Visiting Tromsø in December, between Christmas and New Year’s – tips and information

Visiting Tromsø is always a good idea. Because there’s always something to do, places to see, gorgeous landscapes, in every season, summer and winter alike. So it might seem perfectly natural to want to head to Tromsø over the holidays, between Christmas and New Year’s.

That said, a trip to Tromsø does take a little preparation. Especially at this time of year, which comes with a few constraints.

So in this article, I’m going to tell you what to expect, the pros and cons of coming at this time. But also which activities you can do, and you’ll see there are a ton of them!

Alright, let’s go!

Things to do in Tromsø in late December

Honestly there are quite a few, and it’s great! There really are things to do all year round in Tromsø, indeed. But you’ve got all the classic winter activities with the snow, and on top of that it’s the right time of year for whales and orcas.

A couple of tips we’ll cover further down in the downsides of this period:

• Some agencies are closed at this time of year, so you absolutely must book your activities in advance
• The daylight is really minimal at this time. So don’t try to cram too much into a single day

Seeing the northern lights

Let’s be honest, if you’re coming to brave the cold in Europe’s northernmost city, it’s not just to eat a pølse. Tromsø is the capital of the northern lights, so we’re going to do everything to see them! For that, you’ve got several options:

• Rent a car and go roaming. It takes a bit of preparation but it’s doable!
  For that you need to use the weather and aurora apps, to know where the clouds are (because no clear sky, no auroras, it’s that simple). And then take the car, stay mobile, be patient because it can happen any time.
  In the following article I list some excellent spots to see the northern lights around Tromsø.
  But what will be important is to read up on the northern lights and how to chase them beforehand.

• See the northern lights with a guide. So yes it can be pricey (from €140), but the guides know where to go. So if you don’t have a car it’s an excellent way to see the northern lights.
  And if you do have a car then I’d recommend taking a guide on the first evening to get all the info you need to head off on your own adventure afterwards!

If you want to go through an agency, you really (I insist) must book in advance because it fills up very quickly at this time of year. Here you’ll find a list of Tromsø’s northern lights agencies, but to keep it short here’s what I’d recommend:

• Northbound
• Wandering Owl
• Arctic Breeze
• Greenlander
• The Green Adventure

Seeing whales and orcas

From early November (sometimes late October) to late January, the Tromsø region sees whales and orcas arrive in droves, and these days they settle over by Skjervøy. You get there by boat from Tromsø, it’s a 3-hour sail before reaching the fjord where the cetaceans are feasting. There, you stay between 1 and 3 hours, depending on the activity, and off you go again.

The big advantage is that the boats are very comfortable and modern. Brim Explorer even has hybrid boats that switch to electric (so very quiet) once on site.

So is it a must-do? It’s really lovely but if the sea is rough, you can see them less and the sailing will be a bit tough. Still, it’s a great experience, and with a bit of luck you can see them up close. If you’ve already seen them elsewhere, I’m not sure it’s worth it, but if you’ve never seen them, then yes, absolutely. In the following article I explain everything about how to see whales and orcas in Tromsø, but basically, here are the main agencies:

• Brim Explorer
• Polar Adventures
• Arctic Explorers, for the RIB boat option

Going snowmobiling

Another huge Nordic classic! And it’s a real adrenaline rush 🙂 Snowmobiling is pretty simple. You need snow and flat ground. Even though the Tromsø region is quite hilly, you’ll fairly easily find several options with great agencies. Notably in the Lyngen Alps in a stunning setting!

Now be careful, you also need to have your driving licence, otherwise you can only be a passenger 🙂

Basically you can go snowmobiling from early November to mid-April, but it all depends on the snow, of course 🙂 Anyway, in the following article I explain everything about the snowmobiling agencies in Tromsø and the info you need, but here’s a summary of the main agencies:

• Camp Troll, in the Lyngen Alps
• XLyngen, in the Lyngen Alps
• Aurora Wonderland, also in the Lyngen Alps
• Camp Tamok, in Tamokdalen, with a visit to the Ice Domes

Taking a dog sledding ride

Now this, I love. For two reasons. First off, dog sledding is a really fun, lively activity, with a thrill (seeing the bend coming while you’re at full speed, you wonder if you’ll hold on 😀 ). But it’s also a great connection with the pups! Adorable dogs, each with their own little personality, and above all who absolutely loooove heading off (I should point out that a sled on snow weighs almost nothing for a dog). So you see them super motivated, and so are we!

