Europe

How to Plan Tromso Day Tours in Winter

Tromso, Norway, is such an interesting city. 

Nestled in the Arctic Circle, you have stunning fjords, beautiful mountains, aurora opportunities in the winter, and so, so much more. To say there is a lot to do is an understatement, and this is especially true in the winter months.

The challenge is finding the time to pack it all in, and after five days in Tromso, we honestly think we hit the day tours, experiences, and aurora chases a little too hard- so much so that we had very little free time to enjoy the city, nearby highlights, and even sleep!

So in this one, we want to talk a bit more about the logistics of taking day tours in Tromso in the winter. It may seem weird to talk about booking logic with regard to tours, but when you are taking late-night aurora tours that are heavily weather (and solar activity) dependent, there are some additional layers to consider!

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5 Packing List Items for Winter in the Arctic Circle

There are cold climate vacations, and then there is vacationing in the Arctic Circle in the dead of winter cold.

To put it bluntly, if you’re heading to the Arctic Circle and are planning on outdoor experiences (be it dogsledding, chasing the aurora borealis, or something else outdoors), you’ll want to plan on some extra items in your packing list. 

So in this one, we wanted to discuss winter items that you really should consider adding to your packing list (or upgrading to a better quality item) if you are heading up to the Arctic Circle in the colder months!

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Where to Stay in Tromso – In City Center or On The Hill?

If you’re heading to Tromso in the winter to try and see the aurora borealis, you’re going to the right spot. This city is a great gateway to get out on an aurora chase with decent odds of seeing the aurora (in town, not so much, however).

But, as with all travel destinations, you may be wondering where the best play to stay in Tromso is. Should you stay in the city center, on the hillside overlooking Tromso, or on the opposite side of the hill looking away from the city for less light pollution?

Well, there are pros and cons to each, and we have to admit, staying closer to the city center may end up being a great choice all around. In this one, we thought we’d share a few key points to keep in mind about the different areas you may consider for your stay.

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Should You Take a Bus or Van Tromso Aurora Borealis Tour?

If you are heading up to Tromso, Norway, in the Arctic Circle to try and see the northern lights, we highly encourage you to take a tour that is designed to chase the aurora.

The word “chase” is key here because, while the aurora oval will likely be above you at night while in the Arctic Circle, a chase is often required because you also need clear skies to see the aurora at all!

Tromso, unfortunately, has a highly variable microclimate that often includes fast-moving clouds, frequent snow, wind, and yes, even rain at times in the winter months (sadly). So when we say you need to go on a Tromso aurora borealis tour to chase the northern lights, it is actually more appropriate to say that you’re going on a tour to chase clear skies.

To put it bluntly- you’re likely not going to get much clear sky staying in one spot, especially inside the city limits (which has very low odds of seeing the lights on any given night), and a chase tour is designed to get you to the clearest skies nearby in order to increase your odds of seeing the aurora borealis significantly.

Now, if you are on board with hitting the road to go see the northern lights, the next item you have to consider is simply this- will you book a bus tour or a van tour? While both of these have the same end game of getting you to a place with clear skies, there are pros and cons to each.

After trying both during our visit to Tromso for the northern lights, we thought we’d break down the differences in this one!

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