Have you ever been in a snow storm blowing so hard you can hardly open your eyes? How about a place where the ice is so thick on the streets that you can’t even drag your suitcase? If not, come spend a couple of days north of the Arctic Circle using this guide to Tromso, Norway.
Tromso is one of those places with a vibe all of its own. Esteemed as the “Paris of the North,” the city centre is full of colorful buildings dotted with Christmas lights year-round to illuminate the Arctic. Locals are predominantly of a younger age, most even skiing around in the foot of snow just to get to the grocery. Seemlessly unaffected by the chill, women in high-heeled boots pushing baby strollers act as if this weather is nothing to them.
I had the pleasure of spending 48 hours up in the Arctic of Tromso, Norway and I can only hope to return again someday. It’s that incredible.
Getting to Tromso, Norway
Tromso is located at the tippy top of Norway, just over 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Unless you’re taking an Arctic cruise, Tromso is pretty much only accessible by airline. The flight was one of the more memorable ones I’ve been on. Be sure to book a window seat for a front row view of landscapes belonging on a Planet Earth episode!
I booked a roundtrip ticket with SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) from Bergen. With a short layover and connection in Oslo, my flights cost just less than $200.
Read More: 3 Days in Bergen: A Norwegian Fairytale
About Tromso, Norway
Although the island of Tromsøya that Tromso sits on is only around the same size as Manhattan, it’s actually the second largest urban area in the Arctic Circle. Tromso even boasts the largest northern University with 16,000 students.
That young vibe attributed to Tromso from the University transcribes to its locals as well. Because of the Polar Night from November to January, Tromso residents have found ways to keep those wintry blues at bay. They hold regular cultural festivals and spend ample amounts of time exercising in one of the city’s 100 gyms.
Tromso offers pretty much everything a person could need out of a small city. It contains a mall, three streets full of shopping and even a few movie theaters. Even with that urban environment, the city is completely surrounded by stunning mountains and fjords. Some of the city area extends out to the mainland, across the Tromso Bridge, and to the western island of Kvaløya.
Surprisingly, Tromso is much warmer than most places here in the Arctic. The Gulf Stream keeps temperatures at a staedy 35 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. In the summer, temperatures can reach a high of 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
When to Visit Tromso, Norway
The type of vacation you’re looking for out of Tromso will determine when you should visit. Here’s a list of the various climate and ecological changes it goes through so you’re able to know what to expect:
- Winter & Polar Night: Mid November to Mid January
- Blue Nights: Mid Winter
- Summer & Midnight Sun: Mid May– Mid July
- No real darkness: Late April – Mid August
- Northern Lights Viewing: October and March.
- While the Aurora is visible from October to April, Tromsø’s coastal location causes the city to experience many storms. Skies are clearest in Tromsø in October and March.
I visited Tromsø for a couple of days in the second week of March and have never experienced so much snow in my life! Even hailing from northern USA and visiting places like Switzerland, Bavaria and Lake Tahoe in the dead middle of winter, that doesn’t even compare to this Arctic snow. We experienced a total of 3 feet within 12 hours on our only full day in the city!
Activities in Tromso, Norway
For a city of its size, so many activities exist in Tromso in every season. From snow shoeing to Northern Lights chasing, the Arctic is one of the most epic places to be any time of the year.
Feed & Sled with Reindeer
A visit to the Tromsø Arctic Reindeer camp is one of the coolest things you could do on your visit. Come learn about the Sami people, an indigenous population that have been practicing their traditions for thousands of years. They’ll welcome you into the camp with a smile, introduce you to their herd of reindeer and supply you with buckets of feed to share with them.
You’ll then have the opportunity to board a handmade sled pulled by Santa’s favorite pet. Warm up by the fire with a homemade lunch and then into a cozy atmosphere for storytelling about the Sami culture.
If you want to book a trip with Tromsø Arctic Reindeer, head to their website here. Be sure to check out Tromso Eco Tours here which gives 10% of all bookings to nature & environmental charities.
