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5 Days in Tromsø, Norway: A Winter 5-Day Tromsø Itinerary
Planning 5 days in Tromsø, Norway? Follow our real winter itinerary with dog sledding, reindeer, whale watching, Northern Lights, a Sámi lavvu stay and cross-country skiing — plus updated 2026 planning tips.
What is there to do in Tromsø, Norway during winter? PLENTY!
Northern Lights just outside of Tromsø, Norway
Updated October 2026: We took this winter trip to Tromsø nearly a decade ago, and it is still one of our favorite trips we’ve ever taken. Since tours, restaurants and travel logistics can change over time, I’ve updated this guide with current planning information for 2026 while keeping our original experiences and photos throughout. When something has changed since our visit, I’ve noted it below.
If you’re wondering whether five days in Tromsø is enough, we packed an incredible amount into our winter trip. We went dog sledding, rode through the snow behind reindeer, saw wild orcas while whale watching, slept in a traditional lavvu near the Lyngen Alps, tried cross-country skiing and chased the Northern Lights.
We originally planned the trip around seeing the aurora, but because the Northern Lights are never guaranteed, we made sure the rest of our itinerary would be worth traveling to Norway for even if the sky didn’t cooperate. That turned out to be one of the best decisions we made — and it’s still how I would plan a winter trip to Tromsø today.
❄️ Jump to Your Tromsø Adventure
Planning your trip? Skip ahead to the section you need.
❄️ 5-Day Tromsø Itinerary at a Glance
Dog sledding, reindeer, whales, Northern Lights & plenty of Arctic adventure
Our itinerary began in central Tromsø but we spent the latter part of the trip outside the city near the Lyngen Alps, so this is best thought of as a Tromsø-based winter itinerary rather than five days entirely within downtown Tromsø.
How We Planned Our 5 Days in Tromsø
Seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø was the original inspiration for this trip, but we knew there was never a guarantee that we would actually see them. Instead of planning our entire vacation around the aurora, we filled our five days with other winter adventures we would be excited about no matter what the sky decided to do — including dog sledding, reindeer sledding, whale watching and cross-country skiing.
At the time, Josh was working with a producer whose friend had a travel company called Off The Map Travel, which specializes in Arctic trips. After a few emails back and forth, they created a Tromsø itinerary that we could adjust based on the experiences we wanted to include.
One activity I wasn’t immediately sold on? Sleeping overnight in a traditional Sàmi lavvu (teepee) in the snow. Josh thought it sounded amazing. I thought sleeping in a tent above the Arctic Circle sounded slightly insane.
I eventually agreed — and it ended up being one of the most magical parts of the entire trip.
The next steps were to book our flights and purchase warm clothes since this California girl doesn't know what to do in the snow but wants to build a snowman.
🧤 Planning your own winter trip? See my Packing Essentials for Snow Guide and Check-List before you go.
Getting to Tromsø, Norway
For our trip, we were visiting family in Syracuse for Christmas first, so we flew SAS from Newark to Oslo and then Oslo to Tromsø. There were no nonstop flights from New York to Tromsø, so Oslo was our connection before continuing north above the Arctic Circle.
That basic route still makes sense for U.S. travelers today, although there are now more ways to reach Tromsø. Oslo has frequent flights to Tromsø, and the flight north takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Tromsø also has seasonal and year-round nonstop connections from a growing number of European cities, so depending on where you’re traveling from, you may be able to connect elsewhere in Europe instead of Oslo.
Connecting Through Oslo
When we took this trip, we arrived in Oslo, went through customs, collected our luggage and checked it again before continuing to Tromsø.
This is one thing that has changed since our trip. Some international passengers connecting to a domestic Norwegian flight can now use Oslo Airport’s Domestic Transfer service and have checked baggage transferred automatically. Eligibility depends on your airline, itinerary and whether everything is booked on one through-ticket, so check your baggage tag and current Oslo Airport instructions when you travel.
