The best time to visit Tromso depends on what you want out of your time here. I visited Tromso in February during winter when it was the best time to see the Northern Lights. This was my main goal and something I wanted to check off of my bucket list for a long time. So for me, the best time to visit Tromso was anytime between January and March.
Tromso is also considered one of the best places in Europe to see the Northern Lights, thanks to its location in the Arctic and frequent aurora activity.
I was shocked that Tromso wasn’t more crowded than it was, especially during peak time for seeing the Northern Lights. Based on my observation, Tromso doesn’t really get very crowded with hordes of tourists like some other places. It’s extremely cold, requires lots of planning and logistics and very expensive. These are probably reasons keeping Tromso from being too crowded.
Unlike a lot of other places, there really is no single best time to visit Tromso. Tromso is one of the most unique places I’ve ever visited in Europe. Unlike most destinations where the attractions stay the same all year-round, Tromso is completely different depending on when you visit. If you visit in winter you’ll find snow-covered mountains, Northern Lights, dog sledding, and polar nights. Visit in summer and you’ll get hiking trails, fjords, and a sun that never goes down.
This is why I wrote this guide from my own experience, to help you figure out when to visit Tromso.
| Time of year | Best for | Northern Lights | Snow | Daylight | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December–January | Polar night, Christmas atmosphere, winter activities | Excellent | Excellent | Very limited | Beautiful, but December can be expensive and busy. |
| February–March | Northern Lights, snow and winter activities | Excellent | Excellent | Increasing quickly | My favorite time. I visited in February and would choose February or March again. |
| April–May | Longer days and the transition into spring | Possible early in the period | Variable | Long | Good if winter darkness isn’t your thing. |
| Late May–July | Midnight sun, hiking, kayaking and fjords | No | Little to none at lower elevations | 24-hour daylight | Best for outdoor adventures rather than the Arctic winter experience. |
| August–November | Autumn scenery and the return of the Northern Lights | Good from late summer onward | Increasing later in autumn | Decreasing | A good middle ground if you don’t want the deepest winter. |
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The best time to visit Tromso Norway: my short answer
The main draw of visiting Tromso is the Northern Lights. It’s what the majority of people want to see when they visit. Because of this, I’d say that March is the best month to visit Tromso. In February I experienced only about 5 or 6 hours of daylight a day. In March, you would have more daylight hours than January or February and still have plenty of snow for winter activities.
In March the Northern Lights are still very visible. There isn’t much difference in seeing the Northern Lights in January, February or March. Because it’s still proper winter in March, activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling and Sami experiences are all still active. Basically you’d have everything you could want out of an Arctic winter trip without spending most of your time in darkness. The very small amount of sunlight hours was the only thing I didn’t like about when I visited Tromso.
I would definitely avoid visiting Tromso in December. December is Christmas time and Tromso get’s most crowded. During this time everything is extremely expensive because it’s Christmas and because of all the high demand from tourists. In December you have very little daylight hours and short sightseeing windows when on tours.
My answer to when to visit Tromso Norway? The best time is February to March. I visited in February and it was absolutely amazing for having that winter vibe and for seeing the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights season vs midnight sun season in Tromso
Northern Lights season. September to April
This is the season that I wanted to experience and visited Tromso for. It’s also the season that Tromso gets most of it’s visitors. The days get shorter and shorter, it gets colder and the winter vibe arrives. If you’re coming to Tromso to see Northern Lights and also go dog sledding, feed reindeer, explore the snowy landscapes and experience Sami culture, then this is the season you want.
September and October would have milder temperatures and not so snowy yet. December to March is when it gets full winter with everything being covered in snow. This is my favorite time to visit Tromso. I don’t care if it’s colder. I just wanted to have a full Arctic winter experience for the first time in my life.
I personally think that February and March are the sweet spot that people should aim for. You get excellent Northern Lights, still some daylight to enjoy other stuff as well. There are way less crowds of tourists and things are cheaper than Christmas time. The only issue might be that there is not enough daylight that you’re accustomed to.
Midnight sun season. April to August
Tromso becomes very different once spring arrives. The snow will disappear at the lower areas, there are more hiking trails being opened back up and everywhere just shifts into summer mode. You don’t have to wear those spikes on your shoes anymore.
