Best time to visit Tromsø, month by month

Tromsø has two very different halves to its year. From September to early April the nights are dark, and that's northern lights time, with whales in the fjords from November to January and the most snow from January to April. From late May to late July the sun doesn't set at all, and that's the time for hiking and camping. Pick your month by what you want to see.

Plan a trip: Northern lights, Whales & fjord, Reindeer & Sámi culture preselected

The year at a glance

Visit Tromsø gives the northern lights season as late August to early April. The polar night, when the sun stays below the horizon all day, runs from about 27 November to 15 January. The midnight sun, when the sun stays above the horizon all night, runs from about 18 May to 26 July, going by the sun times from MET Norway, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Whale season is usually from early November to the end of January. Snow in town isn't certain before December, and it usually stays well into April. Summer is a whole other trip: light around the clock, green mountains and long evenings outside, which makes it a great time for hiking and camping. Most of the tours you can book with MyTripTo today run from autumn to early April, and we're working on bringing more operators on board, also for summer.

January: the light comes back

The polar night ends around 15 January, when the sun rises above the horizon again. The mountains around town hide it a while longer, so in the centre you usually see it later in the month. Until then you get a few hours of blue and pink twilight around midday.

January is cold and snowy, and the coldest spells usually come towards the end of the month. The nights are long, which is good for the northern lights, and whale season is in its last weeks: Brim Explorer's whale trips run until 31 January.

The Polar Night Marathon is on 9 January 2027. The Tromsø International Film Festival runs from 18 to 24 January 2027, with free outdoor screenings on Stortorget, the main square.

February: Sámi Week and long winter days

February is usually the coldest month, but the coast keeps it milder than many people expect, with an average of around -2 °C. The days grow fast. By the middle of the month the sun is up for about seven hours.

Sámi Week runs from 31 January to 7 February 2027, around Sámi National Day on 6 February, and ends with reindeer racing on Storgata. The Northern Lights Festival, a music festival, follows from 11 to 20 February 2027.

There's plenty of snow by now, so it's a good month for reindeer sledding. Brim Explorer's daytime fjord cruise starts again in February.

March: deep snow and bright days

March is often the snowiest month, with more than a metre of snow by the end of it. The days are long and bright, with about eleven and a half hours of sun by mid-March, and daytime temperatures often climb above freezing. The nights are still dark enough for the northern lights, so you can spend the day in the snow and look for the aurora in the evening.

Later in the month the evenings get lighter, and some tours start later. Greenlander's northern lights pickup moves from 17:30 to 19:00 on 21 March, and Brim Explorer's Aurora Dinner Cruise leaves at 20:00 from 28 March.

April: the winter season ends

The winter tours finish in early April. Tromsø Arctic Reindeer's season runs until 4 April 2027, Brim Explorer's Aurora Dinner Cruise until 4 April and Greenlander's northern lights tour until 8 April.

After that the nights get too light for the northern lights. By mid-April the sun is up for about 16 hours, and there's still deep snow, so it's a good month for skiing and long days outside. Brim Explorer's fjord cruise runs through April.

May: from snow to green

May changes fast. Early in the month there can still be deep snow, and by the end of it the birch woods are green. A snow shower one day and a warm spell the next is normal.

The midnight sun starts around 18 May. From then until late July the sun doesn't go below the horizon.

June and July: midnight sun, hiking and camping

This is the time to be outside. The sun stays up around the clock until about 26 July, so you can start a hike after dinner and still be walking in sunshine at midnight. There's no rush to get down before dark, because it doesn't get dark.

It's also a great time to camp. Norway's right to roam lets you pitch a tent on open land for up to two nights in one spot, as long as you're at least 150 metres from the nearest house or cabin. Take all your rubbish home with you. From 15 April to 15 September you can't light a fire or a disposable barbecue in or near forests and other open land, so bring a camping stove or use a marked fire place.

At midnight the sun is low in the north, and the mountains can hide it. For the full midnight sun, climb above the town or find a spot with an open view to the north. The Midnight Sun Marathon is held in June.

June is the brightest month and often still cool. July has the warmest days of the year, with the odd spell above 20 °C, but the average on the coast is around 11 to 12 °C, so pack a warm layer and a rain jacket, for the tent too.

The tours you can book with MyTripTo today run from autumn to spring. We're working on adding summer tours, and until then we point you to free spots. Telegrafbukta, the beach at the southern tip of the island, is a local favourite on a warm evening.