Getting From Tromsø Airport to the City
Tromsø Airport is only about 5 km from the city center, making the final part of the trip surprisingly easy. We had transportation arranged to our hotel, but today travelers can also take an airport bus, local city bus or taxi. The trip between the airport and central Tromsø generally takes about 10–20 minutes.
Once we arrived, we checked into Clarion Hotel The Edge and our five-day Tromsø adventure officially began!
Day 1: Arrive in Tromsø + Evening Dog Sledding
After landing in Tromsø, we headed straight to our hotel in the city center, dropped off our bags and got ready for our first Arctic adventure: dog sledding at night!
Clarion at the Edge - Tromso, Norway
Where We Stayed in Tromsø: Clarion Hotel The Edge
For the first part of our trip, we stayed at Clarion Hotel The Edge, right on the waterfront in central Tromsø.
The location worked really well for us because we could easily walk around downtown and reach several of the meeting points for our tours. The hotel is also only about 10 minutes from Tromsø Airport, so it was an easy place to start our five-day itinerary.
Our room overlooked Tromsø Sound toward the Arctic Cathedral, and the beds were especially welcome after the long trip from the U.S.
Tromsø views
View from our room at the Clarion in Tromso, Norway
Their restaurant on the second floor had good food (and wine). Oh and they had the best sign:
Stressed Spelled Backwards is desserts! YES IT IS!
2026 Update: Clarion Hotel The Edge is still one of the most conveniently located hotels in Tromsø. It sits right on the waterfront in the city center, with airport transportation nearby and easy access to restaurants, sightseeing and many Arctic tour departure points.
Planning Tip: If you want to do several excursions from Tromsø without renting a car, I would stay somewhere in the city center. Many dog-sledding, reindeer and Northern Lights tours include transportation from central meeting points.
Presis had swings as dining room chairs
Dinner in Tromsø Before Dog Sledding
Before our evening dog-sledding tour, we grabbed dinner at Presis Tapas in downtown Tromsø. We shared several small plates before walking over to the Scandic Ishavshotel to meet our tour.
2026 Update: Presis Tapas has since closed, so I wouldn’t build it into a current Tromsø itinerary. If you're following our schedule today, I’d simply plan an early dinner somewhere in the city center before your evening excursion.
Upon entering, the candlelight from the tables gave a cozy and welcoming vibe, and my eyes lit up when I looked over observing that instead of chairs, some of the tables had swings! The four-year-old inside me wanted to run over and sit on one instantly, but instead, the hostess sat us at a table with plain old regular four-legged chairs by the window instead. It was probably for the better because I would have played on the swing and knocked over food, water, or a candle with the potential of lighting the restaurant on fire. So instead, I sat for a quick picture.
The food was delicious. We had their ham, bread with salt and olive oil, potatoes with a garlic aioli sauce, and spicy meatballs. It was the perfect amount of food for the 2 of us, almost too much!
🎿 Click here for our Packing Essentials for Snow Guide and Check-List
Getting acquainted with the dog before my evening dog sledding adventure in Tromsø
Evening Dog Sledding in Tromsø
We didn’t waste much time settling in. That same evening, we walked over to the Scandic Ishavshotel, where a small bus from Arctic Adventure Tours was waiting to take us out to their husky kennel.
The drive took about 30 minutes, and the second we arrived I wanted to run straight over to the dogs. They were bouncing in and out of their little houses, barking and clearly very excited that it was almost time to run.
Before heading out, we were given winter suits, boots, gloves and headlamps and went through a quick orientation on how to handle the sled.
Then the dogs realized it was time to go.
They immediately started barking and jumping with excitement.
Dog sledding pup sleeping
They were chained to little dog houses and jumping in and out of them, excited we were there to visit and give them attention! We were called into a room to suit up and get a winter suit, boots, gloves, and a headlamp for our sledding. It was probably for the better to wear their gear since the dogs were so smelly (but still so cute) it wouldn't stink up our clothes on our first day.
