Surrounded by Norway’s unique Arctic landscape, the small town of Tromsø is located on an island in the Arctic waters. Whether you want to see the Northern Lights, experience Norwegian culture or enjoy Norway’s beautiful nature, Tromsø is the ideal starting point for a trip to Scandinavia. In this article, I will give you important tips for your visit and reveal the most beautiful sights in Tromsø and the surrounding area.

As always, at the end of this article you will find a map of Tromsø, Norway, in which I have marked all the sights and my favorite spots.

When is the best time to travel to Tromsø?

The ideal time to visit Tromsø depends largely on what you want to experience during your trip. To see the magical Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, with your own eyes, the best time to visit is between September and March, when the nights are particularly long and dark. However, as Tromsø is located 350km north of the Arctic Circle, you won’t see any daylight during a trip in December and January. That’s why we chose February for our trip to have a good chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis and still have a few hours of daylight.

If you prefer milder weather and want to go hiking, then the summer months between June and August are the ideal choice.

Getting to Tromsø

The easiest and quickest way to get to Tromsø in Norway is by plane. Tromsø Airport (TOS) is connected to the major cities in Norway, such as Oslo and Bergen, but also to international airports such as London, Stockholm and Berlin. Incidentally, the approach is gigantic and one of the most beautiful I have ever experienced. So it’s worth booking a window seat. Watching the Arctic snowcaps, which surround Tromsø for miles around, pass by is simply beautiful!

Alternatively, Tromsø can also be reached by ferry from various Norwegian destinations.

How much time should you plan for Tromsø?

To explore both the city and the surrounding area, I recommend three to four days in Tromsø. This will give you enough time to enjoy the most beautiful sights in Tromsø and to explore the landscape that surrounds the city.

Is it worth renting a car in Tromsø?

While the city is very easy to explore on foot, a rental car is worthwhile for a road trip through the countryside and to find the Northern Lights in the evening. However, the prices for a rental car in Tromsø are very high, so you may not want to rent your own car for your entire stay. Within the city, the bus will also get you from A to B easily and cheaply, while taxis are very expensive.

My Hotel Tips in Tromsø:

• Budget: → Enter Backpack Hotel → Enter Viking Hotel
• Mid-Range: → Radisson Blu Tromsø → Moxy Tromsø
• Special: → Arctic Villa for friends & families

The most beautiful sights in Tromsø, Norway

The city center of Tromsø

The small and charming city center of Tromsø is a great place to stroll around and explore. There are many cute cafés where you can warm up and stores with local products. There are several sights in Tromsø that you should not miss during your city tour.

The Tromsø Polar Museum

I’m not really a big fan of museums when I’m traveling, but we were so cold during our walk through Tromsø in winter that we wanted to warm up and the Polar Museum was the perfect opportunity to do so. In retrospect, I was super happy that we decided to go, as the museum shows in an interesting way how people settled in the Arctic regions from the 17th century onwards and survived on expeditions. The exhibits and the house in which the museum is located take visitors on a journey back in time to a harsh and cold era. Even if some of the details of seal and bear hunting were less attractive to see, they are an important part of the history of the Arctic (and are fortunately forbidden today).

Admission prices & opening hours of the Polar Museum in Tromsø:

• NOK 110 (approx. EUR 9.50) per adult
• Free admission for children and young people aged 0-18 years
• Admission daily from 11 am – 5 pm

Outdoor sauna

Tromsø has some great saunas that are popular with locals and visitors alike. An infusion in the sauna followed by cooling off in the Arctic water is simply part of a visit to Norway!

→ Here I have linked you to a fantastic sauna right in the harbor of Tromsø! Before your visit, you need to book a time slot online.

The Arctic Cathedral

Tromsø is not only located on an island, but part of the city is also on the mainland. Both parts are connected by a bridge, which can be crossed on foot or by car and offers great views.

On the mainland side, the Arctic Cathedral is the biggest eye-catcher thanks to its special architecture. It looks particularly beautiful at night when the light from the interior lighting glitters through the colorful windows.

The Fjellheisen cable car – the most beautiful sight in Tromsø

The most beautiful view over Tromsø can be seen on a ride on the popular Fjellheisen cable car up Tromsø’s local mountain: Storsteinen. The ride takes you to the viewpoint at the top of the mountain at a height of 421 meters. The view is best when you get there just before sunset. Then you can enjoy the view over the mountains both during the day and at night, when the lights of Tromsø begin to twinkle. The spot is also popular later in the evening, as with a bit of luck you can see the Northern Lights – the last train back down to the valley leaves at midnight.

