Visiting Tromso is always a good idea. Because there’s always something to do, places to see, beautiful scenery, whatever the season, summer or winter.

So it may seem natural to want to go to Tromso during the festive season, between Christmas and New Year’s Day. However, a trip to Tromso requires a bit of preparation.

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

Let’s get started!

Things to do in Tromso at the end of December

Honestly, there’s a lot to do, and it’s great! You’ve got all the classic winter activities with snow, and it’s also a good time for whales and orcas. 2-3 tips that we’ll cover below in the disadvantages of this period:

• Some agencies are closed at this time of year, so you absolutely must book your activities in advance.
• The light is really minimal at this time of year. So don’t try to fit too many things into one day.

See the Northern Lights

Let’s face it, there’s more to braving the cold in Europe’s most northerly city than eating a walnut. Tromso is the capital of the Northern Lights, so we’re going all out to see them! There are several ways of doing this:

• Rent a car and go for a drive. You’ll need to use weather and aurora apps to find out where the clouds are (because no clear sky, no aurora, it’s that simple). And then take the car, be mobile, patient because it can happen at any time.
  In the following article I’ll list some excellent places to see the Northern Lights around Tromso. But what will be important is to learn about the Northern Lights and how to hunt for them beforehand .

• See the northern lights with a guide. Yes, it can be expensive (from €140), but the guides know where to go. So if you don’t have a car, it’s a great way to see the Northern Lights, and if you do have a car, I’d advise you to take a guide on the first night, so you’ll have all the information you need for your next adventure!

If you want to go through an agency, you really (I insist) need to book in advance as it fills up very quickly at this time of year. Here you’ll find a list of Northern Lights agencies in Tromso, but to make a long story short I’d recommend :

• Northern Horizon
• Wandering Owl
• Arctic Breeze
• Greenlander
• The Green Adventure

See whales and orcas

From early November (sometimes late October) to late January, the Tromso area is swarming with whales and orcas, which have now moved to the Skjervoy area.

From Tromso, it’s a 3-hour boat ride to the fjord, where the cetaceans feast. 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 recent. Brim Explorer even has hybrid boats that switch to electric power (so they’re very quiet) once you’re on site.

So is this a must? it’s great, but if the sea is rough, you won’t be able to see them as well, and navigation will be a little tricky. After all, it’s a great experience, and if you’re lucky you’ll get to see them up close. If you’ve already seen them elsewhere, I don’t know if it’s worth it, but if you’ve never seen them, then yes.

In the following article, I’ll tell you all about how to see whales and orcas in Tromso, but basically, here are the main agencies:

• Brim Explorer
• Polar Adventures
• Arctic Explorers, for inflatable boats

Snowmobiling

Another Nordic classic! And it’s a real thrill 🙂 Snowmobiling is pretty simple. You need snow and flat ground. Even if the Tromso region is quite hilly, you’ll easily find several possibilities with great agencies.

You’ll also need a driver’s license, otherwise you’ll just be a passenger 🙂 Basically, you can snowmobile from early November to mid-April, but that depends on the snow, of course 🙂

Anyway, in the following article I’ll tell you all about the snowmobiling agencies in Tromso and the necessary information, but here’s a summary of the main ones:

• 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

Take a dog sled ride

I love it. For two reasons. First of all, dog sledding is a really fun, lively, thrilling activity (when you see the turn coming at full speed, you wonder if you’re going to make it 😀 ).

But it’s also great contact with the doggies! They’re adorable dogs, each with their own character, and above all, they love to get out and about (I should point out that a sled in the snow weighs next to nothing for a dog).

There are quite a few sled dog service providers around Tromso. Some come to pick you up and some don’t. Here are the main ones. But in the following article, I’ll give you more details on the best agencies for dog sledding in Tromso:

• Norwegian Travel opposite the Lyngen Alps
• Arctic Adventure in Kvaloya
• OffTrack Experience, in Malselv. You’ll need a car to get there
• Run Wild Mushing, Malangen, Car required
• Aurora Husky, in Moen
• Tromso Villmarkssenter, on Kvaloya

See reindeer on a Sami farm

Reindeer are an integral part of the region. You can see a lot of them, all over the region, but you need a bit of luck to do so. They’re on the move, they’re free-ranging (but obviously owned by Samis), they go where they can find food and peace and quiet.
So you can see them along the road, in a field, or sometimes you can’t see them at all. In general they wander on Kvaloya island.

However, if you want to optimize your chances, and learn more about the Sami, or Lapps, the original people of Lapland, then you can visit a Sami farm. There you can get up close and personal with the reindeer, feed them and learn about Sami culture.