We had a quick orientation and headed to the sleds. The dogs instantly started barking and jumping with excitement when they saw us!
Our sleds and very excited huskies waiting to head out into the snowy Arctic night near Tromsø.
What Dog Sledding Was Actually Like
We rode two people to a sled and took turns riding and driving.
I definitely preferred riding!
Driving a dog sled is much more active than I expected. You aren’t just standing on the back while the dogs do all the work. When you go uphill, you may need to run or push alongside the sled to help the dogs, and you need to pay attention to braking and keeping the right distance from the team in front of you.
Once we started moving, though, it was incredible.
We raced through the dark Arctic landscape beneath a sky full of stars, with almost nothing around us except snow, dogs and the glow from our headlamps.
And then our dogs decided to make the evening a little more interesting.
At one point, our team became completely tangled and refused to keep going. Since we were the last sled, everyone else disappeared ahead of us while we sat there wondering if we had somehow managed to get lost in the Norwegian wilderness on our very first night.
Eventually we saw a headlamp coming back toward us.
We were saved!
Even our instructor had trouble untangling the dogs, but after a few more minutes we were finally back on the trail.
Our total sledding time was around an hour, and despite our little detour, it was easily one of the most memorable ways I could imagine beginning a winter trip to Tromsø.
How could you get mad at a face like this:
After the tour, we changed out of our wet clothes and warmed up with some hot cocoa in this traditional Sami lavvu.
Can You Still Book This Dog-Sledding Tour?
Yes. Arctic Adventure Tours is still operating in Tromsø, although the exact experience may have changed since our visit.
For the 2026–2027 winter season, its current self-drive dog-sledding tour lasts about four hours total, including transportation from Tromsø, with approximately 70–80 minutes of sledding. Guests still meet outside the Scandic Ishavshotel before traveling to the company’s kennel on Kvaløya. Thermal suits, winter boots and mittens are included.
The experience is active — you’ll help the dogs on parts of the trail — so this is not just a sightseeing ride.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. If you’re planning five days in Tromsø in winter, dog sledding would still be near the top of my list.
Reindeer Sledding in Tromso, Norway
Day 2: Reindeer Sledding + Sámi Culture
Our second day in Tromsø started with one of the experiences I was most excited about: reindeer sledding with Tromsø Lapland.
We left Tromsø and traveled out into the snowy countryside, where we met our Sámi guides and their herd of reindeer. Compared with dog sledding the night before, reindeer sledding was much slower and more peaceful — which gave us time to actually take in the incredible Arctic scenery around us.
Feeding Reindeer
Reindeer Sledding Near Tromsø
When we visited, our reindeer-sledding route was about 3 kilometers and lasted around 40 minutes.
We sat bundled together on the sled while the reindeer pulled us through the snow, surrounded by mountains and a seemingly endless white landscape. It felt completely different from anything we had ever done before.
And yes — the reindeer were just as adorable as I hoped they would be.
After the ride, we had the chance to spend more time around the animals and learn about their importance to Sámi culture and reindeer herding traditions.
Learning About Sámi Culture
The experience was about much more than simply riding behind a reindeer.
Our Sámi hosts shared stories about their culture, traditions and connection to the reindeer, giving us a glimpse into life in Northern Norway that we never would have gotten by simply staying in Tromsø.
Reindeer husbandry remains an important part of Sámi culture today, and many winter reindeer experiences around Tromsø combine time with the animals with storytelling, traditional food and an introduction to Sámi history and contemporary life.
This ended up being one of those activities that was both fun and genuinely interesting, and I’m really glad we made room for it in our five-day itinerary.
Reindeer in Norway
Can You Still Go Reindeer Sledding With Tromsø Lapland?
Yes! Tromsø Lapland is still operating, but the experience offered today is a little different from the one we took.
