What to wear in Tromsø in winter
The town itself is milder than its latitude suggests. The trips out of town are not. Pack for both, and for ice underfoot.
Tromsø is milder than you might expect at almost 70 degrees north. The long-term average at the MET Norway station in town is −3.0 °C in January and −3.3 °C in February, the coldest month. The picture changes once you leave town. Visit Tromsø advises anyone planning Arctic activities or northern lights trips to be ready for temperatures from −25 °C to +5 °C. You need clothes that cope with both, plus something for the ice on the pavements.
Temperatures in town
These are the monthly averages at the MET Norway station Tromsø (Vervarslinga), about a kilometre from the centre. They describe the town, not the inland valleys.
| Month | Average temperature | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|
| October | 3.1 °C | 127 mm |
| November | 0.2 °C | 94 mm |
| December | −1.7 °C | 110 mm |
| January | −3.0 °C | 108 mm |
| February | −3.3 °C | 97 mm |
| March | −1.9 °C | 97 mm |
| April | 1.2 °C | 71 mm |
The averages sit close to freezing and every winter month brings plenty of precipitation, so an outer layer that keeps out wet snow is as useful as a thick one. Visit Tromsø also points out that the temperature varies between the town, the coast and the areas further inland, and that you can get anything from snow and wind to cold, clear winter days. Store norske leksikon adds that in winter a cold wind often blows out from the land in Troms.
Snow on the ground
Plan for snow underfoot from November to April. In the winter of 2025/26 the MET Norway station in town recorded a lasting snow cover from 9 November to 18 April, with a peak of 105 cm on 23 February. Between December and March the snow depth never fell below 26 cm. That was a single winter, and Tromsø's snowfall varies a lot from year to year, but it shows why ordinary trainers are not enough. In October a first snowfall is possible, as on 20 October 2025, and that snow melted again.
The layering principle
Visit Tromsø advises dressing in layers, so you can regulate your temperature by adding or taking off clothing. Indoors in Tromsø you take layers off, outside on a tour you put them back on.
The recommended order is simple. Start with woollen base layers next to your skin, add warm, dry jumpers, and finish with a jacket.
Visit Tromsø also lists warm footwear, gloves, scarves and hats.
Feet and hands
Visit Tromsø gives one specific rule for footwear: your shoes should be large enough for an extra pair of woollen socks. Try your boots on with the thick socks you plan to wear before you travel. Hand warmers can be useful inside both gloves and footwear on long nights outside.
Ice spikes for the streets
In winter, paths and streets can be slippery both in nature and in the city centre, and Visit Tromsø calls ice grips or spikes a useful safety measure that can help prevent falls. You can buy them in shoe shops, sports shops and at the Tourist Information, and the university in Tromsø notes that they are sold in many shops across the centre. Buy a pair on your first day or bring one from home.
What tours provide
Some winter trips around Tromsø hand out warm outer clothing, which saves luggage space. It differs from tour to tour, though, so read the inclusions before you pack. Examples from tours we list:
- A husky sledding trip on Kvaløya includes loaned winter clothing.
- A learn-to-ski session provides the ski equipment plus a jacket, trousers, a hat and gloves.
- The RIB whale safari from Skjervøy supplies a thermal suit, boots and goggles for the open boat.
- An all-inclusive aurora chase gives you a thermal suit and boots for the night.
- On the fjord fishing cruise the thermal suit only comes with the all-inclusive option.
The suits go over your own clothes, so the wool base layers, warm socks and hat are still yours to bring.
For husky trips and what each one includes, see husky-tromso.com.
A few extras
If you plan to go into the mountains on your own, the requirements are different. Visit Tromsø's advice for winter hiking stresses that snow, ice and rapidly changing weather make routes far harder than in summer, and that you should check the avalanche forecast on Varsom. Our practical tips page has the details.
Bring swimwear even in January if a sauna is on your list. Pust, the floating sauna in the harbour, asks you to bring swimwear and two towels, and the ticket for the public pool Tromsøbadet, which has a sauna and a heated outdoor pool, does not include either. For long evenings outside, our page on the northern lights explains when to go out and why patience pays.
Tours that lend you warm gear
On these trips the operator provides outer clothing or a thermal suit, according to the product description. You still need your own base layers, socks and a hat underneath.
Husky sledding · Moa Hundseid Expedition AS
Husky sledding with meal and winter clothing
Husky sledding on Kvaløya where loaned winter clothing is part of the package, along with a meal and pickup in town.
- Duration 4.5 hours
- Meeting point Radisson Blu, Sjøgata 7
- ✓ Free cancellation
Cross-country skiing · SkiTromsø
Learn to ski, no experience needed
A beginner ski session for people with no experience, where the ski equipment and winter clothing are provided.
- Duration 2.5 hours
- Meeting point Tromsø Skistadion, Dramsvegen 192
- ✓ Free cancellation
Whale watching · Arctic Adventure Tours AS
RIB whale safari from Skjervøy
About three hours at sea in an open RIB, so the thermal suit, boots and goggles that come with the trip matter.
- Duration About 12 hours
- Meeting point Scandic Ishavshotel, 05:00
- ✓ Free cancellation
Northern lights · Northern Horizon
All-inclusive northern lights chase
A long night out on the aurora chase with a thermal suit and boots included, plus a bonfire and food.
- Duration About 7 hours
- ✓ Free cancellation
Fishing · Polar Adventures
Fjord cruise with fishing
A fishing trip on the fjord where the thermal suit comes with the all-inclusive option; the basic option has no fishing and no suit.
- Duration 4–5 hours
- Meeting point Killengreens gate 7–11
- ✓ 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
How cold is Tromsø in winter?
In town the long-term averages are −1.7 °C in December, −3.0 °C in January and −3.3 °C in February (MET Norway, 1991–2020). On trips out of town Visit Tromsø advises preparing for anything from −25 °C to +5 °C.
Do I need ice spikes in Tromsø?
They help. Visit Tromsø notes that paths and streets can be slippery in winter, in nature and in the city centre, and calls ice grips or spikes a useful safety measure. You can buy them in shoe shops, sports shops and at the Tourist Information.
Do northern lights tours provide warm clothing?
Some do. Several aurora trips include a thermal suit and boots, but not all. Check the inclusions of the tour before you pack, and wear wool layers underneath in any case.
What shoes should I bring for Tromsø in winter?
Warm winter footwear that is large enough for an extra pair of woollen socks. Add a pair of ice spikes for walking in town.
Should I bring swimwear in winter?
Yes, if you plan to try a sauna. The floating sauna in the harbour asks you to bring swimwear and two towels, and the public pool with sauna does not include swimwear or towels in its ticket.
Where these facts come from
Dates, opening hours and rules change. We checked these pages in October 2026; the official source has the final word.
- Visit Tromsø: How to dress in the Arctic
- yr.no: climate statistics for Tromsø (MET Norway)
- Visit Tromsø: 10 gode grunner til å besøke Tromsø om vinteren
- Store norske leksikon: Troms, klima
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway: Practical information
- Visit Tromsø: Winter hiking in Tromsø
- Visit Tromsø: Pust Sauna
- Tromsøbadet