Around Tromso, there are no small farms. There are two rather touristy but nevertheless interesting centers:

• Tromso Arctic Reindeer
• Tromso Lapland

You can either feed them, or take a sleigh ride (which is quieter than dog sledding). In the following article, I’ll tell you all about seeing reindeer in Tromso.

Go fishing with a local

In the region’s super-prolific waters, fishing is a natural thing here. You can fish easily in the open sea or in the fjords (whereas you need a very expensive permit for lakes and rivers). And best of all, the fish are good-sized!

If you don’t have your own tackle, you can go fishing with local fishermen or agencies.

There are several possibilities. Some of the boats that visit the fjords do a fishing session, like Polar Adventure. I don’t think fishing is my thing, as I caught absolutely nothing.

But the best thing is to go on a fishing boat. There are several in Tromso harbor, but the one that has a great reputation and is really pretty is Hermes II.

Another great option is ice fishing. Of course, the lakes and fjords have to be frozen, but at this time of year that’s necessarily the case. It’s a fun, totally Nordic experience, because at weekends you can see lots of people making their holes in the ice and fishing. For this, you can contact Skadi Adventures, a great family agency.

Discover the landscapes around Tromso

Why I prefer Tromso to places with better weather is mainly for the scenery. The region is magnificent, you’ll see it everywhere and when you come here you’ll have to take some time to enjoy these landscapes, these mountains and fjords.
I recommend a visit to the island of Kvaloya:

• the road to Tromvik and Rekvik
• the road to Sommaroy

Then head off to the Lyngen Alps and see the Signaldalen mountain.

In fact, you can spend quite a bit of time on the road – we never get bored of it! However, as there’s very little daylight, don’t try to see too much each day, and don’t leave too late, because at this time of year, after 2 p.m., you can’t see much 😀 We’ll talk about this below.

So ideally, you should visit the surrounding area with a rental car. If you don’t have a car, you can visit with an agency. There are a few of them, some very good. They’ll mainly take you on a one-day tour of Kvaloya Island. I particularly recommend

• Northern Horizon
• Enjoy the Arctic
• Northern Soul

4 recommended accommodations in Tromso

The few disadvantages of going to Tromso for the festive season

Because yes, this period is pretty special, you didn’t think you’d get away with it 😀

I think you really need to take these things into account as they will influence your stay and its preparation. On the other hand, it’s not prohibitive, i.e. you’re still going to have a great stay with little light, but you’ll have to optimize.

Anyway, let’s take a look.

The very low luminosity during this period

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

I’d like to make it clear right away that no, during this period we’re not in complete darkness 24 hours a day. There’s something like 4/5 hours of light, but a little light, like the end of a sunset.

It’s bound to surprise you. Seeing the dark night at 2 p.m. is going to give you a real rush. It’ll also make you want to have an aperitif (and just as well, there are more and more bars in Tromso).

Above all, as we’ll see below, you’ll need to optimize your outings.

Optimize your visiting time

Basically, at this time of year, it’s going to be light between 9am and 2pm (being wide), so you’ll really need to get organized if you want to go sightseeing.

So you really don’t have much time for sightseeing, so don’t waste an hour. For example, if you have a car, going to Sommaroy will take 2 hours with photo breaks (1 hour non-stop) and 1 hour to discover the archipelago.

So you really shouldn’t waste any time getting started.

No, that doesn’t mean you can’t visit and go out with the agencies.

I get quite a few messages asking me if, because of the brightness, we can still do the activities. My answer is yes!

No worries at all, because yes, there is light and the activities are carried out during this time. If you’re going to see the whales, the boat leaves at 8am, and you arrive at 11am, right in the middle of the light season.

For dog sledding, it’s the same thing: most of the activity takes place during light time. So you’ll have no problem doing all the activities! 🙂

Several companies and restaurants are closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day

Tromso is a city with huge immigration. International but also national, meaning that many Norwegians are not from here. Or those who are here don’t necessarily work in tourism.

So we’re going to have a lot of restaurants and agencies closing down. At this time of year, you’re going to want to go out to eat. So I advise you to make your reservations in advance, especially if it’s for New Year’s Day and for your Christmas reservations.

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

Concerning agencies, you’ll also have suppliers who will be closed. So, really (I insist), you need to book in advance.

And I’d say it’s a shame if you take such a long trip and end up not being able to do what you wanted.

It’s tourist season

Yes, it’s very touristy. It involves a bit of preparation. It’s touristy, and as you read above, there are fewer agencies. So we have a little problem.