For the current winter season, the reindeer-sledding tour lasts about 4½ hours total, including transportation from Tromsø. The camp is approximately 50 minutes outside the city, and the current itinerary includes:
A roughly 20-minute reindeer sled ride
Feeding the reindeer
A traditional lunch of bidos, a Sámi reindeer stew, with alternative dietary options available
Hot drinks
An introduction to Sámi culture from a Sámi guide
Winter gear including snowsuits, boot covers, hats and mittens
So if you are recreating our itinerary today, don’t expect the exact 40-minute sled ride we experienced. Tour length and sledding conditions can also vary depending on the snow.
Would I still include this in a 5-day Tromsø itinerary? Absolutely. It was completely different from dog sledding and gave us a much deeper connection to the culture and history of Northern Norway.
Explore Tromsø
After returning to the city, we had some time to walk around central Tromsø before our evening plans.
Tromsø is compact enough that you can easily explore much of the downtown area on foot. If I were planning this trip today, I would intentionally leave a few hours open here rather than booking another major excursion.
Use the afternoon to wander the waterfront, browse the shops and cafés around the city center, or simply warm up somewhere before heading back out into the Arctic night.
And after two days packed with dogs, reindeer and snow, a slower afternoon felt pretty nice.
See our full story: Reindeer Rides in Tromsø, Norway
Drinks at Huken
Address: Storgata 39, 9008 Tromsø
That evening, we ate at Huken Pub, a tiny, cozy spot in downtown Tromsø that we loved for its casual atmosphere and hearty pub food.
2026 Update: The original Huken Pub location has since closed, but the Huken concept continues today as Huken Brygg at Storgata 39 in central Tromsø. The current restaurant still serves casual comfort food like burgers, baked potatoes and savory pancakes, along with drinks across its three-floor bar and restaurant space.
Huken Pub in Tromso, Norway
A storm came in so strong that the rain from it turned into icy roads. We were supposed to go out to see the lights but the bus wasn't going to be safe in the icy conditions and we had to cancel our tour.
We weren't surprised, it was still overcast and others who had gone out the night before drove 2 hours to Finland to see the Northern Lights, some weren't able to catch them at all.
Huken Pub brews
Instead, we went to Huken Pub right around the corner of our hotel. We had some time to kill, where we just wanted to sit and have a beer. This was the perfect place. The decor is unique, suitcases as tables and barn chic interior.
Huken Pub Bar
After a couple of drinks, we walked around for a bit and enjoyed the charm of this quaint town.
Streets of Tromso
Tromsø Cathedral glowing on a winter night in the heart of downtown Tromsø.
Tromsø Harbor at night, glowing with colorful lights along the waterfront.
Day 3: Whale Watching + An Overnight Lavvu Stay
Day 3 was a big one. We started the morning searching for wild orcas, checked out of our hotel in Tromsø, traveled toward the Lyngen Alps and ended the night sleeping in a traditional Sámi lavvu beneath the Arctic sky.
And somewhere in between all of that, we finally saw the Northern Lights!
Wild orcas surfaced all around the boats during our winter whale-watching trip near Tromsø.
Whale Watching From Tromsø
Whale watching was one of the experiences we were most excited about on this trip.
We booked our excursion through Off the Map Travel with Arctic Cruise in Norway (ACIN) and boarded the Arctic Princess, a Lagoon 450 catamaran, from Tromsø Harbor.
Because we were heading out on the water in the middle of winter, I was slightly concerned about just how cold we were going to be. Thankfully, warm waterproof suits were provided — although I still recommend wearing plenty of warm layers underneath.
Once we were out on the water, another tour company alerted our captain that they had spotted a pod of orcas.
We headed straight toward them.
And then there they were!
We saw a pod of around 10 wild orcas, surfacing between the boats as they moved through the fjord. Sometimes we could spot their distinctive white patches as they came above the water, while flocks of seabirds circling overhead helped give away where the whales were feeding.
