Going on one of these Tromso northern lights tours is perhaps one of the most popular activity for people visiting Norway, and is something I highly recommend. Even though I have grown up in Norway and seen the northern lights quite often, I never stop being mesmerised by how beautiful they are.
If you are visiting Norway in the winter, and your goal is to see the northern lights, chances are you are heading to Tromsø (or Tromso, if you don’t have the Norwegian ‘ø’ on your keyboard).
Tromsø is, for many people, one of the top destinations in Norway for seeing the northern lights! Whilst there are many other places in Norway that are great for seeing them (such as Alta and Lofoten), Tromsø is definitely the best destination in Norway for northern lights tours.
The stunning Auroras are not to be missed, and with some of these tours you are almost guaranteed to see them. In fact, a lot of them come with a “northern lights guarantee” – which I’ll explain more about later.
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Quick Tromsø Travel Guide
Where to stay: Tromsø is a small and walkable city, so you’ll find that there are lots of hotels close to the city center. My personal favourites are Clarion The Edge, the Scandic Ishavshotel and the Radisson. Most northern lights tours will actually pick you up from outside the latter two (the hotels are right across the street from each other). More budget-friendly accommodation includes the Tromsø Activities Hostel and the Comfort Xpress. I’ve written a guide to my favourite hotels in Tromsø here.
Where to eat: I have many favourite restaurants in Tromsø, and am particularly fond of La Famiglia (Italian), Restaurant Lotus (international) and Bardus Bistro (Norwegian). I have heard great things about Restaurant Skirri as well (seafood). All are within walking distance in the city center. For after-dinner drinks, the Tromso Ice Bar is a fun experience.
Top activities and tours in Tromsø
- Tromsø Arctic Reindeer – Sami experience
- Polaria Museum
- The Tromsø Cable Car (and mountain top)
- Tromsø University Museum
- Dog Sledding (check out my guide to the best ones here)
- Whale Watching (winter months only)
- Northern Lights Tours (of course – here are my favourites)
Guide: The Best Things to do in Tromsø
Packing for Tromsø: Tromsø is a popular winter destination in Norway, and packing for Norway in winter is no joke. Think layers, layers, layers – and always wear a thin layer of wool underneath your clothing on the coldest days.
Getting to the city center: If you are flying into Tromsø airport (TOS), you can book a private transfer to your hotel in advance here. Alternatively, the airport express bus leaves several times a day, and is usually timed with the arrivals.
Seeing the northern lights from Tromsø
There are a few things you should be aware of when it comes to seeing the northern lights in Tromsø (or from Tromsø, if you are going on an aurora tour).
Firstly, know that seeing the northern lights is heavily affected by two things: the strength of the Aurora Borealis themselves and the weather.
By this I mean that in order to see them in the first place, the rays coming from the sun (aka the northern lights or Auroras) need to be strong enough for you to be able to see them with your eyes.
Often, the northern lights are not strong enough for this, but a camera is able to pick them up. I have covered photographing the northern lights with a GoPro and even with a smartphone in the past, and it is easier than you think.
Since Tromsø is so far north, this gives you a good chance of seeing them, even when they are not that strong.
What you need to know before you go
The northern lights are measured by a KP index (all around the world), going from 0 (low) to 9 (extremely high).
In Tromsø, you can see the northern lights even when the KP index is as low as 1, which is pretty incredible.
Next up, the weather. It should come as no surprise that even with a KP index of 4 and above (which is considered pretty good), if it is a cloudy night, you won’t be able to see the northern lights. So always pay attention to the weather forecast as well as the Aurora forecast.
In addition to the KP index and the weather, light pollution can also affect how clearly you see the northern lights. All though Tromsø is not a huge city, and so it is possible to see the northern lights from the city (I loved seeing them from the rooftop bar at the Edge hotel), it is always better to leave the city.
That’s where the northern lights tours I’ve covered below come in! They all take you out of the city, to the best places for seeing the northern lights near Tromsø.
Read next: things you need to know before visiting Norway
The best time to see the northern lights in Tromso
Regardless of where in northern Norway you go to see the northern lights, there are certain times of year that are better than others.
Obviously, the darker months are the best months to see the northern lights in Tromsø (and the rest of Norway), with December to February being ideal. This is also when you will find that there are more Tromsø northern lights tours available to choose from, as it is the peak season to experience northern lights.
There are several ways to find out what the best time to see the northern lights in Norway is, and my general advice is to look at the historic weather forecast for the city you are considering and the time of year and number of daylight hours.
The 5 Best Tromso Northern Lights Tours
Below I have selected the top 5 northern lights tours in Tromsø, and separated them by category. This means that they are not in order, but sorted by topic.
For example, if you are really keen on getting the best northern lights photos, a photography tour is your best option. The same goes if you’d rather use a specific mode of transport, for example by boat or even private Tesla.
Regardless of which northern lights hunt you pick – you’ll have a great time in Tromso!
#1 Northern Lights Photography Tour
The top rated northern lights photography tour not only includes the help of your professional guide in finding the best camera settings for capturing the Auroras, but also includes actual photos from the night you went out to chase them.
This tour has over 1000 5*star reviews on Viator, and includes thermal suits, boots and hats for your adventure out in the cold. It lasts about 7 hours, and will drop you off back at your Tromsø hotel after the lights show in the sky.
Dinner around the campfire is included. For those that are looking for the best northern lights photography tour in Tromsø, this is it.
- Length: 7 hours
- Cost: $193
- Hotel drop off/pick up: Only drop off
- Food included: Yes
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Advance booking needed: Yes
- Book here
#2 Small Group Northern Lights Tour
If you want an intimate experience, and to make sure you have the guide’s full attention, your best option is a small group tour.