Learn about Norwegian Culture at the Museums
Tromso contains so many museums within the city and on the outskirts. A few noteworthy ones to visit are the Tromso University Museum, MS Polstjerna, Polar Museum, the world’s most northern aquarium of Polaria, Northern Norway Art Museum, Perspectives Museum, the Tromsø War Museum and the Science Centre of Northern Norway.
Sledding with Huskies
Ever wanted to get up close and personal with some sledding Huskies? Tromso is definitely the place to do that. Sled through mountains and magical fjords on one of Norway’s largest islands, Kvaløya. After the sledding, enjoy a traditional Norwegian meal with incredible views overlooking Tromso.
Learn more about the husky sledding tour here. If you’re wanting to learn how to actually drive the dog sled yourself, check out that tour here.
Visit the Arctic Cathedral
Possibly Tromso’s most photographed landmark and the staple of the city is the Tromsdalen Church or the Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen). Built in 1965, the triangle-shaped church is visible from many different places in Tromso like from the fjords, on the bridge and even when flying in by plane.
Walk Across the Tromso Bridge
Tromso’s city expands from the Tromsøya island to the mainland via the Tromsø Bridge. This 3400 foot stretch of roadway and pedestrian walk spans directly over the fjords of Tromso Sound. The love locked on the bridge give a perfect forefront to those stunning views of the snowy mountains in the distance.
Visit the Magic Ice Bar
Tromsø boasts a magical ice bar that displays a number of ice sculptures of historic and famous explorers. Pop in here any day of the week, dress in the supplied poncho and drink a signature cocktail from your ice glass.
Ride the Fjellheisen to the Top of Tromso
The Fjellheisen is an aerial tramway over on the mainland side of the city. The mountain ledge of Storesteinen is about 1400 feet above sea level, the perfect place to view all of Tromso from above.
Tickets can be purchased at the booth upon arrival to the Fjellheisen. If you’re wanting a little more of an adventure, try climbing the 1300 Sherpa Stairs (Sherpatrappa). You can also snowshoe or hike to a number of mountain peaks from the Fjellheisen. Explore onwards to Fløya, Bønntuva, Sollidalsaksla or Tromso’s highest mountain, Tromsdalstindenmore.
Learn about the hikes from the top of the mountain here
Go Whale Watching with Wild Seas
Wild Seas embarks on tours daily to Skjervøy to collect data and research on the whales who have migrated north of Tromsø. This tour is more than just a whale watch. You can them in their research by collecting underwater footage and vocal recordings of the whales.
Learn more about the Wild Seas tour here
Sail Along the Arctic Fjords
It’s hard to come to Norway without sailing along those majestic fjords. That activity is even better up here in the Arctic where glaciers are more prominent than the mountains. The tour here includes a 3 hour sail and you’ll even gain some knowledge about the Arctic’s marine life.
Hike the Lyngen Alps
While this is definitely more of a summer activity beginning in June, there aren’t many more beautiful views from Tromso than at the top of a mountain. Embark on a half day hike with an experienced guide to the Lyngen Alps, getting panoramas of mountains and glaciers from the top of the world.
Chase the Northern Lights
And, for the most epic thing you could do in Tromso, go chase the Northern Lights. The best months for a chance see the Aurora are in October and March when skies are clearest. Multiple tour companies throughout Tromso offer Northern Lights chases. Because of this, finding a way to see them isn’t difficult, it’s just a matter of how clear the skies are. I’d say I was one of the luckiest people on the tour I went on. The guide even told me that these were some of the best she has seen, even after chasing them for 20 years.
Read More: Chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø + Shooting Tips
Read More Scandinavia Travel Posts HereFor other fun activities in Tromso check out Tromsø Eco Tours here which gives 10% of all bookings to nature & environmental charities!
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Tromso was such an amazing city! I wish the boys could have enjoyed it with us 🙂 It really does have so much to offer. Love this post!
Andy says he would’ve liked to have seen Tromsø but in all honesty, he would’ve froze his tail off and hated it the whole time! Glad we got to go here together, I loved it! Summer would be cool to see too!