Tromsø is the largest city above the arctic circle. While it is icy cold in the winter, there are still plenty of fun and unique things to do during your time there! Check out the list below for my 9 Must Do Things in Tromsø in Winter!
1. CHASE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
This is THE must do activity when visiting Tromsø in winter!!! There are plenty of tours offered every day, from private tours to big buses, which will drive you to wherever chances are the best of Northern lights sightings for that evening. I’ve heard that some tour guides even cross over to Finland if necessary!
I personally went on this tour. Our drive took us 3 hours South, but unfortunately, we were unlucky because the clouds were just too thick that evening. This is something you also need to be prepared for, since nature is unpredictable…
You can also try spotting them yourself. You should look for places that have as little light pollution as possible. We went to lake Prestvannet, which is a lake on a hill about 25 minutes from the city center. Alternatively, you could take the Fjellheisen cable car up the mountain Storsteinen, which apparently also has stunning views on a clear night. If activity is really strong, you might see them from anywhere though. We saw them on our first night just outside of Ami Hotel, which is where we were staying!
2. FEED THE REINDEER
Besides the Northern lights, this is one of the coolest experiences that you can have in Tromsø!! We booked a half day tour that takes you to a reindeer farm a little outside Tromsø. They give you reindeer food and let you wander around the farm area to explore and bond with the animals at your own pace.
Our tour also included a short reindeer sleigh ride and a stew for lunch and some snacks and hot beverages in between. The reindeer farm is run by Sami people, which are the original reindeer herders in this area.
I can highly recommend this experience, we had a blast!
3. TAKE THE FJELLHEISEN CABLE CAR
From the city center of Tromsø you can either walk approx. 30 minutes across the Tromsø Bridge to the start of the Fjellheisen cable car, or take a bus that will drop you off right at the entry as well. The short cable car ride will take you up the Storsteinen mountain, from where you will have incredible panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountains and fjords. For me, it was the first time seeing snow and sea at the same time, which made it even more memorable.
There are also several walking trails and a café up there, so make sure to have plenty of time to explore the area properly 🙂
4. STROLL ALONG STORGATA STREET
Storgata is the main shopping and pedestrian street in Tromsø. I wouldn’t say Tromsø is a shopper’s paradise, but it’s still nice to see what they have. If you’re into outdoorsy sporty clothes you will have a blast there. Also, if you’re looking to buy some souvenirs look no further! You will find pleeeenty of souvenir shops, from super cheugy to actually really cute ones, there’s all! I personally really liked the selection in this store here.
5. GO HUSKY SLEDDING
This is another super popular experience in Tromsø. I personally didn’t do it in the end, as it’s one of the more expensive things to do, but if you do have the budget for it there are plenty of tours to choose from! You can either opt for a daytime tour or a nighttime tour. If you go during the evening you might have a chance of also seeing the Northern lights, the places usually have lower light pollution than the city of Tromsø.
6. RELAX IN A SAUNA
There is a sauna RIGHT in the middle of the harbour. As Chandler would say: Does it GET any more Scandinavian than that? No but in all seriousness, this might be one of the coolest saunas you’ll ever see. It has city and harbour views, and you can exit the sauna and cool off in the arctic sea right in front of your nose! Check it out here.
P.S. The website is only in Norwegian, but you can use Google Translate to change the text to your language of choice by copying the page link into the translator.
7. SWIM WITH ORCAS
Man, do I wish I found out about this activity sooner!! Apparently, there are expeditions that not only take you whale spotting, but actually let you swim with the orcas in the water as well! I know what your thinking, but aren’t orcas predators? Well, yes, but the people organizing the tours are experts in their field and will give you detailed instructions on what to do and not do.
I heard about this activity from Kara and Nate’s youtube channel, check out their video on this for more information!
8. TRY TRADITIONAL FOOD
This one is not going to be for everyone, but Norway has some pretty unique foods that you can’t find in most other countries! I’m talking whale meat, reindeer meat, moose meat, … If you’re up for trying something new, go for it! My boyfriend tried the whale steak in the restaurant Kaia. He described the taste as “gamey”, and it was very tender. We would recommend this place!
9. VISIT THE ARCTIC CATHEDRAL
The arctic cathedral is one of the most unique architectural pieces in Tromsø. The modern, sleek, white structure is a nice contrast to the colourful, wooden traditional houses of the rest of the city. Bonus points for the views from the platform in front of the cathedral 🙂
That’s it, with these 9 activities you are sure to be entertained during your trip to Tromsø! Let me know if you would add anything else to the list, I’d live to chat <3