If you are looking for an amazing arctic winter adventure, Tromsø needs to be on your travel bucket list. We visited Tromsø in February and absolutely fell in love with this city and the surrounding area. Tromsø — Norway’s northern gem — glows under the polar night, where the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, and you are enveloped in the winter twilight, where you have a few hours of light during peak winter. This just adds to the arctic experience and makes for some incredible views. From chasing the northern lights to feeding reindeer under falling snow, every moment feels like a postcard.

If you’re dreaming of a cozy, unforgettable Arctic adventure, here are six incredible things you have to do in Tromsø this winter.

1. Drive a Dog Sled Through the Arctic Wilderness

Nothing captures the spirit of Tromsø quite like mushing your own team of huskies through snow-covered valleys. The dogs’ excitement is infectious (Ash mostly just wanted to pet the Huskies), and the scenery is jaw-dropping. You’ll learn to steer the sled, bond with the dogs, and soak in Arctic silence — broken only by the sound of paws hitting the snow. It truly is a memorable experience and one that sticks with us!

👉Why go: Few things feel as thrilling — or as peaceful — as gliding through fresh snow led by a team of huskies. Gliding behind a team of well trained huskies is just such a cool experience and our experience in Tromsø is that the dogs loved it as much as we did and are well taken care of.

📍 Where to Book: Try a top-rated Tromsø Dog Sledding Adventure that includes transfers, thermal gear, and even hot chocolate by the fire.

💡 Tip: Dress in layers — thermal base, warm mid-layer, and waterproof outer shell. Tours provide suits, but bring hand warmers!

2. Chase the Northern Lights

Tromsø is one of the best places on Earth to see the Northern Lights (aurora) dance across the sky. The magic happens when solar winds light up the Arctic sky in waves of green and pink — and trust us, photos don’t do it justice. Take a guided Northern Lights chase to increase your chances — locals know the best viewing spots. We took a small group tour and saw some amazing views of the northern lights dancing right over head in a few different areas - such a cool experience! The crew was fantastic and helped us to set up our camera and iPhone settings to catch those beautiful long exposures capturing the beautiful dancing lights. If you want to go chase the northern lights Tromsø offers some amazing viewing opportunities!

👉Why go: Tromsø’s location above the Arctic Circle makes it one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis. Watching the lights dancing across the sky is such a surreal experience!

📍 Book it: Join a local-led Northern Lights Chase from Tromsø — many include photography guidance and hot drinks and will help find the best and most likely stops to view the aurora.

💡Tip: Bring a tripod and check the aurora forecast daily. Clear skies mean magic. If you book a tour, most will offer a make up date for a discount in the event you have cloudy skies.

3. Grab a Drink in an Ice Bar

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like — a bar sculpted entirely from ice. Order a cocktail served in an ice glass and enjoy the surreal experience of sipping in subzero style, surrounded by glittering frozen sculptures. It’s a little touristy, yes — but it’s pure Arctic fun. When in the Arctic you have to embrace the cold weather experience! If you want an even cooler experience, check out the Tromso Ice Domes! Located approximately an hour and a half away from Tromso, this village is rebuilt each season with a massive ice dome complete with ice sculptures and an ice bar, with a winter activity area attached where you can snowmobile, feed the reindeer, try snowshoeing or a host of other winter activities. If you want to stay local check out the Magic Ice Bar in Tromso, but if you want to experience something more unique we highly recommend visiting the Ice Domes. While we weren’t exactly sure what to expect when visiting the ice domes, we absolutely loved our experience and highly recommend it!

👉 Why go: Sip a cocktail from an ice glass surrounded by glittering walls of snow — this was definitely a highlight of our Arctic bucket-list moment. Plus the ice sculptures make for some great scenery and picture opportunities.

📍 Tickets: Tromso Ice Domes - these tours include round trip transportation. If you prefer staying more local or are short on time, grab your tickets to the Tromso Magic Ice Bar

✨ Fun fact: The bar and the domes are each rebuilt every year with new designs and icy art.

4. Feed the Reindeer (and Watch the Reindeer Races!)

Another one of our favorite experiences was seeing reindeer in the Arctic. You can’t leave Tromsø without meeting the real stars of the Arctic! Feeding reindeer is as peaceful as it is unforgettable. Their gentle nature and those soft brown eyes will melt your heart.

👉 Why go: Meet friendly reindeer up close and learn about Sami culture — one of Northern Norway’s most authentic experiences.

📍Book it: Meet Tromsø’s most beloved locals: the reindeer! Join a Sami-led Reindeer Feeding and Cultural Experience to learn about traditional herding and life above the Arctic Circle.

✨ Our experience: We were lucky enough to visit during Sami Week (February 2 - 8), when the reindeer races took over Tromsø’s main street — a must-see if your trip aligns. It’s joyful, chaotic, and unforgettable. It was such a unique cultural highlight that made Tromsø feel alive with tradition.

💡Pro tip: If you go during Sami week, be sure to go early to the Sami reindeer races and capture the vibrant traditional clothing and reindeer mid-sprint — it’s a travel memory that truly captures the Arctic spirit.

