Tromsø in December, at Christmas and New Year

December in Tromsø is the polar night, so the sun stays below the horizon and the city is full of Christmas lights. Christmas Eve on 24 December is the big day in Norway: shops close that afternoon and most stay shut until Monday 28 December. Many tours keep running over the holidays, so book early and buy your food before the 24th.

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

What is Tromsø like in December?

From late November to mid-January the sun doesn't rise above the horizon. This is the polar night. It isn't dark around the clock, though. Around midday you get a few hours of blue twilight, and the rest of the day is dark enough for the northern lights whenever the sky is clear.

The Christmas lights go up in mid-November. This year Visit Tromsø lists the Tromsø Christmas Market on Stortorget, the main square, from 20 November to 3 January, and the Juleglede market at the Jekta shopping centre from 6 November to 20 December.

Christmas and New Year are busy weeks for tours and restaurants. If something matters to you, book it well ahead.

What's open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day?

Norwegians celebrate on the evening of 24 December, at home with the family, and the city centre goes quiet. Shops are open in the morning on Christmas Eve, but by law they close at 16:00 at the latest, and many close earlier. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays, and the shops stay closed. This year Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so most shops open again on Monday 28 December.

Petrol stations and small convenience stores stay open on the holidays, often with shorter hours. If you're staying in an apartment, do your food shopping by the morning of the 24th. Wine and spirits are only sold at Vinmonopolet, which is closed on public holidays, so buy them before Christmas Eve.

Many restaurants close on 24 and 25 December, and the ones that stay open are often fully booked, so reserve a table early. On Boxing Day the town comes alive again: in Tromsø it's a traditional night out.

Buses run on holiday timetables over Christmas and New Year. Check the Svipper app for the day you travel.

Which tours run over Christmas and New Year?

A tour is a good way to spend the quiet days, and Visit Tromsø notes that a wide range of activities stays available over Christmas. Check the exact date when you book, because not every tour runs on every holiday.

Brim Explorer sails every day over Christmas, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve included. December is also whale season, and Brim's whale trips run until 31 January. From 11 December to 10 January Brim charges a Christmas price, so the price on Brim's own page can be higher than the from-price on our cards.

Reindeer and Sámi culture in the Christmas weeks

Tromsø Arctic Reindeer's camp is open through December, with day visits and evenings at the camp. Their website lists the Aurora Wonder Night with a holiday price on 24 to 26 December and on 31 December and 1 January. Your plan shows live availability for their tours, so you can see straight away whether your date over the holidays is open.

Northern lights at Christmas

December is in the middle of the northern lights season, and the long dark gives you many hours to look. As always, clear sky matters most, and nobody can promise a sighting. On a chase tour you drive to wherever the sky looks clearest. Greenlander picks you up at 17:30 from November to March.

New Year's Eve in Tromsø

Many shops close early on New Year's Eve, and 1 January is a public holiday with the shops closed. At midnight there are fireworks over the city. Visit Tromsø suggests watching from Fjellheisen, the cable car, or from viewpoints on the island such as Charlottenlund, Alfheim and the area near Tromsø Maritime School. In the centre, Strandtorget and Porten til Ishavet at Vervet are good spots.

The Arctic Cathedral has a 45-minute organ concert at 21:00 on New Year's Eve. Brim Explorer has a two-hour New Year's Eve cruise from 23:00, with a glass of bubbles, out on the fjord between the cathedral and the island to watch the fireworks from the water.

Dress for standing still outside at midnight, and wear ice grips on your shoes. The streets and paths are often icy.

Questions

Is it dark all day in Tromsø in December?

Not completely. The sun stays below the horizon from late November to mid-January, but around midday there are a few hours of twilight. The rest of the day is dark, which gives you long evenings for the northern lights.

What is open in Tromsø on Christmas Eve?

Shops are open in the morning and close at 16:00 at the latest, many earlier. Many restaurants are closed, so book a table early if you want to eat out. Many tours still run, so check your date when you book.

Are shops open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Tromsø?

No. Both are public holidays and the shops are closed, apart from petrol stations and small convenience stores. In 2026 most shops open again on Monday 28 December.

Do tours run on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve?

Many do. Brim Explorer sails on both days, and Tromsø Arctic Reindeer lists a holiday price for its Aurora Wonder Night on both. For other tours, check the date when you book. Your MyTripTo plan shows live availability where the operator shares it with us.

Where can I watch the New Year's fireworks in Tromsø?

Visit Tromsø suggests Fjellheisen, the cable car, and viewpoints on the island such as Charlottenlund and Alfheim. In the centre, Strandtorget and Porten til Ishavet at Vervet are good spots. You can also watch from the water on Brim Explorer's New Year's Eve cruise.

When are the Christmas markets in Tromsø?

In 2026 the Tromsø Christmas Market on Stortorget runs from 20 November to 3 January, and the Juleglede market at Jekta from 6 November to 20 December.

Can you see the northern lights at Christmas in Tromsø?

Yes, when the sky is clear. December is in the middle of the season and the long dark gives you many hours to look, but nobody can promise a sighting.

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

Updated November 2026

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