Tromsø sits on a small island at almost 70° north, some 350 km inside the Arctic Circle, where sheltered fjords open towards the Norwegian Sea. With around 78,000 people, a university, a busy harbour and more bars than you would expect, it is by far the largest and best-connected town on this stretch of Arctic coast — which is why sealers, whalers and polar explorers used it as their starting point for more than a century.
For travellers it is the easiest and best-value base in the Arctic. Between September and early April it lies right under the aurora belt; from November to January herring draw orcas and humpback whales to the fjords further north; and from late May to late July the sun never sets. Tromsø also has direct flights to Svalbard and daily coastal ships towards North Cape and Kirkenes.
Highlights
- Chasing the northern lights by minibus on a clear winter night
- Orcas and humpback whales off Skjervøy from November to January
- The view over the island from Fjellheisen at sunset or under the midnight sun
- Reindeer sledding and a meal in a lavvu with a Sami family
- Dog sledding across Kvaløya or the Lyngen foothills
- White beaches and turquoise water at Sommarøy
Tromsø: planning your time
Three nights is the minimum in winter, because northern lights depend on clear skies and one cloudy night is common: with three or four evenings your chances are good. Fill the days with one sea trip (whales or a fjord cruise) and one activity on snow. In summer, two or three days cover the town and a day out to Sommarøy, Senja or the Lyngen Alps before you move on along the coast.