The cable car ride in combination with a hike or snowshoe hike is also popular.

Caution: It is very icy and slippery at the top of the mountain. However, there is hardly any protection on the cliff (usually just a thin wire). Therefore, you should definitely wear shoes with a good profile to avoid accidentally slipping!

Prices & travel times for the Fjellheisen cable car in Tromsø:

• Round trip 415 NOK (approx. 35 EUR) per adult & 200 NOK per child (3-15 years)
• Single trip (it is possible to hike downhill) 270 NOK (approx. 23 EUR) per adult & 130 NOK per child (3-15 years)
• Trips take place daily from 10 am – midnight

More sights & activities in the Tromsø area that you shouldn’t miss:

Aurora Borealis – See the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø offers the ideal conditions to see the mystical Northern Lights with your own eyes. However, for this dream to come true, a number of factors must be fulfilled, because in addition to the strength of the solar activity, the visibility of the Aurora Borealis depends on many factors: Where are you located? Is it dark enough? Do you have a clear view to the north? Is it cloudy? Are the lights strong enough to see them with the naked eye?

You can see the most amazing Northern Lights in one place, while a person just a few kilometers away from you will only see a dark sky.

To increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, I recommend the following:

• → This live weather and cloud radar – it gives very reliable information about the cloud density in your area
• A rental car with which you can drive to cloud-free spots
• A compass – the Northern Lights are only visible when you are facing north
• Patience – the Northern Lights move at an average speed of 400 km/h!!! So the sky above your head can change constantly.
• A tripod and a camera or smartphone with long exposure – while the lights are barely visible to the eye when they are faint, you will be able to capture them much more clearly thanks to long exposure.

The easier alternative? Book a guided Northern Lights tour. 

The tour guides know the best spots in the area, provide camera equipment and warm clothing, stay in contact with their colleagues and therefore greatly increase the chance of seeing the Northern Lights with your own eyes! The guides are also experienced in night photography and will help you to take the perfect souvenir photo. This was a great challenge even for us – as experienced travel photographers – as the conditions and camera settings vary greatly.

Whale Watching Boat Tour

An absolute must in Tromsø is a whale watching tour by boat through the beautiful landscape. Where else would you have the unique opportunity to do this? We booked a 9-hour tour on a hybrid-electric catamaran. The journey alone was an unforgettable experience – through fjords while watching mountains with snow-capped peaks on the horizon. Sometimes we were rocked around quite a bit and had to hold on tight when we were on deck. But it was an amazing feeling to ride over the waves like that. You can also stay inside during the whole trip and enjoy the view through the large windows. There was also a wide selection of food to choose from.

We were accompanied by a guide who gave us lots of useful information and tips. Finally, we reached the area where fin whales and orcas like to hang out, and we were actually able to watch a family of fin whales surfacing several times – an indescribable feeling.

A mini Norway road trip from Tromsø

My favorite day in Tromsø was our trip by car through the picturesque Arctic landscape of Norway. To make the most of the daylight (especially in winter), you should set off at sunrise. During our trip to Tromsø in February, the sun rose at around 8 am and set again at around 2:30 pm. During this time, we drove by car via Tomasjord to Skibotn and passed numerous fantastic views over fjords and mountains. I have marked some of my favorite spots on my Tromsø map.

The island Sommarøy

About 60 kilometers north of Tromsø lies the small, enchanting island of Sommarøy. A breathtaking landscape, white sandy beaches, turquoise-blue sea and pretty fishermen’s cottages invite you to immerse yourself in a pure fairytale here. The drive from Tromsø alone was spectacular – along the fjords, with views of snow-capped peaks rising out of the sea.

Hike with an amazing view over Sommarøy

At the bridge to the foot of Brensholmen, a hiking trail leads over the hill to a great vantage point with a gigantic view of Sommarøy, the surrounding islands, mountains and the sea. We parked our car directly on the hill (parking lot: Ønfløya). The ascent was marked as about 30 minutes, but as the path was icy in places, it took us a little longer. You should definitely wear sturdy, non-slip shoes, not only in winter, as it also goes over stones and gravel. In the end, we were rewarded with a unique panoramic view over Sommarøy and the neighboring islands!