No, they weren't leaping through the air like Free Willy — but seeing orcas in the wild, surrounded by snowy Norwegian mountains, was still incredible.
We watched them for what felt like almost an hour before the cold finally got the best of me. Even with all of my layers, my feet were freezing!
👉 Read our full experience: Whale Watching With Wild Orcas in Norway
Seeing wild orcas surrounded by snowy mountains was one of the most unforgettable experiences of our Tromsø trip
Important 2026 Whale-Watching Update
This is one part of our itinerary that I would plan differently today.
When we visited, the whales were much closer to Tromsø and we were able to take a relatively straightforward boat trip from the harbor.
In recent years, the whales have generally followed the herring farther north toward the Skjervøy and Kvænangen area. Because of that, many whale-watching excursions from Tromsø now take most of the day. Some travel north entirely by boat, while others combine a bus or minibus transfer with a boat excursion from Skjervøy.
Whale-watching season is typically November through January, although the exact timing and location of the whales can change from year to year.
Planning Tip: If whale watching is important to you, I would treat Day 3 as a full whale-watching day when planning a current Tromsø itinerary. Don't schedule another time-sensitive excursion immediately afterward.
And, of course, these are wild animals — sightings are never guaranteed.
Leaving Tromsø for the Lyngen Alps
After whale watching, we returned to Clarion Hotel The Edge, where we had arranged a late checkout so we could shower and change before the next part of our adventure.
Then it was time to leave central Tromsø behind.
Off the Map travel had arranged transportation toward the Lyngen Alps, where we met Ann Kristin from Aurora Alps. This would be our home base for the remainder of the trip.
Our original plan was to sleep in a cabin that first night.
I was relieved.
I had agreed to sleep in a traditional lavvu at some point during this trip, but I was still trying to convince myself that sleeping in a tent in the snow above the Arctic Circle was a good idea.
Then we arrived and learned that our itinerary had changed.
We were sleeping in the lavvu that night.
O.M.G.
The traditional Sámi lavvu where we spent the night, tucked into the snowy forest outside Tromsø.
Sleeping in a Traditional Sámi Lavvu
We grabbed our bags and followed a little illuminated path to the lavvu, which sat only a short distance from the main house.
And almost immediately, all of my worries disappeared.
The whole setup was enchanting.
Inside, candles and string lights gave the lavvu a warm glow. There was a wood-burning stove, plenty of firewood, a table filled with food, hot drinks waiting for us, a cozy sitting area and a separate sleeping space with sleeping bags.
This was definitely my kind of camping.
As long as someone kept that fire going!
Sleeping in the lavvu ended up being one of the experiences I remember most from our entire Norway trip.
👉 Read the full story: Sleeping in a Sámi Lavvu in Norway
2026 Update: Aurora Alps still operates its winter basecamp in Breivikeidet, about 50 minutes outside Tromsø, with activities including dog sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. However, I could not find our exact overnight lavvu experience offered as a current bookable stay, so I would consider this part of our itinerary an experience from our original trip rather than something you can necessarily recreate exactly today.
We strapped on snowshoes and headed into the snow to look for the Northern Lights near our lavvu outside Tromsø.
Snowshoeing Under the Arctic Sky
Sitting outside our lavvu were two pairs of snowshoes.
I thought they looked cute.
I had absolutely no idea how to use them.
Ann Kristin told us conditions might improve enough to see the Northern Lights that night and suggested taking the snowshoes out to a clearing nearby if the sky began to clear.
So we grabbed our camera equipment, Josh helped me get my snowshoes on, and off we went.
At first, the sky was cloudy with a light rain.
We waited.
After about 15 minutes, stars slowly started appearing as the clouds broke apart.
We were expecting the Northern Lights to suddenly appear as obvious bright-green streaks across the sky.
That's not exactly what happened.
Josh started taking pictures of what looked like faint glowing clouds.
