Tromsø is one of Northern Norway’s main gateways to the Arctic, with experiences ranging from Northern Lights tours and whale watching to fjord cruises, dog sledding and summer adventures under the Midnight Sun.
The city is compact and easy to explore, while mountains, fjords and islands begin just beyond the centre. This makes Tromsø an excellent base for combining city experiences with day trips into the surrounding Arctic landscapes. We’ve selected some of the experiences we think are most useful when planning a stay in Tromsø — from classic winter activities to fjord trips, wildlife, local food and less obvious ways to experience the Arctic.
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Northern Lights | Whale Watching | Fjord Tours & Cruises | Dog Sledding | Reindeer & Sámi | Day Trips | Accommodation | Arctic Journeys
Northern Lights - Our Picks
Chase the Aurora from Tromsø
Tromsø lies beneath the auroral oval and is one of Northern Norway’s main bases for Northern Lights travel. There is no single best type of aurora tour. Road-based chases offer the flexibility to search for clearer skies, while fixed-location experiences can combine an evening beneath the Arctic sky with huskies, reindeer, food or other activities.
Small-Group Northern Lights Chase
For flexibility
Leave Tromsø by minibus with experienced guides who follow weather and cloud conditions in search of clearer skies and the Northern Lights. The road-based format gives the group flexibility to travel beyond the city and adjust the route according to conditions during the evening.
Best for: travellers whose main priority is seeing the Northern Lights.
Aurora Tour for All
Accessible Northern Lights experience
Join a guided minibus Northern Lights tour designed to make aurora hunting accessible to a wider range of travellers. The experience combines a road-based search for clearer skies with an accessible approach for guests travelling with mobility aids, while still offering the atmosphere of an evening outdoors beneath the Arctic sky.
Best for: travellers looking for a more accessible Northern Lights tour.
Aurora & Whales Escape
For a multi-day Arctic experience
Spend five days and four nights aboard a small sailing yacht exploring the fjords around Tromsø. The journey combines whale watching and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights with sailing, quieter coastal anchorages and life aboard the yacht.
Best for: travellers looking for an immersive multi-day Arctic experience.
Whale Watching - Our Picks
Choose the Whale Experience That Fits Your Trip
Winter whale watching is one of the major wildlife experiences available from Tromsø. Orcas and humpback whales follow herring into the fjords of Northern Norway, and the best viewing areas can shift during the season. Whale watching from Tromsø is primarily a late-autumn and winter experience. Orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords of Northern Norway, and both the main viewing areas and operating periods can shift between seasons. Check current tour availability for your travel dates.
Whale Watching RIB Tour
Best small-group wildlife experience
Travel from Tromsø to Skjervøy before heading onto the water aboard a small RIB with up to 12 guests. The compact boat creates a close connection to the Arctic marine environment while searching for orcas, humpback whales and other wildlife in the seasonal whale-watching area.
Best for: travellers who prefer a smaller, more active whale-watching experience.
Whale & Arctic Wildlife Safari by Catamaran
Best for comfort
Depart directly from Tromsø aboard a modern catamaran with panoramic windows, comfortable indoor seating and outdoor viewing decks. Travel through the Arctic fjords towards the seasonal whale-watching areas while looking for orcas, humpback whales and other marine wildlife, with views of the surrounding mountains along the journey.
Best for: travellers who want whale watching with the comfort of a larger modern vessel.
Whale Safari with MS Gabriele
Best traditional boat experience
Depart from Tromsø Pier 1 aboard MS Gabriele for a relaxed whale-watching journey through the surrounding fjords. The spacious and stable vessel offers panoramic indoor areas as well as outside deck space, allowing you to move between shelter and open-air wildlife viewing as conditions change.
Best for: travellers who prefer a relaxed traditional boat experience.
Aurora & Whales Escape
Best multi-day experience
Turn whale watching into a five-day sailing journey through the fjords around Tromsø. Stay aboard a small yacht while exploring quieter coastal locations in search of whales during the day and the Northern Lights after dark. Meals, accommodation and the sailing experience are included.