My Tip: Café Bryggejentene

Afterwards, we wanted to warm up a little in a cozy café. At Bryggejentene, I treated myself to a delicious chai latte with a slice of carrot cake (with lots of cream cheese). Highly recommended! The cute café has a small store, cozy sofas and is famous for its cinnamon buns!

Tromsø is the perfect mix of a Scandinavian city and breathtaking nature – all year round! I hope this article has revealed some of the most beautiful sights in and around Tromsø and that my tips will help you plan your own trip to Norway!

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Welcome to Lapland – a place that seems to have come straight out of a magical snow globe. Lapland makes every winter dream come true thanks to its landscape, the Northern Lights and the guaranteed snow. In this article, I’ll tell you the best travel tips for Lapland and the most beautiful activities you must experience during your Lapland winter vacation!

Lapland covers a much bigger area than most people assume: Lapland begins just before the Arctic Circle and extends beyond the borders of Norway, Sweden, Finland and even Russia. When travelling to Lapland, however, most people think of Finnish Lapland, which makes up almost half of Finland. In this article, I focus on the Finnish part of Lapland, where you find the most beautiful places to visit and the best activities.

What’s the best way to travel to Lapland?

To get to Finnish Lapland, you usually fly to Rovaniemi, right on the Arctic Circle, or to Ivalo, which is around 250 kilometres further north. The Santa Claus Express is also very popular. This train runs overnight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. 

When is the best time to visit Lapland?

Lapland is a beautiful destination all year round. However, to experience the snow paradise and the Northern Lights, I recommend the winter months. The first snow falls in the far north as early as October, but it is usually not really snowed in until December and the white winter blanket remains until March. However, it is very dark from the beginning of December to the beginning of January. In Rovaniemi you will only have around 2 hours of daylight, while 300 kilometres further north in Ivalo the sun never rises during that time of the year. Whilst this is ideal for high chances of seeing the Northern Lights, you won’t have much time to see the glistening snow in the sunlight.

The most popular time to visit Lapland is therefore mid-January to early March. These months offer the perfect mix of winter weather, dark nights for the Northern Lights and daylight with fantastic sunrises and sunsets.

Rovaniemi or Ivalo – Which city is the better choice for your Lapland holiday?

Rovaniemi:

+ Advantage: With around 65,000 inhabitants, Rovaniemi is the largest city in Finnish Lapland and therefore also has the largest airport. This offers the advantage that there are direct flight connections from Germany. This saves you the journey via Helsinki and you can be in winter paradise within 3 hours by plane. In addition, the popular Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi – just a few minutes by car from the airport.

– Cons: Although Lapland is generally very quiet and deserted, Rovaniemi is the more “touristy” part of Lapland with the most travellers, tour buses etc.

Ivalo:

+ Advantage: The region around Ivalo is incredibly quiet. You won’t see any tour buses and generally won’t even meet another soul. In addition, the best ski resort in Lapland, Saariselkä, is located here in the far north.

– Disadvantage: There are hardly any or no direct flight connections from Germany to Ivalo, but you will usually have to fly via Helsinki which makes for a longer journey.

Conclusion:

Depending on which accommodation you choose, I would choose Rovaniemi Airport or Ivalo Airport. We ourselves travelled in both areas as we didn’t want to miss out on any of the advantages of either region. That’s why we flew directly to and from Rovaniemi on the way to Lapland and on the way back and rented a car there. From Rovaniemi, it is around 3 hours (288km) by car to Ivalo.

Is it worth renting a car for Lapland?

This question depends very much on how flexible you want to be during your trip to Lapland and how much you want to travel around. A rental car in Lapland is not cheap, but the local taxi fares should not be underestimated either: Friends of ours had to pay 100 Euros for a 10-minute journey to the hotel. However, you can also get your own rental car in Lapland for an average of 90 – 150 Euros per day. Even if it seems expensive at first, having your own car pays off in most cases and offers you more flexibility.

How many days are ideal for a Lapland trip?

The perfect length of your Lapland trip depends on how much you want to explore and relax and whether you want to go skiing. If you are focussing on just one region and only want to experience the basics, three nights is enough. However, if you want to travel around, have a higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights and explore more remote places, then six to seven nights are ideal.