There are quite a few operators around Tromsø for dog sledding. Some French-speaking, some pick you up and others don’t, here are the main ones. But in the following article I give you way more detail on the best agencies for dog sledding in Tromsø:

• Norwegian Travel facing the Lyngen Alps
• Arctic Adventure in Kvaløya
• OffTrack Experience, in Målselv. French-speaking guide, you need a car to get there
• Run Wild Mushing, in Malangen, French-speaking guide, you need a car
• Aurora Husky, in Moen
• Tromsø Villmarkssenter, on Kvaløya

Seeing reindeer at a Sami farm

Reindeer are an integral part of the region. You can see loads of them, pretty much all over the region, but for that you need a bit of luck. Because they move around, they roam free (but necessarily belong to Sami people), they go where they find food and where they’re left in peace. So you might see them along the road, in a field, or sometimes you might not see them at all. On Kvaløya, it can be fairly common to come across them.

That said, if you want to maximise your chances, and on top of that learn more about the Sami people, that is the Laplanders, the first people of Lapland, then you can go visit a Sami farm. There you’ll be able to get really close to the reindeer, feed them, but also get to know Sami culture.

Around Tromsø, there’s no small “artisanal” farm. These are two fairly touristy centres but interesting nonetheless:

• Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
• Tromsø Lapland

You can either feed them, or on top of that take a sled ride (it stays calmer than dog sledding). In the following article I explain everything about how to see reindeer in Tromsø.

Going fishing with a local

In the super-abundant waters of the region, fishing is a natural thing here. You can easily fish out at sea or in the fjords (whereas you need a very expensive permit for lakes and rivers). And above all, the fish are a good size!

If you don’t have any gear, then you can go with local fishermen or agencies.

There are several options. Some boats that tour the fjords do a fishing session, like Polar Adventure. I think fishing isn’t my thing because I caught absolutely nothing. But the best is to go on a fisherman’s boat. There are several of them in Tromsø’s harbour, the one with a great reputation and that’s really lovely is Hermes II. A typical boat and a great guide.

Another lovely option is to do some ice fishing. Well, obviously, the lakes and fjords need to be frozen, but at this time of year that’s necessarily the case. It’s a fun experience, totally Nordic because on weekends you can see loads of people drilling their hole in the ice and fishing. For that, you can contact Skadi Adventures, a great family-run agency.

Discovering the landscapes of the Tromsø region

Why I prefer Tromsø to places where the weather is better, it’s mostly for the landscapes. The region is stunning, you get an eyeful pretty much everywhere and when you come here you’ll need to take a bit of time to enjoy these landscapes, these mountains and fjords. I’d recommend visiting the island of Kvaløya with notably:

• the road to Tromvik and Rekvik
• the road to Sommarøy

Then, head off to the Lyngen Alps, go see the Signaldalen mountain. Honestly, you can spend a fair bit of time on the road, you never get tired of it!

However, since there’s low daylight, don’t try to see too much each day, don’t set off too late because at this time of year, from 2pm onwards you can’t see much anymore 😀 We’ll talk about that just below.

So ideally you need to explore the area with a rental car. Because there’s very little public transport in the region, apart from getting to Ersfjord by bus.

If you don’t have a car, then you have the option of going through an agency. There are a few of them, some really good ones. They’ll mostly take you around the island of Kvaløya over a day. I’d particularly recommend:

• Enjoy the Arctic
• Northern Soul
• Jeshua, by bus but cheaper

4 recommended places to stay in Tromsø

Find your dream accommodationIn Tromso !

The few downsides of heading to Tromsø for the holidays

Because yes, this time of year is pretty special, you didn’t think you’d get off that easy 😀

I think you really need to take these things into account because they’re going to affect your stay and how you prepare for it. That said, it’s not a deal-breaker, meaning we’ll still have a great stay with little light, but you’ll have to optimise. Anyway, let’s look at all this.