Best for: travellers who want whale watching as part of a multi-day Arctic journey.
Dog Sledding & Huskies - Our Picks
Choose Your Husky Experience in Tromsø
Meeting a team of Alaskan huskies is one of Tromsø’s classic Arctic experiences, but you don’t necessarily need to drive a dog sled to enjoy it. In winter, choose between passenger rides, self-drive dog sledding and longer wilderness adventures. From late summer into autumn, hiking and puppy-training experiences offer a way to meet the huskies before the sledding season begins.
Husky Sled Ride
Best classic experience
Travel from Tromsø to Kvaløya and meet a team of Alaskan huskies before heading into the snowy landscape. An experienced musher drives the sled while you travel as a passenger, giving you the classic dog-sledding experience without needing to control the husky team yourself.
Best for: first-time visitors who want dog sledding without driving the sled.
Season: November–April
Self-Drive Dog Sledding
Best hands-on experience
Learn how to handle a husky team before setting out across the winter landscape of Kvaløya. Two participants share each sled, taking turns as musher and passenger during approximately 45 minutes of dog sledding. Driving requires physical effort, balance and active participation.
Best for: active travellers who specifically want to drive their own husky team.
Season: November–April
Aurora Husky Visit
Best without sledding
Spend an evening outside Tromsø meeting around 200 Alaskan huskies and visiting the dog yard beneath the Arctic sky. After spending time with the dogs and puppies, settle in for a warm dinner and watch for the Northern Lights. Dog sledding is not included in this experience.
Best for: dog lovers, families and travellers who don’t want to go sledding.
Season: September–March
Husky Hike & Puppy Visit
Best active snow-free experience
Head into the countryside outside Tromsø accompanied by some of the husky centre’s energetic dogs. The guided hike lasts approximately 1.5–2 hours and crosses uneven terrain, with guests taking turns handling the huskies. The experience also includes time at the kennel and a visit with the puppies.
Best for: active travellers visiting before the winter sledding season.
Season: August–November
Reindeer & Sámi Culture - Our Picks
Meet Reindeer & Learn About Sámi Culture
Reindeer herding has been an important part of Sámi culture in Northern Norway for generations. Experiences from Tromsø offer an opportunity to meet reindeer while learning about Sámi traditions, food, storytelling and the relationship between reindeer herders and the Arctic landscape. Choose a daytime reindeer-sledding experience, spend an evening around the fire with Sámi guides, or combine the experience with the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.
Reindeer Sledding, Feeding & Sámi Culture
Best complete experience
Visit a reindeer camp outside Tromsø to meet and feed a large herd before taking a 25–30 minute sled ride through the winter landscape. Afterwards, gather inside a traditional lavvu for bidos, a Sámi reindeer stew, and learn about reindeer herding, Sámi culture and joik from your hosts.
Best for: first-time visitors wanting both reindeer sledding and Sámi culture.
Season: October–April
Night Reindeer Sledding & Camp Dinner
Best evening reindeer experience
Spend an evening at a reindeer camp outside Tromsø, combining a short sled ride with Sámi culture, dinner and time with the herd. Feed the reindeer, enjoy a 10–15 minute sled ride through the winter landscape, then gather indoors for a warm meal, storytelling and traditional joik.
Best for: travellers who want reindeer sledding, Sámi culture and an evening experience in one tour.
Season: October–April
Allow: Around 4.5 hours
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Reindeer Sledding with Camp Dinner
Snowshoeing with Reindeer
Best for active travellers
Combine a reindeer encounter with approximately two hours of guided snowshoeing through the winter landscape outside Tromsø. Meet the reindeer before heading into the snowy surroundings with your guide, then return to a traditional gamme for hot drinks and something sweet. Previous snowshoeing experience is not required.
Best for: travellers wanting an active alternative to reindeer sledding.
Season: December–March
Allow: Around 4 hours
Fjord Tours & Cruises - Our Picks
Explore the Fjords Around Tromsø
Tromsø is surrounded by islands, fjords and mountains, and you don’t need to travel far from the city to experience the Arctic coastline.
