Flying north of the Arctic Circle to Tromsø, Northern Norway, to see the Northern Lights this winter? Good idea! The city is well-positioned for viewing the Northern Lights.
The Tromsø winter offers excellent tours and excursions, and is a scenic place with plenty to see. It’s also a city with good food, and a vibrant atmosphere. So unexpected so close to the North Pole.
However, much more awaits in the north for the seasoned, curious explorer. Venturing out of Tromsø allows you to see more, relax better, and create richer, varied memories. And observe the Northern Lights in a setting of your own making. Here are some ideas for out-of-Tromsø experiences in Aurora territory.
A winter adventure should encompass more than just Tromsø
Northern Norway offers an endless variety of landscapes. Impressive mountain ranges, deep fjords, rugged coastlines, myriad islands, and deep forests, there is something new around every bend. When the snow covers the landscape, it’s such a difference from the summer months.
The people are equally diverse, with Sami, Kven (Finnish) and Norwegian roots. Reindeer sledding and dinners in Sami tents are a good way to learn about the indigenous people. Norwegians tend to live in coastal areas with a deep-rooted fishing culture. Kvens originate in Finland and are known for their saunas and traditional farming culture.
Communities range from lively coastal towns via tight-knit fishing villages to peaceful hamlets. Here you get close to the local population, and learn how they live their daily lives in the Arctic.
Design your own winter holiday in Aurora territory
How do you holiday off the beaten path in the north? Find a nice place to stay in an island community, a village by the fjord, or a town with few tourists. Pack your days with exhilarating fun in the snow, either organised outdoor activities or organised by yourself.
Curious wanderers roam the area, exploring small museums, quirky shops, and coffee places where locals gather. A stressed-out office worker from the city feels like curling up in the sofa and study the landscape through the window. These places also tend to be far away from light pollution, and thus perfect to see the Northern Lights.
A restorative and mood-lifting holiday in the winter months should have a bit of all three. How much of each you choose is entirely up to you.
The Northern Lights dance around the Lyngen Alps and across the Lyngenfjord
Just north and east of Tromsø, the Lyngen Alps rise 1,800 metres up from the Arctic Ocean. A landscape of fjords, mountains, and forested valleys surround the Lyngenfjord. Winter days here are crisp and cold, while a stable continental climate offers many clear, starry nights. Here, you can see the Northern Lights against a backdrop of lofty peaks or in deep forests, far from city lights.
Dog sledding and snowmobiling may seem challenging in these landscapes, but even city slickers master these skills surprisingly quickly. In early winter, orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales feast on herring off Skjervøy, and you can go whale watching. Ice fishing gives you peace of mind. Sami culture is also deeply rooted in this area.
Senja Island is a microcontinent under the Northern Lights
An hour by boat south of Tromsø, the large island of Senja resembles a microcontinent. It features a wild, rugged coast on the Atlantic side. The fishing villages here come to life during the winter fishing from January on.
On the land-facing side, there is a friendly, forested winter wonderland., The sheltered southern coast has calm waters and lovely villages. Driving along the Norwegian Scenic Route on the west coast is a must, but don’t neglect the interior.
In winter, Arctic cod lead a rather frivolous love life in the waters around Senja. Enjoy the fresh cod on your plate in simple eateries, or go fishing yourself.
The varied topography allows you to cross the mountain range in twenty minutes to encounter different weather. This increases your chances of spotting the Northern Lights.
Harstad is the friendly city with the Viking heritage under the Northern Lights
Once, the mightiest and fiercest Vikings hailed from the Harstad area. A sense of history lingers in this friendly, relaxed city nestled between snowy, forested hills and the fjord. Visit the picturesque 12th to 15th century Trondenes church.
Then, the Trondenes Historic centre gives you the full history of the area. Cross country ski is an art you can learn, or go snowshoeing to viewpoints.
Harstad is renowned for its good food and has many cosy cafes and bars frequented by locals. The fjord city remains inexplicably undiscovered by the tourist crowds. Mountains, hills, islands, and fjords create many microclimates. Thus, when the guides from Harstad chase the Northern Lights, they can often find clear skies without too long a drive..
Where do I see the best Northern Lights?
But isn’t Tromsø the best place for the Northern Lights? The particles from the sun hit the atmosphere at heights between 80 and 800 km. They often stay around 100 km. This means you can look up anywhere across the North, even into Sweden and Finland, to see the same Northern Lights eruption.
