Things to do in Tromsø [2024]
We spent four days in Tromsø in early February 2023. It’s one of the coldest and darkest times of year in the Arctic Circle, but also the best to see the Northern Lights and do winter activities. From relaxing tours to challenging hikes, there’s something for all ability and mobility levels. But these were our favourite things to do in Tromsø.
The best things to do in Tromsø
Hiking
There are plenty of Arctic hikes you can try in and around Tromsø, from guided tours to solo routes. We chose what should have been a fairly easy hike called Ørnfloya, just outside of Sommarøy. The route should have been 20 minutes or so to the top of a hill with impressive views across the fjords and fishing villages. But the snow was so thick and the visibility so poor, we had to turn back before reaching the top.
Even in thick snow, the walk itself wasn’t dangerous and was manageable for two fit and healthy 30-somethings. But we had to be at another activity at 3pm and the snow and ice were making the walk much slower than we had anticipated. Plus, we could see that when we did get to the top we wouldn’t be able to see much anyway.
But even though our Arctic hike was a semi-fail, it’s still one of the best things to do in Tromsø thanks to the unique and amazing scenery.
Dog sledding
I was unsure about going dog sledding in Tromsø as I wasn’t sure about how ethical the centres would be. But we chose Klavøya Husky AS and I was pleasantly surprised and reassured. This company has 53 huskies that are all born, live, and die on the farm where they’re raised. And they really love to run!
If you don’t love dogs, a husky sledding experience might not be ideal for you. Because even as a dog lover I could see how the experience of having 20+ dogs running around your legs howling and barking could be scary.
But as soon as they’re on the line, these dogs are focused on one thing: pulling your sled. The experience itself was incredible and I definitely felt reassured that these dogs are treated well and doing what they love.
Want to know more about dog sledding in the Arctic Circle? Read about our experience here.
Fjord cruises
On a Saturday morning we took the Brim Explorer, a silent boat that offers a range of cruises including whale watching, authors chasing, and an arctic fjord cruise which was what we embarked on.
The Brin Explorer took us around the coast of Tromsøya island and into a glacier. The views were incredible and there was an informative guide who spoke about the history of the area and how people live there now.
Want to know more about arctic fjord cruises in Tromsø? Read my blog about our experience here.
Arctic cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral is a triangular building just across the bridge from Tromsø in the suburb of Tromsdalen. We didn’t go inside - though you can. But the seemingly modern and aesthetically pleasing building, with stained glass windows in the back, was an impressive sight against the snowy cliffs.
Explore the towns
We spent a night in Sommarøy and two nights in Tromsø, and enjoyed walking around exploring the streets. Lined with old wooden buildings, fishing boats, and quaint snowy streets, the towns in the Arctic Circle have a magical feel to them. Just remember to wear spikes on your shoes if you visit in winter as they’re very icy and don’t get gritted!
Tromsø is a fairly small town that you can walk around in under an hour. We also caught public buses over to the Tromsdalen neighbourhood for the cathedral and cable car.
We were also able to explore a traditional Arctic fishing village during our stay at Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, which you can read about here.
Ride on the cable car (Fjellheisen)
The Tromsø Fjellheisen cable car runs until midnight every day. But the day we wanted to take a ride, it didn’t open until 4pm due to bad weather in the morning. So we took a trip up in the dark on a Saturday evening and the views from the top were amazing. Despite my fear of heights.
A return journey costs 345 NOK (£28) for adults and is valid for a week. The journey takes less than five minutes to the top where there is a cafe and viewing point. Lots of people also opt to ski down from further along the peak of the mountain. But we just caught the Fjellheisen back down again.
Eat and drink
It goes without saying that Norway and the Arctic Circle have plenty of fresh and locally caught fish dishes on offer. But there’s also lots of great vegetarian food. And for the more adventurous meat eaters many restaurants also serve reindeer and whale.
Want to know the best places to eat in Tromsø? Read my blog which covers the restaurants we ate at.
Other things to do in Tromsø
We were in Norway for five days but only in Tromsø itself for two. Which meant we weren’t able to do every activity available. These were some things to do that we missed.
Sea kayaking
We actually tried to book sea kayaking, which was available through the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel and other companies. However there was no space available for the day we wanted and we would have missed it anyway due to our diverted flight!
But kayaking through the fjords would have been a cold yet amazing experience to remember.
Aurora Borealis tours
There are teams that will drive you through the night to seek out the Northern Lights when they’re not easy to spot yourself from town. In Tromsø, it can often be seen with the naked eye but during our trip the clouds were heavy and the geomagnetic activity was low.
We did speak to someone who had been on one of these tours. They drove for hours and caught a very faint glimpse of the lights. For us, it didn’t seem worth paying extortionately and staying up all night for. But if the forecast during your visit to Tromsø is better then this is a good way to potentially witness aurora borealis. They claim to have a +90% success rate!
Museums
From trolls to polar life to the Sami people, there are all sorts of museums to see in Tromsø. There are also art and photography galleries. Most have a fee to enter but are a great way to pass an afternoon and learn something about Norway and the Arctic. Especially if the weather is too bad to be outside.