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Go on a winter expedition to the Arctic Circle in Tromsø, Norway. You'll experience incredible nature, fjords, beautiful museums and, if you're lucky, the Northern Lights.
Unlock Learn moreTromsø, the largest city above the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia, is a popular destination, especially in winter, even though the sun doesn’t cross the horizon from late November to the second half of January, giving residents and visitors alike a polar night. However, it is this fact that makes Tromsø one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. But it offers much more.
In this itinerary, we focus on the best things to do in 3-5 days around Tromsø. From exploring the city, cultural experiences, to hikes to the fjords and nearby wildlife. We’ve also added a cloud of practical tips, answering questions such as when is the best time to go beyond the Arctic Circle, how to prepare for aurora hunting and where to watch the weather forecast.
None of the airlines currently offer direct flights from Prague to Tromsø during the winter months, so we recommend travelling across the Arctic Circle from Berlin as part of our itinerary. Not only are the tickets cheaper, but the flights are non-stop.
Berlin
Although there are several traditional Hertz rental companies in and around Tromsø Airport, we recommend renting a car with Getaround this time. Renting will work out cheaper and the whole process is simple.
Car rental from locals
Getaround.com is a service similar to Airbnb, except it’s about cars. You rent a car directly from a local, with slightly more friendly prices and a rental process that is the same, if not easier, than a traditional rental company.
If you rent a car, we think it's perfectly fine to live outside the city centre. Either the edge of the island of Kvaløya or, conversely, the area around Tromsdalen is suitable. You can recommend 2 accommodations.
Kvaløysletta • $$$
<p>Velmi stylové, nové a moderní ubytování na ostrově Kvaløya, odkud je to autem do centra Tromsø jen zhruba 15 minut. Steam Pier kromě mnoha různých apartmánů nabízí i mnoho aktivit – denní celodenní výlety i noční lov polární záře.</p>
Tromsdalen • $
<p>Apartmán pro 4 lidi, nedaleko Tromsø, odkud je to do města jen kousek přes most – to samé i na další místa.</p>
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The first day of this itinerary assumes your arrival or arrival beyond the Arctic Circle and subsequent "acclimatization" according to your arrival time.
Depending on the time of arrival, the programme of the first day will also depend on the time of arrival – if you arrive early in the morning (or late in the evening), you will be able to do everything from the first and second day at the same time. However, if you arrive in Tromsø later in the afternoon, we have a few tips for the narrower city centre.
Before we get into them, here’s a tip, especially for those travellers who would be taking an evening or even night flight (like us). That tip is the opportunity to see the Northern Lights before you even land inside the Arctic Circle. Yes, you heard right. In fact, it is possible to observe this dancing phenomenon from an airplane, under good conditions of course. But there’s no need to worry about clouds – because planes fly so high that the only obstacle is the low KP index and other magnetic field values that make the aurora “magic”.
So if you are flying in the dark, try to arrange seats on the left side of the plane (in the direction of A, B or C). This is the direction that is closer to the north, where the glow appears in most cases.
And now to the arrival at Tromsø International Airport, which is smaller but modern and well-equipped.
TIP: If you would like to reschedule the itinerary according to the weather forecast, no problem. By recommending to stay in one place, the order of the days is up to you.
Tromsø International Airport (Tromsø Airport, TOS) is the main air gateway to Arctic Norway, located approximately 5 km from the city centre. It offers regular domestic and international flights, including connections to Oslo, other Norwegian cities and selected European destinations, making it an important hub for travellers heading beyond the Arctic Circle.
Upon arrival, we recommend picking up a car, which you will need in the following days of this itinerary. Theoretically, you can do without it, but we do not recommend it. We will then head to the city centre.
6.5 km (16 mins)
Tromsø
Official parking
Yes
Allowed
Near the Troll Museum and the harbour in Tromsø is this outdoor parking area, which is not time-limited, but has a charge. The best way to pay for parking is to use the EasyPark app, from which you can shorten or extend your parking.