What makes a difference is the weather. When snow clouds empty over northern Norway, the best place to be is in pockets on the eastern slopes of any mountain. As chilly air creeps in from the east, coastal areas often offer the clearest views. However, the Northern Lights elude accurate forecasting.
You can often see the Northern Lights from your place. Enjoy fun outdoor activities at night under the Northern Lights. You can also join special Northern Lights tours if the weather is acting up. The main thing is to stay active and be on the lookout in the best evening hours.
Come in the Polar Night or in the sunny Winter
Winter isn’t just winter in the North. When light is at its scarcest in late December, the sun is several degrees below the horizon at midday. Still, you can see the landscapes, coloured in 50 shades of gold on a clear day.
The Polar Night is much brighter than you might think. What a difference it is in March, when the sun has returned with force. Days are long, and the light is bright. Sometimes in January, the sun returns, and February offers many hours of sunshine.
All these months, however, are excellent for Northern Lights viewing. By early April, the lights start fading, and by the end of the month, this natural phenomenon is no more. Then it’s the season for ski touring, but that’s a different story.
How do I get around?
Winter and snow don’t stop the North. Catamarans travel the waters north and south of Tromsø. Buses link most populated areas, and ferries cross the straits between the islands. The regularity is impressive.
The alternative is, of course, to hire your own wheels, allowing for more freedom to roam. Rental cars come equipped with winter tyres, and traffic is low.
Sometimes, a storm causes trouble and ruins travel plans. However, this happens less often than you might think, and it ends quickly. Buses and boats are surprisingly fast to get back on track, and snowploughs clear the roads.
Where should I stay?
Hygge – coziness – is a common denominator for out-of-town accommodation. Huts, small holiday villages, or rorbuer – fishermen’s huts – in breathtaking locations give you time to unwind and relax. Typically geared towards self-catering, they range from simple and homely to comfortable and even luxurious.
If Northern Lights chasing feels like too much work, you can try to view the lights from outside your accommodation. In the city centre of Harstad and in towns like Finnsnes, Storslett, and Skjervøy, there are good hotels at competitive prices.
Plan a little bit ahead
Getting out of Tromsø shouldn’t be done on a whim. Plan ahead by finding cozy, personal accommodation.
Figure out how to get there. Look into the tours, excursions, and sights available in the area. Visit Tromsø has a well-stocked website, including car rental options.
Visit Lyngenfjord lists everything in the Lyngenfjord area, north and east of Tromsø. On the fairytale island, Visit Senja highlights all the important things on the fairytale island, including a smart way of getting there. The Viking City in the south is presented with Visit Harstad.
Public transportation information is gathered in Svipper. Since this website contains many local names that may be unfamiliar, it might be a bit tricky to navigate. In that case, discussing transport with your hosts can be a good idea.
How do I travel out of Tromsø?
Tromsø, the Gateway to the Arctic, has direct flights from cities in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden in the busy winter season. Other destinations can be reached through Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki or Copenhagen with notably Scandinavia, Finnair and Norwegian.
Locations out of Tromsø tend to be more peaceful, have a different landscape and give you an insight into daily life in Northern Norway. They are thus a little bit of a contrast to busy Tromsø. Add a trip out of town, and have more from your holiday.
Due to the warming effect of the Golfstream, the ocean remains ice free all winter. In coastal areas, the average tempertures are just a few degrees below freezing. Inland areas, notably in Lyngenfjord, tend to be colder, around -8/-10 on average. You will probably freeze less in and around Tromsø than you do at home in winter. This is because the houses are nice and warm, typically with underfloor heating. When participating in activities such as dog sledding, survival suits are usually distributed.
Check the website of Visit Tromsø, the city’s visitors’ centre.
Visit Harstad is the local tourist information in Harstad.
This regions of fjords and mountains is served by Visit Lyngenfjord.
The fairytale island of Senja is covered by Visit Senja. On their website, you can also read about transport from Tromsø.
You can both find timetables and buy tickets at the website / app of Svipper, covering buses and catamarans across Troms County. As this is very detailed with many geographical names, you might want to seek help from the local tourist informations or your hosts to be sure to understand it right. Arctic Route is a private company offering bus connections to popular tourist destinations across Northern Scandinavia. They notably operate Senja Direct from Tromsø’s airport to various places in Senja. The legendary Hurtigruten, sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes, can be useful to get from Tromsø to Harstad, Finnsnes (Senja) and Skjervøy (Lyngenfjord). Check out their websites, Hurtigruten and Havila, the two companies sharing the route.