  • Telegrafbukta & Folkeparken

    Free · 2 hours · at your own pace

    A coastal park on Tromsøya's southern tip with sandy shore, sea views toward the fjords, and easy wooded walking paths — a favourite local spot for a relaxed stroll or sunset.

August: berries and the first dark evenings

Summer often carries on into August, and the forests fill with blueberries, cloudberries and mushrooms. The first snow can dust the highest peaks, the evenings get darker after the middle of the month, and the autumn colours start in the last week.

Prestvannet, the lake at the top of the island, is an easy walk on a late-summer evening, when the birches around it start to turn.

The northern lights season starts in late August, but it's only dark for a short part of the night. If the lights are the main reason for your trip, come in September or later.

  • Prestvannet

    Free · 1 hour · at your own pace

    A peaceful lake and nature reserve at the island's high point, circled by a flat, easy walking path popular with local families and birdwatchers.

September: autumn colours and the first northern lights tours

September turns the mountains red, orange and yellow, and the clear, cool days are good for hiking. By mid-September the sun is up for about 13 and a half hours, and the nights are properly dark again.

The northern lights tours start up. Greenlander's tour runs from 1 September and Brim Explorer's Aurora Dinner Cruise from 11 September. Brim's daytime fjord cruise is back in September and October too.

October: golden light and dark evenings

The days shorten fast, to about nine hours of sun by mid-October, and the low sun turns everything golden. The first snow can come, but rain is just as likely.

The dark evenings make October a good month for the northern lights. Greenlander picks you up at 18:00 in October and at 17:30 from November. Tromsø Arctic Reindeer opens its winter season on 31 October.

November: whales and the last sun

The sun sets for the season around 27 November. Until then you get a few hours of low sun each day, about four by mid-November. Snow isn't certain yet in November.

Whale season starts. Orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords near Skjervøy, north of Tromsø, and Brim Explorer sails out to them on full-day trips. The Christmas lights go up in the middle of the month.

December: polar night and Christmas

December is the polar night, with no sunrise all month. Around midday the sky turns blue and pink for a few hours, and the rest of the day is dark, which gives you many hours to look for the northern lights. Prestvannet, the lake at the top of the island, is a quiet walk in that midday light.

Shops close in the afternoon on 24 December and stay closed on 25 and 26 December, so read our tip on Tromsø at Christmas and New Year before you book. A mild spell before Christmas can turn the snow to slush.

  • Prestvannet

    Free · 1 hour · at your own pace

    A peaceful lake and nature reserve at the island's high point, circled by a flat, easy walking path popular with local families and birdwatchers.

When do tour prices go up?

Operators set their prices by season. Tromsø Arctic Reindeer has two high seasons with higher prices, 12 December to 10 January and 13 February to 7 March, and its low-season price the rest of the winter. Brim Explorer has a Christmas price from 11 December to 10 January. The cards on this page show the lowest from-price, so in those weeks the price on the operator's own page can be higher.

If your dates are flexible, November, mid-January to mid-February and March from the 8th onwards all have dark nights and the operators' lower prices.

Questions

What is the best month to visit Tromsø?

It depends on what you want to see. For the northern lights with snow, come between December and March. For whales, come between early November and the end of January. For the midnight sun, hiking and camping, come between late May and late July.

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Tromsø?

Any time from September to early April, on a dark, clear night. The season starts in late August, but the nights are still short then. Nobody can promise a sighting, so plan more than one evening for it.

When is the polar night in Tromsø?

From about 27 November to 15 January the sun stays below the horizon. Around midday you still get a few hours of blue and pink twilight.

When can you see the midnight sun in Tromsø?

From about 18 May to 26 July the sun stays above the horizon all night. Find a spot with an open view to the north, because the mountains can hide the low midnight sun.

When is there snow in Tromsø?

Snow in town isn't certain before December. It builds through January and February, March is often the snowiest month, and there can still be deep snow in early May.

When is whale season in Tromsø?

Usually from early November to the end of January, when orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords near Skjervøy. Brim Explorer's whale trips run until 31 January.

What is the coldest month in Tromsø?

February, on average. The coast keeps it milder than many people expect, with an average of around -2 °C, though the coldest spells usually come from late January.

When are tours cheaper in Tromsø?

Outside the operators' high seasons. Tromsø Arctic Reindeer charges more from 12 December to 10 January and from 13 February to 7 March, and Brim Explorer from 11 December to 10 January.

Plan a trip: Northern lights, Whales & fjord, Reindeer & Sámi culture preselected

Updated November 2026

Sources