• You MUST book in advance, because if you don’t
  • you won’t have any activities available. Activities are booked months in advance for this period (it’s ugly, but it’s the case).
  • you won’t have a restaurant for the important dates
  • and you’ll be paying a fortune for hotels in Tromso. It’s expensive enough, but booking at the last minute means you’ll end up paying even more.
• Even the aurora borealis agencies have to be booked. People come here for that, and there’s a lot of communication around these pretty lights, so the best agencies are booked up very quickly.

On the other hand, even if it’s very touristy, you’ll have no trouble enjoying yourself, having places without too many people, or even being on your own. 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 such thing as a bad time to visit Tromso. However, if you ask me (well, I think you do, that’s why you’re here), it’s not the period I’d choose first.

For the light, for the fact that a lot of things are closed. But yes, you’ve got to come to Tromso, even at this time of year, if you’ve got no choice, if you’ve got constraints, or just because you feel like coming now, go for it!

So yes, there are more constraints, but it’s still Tromso, it’s still the Northern Lights, it’s still all the great snow activities. And it’s right in the middle of whale season. So off you go!

If you’re really free with your time, then it might be a good idea to choose another period, but otherwise it’s no big deal:)

Christmas in Tromso

Tromso is beautifully decorated for Christmas. Lights, decorations, it’s nice. We’ll also have a small Christmas market, but unfortunately I can’t find the opening dates.

There you’ll find local specialities such as fish and polse, as well as lots of mulled wine and cinnamon drinks.

The first weekend in December, we have tree inaugurations, which are a lot of fun. Every little village, every district gets its own big tree, but what’s really nice is that there’s a little party, with a band, mulled wine and barbecues.

Practical information about Tromso

I’ll tell you much more in the following article about Tromso and travel information, but here in brief are the main facts about Tromso:

• How long to stay in Tromso: if you’re coming to Tromso to see the Northern Lights, then 4/5 days as there are the vagaries of weather. With a week in Tromso you can enjoy the activities and the scenery.
  If you come for longer, then in 2 weeks you have an itinerary between Tromso, Senja and Lofoten.

• Getting around Tromso: there are buses in the city, a good network, and in the very close surrounding area. However, if you want to go out in the tourist areas, no, there are practically no buses.
  Check entur.no for timetables and tickets. In the following article, I’ll tell you how to visit Tromso without a car, but if you don’t, renting a car is the best way to discover the countryside and be autonomous when hunting for aurora.

• Where to stay in Tromso: first of all, in the following article I list the best hotels to stay in Tromso. The hotels are in the city center, which is super convenient. They’re quite expensive, so you’ll need to book early. Among the good hotels, I’d recommend the Radisson Blu and the Scandic Ishavshotel, but there are quite a few of them, and they’re all of good quality. On a lower budget, I’d recommend the Enter Viking and the Ami Hotel in particular, but likewise there are quite a few of good quality, except that they’re booked up quickly.

Other resources about Tromso

I’ve written quite a bit about Tromso. The following articles should be of interest to you, or so I hope!

• All you need to know about Tromso: here I give you all the information you need to prepare your trip to Tromso, places to see and much more.
• What to see in a week in Tromso: a turnkey itinerary for seeing the essentials and doing the best activities
• Tromso hotels: where to stay and where to stay during your stay
• The best winter activities in Tromso: because there are so many things to do in Tromso, I’ve put together a list of my favorites and the best agencies for you.
• Where to see the Northern Lights in Tromso: I’ll show you the best places to go by yourself.
• The best northern lights agencies in Tromso: there are so many to choose from, you can’t go wrong. I’ll show you the best ones to avoid the pitfalls.
• A map of Tromso: on a single map, I’ll show you all the places to see, practical information and accommodation.
• What’s the best time to go to Tromso: you’ll find an infographic that tells you what activities are available month by month, and the advantages and disadvantages.
• Dog sledding agencies in Tromso: as there are quite a few, I’ve listed them all here, with prices, locations and tips.
• When to see whales and orcas in Tromso: here you’ll find all the information, times and boats you need to see the cetaceans.
• What to see on Kvaloya: this superb island opposite Tromso is well worth a visit, if you want to get to Tromvik or Sommaroy, for example.

In conclusion

Now you know everything!

So yes, you can come to Tromso for the festive season. You’ll have all the winter activities, you’ll have the Northern Lights, but you’ll have very little light.

It’s not a hindrance, it’s an experience 😀 And if they’re still living with the polar night up there, then it’s not so bad after all 😀 So yes, come and enjoy the region!

But you’ll really need to make your reservations in advance, because it’s very busy and some establishments are closed.