Then he looked at his camera screen.
“THAT'S IT!”
There they were.
Green Northern Lights.
Our first Northern Lights sighting
Once we knew what we were looking for, we started pointing our cameras at practically every suspicious-looking glow in the sky.
Some of the aurora was much easier to see through the camera than with our eyes that first night, but we didn't care.
After having our Northern Lights tour canceled the night before because of the weather, we had finally seen the aurora in Norway.
And we still had two nights left to look for more.
Day 4: Dog Sledding + a Northern Lights Chase
After our night in the lavvu, we packed up and left our bags with Aurora Alps, who moved them over to the cabin where we would be staying that night.
Then we headed back toward Tromsø for something that was starting to feel very familiar by this point: more dog sledding!
Daytime Dog Sledding
Yes, we went dog sledding twice on this trip.
After our first nighttime adventure, we felt like pros when we arrived for our second dog-sledding excursion. We suited up, met another very enthusiastic group of huskies and climbed onto our sleds.
This experience ended up feeling completely different from our first one.
Instead of racing through the darkness beneath the stars, we could actually see the snowy landscape around us — although the weather wasn't exactly cooperating. It was rainy, and some parts of the trail had so much water that dog sledding started to feel a little like water skiing!
Eventually water found its way inside my winter suit, and I was wet and freezing.
Thankfully, after the ride we headed inside to warm up with lunch and plenty of hot chocolate.
Would I Go Dog Sledding Twice Today?
We loved both experiences, but if I were planning this 5-day Tromsø itinerary today, I probably wouldn't book two separate dog-sledding tours unless dog sledding was one of the main reasons for the trip.
Our nighttime and daytime tours were surprisingly different, so I don't regret doing both. But with only five days in Tromsø, I would now consider using this time to explore more of Tromsø or try another Arctic activity.
If you've never been dog sledding before, though, I would absolutely include one dog-sledding adventure in your itinerary.
Our daytime dog-sledding adventure near Tromsø gave us a completely different view of the snowy Arctic landscape.
Evening Northern Lights Chase
That evening was the excursion we had been waiting for: a dedicated Northern Lights chase.
We had already gotten our first glimpse of the aurora near our lavvu the night before, but this time we were going out with a guide specifically to find clearer skies.
Our private tour had been arranged through Off the Map Travel, and our guide picked us up directly from our cabin.
Instead of simply driving to one predetermined viewing spot, we looked at the weather and cloud cover and went wherever conditions seemed most promising.
And we drove.
And drove.
At one point, we even crossed the border into Finland in search of clearer skies!
This is one of the biggest things I learned about chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø: sometimes the best place to see them isn't anywhere near Tromsø.
We bundled up in practically every warm item we owned, brought all of our camera gear and made several stops throughout the night as our guide searched for breaks in the clouds.
Eventually, we found them.
The Northern Lights!
Northern Lights in Finland
Seeing the aurora with a guide was completely different from trying to identify faint green clouds on our own the previous evening. We could move with the weather, escape cloud cover and spend the night actively searching for the best conditions.
After several hours of chasing the aurora, we finally headed back to our cabin — cold, tired and very happy.
Do You Need a Northern Lights Tour in Tromsø?
You don't have to take a tour to see the Northern Lights. We actually saw them on our own near our lavvu the night before.
But after doing both, I think a Northern Lights chase is absolutely worth considering, especially if this is your first trip to Tromsø.
Guides monitor weather, cloud cover and aurora conditions and can drive significant distances to find clearer skies. Current Northern Lights chases from Tromsø commonly last around 5–8 hours, and some tours may cross into Finland when conditions are better there.
Important: If your tour may cross the border, bring your passport or national ID with you.
And remember: even with a guide, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon. No tour can guarantee that you'll see them.
My Biggest Northern Lights Planning Tip
Don't save your Northern Lights tour for your final night.