Tromsø is a beautiful city where culture meets natural beauty. Located deep in the north, above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is a unique place to experience a unique combination of city life and Arctic wildlife. Its unmistakable atmosphere, where a modern lifestyle can blend with a chance encounter with a moose or a glimpse of the midnight sun, is sure to enchant.
Spread over several islands, Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway. The city is known for its vibrant cultural life, with many museums, galleries and cultural events. Some of the most famous sights include the Ishavskatedralen Cathedral, a modern structure that looks like an iceberg, and the Polar Museum, which offers visitors an insight into the history of polar expeditions.
In the winter months, Tromsø is the ideal place to watch the Northern Lights, while in the summer you can admire the magic of the white nights. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a wide range of options, from winter sports to summer hiking and fishing. For an unforgettable view of the city and the surrounding countryside, we recommend climbing the Tromsdalstinden hill. Although the climb is challenging and takes almost a full day, the reward of the view of the city and surrounding countryside is well worth it.
Tromsø also hosts a number of festivals and events throughout the year. Among the most famous are the Tromsø International Film Festival and the North Polar Marathon. These events attract visitors from all over the world and contribute to the city’s rich cultural life.
Our tip: If you’re looking for a quiet place to work or relax with a book on a rainy day, the modern local library in Tromsø is ideal.
The narrower town centre on Tromsøya is not large and you can walk around it in an hour or two. That’s why we’ll be back here the next morning (depending on time, see note above). From that car park we head north through the harbour, where there are great views of the opposite countryside and the Tromsøbrua bridge.
Along the water we reach Porten til Ishavet, which translates to “Gateway to the Arctic Ocean”, where you can see a beautiful view of the Arctic Cathedral.
1.1 km (14 mins)
Porten til Ishavet translates as “Gateway to the Arctic Ocean” and is the nickname of the city of Tromsø, which historically served as a key port for Arctic expeditions, hunters and adventurers heading north. The name reflects Tromsø’s importance as a starting point for Arctic exploration and its close connection to the rugged but fascinating polar landscape.
From the gate, which opens this itinerary in a way, we will visit the first great refreshment place nearby. It is the excellent Vervet Bakery. If you want a rather “bigger” snack or if the bakery is already closed, there is a very good burger place nearby with an original name – Burgr.
0.4 km (5 mins)
Tromsø • $$$
Absolutely great bakery near the harbour in Tromsø. It offers great pastries, coffee and a very cosy space from where you can watch the harbour and the other side of this Norwegian island. This is a must stop when visiting Tromsø!
Tromsø • $$
A stylish restaurant right in the centre of Tromsø. As the name suggests, you can taste especially well rated burgers here.
As mentioned above, we probably won’t be able to do much more on the first day, so it’s time to move on to accommodation. In terms of accommodation options, it is not necessary for us to look for accommodation directly on the bustling island of Tromsøya. Instead, we would recommend finding accommodation nearby, either on the Tromsdalen side or on the opposite side – on Kvaløya Island. This is also where the very nice Steam Pier accommodation is located.
Kvaløysletta • $$$
Very stylish, new and modern accommodation on the island of Kvaløya, from where the centre of Tromsø is only about 15 minutes away by car. Steam Pier offers many activities in addition to the many different apartments – daily day trips and nighttime aurora hunting.
TIP: If you arrive early in the morning and have plenty of energy (and not enough days), you can skip straight to the next day’s plan.
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Detailed plan for each day with a map
Tips for accommodation and places to eat
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Winter expedition to the Arctic Circle – Tromsø (Norway) je jedním z itinerářů, které Retkee nabízí. Každý itinerář nabízí přehledný popis jednotlivých dní, včetně interaktivní mapy či praktických informací. Kromě itinerářů Retkee nabízí i blog , podrobné průvodce destinacemi , například Island , Norsko či Madeira .
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