Norway
Tromsø
Arctic city for the polar night, aurora trips and sled dogs; 3 nights. Below: 3 sights, 3 activities and 1 place to eat, plus how Tromsø fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Late Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- September
3 See · 3 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay
Lofoten & Tromsø
from our route notes
17°C / 63°F avg high
-4°C / 25°F avg high
about 137 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Tromsø
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Tromsø across Tromsdalen and Sentrum.
Photo: Harald Groven · CC BY-SA 3.0 noSeeArctic Cathedral
Tromsdalen's 1965 triangular church, lit from within at night, with a huge glass mosaic on its east wall.
Tip Evening concerts run through the winter; check the schedule.
- See
Polar Museum
Museum in an 1830s customs warehouse on the harbour covering trapping, sealing and Amundsen and Nansen's expeditions.
Photo: Illustratedjc · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeTromsø Cathedral
One of Norway's largest wooden churches, built in 1861 in the middle of the pedestrian centre.
Tip Christmas concerts are held here through December.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Tromsø across Tromsdalen, Sentrum and Kvaløya.
Photo: Peter Fiskerstrand · CC BY-SA 4.0DoFjellheisen
Cable car up to Storsteinen, 421 m above sea level, for the view over the island city and the bridge.
Tip Go up before dusk and stay for the lights; it is windy and cold at the top.
Photo: Lee Dyer · CC BY-SA 2.0DoPolaria
Arctic aquarium in a building shaped like toppled ice floes, with bearded seals and polar-region exhibits.
Tip Time your visit for the seal feeding.
- Do
Tromsø Villmarkssenter
Husky kennel on Kvaløya running dog-sled trips, kennel visits and evening aurora camps.
Tip Book sled trips ahead; pickups run from the city centre.
Eat
1 place to eat in Prostneset, picked for groups who care about the food.
- Eat
Fiskekompaniet
Harbourside seafood restaurant serving Arctic cod, king crab and seasonal skrei.
Tip Book for a window table.
Drink
1 bar or café in Mack-kvartalet for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Bernt Rostad · CC BY 2.0DrinkØlhallen
Tromsø's oldest pub, opened in 1928 at the Mack brewery, pouring dozens of taps beside a stuffed polar bear.
Stay
Places to stay in Tromsø in Prostneset.
- Stay
Scandic Ishavshotel
Harbour hotel shaped like a ship's bridge, with rooms looking across to the Arctic Cathedral.
How to fit Tromsø into a trip
Tromsø is stop 3 of 3 on our Lofoten & Tromsø route. Follow it as-is or lift Tromsø into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Lofoten & Tromsø
Fishing villages, polar night, northern lights
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Late Nov – Mar
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Svolvær
Getting here and onward
- Svolvær to TromsøSvolvær is about 236 km / 146 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Tromsø month by month
Average daily highs run from -4°C / 25°F in January to 17°C / 63°F in July. September is the wettest month, with about 137 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan-4° / 25°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb-4° / 26°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar-1° / 30°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr3° / 37°F average high
- May9° / 47°F average high
- Jun13° / 56°F average high
- Jul17° / 63°F average high
- Aug16° / 60°F average high
- Sep11° / 52°F average high
- Oct4° / 40°F average high
- Nov0° / 32°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec-2° / 28°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Tromsø weather and the best time to visit →
Near Tromsø
3 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
Tromsø questions, answered
How many days do you need in Tromsø?
Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Tromsø. On our Lofoten & Tromsø route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 12 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Tromsø best known for?
Arctic city for the polar night, aurora trips and sled dogs; 3 nights. Standouts on our list: Arctic Cathedral (Tromsdalen's 1965 triangular church, lit from within at night, with a huge glass mosaic on its east wall); Polar Museum (Museum in an 1830s customs warehouse on the harbour covering trapping, sealing and Amundsen and Nansen's expeditions); Tromsø Cathedral (One of Norway's largest wooden churches, built in 1861 in the middle of the pedestrian centre).
When is the best time to visit Tromsø?
Our Lofoten & Tromsø route is best Late Nov – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (17°C / 63°F), the coolest in January (-4°C / 25°F) and the most rain in September (about 137 mm).
What are the best things to do in Tromsø?
Start with Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen, Polaria, Polar Museum and Tromsø Cathedral. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 3 activities, 1 place to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.
What is near Tromsø?
The closest destinations in our guides are Svolvær (about 236 km / 146 mi), Reine (about 304 km / 189 mi) and Saariselkä (about 363 km / 226 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Tromsø with your crew
Open the Lofoten & Tromsø route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.