NO · Troms · 69.65°N 18.96°E

tromsø

An Arctic harbour town for snowy outings, northern lights and summer's midnight sun.

Best time
September–March is northern-lights season. February–March pairs snow with returning daylight, while late November to mid-January is polar night, when the sun doesn't rise. Late May to late July brings the midnight sun.
How long
3–5 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Oslo, usually via Amsterdam, Doha or Istanbul (about 16–18 hours all in), then about 2 hours on to Tromsø. The airport is 15 minutes from town. Norway is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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NO · Tromstromsø69.65°N 18.96°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,An Arctic harbour town for snowy outings, northern lights and summer's midnight sun.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTromsøNO, Troms
KLtromsø
≈ 9,399 km from KL, as the crow flies
Downtown Tromsø Bildet kan fritt lastes ned. Vennligst krediter fotograf. --- This image may be downloaded for commercial and non-commercial use. Please credit the photographer. Photo Credit: Yngve Ol

Photo: The Municipality of Tromsø from Tromsø, Norway · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Tromsø is a lively Arctic city on an island, ringed by snowy mountains and fjords. Come in winter for snow, sled dogs and a good chance of the northern lights, or in summer for the midnight sun.

Makan

  1. SkreiArctic cod that arrives in winter, poached or fried, at its best from January to April.Map ↗
  2. Fish soupA hot, creamy bowl after a night out in the cold.Map ↗
  3. WafflesHeart-shaped, with jam and sour cream.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Northern lights tripsGuided minibuses drive out of town, inland if needed, to find clear skies.Map ↗
  2. Arctic Cathedral and FjellheisenThe white, triangular church across the bridge, and the cable car above it to a view over the island city.Map ↗
  3. Dog sleddingHusky teams pull you through snowy valleys outside town.Map ↗
  4. Sámi reindeer campsSámi-run camps outside town offer reindeer feeding and sledding, with stories by the fire in a lavvu tent.Map ↗
  5. Polar MuseumTales of Arctic trappers and polar explorers like Roald Amundsen, in an old harbour warehouse.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book the aurora trip for early in your stay, so there are spare nights if it's cloudy; no one can promise a sighting.
  • Pick tours that lend thermal suits and boots; it's much colder inland than in town.
  • Halal is limited to a few kebab and Middle Eastern places in the centre, but the fish is excellent and easy.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.