Things to Do in Tromsø: A Year-Round Guide to Tours, Town and Fjords
Tromsø is a small city with a big list, and the right things to do change with the season. This is our couple-and-family guide to what to do in Tromsø in winter and summer, which experiences are worth booking in advance, and how to book the ones we recommend with 5% off.
This guide is built from our own winters in the Arctic and from the live Legendary Adventure tour pages in Tromsø — prices, pickup times and what is included come straight from the operator, never invented.
The best things to do in Tromsø depend on the month. In winter (roughly October to March) the headline is a northern lights tour, followed by snowshoeing, a Sámi experience and a coastal day trip. In summer the Tromsø Highlights & History Tour with E-bike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and the fjords take over, and the scenic fjord tours run all year. Most of the tours below can be booked online with Legendary Adventure, and HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 takes 5% off at checkout.
Our pick · 5% off with code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5
Northern Lights Tour
From NOK 2 300 per person · 5-8 Hours · Tromsø. Live dates and prices open right here — you book directly with Legendary Adventure in Tromsø.
Things to do in Tromsø in winter: the short list
If you have two or three nights, this is the order we would use. First the Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5, NOK 2,300 per person, 5–8 hours from an 18:30 pickup (from 25 October). It is the product people travel for, and the guides choose the route on the evening depending on where the sky is clear. Second a daytime tour: the Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 2,100 per person, 5–6 hours, lunch included) or the Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 1,500 per person, 4 hours). Third something slower, like a walk through the centre, a cafe, a museum or a sauna.
None of this needs a car. Pickups are outside Clarion Hotel The Edge, on the harbour front, and the centre is compact enough to walk.
A walk in the city centre, free and flexible
Tromsø city centre sits on an island linked to the mainland by a bridge, and most of what visitors want is within a short walk of the harbour. Storgata is the main pedestrian street, with cafes, shops and wooden buildings that give the old town its character. Bigger landmarks you will see on every list include the Arctic Cathedral across the bridge, the Fjellheisen cable car above town and the Polaria and Polar Museum on the waterfront. Opening times change with the season, so check them before you go. We list these as local knowledge, not as bookable partner tours.
Winter days are short, and from late November to mid-January the sun stays below the horizon. The blue twilight is lovely for a walk between 10:00 and 14:00.
Northern lights: tour or town?
You can sometimes see the aurora from the city, but light pollution and coastal cloud work against you, and most people who go looking in town come back without a good view. A chase tour travels to wherever the sky is open. If you want a shorter, gentler option, the Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 1,500, four hours, 18:30 pickup) offers a chance of lights from a trail near Tromsø. Families who want their own vehicle should look at the Private Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 15,000 per group, up to 8 guests).
We write about this in more detail in our other guides, collected on all our Tromsø tour guides.
Day trips: the coast and the fjords
The coastal scenery is the second reason to come. The Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour (five to six hours) follows fjords, mountains and beaches, with scenic stops, a local lunch at Sommarøy Arctic Hotel and a chance to spot reindeer, moose, sea eagles and, seasonally, whales. The Ersfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is a shorter 3–4 hour option at NOK 1,500 per person for people who want less time in the vehicle. Both leave at 10:00.
The scenic tours run year round, so they also work in summer, when the midnight sun makes the evenings light.
Book it · 5% off with HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5
Northern Lights Tour
From NOK 2 300 per person · 5-8 Hours · small groups of 2-8 guests (larger groups on request).
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Legendary Adventure's northern lights, fjord and snowshoe tours — new dates, seasonal picks and our 5% reader code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5, straight from Joona & Alla. One short email a week, unsubscribe any time.
By subscribing you agree to receive our partner-deal emails. No spam, unsubscribe in one click. We may earn a commission on bookings — your price never changes.Snowshoeing and active winter days
The Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is a four-hour hike with snowshoes and poles, a guide and transport included, ages 10+ recommended. For fitter travellers there is the Arctic Snowshoe Adventure (Advanced)5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5, six hours, ages 16+, at NOK 2,100 per person. These are daytime tours, so they pair well with a northern lights evening.
Culture: Sámi experiences
If you want to understand the region, a Sámi experience is the best place to start. The Spiritual Sámi Culture Experience5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is a four-hour private tour for NOK 17,500 per group, ages 7+ recommended. The Private Reindeer Farm Visit with Reindeer Feeding & Sámi Culture5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 35,000 per group for 6–7 hours. These are higher-priced, private experiences and best for families or groups.
Things to do in Tromsø in summer
The summer list is different. The Tromsø Highlights & History Tour with E-bike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 runs three hours at NOK 1,250 per person, ages 10+ recommended, with pickups at 10:00, 14:30 and 19:00, and it is a good way to see the city from the saddle. The scenic fjord tours continue, and there are also private summer options such as a fjord cruise. In midsummer the sun does not set, so evening trips are an option.
Sample itineraries and how to book
Open the booking link for the tour you want, choose your date and the number of guests, and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field at checkout. Check that the 5% reduction shows in the total before you pay. The code works on tours booked online with Legendary Adventure, not on bookings made through another site. We are Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a small commission, which never changes your price. See all our Tromsø tour guides for itineraries of three to seven days.
Cancellation is the same across these tours: a full refund more than 48 hours before departure, and the full price charged inside 48 hours. If you are unsure about dates, book the tour that fills first and build the rest of the trip around it.
A balanced three-night winter stay: night one early dinner, day two Sommarøy fjord tour, night two northern lights tour, day three a late breakfast and town walk, night three a second try on the lights or an Aurora Snowshoe Hike.
FAQ
What is the number one thing to do in Tromsø?
In winter, a northern lights tour. In summer, a fjord or e-bike tour.
Do I need a car?
No, the tours pick up outside Clarion Hotel The Edge, and the centre is walkable.
How many days do I need?
Three nights is a comfortable minimum in winter.
Which tours are good for families?
The private tours are for all ages; check each tour’s minimum age.
Are these tours bookable online?
Yes, most are, with Legendary Adventure. Use HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for 5% off.
What should I wear?
Layers, wool next to the skin, a hat, gloves and winter boots.
Our Honest Final Word
Tromsø rewards a short list. Pick one big evening, one big day and one slow day, and you will have done what most visitors remember. Book the Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 first with HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5, and then fit the rest around it.
Things to do: our Tromsø picks
Tap a tour to see live dates and prices. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field at checkout for 5% off.
Small group · 5-8 HoursNorthern Lights TourFrom NOK 2 300 per personBook with 5% off →Small group · 5-6 HoursSommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord TourFrom NOK 2 100 per personBook with 5% off →
Small group · 4 HoursArctic Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 5% off →
Small group · 3 HoursTromsø Highlights & History Tour with E-bikeFrom NOK 1 250 per personBook with 5% off →Code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 works on every Legendary Adventure tour booked online. We are Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a small commission — it never changes your price.
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