Explore by boat for views from the water, fishing and coastal wildlife, or travel west across Kvaløya towards Sommarøy for beaches, fishing villages and dramatic fjord landscapes.
Polar Fjord & Fishing Cruise
Best for fishing & coastal life
Cruise from Tromsø towards Rya and Ramfjord on a five-hour journey combining fjord scenery, wildlife watching and fishing. Look for white-tailed eagles and other wildlife before trying your luck in the Arctic waters. On the return journey, enjoy fresh fish soup while the crew shares stories about the surrounding coastline and local history.
Best for: travellers who want fishing and local coastal character as well as scenery.
Season: September–April
Allow: Around 5 hours
Arctic Fjord Cruise with Brim Explorer
Best comfortable scenic cruise
Explore the fjords around Tromsø aboard Brim Explorer’s hybrid-electric catamaran, with panoramic indoor lounges and open viewing decks. The journey combines Arctic scenery with stories about coastal life and a visit to a traditional fish-drying facility, while binoculars and an underwater drone add another perspective on the surrounding wildlife.
Best for: travellers looking for a relaxed and comfortable fjord cruise.
Season: September–April
Allow: Around 4–4.5 hours
Fjord Photo Tour to Sommarøy
Best for photography
Travel by road from Tromsø through the fjords, valleys and coastal landscapes of Kvaløya towards Sommarøy. Frequent stops give you time to photograph beaches, mountains, bridges and fishing communities rather than simply seeing the landscape through the window. Reindeer may also occasionally be encountered along the route.
Best for: travellers who prioritise scenery, photography and frequent stops.
Season: August–April
Allow: Around 5–5.5 hours
Explore Tromsø City
Discover the City Beyond the Arctic Adventures
Tromsø is compact enough to explore on foot, but there is more to the city than its harbour and main shopping streets.
Guided city tours can help place Tromsø in context — from Arctic exploration and Sámi history to the city’s coastal setting, museums, architecture and everyday life in Northern Norway.
Tromsø Island Tour
Best accessible sightseeing tour
Explore Tromsø and its surroundings by minibus on a four-hour introduction to the city. Visit Telegrafbukta and the Arctic University Museum of Norway, travel through central Tromsø and cross to Tromsdalen for a visit inside the Arctic Cathedral. The tour is designed with accessibility for travellers with reduced mobility in mind.
Best for: first-time visitors wanting a comfortable overview of Tromsø.
Allow: Around 4 hours
Private Tromsø Island Tour
Best private sightseeing experience
Explore Tromsø with your own guide and driver on a private half-day tour. Visit the Arctic University Museum of Norway and Arctic Cathedral before taking the Fjellheisen cable car to 421 metres above sea level for panoramic views. The experience concludes with a warm lunch in the city’s historic centre.
Best for: couples, families and small groups wanting a private introduction to Tromsø.
Allow: Half day
Extended Trips from Tromsø
Go Beyond the City
Tromsø works well as a base, but some of Northern Norway’s most rewarding landscapes and wildlife experiences lie several hours away.
If you have a full day — or preferably a couple of nights — you can continue to Senja, Polar Park in Bardu and other parts of Northern Norway without needing to organise every transport connection yourself.
Polar Park from Tromsø
Best for Arctic wildlife
Travel south from Tromsø through the inland landscapes of Northern Norway to Polar Park in Bardu. Spend around three hours exploring the wildlife park, where species include wolves, lynx, moose, musk ox, reindeer, bears and Arctic foxes, before returning to Tromsø aboard the Arctic Route in the evening.
Best for: wildlife enthusiasts and families.
Allow: Around 9 hours
Senja Full-Day Exploration
Best scenic road trip from Tromsø
Spend a full day exploring Senja’s dramatic outer coast from Tromsø. Follow parts of Norwegian Scenic Route Senja to locations including Tungeneset, Bergsbotn and Ersfjordstranda, with coastal communities and scenic stops along the way. Keep watch for moose, reindeer and sea eagles, although wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Best for: travellers with limited time who still want to experience Senja.
