- Duration 3 hours
- Meeting point Pier by Skarven Kro, Kaigata
- ✓ Free cancellation
Concert · Johansenjjmusic
Christmas concert in the Arctic Cathedral
A Christmas concert inside the Arctic Cathedral.
- Duration 1.5 hours
- Meeting point Arctic Cathedral
- ✓ 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.
Questions travellers ask
Is it dark all day in Tromsø in December?
No. The sun does not rise, but there are a few hours of twilight around midday. On 21 December, the shortest day, civil twilight lasts from 09:31 to 13:53.
Can you see whales in Tromsø in December?
Yes, December is in the core whale season, which Visit Tromsø gives as usually from the beginning of November to the end of January.
Are shops open in Tromsø over Christmas?
Many shops are closed on the public holidays, 25 and 26 December. On 24 December shops close at 16:00. For 2026, Visit Tromsø says that shops reopen on Monday 28 December.
Where can I watch the New Year’s fireworks?
Visit Tromsø suggests the Fjellheisen cable car. Other viewpoints it names include Strandtorget in the centre.
Where these facts come from
Dates, opening hours and rules change. We checked these pages in November 2026; the official source has the final word.
