When looking for somewhere to see the Northern Lights in Europe, we landed on the city of Tromsø, Norway. It was one of the most unique places we’ve been and we absolutely loved our time there. Of course, it is a great spot for light hunting, however there is so much to do during the day too. No matter which season you’re visiting in, there is something for everyone in this cute Norwegian city.

If you’re looking for more information on seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, we have a full blog post all about it!

In this post:

1. Tromsø City
2. East of the Tromsø Bridge
3. Museums
4. Day Trips
5. Unique Experiences

Tromsø, Norway is a city located on the island of Tromsøya in northern Norway, about 350km into the arctic circle. It is the largest city in northern Norway, with a population of around 42,000 from over 100 different nationalities. A lot of this population is associated with the local university, the University of Tromsø. Also known as UiT The Arctic University of Norway, this is the worlds northernmost university. It has a unique focus on arctic research, including auroral light research, and has around 16,000 students. You can visit the campus if you wish as it’s a public university, but it is a 20 minute bus from the city centre.

In the city itself, there’s lots of great things to do to keep you entertained. Tromsø has a lovely high street that when we visited in winter had lights strung up all along it. There’s lots of souvenir shops, places to buy nice warm clothes, and restaurants. While walking around, keep an eye out for all the wooden buildings with white doorframes. These are examples of empire style architecture and Tromsø has a significant amount of them. Also nearby is the Mack Brewery, the worlds northernmost brewery, where you can take part in a guided tour or beer tasting.

For those bad weather days, there are a couple of cinemas and an ice bar open all year round. If you’re super interested in film, the Tromsø international film festival is held in the city for a week each January. Lastly there’s an aquarium called Polaria that describes itself as an arctic discovery centre. There’s lots of cool animals, daily feeding and training sessions, an exhibition centre and a gift shop. It’s open 10am to 4 or 5pm depending on the season, and costs NOK 295 per person.

Across the Tromsø bridge is the famous Arctic Cathedral. You can see this amazing triangular building from the city which looks super impressive. Check their website but it’s open mostly all year round and costs NOK 80 to visit.

Right near the Arctic Cathedral is the Fjellheisen cable car. This takes you from Solliveien in Tromsdalen, up 421 meters above sea level to Storsteinen. The cable car is open from 9am to midnight and the trip up only takes 10 minutes. There’s heaps of different ticket options so it’s worth checking out the website to see what’s right for you. The standard round trip cable car costs NOK 415. Up the top there’s a café open 10am to 11:30pm and some hiking trails.

The main reason to head up there is the view over Tromsø and the surrounding areas. Of course if you also head up there after dark or during polar night, it is also a great place to look for the Northern Lights!

Something great to do in Tromsø is to visit the various museums in and around the city:

• Troll Museum – This unique museum transports visitors into the mythology and folklore of trolls. It uses AR technology to bring everything to life and also includes games for children and adults, and a library. The museum is open every day from 9am to 7pm and costs NOK 200.
• Northern Norwegian Art Museum – This is an art museum focusing on visual arts from northern Norway. It is open everyday except Monday from 11am to 5pm and costs NOK 110 per person.
• Perspective Museum – This museum shows the visitors what life is like from the northern perspective. It goes through the history of the area through objects, photography and art. It is open from Tuesday from Friday 10am to 4pm, the weekend from 11am to 5pm and costs NOK 80.
• The Arctic University Museum of Norway – This is a science museum with exhibits on nature including the northern lights. There are also exhibits on things local to the area such as the indigenous people, Vikings and art. The museum also has places to eat, a shop, and areas to sit and relax. It’s open from 10am to 4:30pm during the week, 11am to 4pm on the weekend and costs NOK 120. The museum is slightly out of the city but is only a 12 minute bus away.
• The Polar Museum – This is an interesting little exhibition venue that’s part of the university. It follows the history of arctic fishing, hunting and expeditions as well as the history of the island of Svalbard. It’s open everyday 11am to 5pm and costs NOK 120 per person. Please note that this museum has some graphic hunting content so be prepared if you’re going to visit!

There are a lot of great things to see just outside of Tromsø, Norway, but most require cars or ferries to visit. This was not something we were able to explore in our short time there. However luckily there are so many amazing tours that make seeing new places and having new experiences way easier.

• Tromsø: Fjords and Sommarøy Islands Tour with Salmon Picnic – This is a lovely half day tour to the Sommarøy Islands where you’ll have a picnic on the beach and get to swim in the arctic sea.
• From Tromsø: Arctic Roadtrip: fjords tour with scenic picnic – This tour takes you out of the city to see the surrounding landscape. You’ll see beautiful hills, crystal clear beaches and lakes and fjords all while keeping an eye out for wildlife. It includes a picnic lunch with hot drinks and cookies and professional photos too.
• Tromsø: Arctic Fjord Cruise With Stop On Land At Fish Racks – This half day cruise tour takes you out onto the water to enjoy the fjords and amazing landscapes. You’ll see islands, local fishing villages and stop at a modern fish farm.
• Tromsø: Summer Day Hike in the wilderness – If you’re looking for a unique hike, this is a guided hike to the peak of Brosmetinden. It includes hiking gear, a packed lunch with hot drinks and souvenir photos.

• Tromso: Northern Lights Photography Tour by Bus (or miniBus) – If you’ve visiting Tromsø while its dark, you’ll of course want to try and see the Northern Lights. We did this tour and would absolutely recommend it! This tour takes you out of the city to chase the lights with an experienced guide. They’ll help you get perfect photos and it also includes hot drinks and cookies.
• Tromsø: Reindeer Sled, Dinner, and Northern Lights Day Trip – This tour takes you to a local camp where you’ll be served a traditional three course meal for dinner. There’s a herd of 300 wild reindeer that you can feed and ride in a sleigh pulled by them. And of course, there’s the chance to look out for the Northern Lights while you’re there too.
• Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat – This wonderful tour takes you out onto the water where you can admire the fjords and beautiful landscapes. You’ll search for orcas, fin, sperm and humpback whales on an electric boat and while waiting the guides will share facts and stories about the local area.
• Tromsø: Husky Sled Self-Drive with Traditional Lunch – We wish we had done this tour! You get to learn how to mush a team of huskies as they pull you across the snow. You get to drive your own team and after enjoy a traditional warm lunch around an open fire.

Whether you’re visiting Tromsø to see the northern lights, experience the midnight sun or just to visit northern Norway, there is so much to see and do. The city has some great things to do like walk along the main street, visit the local cinemas, aquarium and the interesting museums. Don’t miss the Arctic Cathedral or a trip up the Fjellheisen cable car if you want amazing views. Of course, there’s also heaps of incredible tours that will take you out of the city to see the amazing surrounding landscapes. You can also have some cool new experiences. Whatever you get up to, you will no doubt have an amazing time in the charming city of Tromsø, Norway.

If you want to see what we got up to in the city, check out our vlog:

• FlixBus: The Best Budget Way to Travel Europe Easily
• How to Have the Best Time in London For Free!