5. Take the Fjellheisen Cable Car for Arctic Views

Ride the Fjellheisen cable car up Mount Storsteinen for breathtaking views over Tromsø and the fjords beyond. From the top, the pastel Arctic light turns the city below into a winter painting. It’s the best spot to see how this Arctic city hugs the water — and at sunset (during winter it is more like a twilight glow), the sky glows pink and gold. We visited during “twilight set” and it was really cool to watch the winter light disappear and watch the town light up. If you go during daylight hours, on a clear day the views are absolutely incredible - but remember it can be windy and icy up top, so be sure to bring boots and layers! Ash forgot her crampons and was doing a little “ice skating” at the top while wandering around.

👉Why go: Tromsø’s best panoramic views are from the top of Mount Storsteinen via the Fjellheisen cable car.

🎟️ Get tickets here, where you have two options - book your tickets directly Fjellheisen Cable Car Round-Trip (note: the Cable Car is about a 40 minute walk from downtown Tromso) or if you prefer a planned trip and transportation to the cable car then we suggest booking a tour if you prefer more structure such as this Arctic Panorama Tour.

💡Pro Tip: Visit during sunset for a golden-pink glow over the fjords and be sure to grab a hot cocoa (or beverage of your choice) at the cafe Fjellstua.

6. Get Spiritual at the Arctic Cathedral

The Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) is one of Tromsø’s most striking landmarks, with dramatic triangular design and a stained-glass wall that glows in winter light. This stunning architectural masterpiece glows against the snow. Step inside for a peaceful moment of reflection — or catch a midnight concert if you visit during the polar night season. We loved wandering around the Cathedral and seeing the beautiful surrounding landscapes, this architectural wonder does a great job of blending in with the surroundings while also being a striking landmark in Tromsø.

👉 Why go: This architectural gem is more than just a church — it’s a symbol of Arctic serenity and light.

📍 Add it to a tour: Tromsø City Sightseeing & Arctic Cathedral Visit

🎶 Experience it: Visit during a concert for an unforgettable cultural moment.

💡 Pro tip: Go during golden hour (more like twilight hour in the winter) — the light is magic for photos and offers fantastic views of the surrounding landscape.

Pro Tip: Walk Carefully — It’s Icy!

Tromsø’s streets are extremely icy in the winter. We ended up buying crampons (those little spikes that strap to your shoes), and they were lifesavers! This makes it so much easier walking around the city and you can avoid fear of falling and injuring yourself. Most shops will have you remove them before entering to avoid damaging the floors so just be cognizant of signage. Even with sturdy winter boots, we still need them for the extra traction.
👉 Shop our favorite crampons: Traction Ice Cleats on Amazon

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Clarion Hotel The Edge, right in the heart of Tromsø — and we highly recommend it! Great breakfast, cozy rooms, and unbeatable views of the harbor. The location couldn’t be better for walking to tours and restaurants, and they even offer northern lights wake-up calls.

👉 Check availability: Clarion Hotel The Edge

You can also check other amazing hotels in the area here.

Tromsø Travel Tips

Best time to visit: December–March for northern lights, May–July for the midnight sun.
How to get there: Direct flights from Oslo (2 hours) or London (3.5 hours).
Pro tip: Book excursions early — Tromsø tours fill up fast in peak season.
Daylight Hours in the Winter: Polar night occurs between the end of November to about the middle/end of January, where the sun does not rise above the horizon, but you will get about 4-5 hours of twilight. If you go later in the winter, such as in February, like we did, you will get at least a tiny amount of direct sunlight and about 7 hours or so of daylight/twilight hours.

Weather and Packing Tips:

Expect weather in Tromsø to be cold, but not as cold as you’d probably think. The average high temperature in winter is right around freezing (32 Fahrenheit/0 Celsius) with lows sitting around 20 Fahrenheit (-6 Celsius). January is typically the coldest month to visit. Expect snowy days/nights in Tromsø, with January being the snowiest month with roughly 16 inches or 41CM of snow falling during the month on average.

Quick Packing List:

When visiting Tromsø in the winter, layers and heavy clothes will be your best friend. We recommend bringing:

Waterproof Hiking Boots: We swear by these Columbia hiking boots for men and Salomon boots for women.
Convertible fingerless gloves.
A neck gaiter came in handy especially while walking around.
Moisture-wicking socks.
Layers (fleece, thermals, t-shirts) - Dry-fit long sleeves and pull-overs are great for under jackets.
Insulated and lined pants - we like these for men and these one’s for women
A good lined winter jacket is a necessity to stay warm, we like this one for men and this one for women!

Final Thoughts

We absolutely enjoyed our time in Tromsø and still dream about seeing the northern lights and dog sledding. Winter in Tromsø is pure wonder — cozy, thrilling, and full of heart. No matter how you choose to spend your arctic adventure we hope these 6 amazing things will stick with you long after enjoy your own adventures in Tromsø and that you’ll leave feeling like you’ve touched the Arctic’s soul.

Planning your own Tromsø adventure? Check out our Complete Tromsø Travel Guide [Coming Soon!] for packing tips, costs, and the tips that will help make your trip unforgettable.

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6 Amazing Things to Do in Tromsø in Winter (That You’ll Remember Forever)