Guide · Trip planning

Tromsø Holiday: Planning Your Northern Lights Nights Right

A northern lights trip to Tromsø depends on darkness, clear skies, and enough evenings on location. Here you plan the travel time, nights, accommodation, and hours spent outdoors.

Check availabilityfrom $61 · free cancellation

Editorial tromsonordlichter.deUpdated on October 2, 20266 min read17 sources

The Tour for This Guide Tromsø: Aurora Crystal Lavvo Overnight with Guided Activity 4.8 (239 reviews) from$460per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

In short

01Travel season: Northern lights are possible from late August to early April.¹
02Arrival: From the airport to the city center it takes about 10 to 20 minutes.²
03Nights: Plan several evenings; the northern lights safari has an unlimited option.
04Lavvo night: Overnight with guided activity, from $460.
05Polar Night: From about November 27 to January 15 the sun does not rise.³

Why Tromsø for a northern lights holiday

A northern lights holiday in Tromsø has a geographical advantage: The city sits right under the aurora oval, the ring of northern lights over the geomagnetic North Pole.⁴ Above the region there is therefore often some movement in the sky. Whether you see it is ultimately decided by darkness and clouds, not the location alone.

In addition, it is easy for you to arrive. From Tromsø airport to the city center it takes about 10 to 20 minutes.² You can therefore land in the afternoon and already be outside on the same evening, if the weather cooperates. For a short northern lights trip this is a real gain, because no travel day goes to waste.

Tromsø is also a lively city with restaurants, museums, and a waterfront promenade. This matters more than one might think at first. A northern lights holiday consists to a large extent of days spent waiting for the evening. A city where you feel comfortable during the day turns this waiting time into its own part of the trip. And if an evening remains cloudy, you have enough to discover in the city to enjoy the day anyway.

Your stay

A northern lights holiday, evening after evening

Arrival day

Arriving

From the airport to the city center it takes about 10 to 20 minutes.²
First evening

Spot in the city

On clear nights, head to Telegrafbukta or Prestvannet.⁵ ⁶
Second evening

Northern lights safari

With the Unlimited option, you can join again on additional evenings as needed.
One extra evening

Lavvo night

Overnight in a lavvo with a guided activity and a stop in the Lyngen Alps.
Every day

Check the forecast

Short-term forecasts and predictions for one and four hours from NOSWE.⁷

The right travel time for your northern lights trip

Northern lights can be seen in the Tromsø region from late August to early April, whenever the sky is dark and clear enough.¹ Outside these months a northern lights trip is not worthwhile. From about May 20 to July 22 the midnight sun shines, and the sky does not get dark at night.⁸

Within the season you choose between very long nights and more daylight. During the polar night, from about November 27 to January 15, the sun does not rise.³ In mid March, on the other hand, the sun is above the horizon for around 11 hours, yet the night remains long enough for the search.⁹ Those who like to hike or go on excursions during the day are well served in late winter.

New Year's Eve in Tromsø falls right in the middle of polar night.³ If you travel over the turn of the year, you will experience days without sunrise and very long evenings for northern lights hunting. The Northern Lights Festival takes place in Tromsø in February, from the 11th to the 20th of February in 2027.¹⁰ If a city festival appeals to you, that is a good reason to plan your dates around it.

Climate data

Darkness and precipitation for your planning

Hours without sunDays with precipitationSeason

Hours without sun in the middle of the month and days with at least 2.5 mm of precipitation. NOAA, Tromsø station, 1991 to 2020.⁹

Months compared

Which month for your trip?

Month	Precipitation Days	Precipitation	Particularly
September	12	111 mm	Season since late August
November	11	93 mm	Polar night from 27 November
January	12	109 mm	Polar night until 15 January
February	10	94 mm	Northern Lights Festival 2027
March	11	98 mm	More daylight again

Precipitation days and precipitation per month according to NOAA, Tromsø station, 1991 to 2020.⁹ ⁹ ⁹ ⁹ ⁹ Season and polar night according to Visit Tromsø.¹ ³

Lavvo, Safari, Border Chase

Lavvo night, safari, or border chase

Overnight

Lavvo night

Overnight with activity

Duration: 1 day
Rating: 4,75
Group: up to 12
Price: from $460

Check dates

Affordable entry

Northern lights safari

With Unlimited option

Duration: 6 hrs
Rating: 4,55
Guide: also in German
Price: from $61

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Tromsø: Unlimited Northern Lights Chase Across Borders

Long distances

Crossing borders

Long night with pickup

Duration: 8 hrs.
Rating: 4,51
Pickup: included
Price: from $309

Check dates

Decision helper

What does your northern lights holiday look like?