Weather in the Arctic changes quickly, and our first scheduled aurora excursion was canceled because of poor conditions. By booking your chase earlier in your trip, you leave yourself another night or two to try again if necessary.
For a five-day Tromsø itinerary, I would plan a dedicated Northern Lights chase around Day 2, 3 or 4 rather than waiting until Day 5.
We checked out of the teepee and stored our bags with Aurora Alps, which they brought them over to the cabin next door later that day. We went back towards Tromsø but stopped just after the bridge for our day dog sledding tour! There were so many cute smelly pups that were so happy to see us!
We felt like pros since we had already gone dog sledding at night in the dark! We put on our suits over our clothes and jumped on our sleds.
It was kinda rainy and it seemed like the path they were taking hadn't had snow in a while. In certain areas it was almost like water skiing which was fun but since it was raining, water had somehow leaked into my suit, and I was wet and very very cold.
We warmed up and had some lunch in the community room (and lots of hot chocolate!).
Winter in Norway
Day 5: Cross-Country Skiing + New Year’s Eve
By Day 5, we were exhausted.
We had packed so much into the previous four days that we finally let ourselves sleep in a little before heading out for one last Arctic activity: cross-country skiing.
Cross country skiing in Norway
Cross-Country Skiing Near Tromsø
This was my first time cross-country skiing, so there were definitely a few falls involved!
Once I got the hang of it, though, it was such a peaceful way to experience the winter landscape. We skied through quiet woods, surrounded by snow, and even spotted moose tracks along the way.
My thighs were definitely sore the next day, but I loved trying something completely new.
Partway through our outing, we stopped at a small cabin tucked away in the woods. There was no electricity, just a cozy fire where we cooked hot dogs and warmed up with hot chocolate from a thermos.
Before leaving, we signed the cabin's guest book and wrote that we hoped we'd return someday.
It was such a simple afternoon compared with some of our bigger adventures — and one of those little moments from the trip that I still remember.
Our cozy cabin near the Lyngen Alps made a peaceful home base for the final days of our Tromsø winter trip.
Can You Still Go Cross-Country Skiing Near Tromsø?
Yes. Aurora Alps still offers cross-country skiing from its Breivikeidet basecamp outside Tromsø, including experiences designed for beginners.
You definitely don't need to be an experienced skier to try it. I certainly wasn't!
If you're looking for a quieter winter activity between dog sledding, whale watching and Northern Lights tours, cross-country skiing is a fun way to slow down and actually enjoy the snowy scenery.
New Year’s Eve in Norway
Our fifth day also happened to be New Year's Eve, which made the final night of our trip even more memorable.
We had dinner in the main hall and then bundled up again around midnight to watch the neighbors set off fireworks.
Fireworks seemed to be coming from every direction, with neighboring areas putting on their own displays across the snowy landscape.
It was such a fun way to ring in the New Year above the Arctic Circle.
2026 Update: Norway currently allows private fireworks on New Year's Eve between 6:00 p.m. on December 31 and 2:00 a.m. on January 1, although local restrictions may apply. So the old 11:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. rule in my original post is no longer accurate.
One Last Northern Lights Show
We thought the fireworks were going to be the grand finale of our trip.
Norway had other plans.
At around 1 a.m., the clouds began clearing and we noticed the Northern Lights glowing directly above us.
Out came the cameras again.
We stood outside watching the sky for a while before eventually heading back inside to warm up and start getting ready for bed.
Then Josh went outside for one more look.
A few moments later, he came running back in.
“Come out! Come out!”
This time, I didn't need a camera to tell me what I was looking at.
Northern Lights in Norway
Bright green streaks were visible across the sky.
One of the glowing bands became brighter and greener and then started moving across the sky.
The Northern Lights were dancing.
After spending the entire trip hoping we would see them — dealing with clouds, rain, icy roads and even a canceled aurora tour — there they were on our final night.
It was the perfect ending to our five days in Tromsø and a pretty incredible way to start a new year.
