What to do in Tromsø at a glance
The list is a selection, not a ranking. It mixes season-bound trips with places that are open all year. The first four entries are nature trips that depend on the dark season or on snow. Entries 5 to 7 are about the church and the mountain. Entries 8 to 10 cover islands, the sun and the fjord. Entries 11 to 15 are museums, a garden and a bay.
Prices are for adults in 2026 and can change. One detail affects many plans: the Tromsø Bridge is closed to cars, with reopening announced for no later than 27 November 2026. Buses cross it from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and pedestrians can pass.
Winter nature (1 to 4)
Trips that depend on the dark season, the whales or the snow.
1. Hunt for the northern lights
Northern lights are visible from about late August to early April, and not in the bright summer sky. You need a clear or partly clear sky, and clouds can stop the view. One minibus tour lists a price from NOK 2,200 for the first night, up to 15 guests and 5 to 9 hours depending on the weather. No tour can promise a sighting.
Northern lights guide →2. Go whale watching
This is a seasonal boat day. One operator lists silent whale watching from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, 8 to 9 hours, for NOK 1,990. Whales were documented near Skjervøy and Spildra in 2025/26, so a large part of the day is travel. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Whale watching guide →3. Ride with huskies
A Kvaløya dog center lists a shared sled ride and a self-drive option from 15 November to 30 April 2027. Both cost NOK 3,390 per adult. The sled part is about 45 minutes, the whole program 4 hours 15 minutes including transfer. Self-driving starts at 16 years.
Dog sledding guide →4. Visit reindeer with a Sámi family
Tromsø Arctic Reindeer is a Sámi family business. Its long tour runs daily from 31 October 2026 to 4 April 2027, takes 4 hours with a sled ride of 25 to 30 minutes, and costs NOK 2,090 to 2,350 per adult depending on the dates. Transfer, lunch, feeding and a cultural program are included. Shorter products without the long sled ride exist.
Reindeer and huskies →Our picks: things to do
Husky sledding, a fjord day trip to Sommarøy and the Arctic Cathedral.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Self-drive husky sledding at a farm
Minibus to the husky farm, a guide, an arctic suit and winter boots, plus wool socks, hats and gloves if you need them. Cake and hot drinks are included.
Check availability →
Tromsø Island tour with the Arctic Cathedral
An English-speaking guide, transport from and to the centre, and entry to the Tromsø Museum and the Arctic Cathedral. Other entry fees are not included.
Check availability →
Sommarøy and fjords by coach with a salmon picnic
A guide team, a coach with toilet, fjord stops, a salmon picnic (vegetarian possible), photos, coffee and tea, and a towel for an optional swim.
Check availability →Tromsø tours and experiences
Northern lights, whales, huskies, reindeer and fjord cruises, with live prices and availability.
The church and the mountain (5 to 7)
Two classic viewpoints across the sound in Tromsdalen.
5. Visit the Arctic Cathedral
The church, Tromsdalen kirke, sits at Hans Nilsens vei 41. Entry is NOK 90 (NOK 85 per person in groups of 15 or more), and children under 12 and church-service visitors enter free. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. It is a working church, so weddings and funerals can interrupt visits.
Arctic Cathedral guide →6. Ride the Fjellheisen cable car
The operator lists NOK 645 return for adults and NOK 310 for children aged 3 to 15. The ride takes about 4 minutes, with departures every 30 minutes. Works are under way: the original viewing platform is not accessible, and wheelchairs are not carried. A secondary guide lists lower prices, so check the current list.
Fjellheisen guide →7. Climb the Sherpatrappa
The stone stairway has about 1,300 steps from Fløyvegen at 85 m (279 ft) to the plateau at 421 m (1,381 ft). In winter it is snow and ice, you need suitable shoes and spikes, and parts lie in avalanche terrain. Check local notices and Varsom first. Do not treat it as a safe alternative if the cable car stops.
Cable car and stairway →Islands, sun and fjord (8 to 10)
Trips out of town, each tied to a season.
8. Take a trip to Sommarøy
The fishing village lies west of Kvaløya, about an hour by car via road 862. Bus line 420 runs from Tromsø, but check the timetable and the last return before you go. A fjord tour from Prostneset lists 5 to 6 hours from NOK 990. Plan your way back in advance.
Sommarøy guide →9. Experience the midnight sun
The whole sun disc stays visible at night from 20 May to 22 July. The upper rim of the sun is first visible on 18 May and last on 25 July. In summer, activities such as boat trips, walks and kayaking use the light, but opening hours do not extend by themselves.
Midnight sun guide →10. Cruise a fjord
The Arctic Fjord Cruise takes 4 hours and costs NOK 1,290 for adults. It runs in February to April and September to October. A fjord cruise is a different product from whale watching and should not be booked as one.
Tours compared →Museums, a garden and a bay (11 to 15)
Indoor options and a few free ones.
11. Learn at the Polar Museum
The museum at Søndre Tollbodgate 11 shows Arctic expeditions, trapping history and Svalbard. Adults pay NOK 130, reduced tickets NOK 100, and under-18s enter free. It is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on 1 May and 17 May. There is no own parking.
12. See the University Museum
It stands at Lars Thøringsveg 10, about 2.5 km (1.5 miles) south of the center. Bus 40 goes there. Adults pay NOK 130 and reduced NOK 100, under 18 free. From 16 August to 14 June it opens Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; in summer the hours are longer.
13. Stroll the Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden
Entry is free. The operator's page contradicts itself on the season: April to November in one place and May to October in another, with the garden closed from November to April. Check before a trip and do not count on year-round access.
14. Visit the Northern Norway Art Museum
The Tromsø branch is at Sjøgata 1. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays. Tickets are sold at the desk or online. Check the current price on the museum's page.
15. Walk to Telegrafbukta
The University Museum lists the bay as a swimming spot about 300 m (1,000 ft) away. Water quality changes, and the municipality advises against swimming for a day after heavy rain. Telegrafbukta was not in the municipality's table of August 2026 measurements, so look up the current status.
How to combine them
Three simple days.
In the dark season, put the northern lights tour on a night when you have no early start the next day. Whale watching and the husky trip each fill most of a day, so give them separate days. A free day suits the church, the cable car and a museum, in that order if the weather is clear. The weather page and the tours page help with the timing.
If you want to go further north, the Lofoten islands and the Lyngen Alps have their own guides. Where to sleep is covered on the where to stay page.
Things to do in Tromsø: frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Tromsø?
That depends on the season. In winter, the northern lights, huskies and reindeer lead the list; from October or November, whale boats join them. In summer, the midnight sun, fjord trips and Sommarøy fit best. The list here is an editorial selection, not a ranking.
What can I do in Tromsø for free?
The Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden has free entry in its season. Children under 12 and residents of Tromsø enter the Arctic Cathedral free, and so do visitors of a church service. Under-18s enter the Polar Museum and the University Museum free.
Is Tromsø worth a visit in summer?
Yes, if you come for the light. The whole sun stays visible at night from 20 May to 22 July. The northern lights are not visible then, and whale and dog sledding seasons are over. See the midnight sun page.
Do I need a car in Tromsø?
Not for the center, the cathedral or the cable car. The cathedral is about a 20-minute walk over the bridge, and the Fjellheisen valley station is about 45 minutes on foot from the center. For Sommarøy you need a car, a bus or a tour.
What should I do on a rainy day?
Choose a museum: the Polar Museum, the University Museum or the Northern Norway Art Museum. Their opening hours are listed above.