Choose what matters most to you on your trip.

I want to experience a night outdoors I only have a few evenings I want as long nights as possible I also want daylight for excursions I want to head out without a tour

Lavvo overnight stay

One night in a lavvo with a guided activity, limited to 12 participants.

Safari with unlimited option

You will be taken out again during your stay until you have seen the lights.

December or January

The polar night lasts roughly from 27 November to 15 January.³

March

In mid-March the sun stays above the horizon for about 11 hours.⁹

Spots in the city

At Telegrafbukta or Prestvannet you can get lucky on clear evenings.⁵ ⁶

The polar night lasts approximately from 27 November to 15 January; when the returning sun becomes visible exactly depends on your location and the surrounding terrain.

Visit TromsøTranslated from English · Source 3

How many nights should you plan?

There is no fixed number, and no guarantee either. Northern lights only appear when the sky is dark and clear enough.¹ Every additional night is another chance, and that is what it is all about. If you only have one evening in Tromsø, you are putting everything on one card and are at the mercy of the weather on that one night.

The northern lights safari on this page has an unlimited option: You go out as often as you like during your stay until you have seen the lights. If the northern lights do not appear, the organizer does not refund anything. With several nights in Tromsø you get the most out of the unlimited option, because it depends on being able to join again on further evenings.

Do not plan the arrival day too tightly. Land earlier, sleep in, and keep the following evenings free. Check the short-term forecast each day as well as the one-hour and four-hour forecasts from the Norwegian Space Weather Center NOSWE.⁷ This way you decide from day to day which evening looks the most promising.

Map

Where you see the northern lights

In the city there are darker spots; when it is cloudy, the search goes out into the countryside.

Map of Tromsø with three northern lights spots — In Tromsø

Map of the Tromsø region to the Finnish border — Around Tromsø

1
Telegrafbukta
Located in the south of Tromsøya island; on a clear winter evening a place for northern lights.⁵
2
Prestvannet
A lake in the middle of the island and one of the darker spots in town, from which northern lights can be visible.⁶
3
Fjellheisen, Storsteinen
The cable car takes you up to 421 m above sea level in four minutes; the operator advertises the view of the city and the northern lights.¹¹
4
Grøtfjord on Kvaløya
When the evenings turn dark from late summer onwards, a good place to watch for northern lights.¹²
5
Kilpisjärvi, Finland
When there are clouds, some tours head inland or to Finland, where the sky is often clearer.¹³ By bus it is about 3.5 hours.¹⁴

The Practical Stuff

Before your northern lights trip

Arrival and timing

Airport to city center: about 10 to 20 minutes²
Travel period between late August and early April¹
Keep several evenings free

Clothing

Wool underwear as a base layer¹⁵
Warm, dry sweaters and jacket¹⁵
Warm shoes, gloves, scarf and hat¹⁵
Change of socks and hand warmers

Book

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Reserve now, pay later
Lavvo night: maximum 12 participants

Cost calculator

How much is your northern lights evening?

Choose an offer and the number of people.

Lavvo nightwith activityfrom $460 Northern lights safari6 hrsfrom $61 Crossing borders8 hrs.from $309

people 2

Total from$920

from per person $460

Check availabilityfree cancellation

Departure prices according to GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. The exact price is shown when you book.

Video

Tromsø in winter: between city, wildlife and polar lights

The video only loads when you tap Play.

Where to stay: city or lavvo

Staying in central Tromsø is the simplest choice for a northern lights holiday. You are quickly at the harbor and at restaurants, tours starting in the city involve short distances, and you can reach darker spots in the city even without a car. When booking, make sure above all that you can get back to your room comfortably late in the evening. A room with blackout curtains is no luxury in winter if you want to sleep well into the morning after a long night out.

For a special night, look at Tromsø: Aurora Crystal Lavvo Overnight with Guided Activity. This offer combines a night in a lavvo with a guided activity, takes you to the Lyngen Alps, and is limited to 12 participants. With a rating of 4.75 out of 239 reviews, it is well rated; the guide and transport each receive 4.9, and value for money 4.6.

