Tromsø in January
January starts in the polar night and ends with almost five hours of sun. Whales are still in the fjords, the snow is deep, and the town celebrates the return of the sun with sweet buns.
January is the month of returning light. Until 14 January the sun stays below the horizon, on 15 January it rises for the first time, and by the end of the month it is up for almost five hours. The whale season usually lasts until the end of January, the snow is deep and reliable, and two of the town’s big events fall in this month.
Light and darkness
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January | 11:35 | 12:12 |
| 21 January | 10:30 | 13:21 |
| 31 January | 09:30 | 14:25 |
Visit Tromsø points out that the mountains around the town hide the sun from the centre until later in January, even after it has risen above the horizon. On 21 January Tromsø celebrates Soldagen, the sun day, with “solboller”, sweet sun buns, and cocoa. The university recommends Telegrafbukta at the southern tip of the island between 11:00 and 12:30 to see the light.
Weather and snow
The average temperature is −3.0 °C, with about 108 mm of precipitation. In winter 2025/26 the snow depth at the station never fell below 26 cm between December and March, and in January it reached 83 cm. Inland it is colder: on trips to the valleys or the Finnish border, dress for well below the town average.
What runs in January
- Whale watching continues until about the end of the month. In 2026/27 the catamaran calendar of Brim Explorer runs until 31 January.
- Husky, reindeer and snowmobile trips are in their main season.
- Ice fishing on a frozen fjord starts on 5 January with Skadi Adventures.
- Skrei, the migrating cod from the Barents Sea, is in season from January to April, and restaurants put it on the menu.
Events in January
The Polar Night Half Marathon, with marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km, is on 9 January 2027. The Tromsø International Film Festival, the largest in Norway, runs from 18 to 24 January 2027, with screenings in cinemas across the centre and an open-air cinema on Stortorget. Sámi Week starts on 31 January, see February.
The last whale weeks of the season, with all departures: tromso-whalewatching.com.
Is January a good time to visit?
January combines the end of the polar night with the last whales and reliable snow, and it is colder than November. If you come for whales, aim for the first half of the month.
Tours for January
The last weeks for whales and the first weeks with sunrise on the snow.
Whale watching · Brim Explorer
Whale watching on a hybrid-electric catamaran
One of the last whale trips of the season, by catamaran from the centre.
- Duration 7–9 hours
Husky sledding · Arctic Adventure Tours AS
Drive your own husky team on Kvaløya
Self-drive husky sledding on Kvaløya, with more light towards the end of the month.
- Duration 4 hours
- Meeting point Scandic Ishavshotel, city centre
- ✓ Free cancellation
Snowmobile · Arctic Resorts
Snowmobiling at Camp Tamok
Snowmobiling in the inland Tamok valley, where the snow is usually reliable.
- Duration Day trip
- ✓ Free cancellation
Northern lights · Northern Lights Safari Tromso
Northern lights bus tour with camp stop
A bus tour with a camp stop on the long January nights.
- Duration About 6 hours
- ✓ Free cancellation
Fishing · Skadi Adventures AS
Ice fishing on a frozen fjord with a barbecue
Ice fishing on a frozen fjord with a barbecue. The season starts on 5 January.
- Duration About 5 hours, 10:00–15:00
- Meeting point Entrance of Skirri restaurant, Kystens Hus, Stortorget 1
- ✓ Free cancellation
Reindeer · Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
Reindeer sledding and feeding with a Sámi guide
Reindeer sledding and feeding with a Sámi guide.
- Duration 4 hours
- Meeting point Prostneset bus terminal
- ✓ 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
When does the sun come back to Tromsø?
In the 2026/27 season the first sunrise is on 15 January, from 11:35 to 12:12. Because of the mountains, the sun is usually not visible from the centre until later in January. Tromsø celebrates its return on 21 January.
Can you still see whales in January?
Usually until the end of January. Visit Tromsø gives the season as from the beginning of November to the end of January, and the exact timing varies from year to year.
How cold is Tromsø in January?
The long-term average at the station in town is −3.0 °C. It is colder inland, and on tours outside the city you should be ready for much lower temperatures.
What is the Polar Night Half Marathon?
A run through the city centre in the blue light before the sun returns, with marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km. In 2027 it takes place on 9 January.
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.