What to pack for your Lapland Trip

… you absolutely must have these essentials in your suitcase:

• Warm clothing! At minus 25 degrees Celsius it is important to be wrapped up warm and wear several layers of clothing: long merino underwear, merino wool socks, fleece jumper, ski trousers and thick winter jacket, scarf, hat and warmly lined mittens (your fingers get cold much faster in gloves), insulated winter boots that are suitable for the arctic cold.
• Hand and foot warmers to warm up
• A tripod for your camera or smartphone to take better photos of the Northern Lights
• A thermos flask in which you can take hot tea during longer tours

Tip for a special accommodation in Lapland – The Valo Finland

The brand new → “ice cube villas” at Valo Finland can accommodate up to 10 people – but the accommodation is also great for couples! It is located near Ivalo, right on the slopes of the Saariselkä ski resort. Spread over three floors, the villas offer absolute luxury and cosiness, as they have their own wellness area with a panoramic Finnish sauna and a jacuzzi. The centrepiece of the villa is the large living and dining room on the first floor with an open-plan kitchen, a fireplace, a large dining table and an incredible view. There are three bedrooms in total: the two master bedrooms have a panoramic glass roof so that, with a bit of luck, you can see the northern lights from your bed. Thanks to its own washing machine and tumble dryer as well as the fully equipped kitchen, the accommodation is ideal for longer stays! We are absolutely in love with the Valo Finland and will definitely be returning again with our family!

These are the best things to do in Lapland

Aurora Borealis – See the Northern Lights duirng your Lapland vacation

See the mystical Northern Lights with your own eyes. This dream is probably on many people’s bucket list! Lapland offers the best conditions to make this dream come true – but no 100% guarantee. In addition to the strength of the solar activity, the visibility of the Aurora Borealis depends on many factors: Where are you located? Is it dark enough? Do you have a clear view to the north? Is it cloudy? Are the lights strong enough to see them with the bare eye?

You can see the most amazing Northern Lights, while a person just a few kilometres away from you will only see a dark sky.

To increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Lapland, I recommend the following:

• → This live weather and cloud radar – it gives very reliable information about the cloud density in your area
• A rental car with which you can drive to cloud-free spots
• A compass – the Northern Lights are only visible when you are facing north
• Patience – the Aurora Borealis moves at an average speed of 400 km/h!!! The sky above your head can therefore change constantly.
• A tripod and a camera or smartphone with long exposure – while the lights are barely visible to the eye when they are faint, you will be able to capture them much more clearly thanks to long exposure.

The easier alternative? Book a guided Northern Lights tour. 

The tour guides know the best spots in the area, provide camera equipment and warm clothing, stay in contact with their colleagues and therefore greatly increase the chance of seeing the Northern Lights with your own eyes! The guides are also experienced in night photography and will help you to take the perfect souvenir photo. This was a great challenge even for us – as experienced travel photographers – as the conditions and camera settings vary greatly.

Husky sledding in Lapland

Even though snowmobiles have often replaced huskies and reindeer sleds in everyday life, there are still some traditional husky and reindeer farms that offer sledding tours through the forest.

We decided to go on a husky sleigh ride. We booked our tour → here. Although the price per person seems quite high, the experience is definitely worth the expense. Before setting off, we were kitted out with warm clothing and given a briefing by a guide on how to drive a dog sled and how to behave in a group. Two people always shared a sled, with one person sitting at the front and the other guiding the sled. There was of course the opportunity to take turns in between. The ride lasted around 1.5 hours.

I can still remember the moment when it finally started. It was incredible to see the energy the dogs put into their harnesses – it seemed as if they couldn’t be stopped. The journey took us along narrow paths through the snow-covered forest. The feeling of driving a dog sled was indescribable and the enchanting winter landscape passed us by like a fairy tale. After we returned, we enjoyed a wonderful time with the sled dogs, who now lay down relaxed and demanded to be stroked by us. These were unforgettable moments that I will always remember.

My highlight: Visiting a traditional Sámi reindeer farm

My personal highlight of our trip to Finnish Lapland was a visit to a traditional reindeer farm run by a Sámi family. The Sámi are the indigenous people who still live in Arctic Lapland (called Sápmi by the Sámi), which stretches across the borders of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Reindeer herding and handicrafts made from natural materials are an important part of their culture. By chance, I came across a small family tour where the reindeer herder Jenni welcomes her guests and guides them through the day.