From April until late July, Tromso experiences something called the midnight sun. Now, I’ve never actually experienced the midnight sun, but I know for sure I’d think it was surreal. During this time the sun never fully sets and you simply have endless daylight to do all the cool outdoor activities Tromso has to offer. Like hiking, kayaking, fjord cruises and just exploring more of the mountains and area.
In terms of the landscape and when Tromso actually looks better, I can’t say. I loved how Tromso looked and felt during pure winter. But, I’d imagine some people would rather the look of a more orange autumn looking Tromso.
The main differences between this season and the Northern Lights season are no darkness, no Northern Lights, warmer temperatures and less snow covering everything.
When not to visit Tromso
The worst time you can visit Tromso is in December. It just doesn’t make sense for what most people want to get out of it. At Christmas time in Tromso, everything is very expensive. Hotels, food, restaurants, tours cost a fortune when it’s peak season in Tromso. You also have to book hotels and tours way in advance and it’s still very expensive. Every tour you go on will be booked up to capacity and the experience just wouldn’t be as good compared to February or March.
When I was in Tromso in February, the restaurants I visited were half empty and we got served really quickly. Places we visited like Polaria, Fjellheisen cable car and even walking through the city was lively but not crowded. For our Northern lights tour, we had to meet our guide at inside the Radisson hotel lobby. Apparently, every tour does that. But, there were only about 6 other 10 other people waiting here with us.
And don’t you worry about what to pack for Tromso in winter because I got you.
Check out my guide on where to stay in Tromso.
Best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromso
I would say that the best months to see the Northern Lights in Tromso are February and March. The best time to see the Northern Lights is between September and April, with February being my personal favorite and recommendation. The highest probability is between 11pm and 2am. I experienced very long nights and short days. Sun came out at about 9 am and it got dark at about 4 pm. It was surreal for me as I’ve only experienced regular day / night cycles.
During this time there’s a lot of snow and cold temperatures. This means more cloudy skies which blocks the vision of the northern lights. Auroras can appear at any given time during the night actually. It can appear in an instant and disappear before you can get your camera out. My Northern Lights tour guide told us that the rule of thumb is: if you can see stars in the sky then you can see the northern lights.
But seeing the northern lights isn’t as simple as going outside and looking up in the sky. For the best chances of seeing the northern lights, stay outside for a while, look at aurora forecasts online and weather conditions. Sometimes, in order to see the lights, you actually have to ‘hunt’ down the Aurora. Hunting the aurora means driving sometimes very far distances to get past cloud coverage and city lights.
For us to see the Northern Lights, my group had to drive from Tromso all the way over to Lapland Finland. About every 10 minutes or so our driver would come out the car and check the skies for the feintest sign of the lights, talk on a walkie talkie a little bit then continue the hunt. It’s a very adventurous experience and one I’ll remember for the rest of my life and maybe even do again.
There are many other really fun activities here. A good place to start is my article on the best things to do in Tromso, Norway.
FAQ about the best time to visit Tromso Norway
What month is best to visit for Northern Lights?
February and March.
Is Tromso worth visiting in winter?
Absolutely. Tromso is definitely worth visiting anytime.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Tromso?
Yes. You can see the Northern Lights on a clear night. Otherwise you’ll need to use a tour to hunt the lights.
Is Tromso expensive?
Yes. Tromso is a very expensive place to visit. Stay a minimal amount of nights and then leave.
Final thoughts on when to visit Tromso
If I were planning another trip to Tromso tomorrow I would probably go back the same time or in March. In my experience those are the best months. February or March. December can get very hectic, so I would stay away from that time if I were you.
I think Tromso is worth visiting if you can afford it and plan properly so you save as much money as possible. Make sure to book your tours in advance and factor them into the price. There are different types of Northern Lights tours that cost various prices. The larger bus tours will be cheaper and less luxurious with more people. If you do a small minivan tour like I did, it will be more expensive but you’ll have a great time.
I really hope my guide on the best time to visit Tromso helps you decide when you want to visit based on what you want to see and do.
If you want to spend just 24 hours in Tromso, read my very informative article on how to maximize one day.