The very low daylight during this period

The main thing to know is that at this time of year there’s very little light. Indeed, we’re right up north (where the days are already short in winter) at the time of the winter solstice, that is the shortest day. So, the period with the least light in the region where there’s already the least of it, I think it’s going to surprise you 😀

I’d rather point out straight away that no, at this time of year you’re not in complete darkness 24/7. There’s something like 4/5 hours of light, but a faint light, like the end of a sunset. It’ll surprise you, of course. Seeing pitch-black night at 2pm is going to hit you with a big slump. Well, it’ll also make you want to have a drink (and that works out nicely, there are more and more bars in Tromsø).

Above all, as we’ll see below, you’re going to have to optimise your outings.

You need to make the most of your daylight hours

Basically, at this time of year, you’ll get daylight between 9am and 2pm (being generous), sooo you’ll really need to get organized if you want to go out and explore the landscapes. Because heading out at noon, let me tell you, is pretty pointless (I know, I did it, and I felt like an idiot).

So really, you only have a small window for your outings, so don’t waste an hour. Yeah okay, it means getting up early, but hey, you’re not here to sleep :p even if the northern lights come back late.

For example, if you have a car, going to Sommaroy will take 2h with photo stops (1h non-stop) plus 1h to explore the archipelago. So really, you shouldn’t waste any time getting started.

No, it doesn’t stop you from sightseeing and doing tours with the agencies

I get quite a few messages asking whether, because of the light, you can still do the activities. My answer is yes! No problem at all.

Because yes, there is daylight and the activities are run during that daylight window. If you go whale watching, the boat leaves at 8am, you arrive around 11am, so right in the middle of the light. And you come back when it’s dark.

For dog sledding, it’s the same thing, the bulk of the activity happens during the daylight window. So you’ll have no trouble doing all the activities! 🙂

Several agencies and businesses are closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day

Tromso is a city with huge immigration. International, but also domestic, meaning that many Norwegians aren’t from here. Or those who are here don’t necessarily work in tourism. And all these folks take advantage of the holiday season to go back to their families, which is fair enough.

So you’ll have several restaurants and agencies that will close. During this period, you’ll want to go out to eat. So here I’d advise you to make your reservations in advance, especially for New Year’s Day and for your Christmas bookings.

There will also be several days when the shops are closed between these dates. That’s something you need to take into account.

As for the agencies, you’ll also have providers that will be closed. So here, really (I insist) you must book in advance. Because there will be more demand than supply.

And I’d find it a shame for you to make such a long trip only to end up not being able to do what you wanted.

It’s a busy tourist season

Yep, it’s very touristy. That means a few little preparations. It’s touristy and, as you just read above, there are fewer agencies. So we’ve got a bit of a problem.

• You MUST book in advance, because otherwise
  • you won’t have any activity available. Activities get booked months ahead for this period (it’s ugly, but that’s how it is)
  • you won’t have a restaurant for the important dates
  • and you’ll pay Tromso’s hotels a fortune. It’s already expensive, but leaving it to the last minute guarantees you’ll pay even more.
• Even the northern lights agencies have to be booked. People come here for that, and there’s a lot of buzz around these pretty lights, so the best agencies fill up very fast.

That said, even though it’s very touristy, you won’t have any trouble enjoying yourself, finding spots without too many people, or even being all alone. It’s still a small town with limited infrastructure, so it’s never overcrowded.

Should you come to Tromso between Christmas and New Year’s Day?

First of all, there’s no bad time to visit Tromso. There’s always something good to see and do, whatever the season.

However, if you ask me (well, I think you are, that’s why you’re here), it’s not the period I’d pick first. Because of the light, because of the fact that quite a few things are closed. But yes, you should come to Tromso, even at this time of year, if you don’t have a choice, if you have constraints, or just because you fancy coming now, go for it!

So yes, there are more constraints, but it’s still Tromso, it’s still the northern lights, all the awesome snow activities. And it’s smack in the middle of whale season. So off you go!

