Tromsø with children in winter

Children are welcome on most tours around Tromsø, from a husky ride in the sled to a whale cruise on a heated ship. What limits a family trip is less the activity than the day around it. Whale tours last up to nine hours, trips to the inland valleys mean about 90 minutes on a bus each way, and northern lights tours come back long after midnight. Pick short trips close to town for younger children and save the long days for when they are older.

Minimum ages by activity

The ages below come from the product pages and the operators in November 2026. They change, so check them again when you book.

On the husky and reindeer farms

The farms closest to town are the easiest start. At Tromsø Villmarkssenter on Kvaløya, children sit in the sled while a musher drives the dogs for about 45 minutes, and there is lunch, cake and a visit to the puppies afterwards. Arctic Resorts lets children from 4 join a short self-drive ride at Breivikeidet, with the adults on the runners. Reindeer camps are calmer still. At Tromsø Arctic Reindeer you visit a herd of around 300 animals, help with the feeding and ride a sled for a short slot chosen at booking, and the product page names no minimum age.

Every husky tour near Tromsø with its minimum age: husky-tromso.com.

Long days and late nights

A few tours are hard work for small children even when they are allowed. Whale watching from Tromsø takes seven to nine hours on a boat, and the RIB tours from Skjervøy start before dawn and take about twelve hours with the bus. Camp Tamok in the inland valley is about 95 minutes away by bus. Northern lights tours leave in the evening and last about six hours, often longer on the chases that drive towards Finland.

If you want the aurora with children, a bus tour with a toilet on board and a camp stop is the gentlest choice. A dinner cruise from the harbour is shorter: about three hours, with a children’s menu for ages 3 to 11 on Brim Explorer’s boat. On a clear night you can also see the lights from town, at Prestvannet or on the coastal path at Telegrafbukta. Our comparison of northern lights tours lists the age limits of each type.

Indoors when it is too cold

• Polaria has bearded seals, an Arctic aquarium and panorama films. Prams are allowed throughout, there is a changing table, and children aged 3 to 15 pay a reduced price.
• The Nordlysplanetariet at the science centre on the university campus shows the film “Extreme Auroras” every day in winter, in English and German. The ticket includes the science centre’s exhibition on the same day.
• The Polar Museum in the old customs buildings at Skansen tells the story of Arctic trapping and the polar expeditions, and children under 18 get in free.
• Tromsøbadet, the public pool, has a Finnish sauna and a heated outdoor pool and is open all year.
• The Fjellheisen cable car takes four minutes up to 421 metres and runs every day until midnight, so even small children can see the lights of the city from above.

Daylight and cold

From about 27 November to 15 January the sun does not rise in Tromsø. It is never completely dark at midday: on 21 December there is civil twilight from 09:31 to 13:53. Plan outdoor time with small children for those hours and keep the evenings for indoor things or a short walk to look at the sky.

Many tours lend thermal suits. Ask the operator whether they have your child’s size, and pack wool layers, a warm hat and mittens either way. Our page on what to wear has the details, including ice spikes for the slippery pavements.

Getting around with children

The city buses take no cash, so buy tickets in the Svipper app or pay with a card on board. If you book a private car from the airport, check the child seat rule. One of the transfers on our airport transfer page asks families with children under 5 to bring their own seat.