A lavvo is the traditional Sami tent, similar to a tipi, and for many the more nature-close alternative to an igloo. A night there feels completely different from a hotel room: you are right in the landscape, far from the bustle of the city. The stay starts from $460, is offered for 1 day, and can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.

Evenings in the city: spots without a tour

Not every evening has to be a booked tour. On clear winter evenings, you can see the northern lights in Tromsø itself, for example at Telegrafbukta.⁵ Prestvannet is one of the darker spots in the city, from which the lights can be visible on clear nights.⁶ Both are suitable for a spontaneous evening.

Going higher is the Fjellheisen cable car. It takes you up to Storsteinen in four minutes, 421 m above sea level, and the operator advertises the view of the city and the northern lights.¹¹ On evenings with an uncertain forecast, this is a convenient alternative to a long drive into the countryside.

For such evenings you only need warm clothing, patience, and a bit of luck. Get away from street lamps, give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness, and let your gaze wander across the whole sky. An aurora often starts as a faint veil that you only recognize as light on second glance. Keep your phone within reach, but dim the screen so your eyes stay adapted to the dark.

Out on a tour when the city is cloudy

When clouds hang over Tromsø, some tours head inland or all the way to Finland, where the drier continental climate often offers clearer skies.¹³ For comparison, by regular bus it is about 3.5 hours to Kilpisjärvi on the Finnish side.¹⁴ How far a tour actually goes on a given evening is decided by that night's weather.

This kind of tour is Tromsø: Unlimited Northern Lights Chase Across Borders. It lasts 8 hours, starts from $309, and according to the listing includes a pickup. With a rating of 4.51 out of 1,335 reviews, it is decently rated. For a long night, this is an option if you are willing to spend a lot of time in the vehicle.

The northern lights safari on this page is the cheaper entry point: it lasts 6 hours, starts from $61, and can be booked with guides in English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French. Children under 5 years are not allowed. You can rent a winter suit; with the small-group option it is included.

Packing list for your northern lights trip

The cold is easily underestimated. Winter in Tromsø averages about -4 °C.¹⁶ Standing or waiting outdoors for hours at night cools you down much faster than the number suggests. Plan your clothing therefore not for a city stroll, but for a long evening when you will barely move. On clear evenings, when the chances are best, it is often the coldest.

Pack in layers: wool underwear as a base, then warm, dry sweaters and a jacket on top, plus warm shoes, gloves, scarf, and hat.¹⁵ Better to pack one extra layer you can stash in your backpack than to freeze in the snow. Spare socks and hand warmers take up hardly any space and can save an evening.

A tripod is worth it for photos, because handheld shots blur during long exposures. A starting value for ISO sensitivity is around 1600 to 3200.¹⁷ Bring spare batteries and keep them close to your body so they do not die in the cold. And think of a headlamp, preferably with red light.

Book safari

Tonight the sky could turn green.

Reserve now, pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.

Check datesfrom $61 · free cancellation 4.6 · 8,349 verified reviews

You ask,we answer.

When is the best time to travel for a northern lights holiday in Tromsø?

From late August to early April. Then northern lights are possible as soon as the sky is dark and clear enough.¹

How many nights do I need for northern lights?

As many as you can arrange. There is no guarantee. With the Unlimited option of the northern lights safari, you go out again until you have seen the lights.

Which hotels in Tromsø are suitable for northern lights?

Rare, so plan a dark spot instead. In the city, darker locations like Prestvannet are better suited; Northern Lights can be visible on clear nights.⁶ From the airport to the center it is about 10 to 20 minutes.²

What is a lavvo?

The traditional tent of the Sami. With the Aurora Crystal Lavvo overnight you sleep in a lavvo, with a guided activity and a stop in the Lyngen Alps.

How much does the lavvo overnight cost?

From $460 per person. That is the starting price according to GetYourGuide; you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.

Can I see the northern lights in Tromsø without a tour?

Yes, on clear evenings. Telegrafbukta and Prestvannet are spots in the city where northern lights can be visible.⁵ ⁶

Is a northern lights tour included in a package trip to Tromsø?

Not automatically. Whether a Northern Lights tour is part of a package is shown in the respective offer. If you book the safari separately, you can reserve now, pay later, and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.

When does the northern lights festival take place?

2027 from February 11 to 20. The Nordlysfestivalen takes place in Tromsø, right in the middle of the northern lights season.¹⁰

Sources