Tromso is one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited in Europe. If you’re asking yourself “is Tromso worth visiting?” and you are debating whether or not to spend time and money to come here, just come! In this guide I will answer all the questions you have to push you over the edge and make that decision.
Because Tromso is a very Arctic and cold place that appeals to a very specific type of traveler, it doesn’t get that many visitors compared to other destinations. But, there is a lot of tourism in Tromso and a strong tourist infrastructure built around nature, adventure travel and the Northern Lights.
I spent 4 days in Tromso and I am going to tell you what the weather is actually like. Is it overrated? is it cheap or expensive? How to pack and dress. What the best things to do are and ultimately tell you why it is worth visiting.
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Is Tromso worth visiting? My short answer
My answer is yes. But only if you specifically want this type of travel and know what to expect.
It’s naturally beautiful in a winter wonderland kind of way. At night the entire town is warmly lit up and it looks so cozy. There is unreal Arctic scenery and nature in all directions. From the mountains you can access by cable car, to the sea and the fjords. And one of the main draws of visiting Tromso; the Northern Lights. What really stood out to me was how clean, functional and homely Tromso felt, even for a tourist.
Some things to consider before coming to Tromso are the cost of living here, limited daylight in the winter and it’s very cold. If you can properly prepare for these things, then Tromso will be very worth it I think.
Coming from someone in a completely opposite world, the Caribbean, I love Tromso a lot. I think it’s the best place to experience the Northern Lights and a true winter trip.
The Vibe: What Tromso really feels like
Tromso did not feel like a tourist destination at all. It felt as if I was in a regular small town neighborhood. The snow dampens the sound of everything. Everything is quiet and I observed that life here starts late. Although Tromso is one of the best known places for seeing the Northern Lights, it didn’t get crowded or have lots tourists walking around.
I traveled to Tromso in February, during peak season. From December to March is the primary peak for Northern Lights chases, dog sledding, and snowmobiling in Tromso. January and February bring the largest amounts of tourists to Tromso.
Most of the tourists who visit Tromso are either general adventure travelers like myself or northern light tourists, who primarily just want to see the Northern Lights.
The majority of the places to stay in Tromso are regular Airbnbs and hotels. There aren’t that many fancy hotels and really glamourous establishments for people to stay in. The Airbnbs are mostly in cozy neighborhoods with snow covered streets like Tromsdalen.
I took public transport almost every day in Tromso and I can say without a doubt that the bus system is very clean and efficient.
What I expected vs What I got in Tromso
Before I actually arrived in Tromso, I expected a tiny and isolated Arctic town with constant Northern Lights, large forests, nothing to do besides go on tours and animals everywhere. This is probably because when you Google Tromso all you ever see are pictures of Northern Lights, reindeer and huskies. Obviously I thought this was just how things were in Tromso.
But after I got here, it was quite different. On the very same night we arrived we walked from our Airbnb in Tromsdalen to the main city area in Tromso to explore a little. It was much more city-like and bustling than I expected. I was surprised to see a really nice looking small city with many people walking the streets. There were very common stores, restaurants and malls. I was shocked to see everything I would see in a regular city so far north in the Arctic.
It’s still way less crowded and much quieter than most places. There are no party areas or booming clubs to go to. I don’t really like that vibe anyway so I was fine with that. There were many restaurants and almost every place had reindeer burgers being sold. I never had reindeer before so that was fun. All the residential suburban areas on the outskirts of the city felt modern and easy to navigate.
In terms of how expensive things are, I didn’t expect Tromso to be so damn expensive! A small bottle of water was like $4 USD. From a tiny convenience store, snacks and little things to eat were way too overpriced. To compare the prices that I am accustomed to, in my country, a bottle of water is about $0.30 USD. Everything was about 10 times more expensive than I would normally pay for it back home.
Now, to most people, cost is probably the most important factor in terms of where you visit for your vacation. But if you buy cheap things like sandwiches, ramen noodles, cheap fast food and skip eating at fancy cafes and restaurants everyday, it shouldn’t cost that much. In short, Tromso can be way more expensive than you’d expect.