If you’re really free with your time, then it might be worth choosing another period, but otherwise it’s not a big deal 🙂

Christmas in Tromso

Tromso is nicely decorated for Christmas. Lights, decorations, it’s lovely. It’s not the German or Alsatian towns, but it’s still really nice.

You’ll also get a little Christmas market, but unfortunately I can’t manage to find the opening dates. There you’ll find the local specialties, fish, polse, but also, and a lot of it, mulled wine and cinnamon drinks.

The first weekend of December, there are the Christmas tree lightings, it’s fun. You should know that each little village, each neighborhood will have its big tree (usually the decorations are pretty ugly, I have to admit, roast-string style), but what’s nice is that there’s a little party, a band, mulled wine, some grilled food.

Practical information about Tromso

I tell you a lot more in the following article dedicated to Tromso and travel information, but here’s a quick rundown of the main information about Tromso:

• How long to stay in Tromso: if you’re coming to Tromso to see the northern lights, then 4/5 days because of the weather uncertainties. With a week in Tromso you can enjoy the activities and the landscapes. If you come for longer, then in 2 weeks you’ve got an itinerary between Tromso, Senja and the Lofoten.

• How to get around Tromso: there are buses in the city, a good network, and in the very close surroundings. But to head out to the touristy spots, no, there’s almost no bus. Check entur.no for schedules and tickets.
  In the following article I show you how to visit Tromso without a car.
  But otherwise renting a car is the best way to discover the landscapes and be self-sufficient for chasing the auroras. That said, driving in Tromso in winter requires care!
  • In the following article I show you the pros and cons of renting a car in Tromso

• Where to stay in Tromso: first of all, in the following article I list the good hotels to stay in Tromso. The hotels are in the city center, it’s super convenient. They’re fairly expensive so you need to get on it very early to make your reservations. Among the good hotels, I especially recommend the Radisson Blu and the Scandic Ishavshotel, but there are honestly quite a few and they’re all quality.
  For a smaller budget, I recommend the Enter Viking and the Ami Hotel in particular, but same thing, there are several quality ones, except they get booked fast.

Other resources on Tromso

I’ve written quite a lot about Tromso. The following articles should interest you, at least I hope so!

• Everything you need to know about Tromso: here I give all the info you need to prepare your trip to Tromso, the places to see and much more
• What to see in a week in Tromso: a ready-made itinerary to see the essentials and do the best activities
• Tromso’s hotels: to point you in the right direction and know where to sleep during your stay
• The best winter activities in Tromso: because there’s a lot to do, I share my favorites and the good agencies
• Where to see the northern lights in Tromso: here I show you the best spots to go on your own
• The best northern lights agencies in Tromso: there’s so much choice that you don’t want to get it wrong. I point out the best ones to avoid the traps
• The map of Tromso: on a single map I put all the places to see, the practical info, the accommodation
• What’s the best time to go to Tromso: you’ll find an infographic showing you which activities are available month by month, the pros and cons
• How much does a trip to Tromso cost: here I give you all the prices for every expense, and a simulator to give you an idea of the cost of your stay
• The agencies for dog sledding in Tromso: since there are quite a few, I list them all for you, with prices, location, and tips
• The snowmobile agencies in Tromso: here you’ll find the essential info to book your snowmobile excursion with complete peace of mind
• When to see whales and orcas in Tromso: I give you all the information, the periods, the different boats to see the cetaceans
• What to see in Kvaloya: this superb island across from Tromso deserves quite a bit of time to explore, to go to Tromvik or Sommaroy for example
• Should you pay by card or cash in Tromso? – I explain all the useful payment methods
• And Tromso in summer? – the opposite of the polar Christmas: the permanent daylight of the warm season

In conclusion

There you go, now you know everything!

So yes, you can come to Tromso for the holiday season. You’ll have all the winter activities, you’ll have the northern lights, but you’ll only get a little daylight.

It’s not a dealbreaker, it’s an experience 😀 And keep in mind that if up there they keep on living with the polar night, it can’t be all that terrible 😀 So yes, come and enjoy the region! But you’ll really need to make your reservations in advance because there are quite a lot of people and some businesses are closed