Tromsø

Tromsø is the most practical base in Norway for the northern lights. It lies about 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, right under the auroral oval, and it has the largest choice of winter tours in the country: aurora chases, dog sledding, reindeer, fjord cruises and whale watching.

Most tours pick you up in the city centre, so you don’t need a car. The tours below are sorted by rating and number of reviews. Booking happens on Viator.

Northern lights tours

The aurora season runs from about September to March. Tromsø’s coastal weather is often cloudy, so the better tours are chases: the guide reads the cloud and aurora forecasts and drives to wherever the sky is clear, sometimes towards the Finnish border. Expect a late night, often back after midnight.

• Small-group minibus tours are the usual choice. They move quickly and the guide has time to help with your camera settings.
• Large-bus tours are cheaper but slower to move when the clouds roll in.
• Private tours cost more per group and make sense for families or photographers who want to choose the spot.
• Aurora boat cruises leave from the harbour. They don’t chase the weather, so they depend on a clear night.

No tour can promise the lights. Some offer a free second night or a partial refund if you see nothing, which is worth looking for if you are only in town for a few nights. Book the aurora early in your stay so you have time for another try.

Dog sledding and reindeer

Sledding tours run once there is enough snow, usually from late November or December into spring. On most you either sit in the sled while a musher drives, or drive your own team after a short briefing. The tour page says which.

Reindeer tours are usually hosted by Sámi families and combine feeding the herd, a short sled ride and a meal in a lavvu tent, with stories about reindeer herding. Some run in the evening and double as an aurora tour.

Whale watching

Orcas and humpback whales come into the fjords north of Tromsø in early winter, following the herring. The season usually runs from November into January, but where the herring go varies from year to year. Boats travel a long way out, so these are full-day trips. Fast RIB boats get there sooner, larger boats are warmer and steadier.

Polar night and midnight sun

From late November to mid-January the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. Days are a few hours of blue and pink twilight, which suits fjord trips and photography more than you’d expect. From late May to late July it’s the opposite: the midnight sun, with no aurora but long evenings for hiking, kayaking and fjord cruises.

Before you book

• Check the pickup point. Most tours collect you in the city centre. A few start outside town and need a car or a bus.
• Warm clothing is often included. Many winter tours lend thermal suits and boots. If not, bring layers, a hat and proper gloves.
• Peak weeks sell out. Christmas, New Year and February fill the best-rated tours first.
• Cancellation rules differ by tour. Many offer free cancellation up to a day before, but not all. The terms are on the Viator page.

Want to see more of the north? Our Northern Norway guide covers Lofoten too.