First we are kitted out with warm equipment, then we take a snowmobile through the forest to the reindeer herd. The animals are semi-wild. In summer they roam the forests on their own while in winter they are dependent on being fed. It was an indescribable feeling to sit around the campfire, enjoying homemade food and tea, listening to stories from the Sámi culture while countless reindeer walked around us. Some even lay down near the fire to rest in the midday sun. You can tell that although the animals are very shy by nature, they have an intimate relationship with Jenni. Afterwards, we warmed up in the warm wooden hut with homemade cake and glögg and admired Jenni’s mum’s handicrafts. The whole family is so warm and welcoming. An unforgettable experience!

→ I have linked Jenni’s website here, where you can book a private tour. The cost is 120 euros per person, which I think is an absolutely fair price. In addition to the day tour, this also includes equipment, warm clothing, food and drinks.

The Santa Claus Village – a highlight during your Lapland Vacation

Even though it is the most touristy attraction in Lapland, a visit to the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is, in my opinion, a must for both young and old on a trip to Lapland! It is located just 20 minutes from Rovaniemi Airport and lies directly on the Arctic Circle, which you can officially cross in the Christmas village. Because of this special location, it is known as the official home of Santa Claus, his elves and the magical reindeer.

The Santa Claus Village in Lapland is open all year round and is festively decorated 365 days a year. Of course, it is particularly magical in winter when it’s covered by snow. In the village there is Santa’s post office, where letters from children all over the world arrive, numerous souvenir shops, restaurants and cafés with a festive atmosphere, a hotel, a small reindeer farm and of course you can visit Santa in his office! A photo with him costs 30 Euros, but it was worth it He greets all guests in their native language (of course Santa speaks all languages!) and the ambience is lovingly decorated with lots of details. I immediately felt like I was a little child again and sat next to Santa in total awe!

Finnish sauna

Finland is the home of the sauna, so a sauna session should definitely be on your Lapland bucket list. Almost all hotels offer a sauna for their guests, some of them even with cosy outdoor hot tubs. The sauna with outdoor hot tub at the small Hotel Levi Foxfires, which can be booked privately, is particularly well-known.
From 345 Euros, you can book this special sauna experience for up to four people privately. This service is also available to guests who are not staying at the hotel.

→ Here you can find the website for the reservation As this spa is incredibly photogenic and popular, you should book your preferred date early to make sure you get a spot.

Skiing in Lapland – the perfect winter activity

The guaranteed snow in Lapland offers a wide variety of winter sports activities that you can experience during your trip. Starting with alpine skiing in the small ski resort in Saariselkä. Although there are no mountains in Lapland, there are hills, which are ideal for beginners. You can also enjoy cross-country skiing, which is popular in Scandinavia. Many picturesque trails run through the snow-covered winter forest for an idyllic ski tour.

A snowmobile tour through the winter landscape

Those who like a little more adrenaline will love a snowmobile tour! After a short briefing and being equipped with warm protective clothing, you set off on your own snowmobile through the winter landscape. There are special paths for this so that you can enjoy the ride without worrying about disturbing pedestrians. We booked our tour in Saariselkä. The view from the “top” of the hills over the endless white expanse was impressive!

→ Book your snow mobile tour in Saariselkä (North)

→ Book your snow mobile tour in Rovaniemi (South)

Winter Walk & Snow Mountain Biking

The endless forests in Lapland are simply breathtaking. And especially in winter, the snow-covered forests radiate an immense peace. We decided to take a long walk through the winter forest near Ivalo. It was simply fantastic to walk along the lonely paths while the snow made that typical sound under our boots that I loved as a child. It is advisable not to leave the path to avoid sinking into the snow up to your belly button. For cross-country skiing enthusiasts, there are also prepared routes with trails.

Lapland offers ideal conditions for cycling tours in winter! With so-called “e-fat bikes” with particularly wide tyres and a battery drive, many cycle paths can also be used in winter. However, you shouldn’t underestimate the extreme cold when cycling – after just under two hours I was completely frozen and could no longer feel my fingers. This activity is therefore not suitable for children or older people.

→ Book your e-bike tour in Ivalo (North)

→ Book your e-bike tour in Levi (North-West)

→ Book your e-bike tour in Rovaniemi (South)

My Map for the best things to do in Lapland:

Experience Lapland in winter! This dream of mine has finally come true. The magic of Lapland in winter is just as enchanting as I had always imagined. With the right clothing, even the freezing cold has a special charm.

I hope this post with my travel tips and the best things to do in Finnish Lapland will help you plan your own trip. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments or send me a message on Instagram.

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