What I loved about Tromso
- The scenery was just amazing. Right in front of my Airbnb was a huge mountain covered in snow and behind me was the mountain that the Fjellheisen cable car takes you up to. In every direction just has the most amazing views.
- The Arctic experience in Tromso in general feels so different from standard vacations I’ve been on around the world. Even compared to winter in other European countries like The Netherlands and even Iceland.
- There is a huge anticipation and excitement around the Northern Lights. Before coming to Tromso, I’ve never seen the Northern Lights before. It’s what most people who come to Tromso visit for.
- How quiet, calm and cozy everything is. Combined with the white blanket of snow covering every surface here in Tromso, I could just exist here for weeks.
- Winter activities like dog sledding, cable car, fjord cruises, camping, Northern Light hunting, snowshoeing, and reindeer feeding. Most of the activities in Tromso are outdoors in nature-adventure style things to do. I love that about Tromso.
What I did not like about Tromso
- Everything was very expensive in Tromso. This means that basically Tromso is a very short term stay. Usually in some places I’d stay for a week or even 10 days. But for Tromso I recommend only staying 4 days max. Hotels and tours are also very expensive. The most notable thing that was expensive was the food. This meant that I had to cook my own food most of the time or just eat really cheap sandwiches. This is really opposite to how I usually eat while on vacation.
- Limited daylight could affect everything and make you feel really strange if you’re not used to it. If I woke up at 8 am, I’d have until 10 am before it got dark. It wasn’t really a huge deal, but it was something that required getting used to.
Who should visit Tromso (and who shouldn’t)
Tromso is for:
Tromso is for adventure travelers, nature lovers, outdoorsy people, people who are not afraid to experience extreme cold. If you’re someone who wants to experience proper Arctic winter for the first time and you don’t mind wearing 3 layers of clothing each time you step outside, you’ll love Tromso. If you are okay with spending more money on a very unique experience just this once, then you should definitely visit Tromso.
Tromso may not be for:
If you’re a budget traveler and you always try to save money anywhere you can on trips, hotels, food and rentals, then I do not recommend Tromso for you. There are many other winter experiences you can have at half the price. It won’t be as unique and extreme, but you’ll save a lot of money.
If you do not appreciate all types of weather for what it’s for and hate the cold and dark ambiance and scenery, then Tromso in winter is definitely not for you. It doesn’t make sense to come here without thorough research into what the experience will be like and how to prepare.
If you are after big hotels with running buffets and luxury resort service all the time, it might be better to visit somewhere warm and definitely not Tromso.
Is Tromso worth visiting in winter?
I’d say that Tromso is only worth visiting in winter. Tromso is specifically known for magical winter vibes, Northern lights and snow covered everything. I think there are many other places with more to do and easy to access if you’re not looking for a winter trip.
The best time to visit Tromso is definitely in winter and when there is a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Joining a Northern Light hunting tour was one of my favorite experiences. It was rugged, extreme and unlike anything I’ve ever done before.
Tromso is one of the best places to visit in winter because of the Gulf stream. This mass of warm water that flows up from the Gulf makes Tromso much warmer than other places that are that far north.
I would say that the best time to visit Tromso is during the winter. But, if you have other plans, go right ahead.
Tromso or another Norway destination for Northern Lights
At this point you’re probably trying to decide whether to go to Tromso for your winter and Northern Lights trip or if to visit another region in Norway. For me personally, Tromso is the best place to see the Northern Lights. Based on my research prior to visiting and based on my personal experience, I can now say you should definitely visit Tromso compared to the other places.
In all honesty, one of the best things to do in Tromso is seeing the Northern Lights. But, there are also many other great things to do.
Lofoten is a close second in terms of aesthetics. But, overall experience, the amount of things to do and a proper tourist infrastructure make Tromso number 1 for me.
So, if you’re comparing Tromso vs Lofoten for a winter experience and the Northern Lights? I will go with Tromso. It’s basically the premier hub for Northern Lights tourism and it also has a proper urban atmosphere in the town center area, which gives access to a lot of cool things the other places just don’t have.
