Whale watching in Tromsø
Whale season in Tromsø is in winter, usually from early November to the end of January. Orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords north of the city, around Skjervøy and Kvænangen. A trip from Tromsø takes the whole day, and nobody can promise you'll see whales.
When is whale watching season in Tromsø?
Visit Tromsø gives the season as usually early November to the end of January, and the exact weeks change from year to year. Brim Explorer runs its whale trips from 1 October to 31 January this winter.
The season overlaps the polar night, roughly 27 November to 15 January, when the sun stays below the horizon. It's still light enough to watch whales: around midday you get a few hours of blue twilight, and that's when you're out with them.
Where are the whales?
The whales come for the herring. Since about 2017 the herring has spent the winter in the fjords around Skjervøy and Kvænangen, north of Tromsø, so that's where the boats go. Before that the whales were often seen close to Tromsø itself.
Orcas and humpbacks are the ones you're most likely to see. Brim has also seen fin whales in recent winters, and sperm whales since 2024. The feeding area moves a little from year to year, which is one reason trip times vary.
What a day on the water looks like
Brim Explorer's Silent Whale Watching leaves from the pier beside Skarven Kro between 07:30 and 09:00 and is back around 16:30 to 17:30. Meet at the pier 15 minutes before your departure. Getting to the whales takes three to three and a half hours each way. You spend one to two hours in the area where they are, but finding them takes time, so the time with the whales themselves is usually up to an hour, sometimes less.
You spend much of the day in a warm saloon with big windows and go out on deck when the crew spots whales. The café on board sells soup, quiche and cinnamon buns, and Brim recommends adding lunch when you book.
Photo: Kristoffer Lorentzen / Brim ExplorerSilent Whale Watching
Quiet boats and keeping your distance
Brim's ships switch to their electric motor once whales are sighted, so there's less engine noise and vibration in the water near the animals. They follow the whales from a distance and let them feed in peace.
Visit Tromsø publishes whale-watching guidelines that boats around Tromsø are asked to follow. Boats approach slowly from the side, and they move away if the whales show signs of stress.
Clothing, seasickness and children
Dress in wool layers and bring a hat and gloves for the outside decks. It's colder out there than it looks from the saloon, especially when the boat is moving. Brim has no suits or blankets on board, but the indoor saloons are heated.
Most of the route is in sheltered water and the ships are stable, but it can get wavy in strong wind. Brim recommends seasickness pills if you're prone to it. A light breakfast and a spot on the lower deck help too.
Brim takes children of all ages, and under-3s go free. It's a long day, so think about whether your kids will be happy on a boat from early morning to late afternoon.
Not here between February and October?
Outside whale season you can still get out on the water. Brim's Arctic Fjord Cruise runs from February to April and in September and October. It's a shorter daytime trip through the fjords around Tromsø, with an underwater drone showing what's below the ship when the weather allows. It isn't a whale trip.
Photo: Brim ExplorerArctic Fjord Cruise
Questions
When is whale watching season in Tromsø?
Usually from early November to the end of January, and the exact weeks vary by year. Brim Explorer runs its trips from 1 October to 31 January this winter.
Will I definitely see whales?
No. Sightings can't be guaranteed, because the whales follow the herring and move around.
How long is a whale watching trip from Tromsø?
A full day, about 9 hours. Brim Explorer leaves between 07:30 and 09:00 and is back around 16:30 to 17:30. Sailing to the whales takes three to three and a half hours each way, and you spend one to two hours in the area where they are.
Do you see orcas or humpback whales?
Both are possible. Orcas and humpbacks are the whales that follow the herring into the fjords north of Tromsø in winter, and Brim has also seen fin and sperm whales in recent years. What you see on a given day is up to the whales.
Is whale watching in Tromsø suitable for children?
Brim Explorer takes children of all ages, and under-3s go free. The ship has warm indoor saloons and toilets, but it's a long day, so it suits kids who are fine on a boat for most of it.
What is a silent or electric whale watching boat?
A ship that switches to an electric motor when it gets near the whales, so there is less engine noise and vibration in the water. Brim Explorer's ships do this and then follow the whales from a distance.
What can I do on the water outside whale season?
From February to April and in September and October, Brim Explorer runs the Arctic Fjord Cruise, a shorter daytime trip through the fjords around Tromsø. It isn't a whale trip.