Greenlander offers a northern lights tour from Tromsø with a maximum of 8 people in your group – making for a truly great experience looking for the auroras.
With this tour, you’ll find that the guide is always available for your questions, and can give you immediate assistance should you need it. You’ll be taken around in an off-road vehicle (like a land rover), so getting to the best spots should be easy!
- Length: 8 hours
- Cost: $212
- Hotel drop off/pick up: Yes
- Food included: Yes
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Advance booking needed: Yes
- Book here
#3 Northern Lights Hunt by Bus
The cheapest way to see the northern lights from Tromso is to go on a bus chase. On this tour, you’ll leave the city center on a big bus, and head out to where it is dark in order to get the best view of the lights.
The northern lights are fantastic no matter how you choose to see them, and going on a big bus can be just as great as going with a small group – it just depends on what you prefer. Regardless, you’ll be sure to see some of the auroras dancing not too far from downtown Tromso.
- Length: 6-10 hours
- Cost: $144
- Hotel drop off/pick up: No, starts and ends at the Tromsø Bus Terminal
- Food included: No
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Advance booking needed: Yes
- Book here
#4 Northern Lights Cruise from Tromsø
If you want a truly unique experience, opt for a northern lights cruise by boat, leaving Tromsø harbour in the evening and taking you on a truly scenic excursion on the fjord.
This tour only allows up to 12 travelers, and as a result you get an intimate experience and a front-row seat to the auroras if they are visible.
Dinner is included, and so is the hot tub onboard the boat – so make sure to pack a warm hat and your swimwear.
- Length: 4 hours
- Cost: $240
- Hotel drop off/pick up: Starts at the docks (Sjøgata 35)
- Food included: Yes
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Advance booking needed: Yes
- Book here
#5 Private Northern Lights Chase
One of the things Norway is known for is the ability to get out into nature and have it all to yourself. With this tour, you can truly enjoy the exclusivity of Norwegian nature, as you’ll be all on your own!
This private tour is pricy, but if you are a group or family of 4-5, it might be worth it. You’ll have your guide and driver all to yourself, and you can go wherever the lights are the strongest without considering anyone else in your group. You’ll have the chance to stop for a private photo shoot under the dancing lights.
The vehicle being completely silent is just a bonus, as the biggest benefit is that you are producing zero emissions as you chase the lights.
- Length: 4-6 hours
- Cost: $1317 (total)
- Hotel drop off/pick up: Yes
- Food included: Yes
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Advance booking needed: Yes
- Book here
#6 Honorable mentions
There you have the 5 best northern lights tours from Tromsø – all with their own pros and cons.
Below you will find a few more, that didn’t quite make the cut for the top 5. There are some great options out there, such as visiting a husky farm at night under the auroras (perfect if you love animals and are curious about dog sledding in Tromsø).
These are amongst the top rated tours in Tromsø, and still worth checking out!
Other activities not to miss in Tromsø (with a chance of northern lights)
Of course, there are so many great things to do in Tromsø, and not all are related to the northern lights. Personally, I love traveling in northern Norway, not just for the nature, but for the culture and amount of bucket-list activities to find there.
Therefore, I wanted to highlight some of those activities for you guys, so you can make the most of your trip to Tromsø.
Walking tour
Tromsø is a very walkable city, and so joining a walking tour to get an idea of where to find everything on your first day is a must. That way, you get the lay of the land quickly – in addition to learning about the city!
This 2,5-hour walking tour takes you around the main sights of the city with a local guide, and includes a visit to the Polar Museum. It is a fun, family-friendly way to get to know the city when you have just arrived.
Additionally, it’s a great daytime activity (since the northern lights tours are all in the evening).
The Cable Car
Of course, the Tromsø cable car (Fjellheisen), taking you up to the Storsteinen mountain cannot be missed. This is probably the most popular activity in the city, offering amazing views of everything down below (such as the beautiful Tromsø bridge and the Arctic Cathedral).
At the top you will find some hiking trails, a cafe with great lunch options, and of course, the best views in town. The return ticket is open-ended, so you can decide how long you want to spend up top.
Top tip: on a clear night, heading up to the mountain top with the cable car can be a great way to see the northern lights in Tromsø without joining a tour!
Sami Experience (with reindeer sledding)
Last, but not least, you simply cannot visit Tromsø without learning about the Sami people and their culture. The indigenous people of Norway, Finland, Sweden (and parts of Russia) have such a unique culture, and learning about their heritage was one of my favourite things I did in Tromsø.
When you book this excursion, you are taken out of the city center to a Sami reindeer farm, where you will not only get to meet and feed the reindeer, but after a nice Sami meal (the traditional Bidos) you gather in the lavvo (Sami tent) to listen to stories and learn even more.
When I did this, the two young girls telling stories were absolutely incredible, answering every single (silly) question from our group. I learned so much, even as a Norwegian who had some knowledge of the Sami before I went.
I couldn’t recommend this excursion enough – especially because it is a Sami run family business. Book it in advance here.
Tromsø Northern Lights Tours FAQ
Below I have answered some of the top questions people ask about chasing the northern lights from Tromso. If your question isn’t answered, leave it in a comment and I’ll add it!
The winter months are the best months to see the northern lights in Tromsø, with December to February being ideal.
No, but joining a tour will increase the chances of seeing them. A tour will take you away from the city lights and to the best spots to see them.
If you are lucky, you can visit Tromsø for just one day and see the lights. However, I recommend at least 3-4 days in order to maximise your chances.
Yes, you can. However, with the lights from the city, the northern lights won’t be as clear as if you leave the city centre.
Yes, Tromso is a great destination in Norway for northern lights.
Yes, you can.
The best hotel in Tromsø for northern lights is the Scandic Ishavshotel, because most northern lights tours depart from outside the hotel.
Between December and February is the best time.
