Tromsø Travel Guide: Northern Lights, Things To Do & Tips
September 2026
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What's It Like to Visit Tromsø During Polar Night?
Experiencing polar night was special. When I told people I was visiting in December time, I got a lot of "Isn't it dark there all the time? What will you do?", but honestly I was excited to experience polar night and it lived up to, if not exceeded, my expectations.
You may already know, but during polar night, the sun doesn't rise above the horizon in this region of the world. In Tromsø though this doesn't always mean there is complete darkness 24 hours a day, as there can be a few hours of what the locals call 'blue hour' were light reflects off the sea and snow to turn the sky shades of blue, or a soft twilight were the sky can glow a mix of warm pink, orange and faint blue.
Yes, no doubt it would be tough to live in polar night for weeks, or months, at a time, but to experience it as a tourist was special.
When Does Polar Night Occur in Tromsø?
In Tromsø, polar night occurs from the end of November until mid-January.
The further north, the longer and more extreme Polar Night is. For example, in Svalbard, an archipelago and Norway's most northerly region, polar night lasts from late October to mid-February and a lot of this time the area is in complete darkness 24/7, unlike Tromsø.
In the summer time, the opposite of this phenomenon occurs, Midnight Sun, where the sun doesn't set below the horizon.
Is Polar Night a Good Time to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)?
The long, dark nights can make for perfect Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights viewing. On a clear night, the Aurora can be so vivid here that you can easily see it with your naked eye.
On my first night in Tromsø, I was walking back to my hotel when I turned the corner off the main street to see the night sky alive and the aurora dancing above me. It was honestly a pinch me moment. Planning a visit to above the arctic circle, I was hoping to see the aurora, and had a guided trip booked to increase my chances of seeing them, but I certainly didn't expect to see them so brightly while I was just walking around the town. I walked down to the waters edge to watch them for a while, staying as long as I could until I literally couldn't feel my fingers with the cold. I then headed back to my hotel, The Dock 69 39 by Scandic, but the excitement was still there and after warming up, I went up to the hotel rooftop to have another look at the spectacle in the night sky, I was like a child on Christmas morning!
On my visit, I was lucky to have 3 out of 4 nights where the sky was clear and the Aurora Borealis danced across the sky right above the town center. I did also go on a Northern Lights tour, which I cover more below and in this post (HERE).
The Polar Museum: a museum dedicated to Tromsø's history as a base for Arctic hunting and polar expeditions, including the stories of famous polar explorers who set out from the city.
Polaria: an Arctic experience center with an aquarium, seal pool and short films on the Northern Lights and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, a good option if the weather turns unfavorable or you're travelling with kids.
Raketten Bar & Pølse: “tiniest bar in the world”, the kiosk is located in the middle of the main street so you can’t miss it. There was a queue anytime I passed by, sometimes a lot longer than others; one time I passed by there were only a few people in line so I stopped and got hot chocolate which was very tasty.
Sauna Pust: If you are daring, go for an arctic plunge in the fjord during a visit to Sauna Pust.
Cosy Cafes: Visit some of the cosy cafes to warm up over a hot drink and make sure to try a cinnamon bun (or two).
Northernmost McDonalds in the world is located in Tromsø.
What To Do in Tromsø?
Tromsø has a variety of attractions and experiences to offer, both in it's compact city center and in the surrounding mountainside and fjords. I have separated this into two sections: firstly, attractions and experiences in and around the city center; and, secondly, day trips and excursions from Tromsø.
Attractions and Experiences In and Around Tromsø City Center?
Fjellheisen Cable Car: a short, five minute ride up Mount Storsteinen, 420m above sea level, to access sweeping views over the city, fjords and surrounding mountains. The views of the winter wonderland landscape are breathtaking and this is well worth doing in my opinion. It is also meant to be a great platform for seeing the aurora / northern lights since you are at a higher elevation than the city below. I didn't manage to catch the aurora when I was up the mountain as it was cloudy.
The cable car is located on the other side of the Tromsøbrua bridge from Tromsø city center, but a shuttle bus operates from the Tourist Shop Tromsø Havn in the city center to the cable car station, leaving on the hour every hour between 10am and 4pm, and returning at quarter past the hour. Although the shuttle bus stops running at 4pm (4:15pm back to the city), the cable car itself operates until 11pm. If you are traveling outside the shuttle bus schedule, you can travel by taxi (approx. 10 minute drive), walking (approx. 45 minute walk), or by public bus (bus no. 26 from Torgsenteret in Tromsø city center, to "Fjellheisen" bus stop. Times and more information can be found on the Svipper App).
Day Trips and Excursions In Tromsø:
Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights Tour: I had a northern lights tour booked before I arrived in Tromsø, so despite seeing the lights in the city, I still decided to go on the tour as planned, and was glad I did. On this small group tour, you travel in a mini-van to 'chase' the aurora.
The Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen): recognisable for its striking, modern architecture, the triangular shaped cathedral is the parish church of the Tromsdalen district. It is located just across the Tromsøbrua bridge from the city centre.
Gateway to the Arctic: an arch with stained glass window style design, through which you can see the Arctic Cathedral and Mount Storsteinen on the opposite side of the fjord.
Ethical Whale Watching Cruise: cruise the Arctic fjords to try and spot orcas and humpback whales in the wild, and maybe even another chance to see the aurora / northern lights from the fjords. Watching majestic orcas hunting in their natural habitat, diving beneath the water to catch their prey, was a real bucket list moment.
Reindeer Feeding and Sami Cultural Experience: go to a traditional Sami camp, feed a herd of reindeer and get an introduction to Sami culture, the indigenous people of the Arctic region, delivered by a Sami guide. It was such a wholesome and magical experience getting to see these beautiful, graceful animals up close and feed them.
Snowmobiling: explore the snow-covered landscapes around Tromsø on a guided snowmobile tour. There are a variety of tours available, with different routes, through valleys, forests and/or mountain landscapes, with potential views of Arctic wildlife.
If you are looking to extend your time in Switzerland, and beyond, see my other blog posts: Switzerland’s Most Scenic Train Journeys; and 6 Must Visit Villages in Switzerland
Practical Tip:
The currency in Switzerland and Liechtenstein is the Swiss Franc (CHF) but card is widely accepted and I didn’t come across anywhere on my travels that specifically required cash.