Allow: Around 8–10 hours
2-Night Senja Winter Escape
Best slow-travel option
Turn Senja into part of your journey with two nights at Camp Fjordbotn. The package includes transport from Tromsø, accommodation, sightseeing along Norwegian Scenic Route Senja, meals, a guided snowshoe evening and time in a panoramic sauna. Scenic stops include locations such as Tungeneset, Bergsbotn, Skaland and Mefjordvær.
Best for: travellers who want to experience Senja rather than simply visit for the day.
Allow: 2 nights / 3 days
Where to Stay in Tromsø
For most visitors, staying in central Tromsø is the most practical choice. You can walk to restaurants, museums, the harbour and many tour departure points, while airport buses and local transport are easy to reach. For winter trips in particular, a central hotel also makes early whale-watching departures, evening Northern Lights tours and longer day trips considerably easier to manage.
Thon Hotel Tromsø
Modern central stay
Stay in central Tromsø on Grønnegata, within easy walking distance of the city’s shops, restaurants and waterfront. Thon Hotel Tromsø has breakfast included and free Wi-Fi, with access to the fitness room at neighbouring Thon Hotel Polar.
Best for: travellers wanting a modern central base with convenient transport connections.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Thon Hotel Tromsø
Thon Hotel Polar
Central and practical
Stay in the heart of Tromsø with shops, restaurants and central attractions within easy walking distance. Thon Hotel Polar has free Wi-Fi and its own fitness room. Its central Grønnegata location makes it a practical base for travellers spending their days exploring Tromsø and joining excursions.
Best for: travellers looking for a straightforward and very central Tromsø hotel.
Explore Arctic Journeys from Tromsø
Tromsø is not only a destination — it is one of the main starting points for travelling deeper into Northern Norway. Continue south through Senja, Harstad, Narvik and Vesterålen towards Lofoten, with routes designed around realistic travel times, seasonal transport and the experiences worth stopping for along the way.
CAR-FREE · YEAR-ROUND ROUTE
8 days · 7 nights
Tromsø → Narvik → Svolvær
Travel from Tromsø to Lofoten by public transport, breaking the journey in Narvik before continuing to Svolvær.
Highlights
Tromsø experiences
Arctic Train & Narvik
3 nights in Svolvær
Scenic overland journey
CAR-FREE · YEAR-ROUND SCENIC ROUTE
7 days · 6 nights
Tromsø → Senja → Harstad → Sortland → Svolvær
Turn the journey to Lofoten into part of the experience, travelling through Senja, Harstad and Vesterålen by boat and Coastal Express.
Highlights
Senja guided excursion
Express boat via Harstad
Vesterålen coastal landscapes
Coastal Express to Lofoten
Northern Norway Without a Car - Independent Travel Itineraries
SUMMER · SELF-DRIVE · SCENIC ROUTE
Minimum 10 days / 9 nights
Tromsø → Senja → Andøya → Vesterålen → Lofoten
Follow the scenic summer route from Tromsø through Senja and Andøya to Vesterålen, before continuing into Lofoten.
Highlights
Norwegian Scenic Route Senja
Midnight Sun & coastal landscapes
Andøya and Vesterålen
Minimum 4 nights in Lofoten
WINTER · SELF-DRIVE
8 days / 7 nights
Tromsø → Narvik → Svolvær
A realistic winter road trip with shorter driving stages, using Narvik as the natural break between Tromsø and Lofoten.
Highlights
Northern Lights & Arctic winter
Narvik stopover
Polar Park option
Lofoten winter experiences
Northern Norway Self-Drive Itineraries
Continue Your Journey
Explore More of Northern Norway
Tromsø is also an excellent starting point for a longer journey through Northern Norway.
Tromsø to Senja
Scenic coastline and one of Norway’s National Scenic Routes.
Tromsø to Narvik
Mountain landscapes, Arctic history and access to Polar Park.
Tromsø to Vesterålen
Whales, coastal villages, scenic drives and wild Atlantic landscapes.
Tromsø to Lofoten
Continue south towards one of Norway’s most famous island regions.
See Ready-Made Tromsø & Lofoten Journeys