Even a softer aurora display felt magical against the dark winter sky near Tromsø.
As I was looking in the sky, one of the glowing clouds got brighter and greener and started moving! I turned to Josh and said, "look at that," pointing at the green streak of the aurora borealis!
The Northern Lights finally danced across the sky on our last night in Norway — the perfect ending to our five days in Tromsø.
This green streak only got brighter and brighter and danced across the sky, dazzling different colors of white, green and blue as it moved.
Watching the Northern Lights glow above our cabin near Tromsø was one of the most unforgettable moments of our Norway trip.
One Thing This Trip Taught Me About Seeing the Northern Lights
If seeing the aurora is important to you, give yourself multiple nights in Tromsø.
We didn't see spectacular Northern Lights every night. One tour was canceled because of weather. On another night, the aurora was much easier to see through our cameras than with our eyes.
And then, on our final night, they danced directly above us.
That's exactly why I wouldn't plan a Tromsø trip around one single Northern Lights excursion. Fill your days with experiences you'd love even if the aurora never appears — and give yourself several nights for the sky to cooperate.
Don’t forget to check out our packing list for your next snow adventure!
Would I Plan the Same 5-Day Tromsø Itinerary Today?
Honestly, mostly yes.
We took this trip almost a decade ago, but many of the experiences we loved most are still exactly what I would want from a winter trip to Tromsø today: dog sledding, reindeer sledding and learning about Sámi culture, whale watching in season, chasing the Northern Lights, and spending some time outside the city surrounded by Arctic scenery.
The biggest change I would make is doing only one dog-sledding tour instead of two. Our nighttime and daytime experiences were surprisingly different, so I’m glad we did both, but with only five days in Tromsø, I would probably use that extra half-day to explore more of the city.
I’d leave time to wander downtown Tromsø, walk along the harbor and consider visiting places like the Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen cable car or Polaria. We packed our original itinerary so full of excursions that we didn’t spend nearly as much time actually exploring Tromsø itself.
I would also plan whale watching as a full-day activity today. The whales have moved farther north in recent years, so current excursions can take much longer than the trip we experienced.
One thing I definitely wouldn’t change is giving ourselves several nights to look for the Northern Lights. Weather canceled one of our planned excursions, we had subtle aurora sightings on other nights, and then finally watched the lights dance across the sky on our last night.
So if I were planning these five days in Tromsø again, my ideal itinerary would still include:
One dog-sledding adventure
Reindeer sledding + a Sámi cultural experience
Whale watching if traveling during whale season
A dedicated Northern Lights chase
A winter activity like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing
Time outside Tromsø to experience the Arctic landscape
At least a few hours to actually explore Tromsø itself
The details may have changed since our trip, but the overall idea hasn’t: fill your days with Arctic experiences you’ll love even if the Northern Lights don’t appear, and give yourself several nights for the sky to surprise you.
That’s still exactly how I would plan five days in Tromsø today.
Tromsø Itinerary FAQs
Is 5 days in Tromsø enough?
Yes. Five days gives you time for several major winter activities while also giving you multiple nights to look for the Northern Lights.
What is the best month for this Tromsø itinerary?
For the closest match to our trip, I’d choose November through January. That gives you the best overlap of winter activities, whale watching, and Northern Lights season.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
Yes, but sightings are never guaranteed. Give yourself several nights since cloud cover and weather can change quickly.
Do you need a car in Tromsø?
No. Tromsø is walkable, and many popular winter tours include transportation from central meeting points.
Can you go whale watching in Tromsø year-round?
No. The main whale-watching season is generally November through January, and current tours often travel farther north toward Skjervøy.
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
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Looking for a change of scenery, or want to get away from the cold winter weather? Why not book a family holiday this winter. There are many great places to choose between – from sunny escapes to snowy mountain towns. We’ve put together a list of things to do and places to go that families will love, so pack your bags and get ready for some fun.