Every winter, travelers from all over descend upon the quaint town of Tromsø, Norway. Situated amidst the fjords in Northern Norway, this Arctic destination is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. After you’ve booked your Northern Lights tour(s) though, the next step is to figure out how you’re going to spend your days in Tromsø.
This post has got you covered for just that! Here are 10 things to do in Tromsø during the daytime hours when you’re not chasing the Northern Lights. Having personally done everything on this list, we’ve also included our best tips to make sure you have the best time doing each of them.
P.S. If you haven’t planned your Northern Lights tour from Tromsø yet, don’t worry. We have a post on that, too!
1. Visit a Floating Sauna & Swim in the Arctic Sea
The Scandinavians are famed the world over for their sauna culture — though the Norwegians are not quite as famous for it as their Finnish neighbors. If you have a free couple of hours in Tromsø, visiting a floating sauna has to be the best way to spend them.
Partially hidden from view in Tromsø Habour, a charming A-frame building sits atop a floating platform at the end of a pier. This is Pust sauna. The tiny building contains only two small locker rooms and a sauna in the middle. The sauna holds up to 12 people and offers sweeping views of the nearby water and mountains.
If you want to sauna like the locals, you’ll also have to take a dip in the icy sea water. It’s common to go back and forth between the hot sauna and cold water several times, for ultimate relaxation and health benefits. There are ladders from the platform into the water, and the swimming area is protected by buoys.
Pust is an unmanned sauna and reservations are required. If you want to use the sauna, you will need to make a reservation on their website in advance. You’ll receive a passcode on the day of your booking, which you can then use to enter the sauna at your designated time.
Other than seeing the Northern lights, this was by far my favorite thing that I did in Tromsø. If you want more details about this specific sauna and ice bath experience, be sure to check out this guide to Pust sauna in Tromsø.
Best Tip: Make a reservation in advance! This sauna is small and popular with tourists and locals alike. Reservations can book up completely several days in advance.
2. Take the Fjellheisen Cable Car
For the best views in Tromsø, you must head to the top of Storsteinen. This peak — located in the part of Tromsø that is east of the water — overlooks the main island of Tromsø (Tromsøya) and the surrounding mountains and fjords.
Not only is the viewpoint stunning, but there’s amenities at the top like a cafe and bathrooms which make it an easy and comfortable excursion. The peak area is also very spacious, so it doesn’t get too cramped. (Plus, there’s lots of space for littles to play in the snow if that’s relevant for you.)
You can buy tickets for the cable car in advance, but you usually don’t need to. Tickets are available on the spot, and don’t often sell out. That said, it’s always worth checking their website a couple days before to see if any upcoming dates have a “Few left” flag.
The base of the cable car is located here. It’s tucked in the back of a residential area at the base of the mountain. If you’re staying in central Tromsø, there are a few buses that will take you pretty close to the cable car base (usually the 26 is the best option, but check Google Maps.)
Alternatively, you can walk there. Depending on where you’re starting, it’s about 1.5-2 miles, and it’s actually quite lovely. The route will take you over the bridge and pass by the Arctic Cathedral on the way.
Note: You can go inside the cathedral, but it doesn’t open until 1 PM on most days. It’s best to do on your way back.
When I look back at my notes from this trip, I had this activity down as a maybe. Specifically, I wrote, “Great views – hard to get to, expensive.” I was wrong about the first part — it is not hard hard to get to. The walk there was delightful and the bus ride back was easy peasy. I was right about it being expensive though. It is just shy of $50 USD round trip per person.
Even still, I would emphasize that this should not be a maybe. This should be a hard, “definitely!” If you’re on the fence about this one, let me gently nudge you to do it.
Best Tip: Get there early! The line to ride the cable car can get very long midday. If you arrive within the first hour it’s open though, you should not have to wait more than 5-10 minutes for your ride to the top.
3. Eat lunch at Raketten
After the Northern Lights, Raketten is probably the next most famous thing to do in Tromsø. It proudly boasts being the tiniest bar in the universe and the best hot dogs in town. I have not independently verified either statement, but I’m willing to accept the accuracy of both.
Raketten is a tiny little hut right in the middle of the busting shopping street, Storgata. The full-service bar is manned by a single bartender who takes orders, makes drinks, serves food, and cashes out every patron, one at a time. There’s no indoor seating — as you’d expect at the world’s tiniest bar — but they do have a small back patio with a handful of picnic tables.
Their food offerings are limited to hot dogs, but they have three varieties: reindeer/beef, pork/beef, and vegetarian. You can top off your dog with a selection of condiments. The local specialty includes fried onion, potato salad, beetroot, pickled onion, and honey mustard.
It’s a popular spot, so the line definitely gets long. We waited close to 45 minutes in the evening for our dinner. However, we snagged lunch quite quickly when we arrived just after they opened at noon. As a vegetarian, I was personally just excited that there was a food destination that I could participate in. It was delicious, too!
Best Tip: Get your dog with everything! While you’re at it, also order the mulled wine, and be sure to get it with almonds and raisins.
4. Wander the Waterfront
Most of the waterfront in central Tromsø is an operational harbor, so there’s not a ton of walkable, commercial areas. However, there’s a great little portion that runs between the Polar Museum and the Tromsø Bridge. Here you will enjoy great views of the bridge itself, the Arctic Cathedral across the water, plus a nice view of the harbor and “downtown.”
We were so surprised to find that this area was pretty empty. It was quite, but beautiful.
Best Tip: There’s a new mosaic art installation in this area that you won’t want to miss. It’s called Porten til ishavet (“Gateway to the Artic”) and it perfectly frames the church in the distance.
5. Walk Across the Tromsø Bridge
The Tromsø Bridge passes over the Tromsoysundet straight and connects the part of the city on the mainland with the part of the city on the island. The bridge looms large and can be seen from numerous spots around town. You might even see it from the plane when you fly in.
You can — and should — walk across the iconic Tromsø Bridge. Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and both sides of the city, including the city center and the Arctic Cathedral.
At a glance, the bridge looks intimidating, but I promise it’s not that bad. There is a dedicated pedestrian lane, and the walk across is approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) with an average gradient of 7.4%. It never really feels as steep as it looks. (My 3-year-old walked it without complaining — just saying!)
On the Tromsøya side of the bridge (the city center side), the entrance to the pedestrian path across the bridge is here (on the south side of the street near Skippergata.) On the mainland side, the pedestrian path begins here (directly across from the Arctic Cathedral.)
You can walk the bridge just for fun, or you can make it part of your journey to the Arctic Cathedral and/or the cable car. If you don’t want to walk back, you can hop on a bus for the return journey.
Best Tip: Wear boots with good treads. The pedestrian lane of the bridge is cleared of snow, but can still be a bit icier than the sidewalks. This walk is better suited for boots than sneakers.
6. Visit a Museum or Two
There are several small museums in Tromsø that are worth spending a bit of time at.
The Polar Museum is probably the best. It’s a nice museum that explores the history of the people, animals and culture of the Arctic region. There is very little posted information, but they provide a printed guide that is written in both Norwegian and English (and I believe some other languages, too.) I always find the polar exploration exhibits to be fascinating, but the taxidermy animals, ships and weaponry were a hit with my 3-year-old.
The Troll Museum down the road is another population option. It is more fun, but less informative in my opinion. This one is great for kids because there are lots of interactive exhibits (some where better than others), a play/craft area, plus the subject matter is more appealing for that age group. This museum is quite small and gets pretty busy, which makes it hard to engage with all the exhibits. Get there are early or late to avoid the crowds.
There are several other options, too, like The Arctic University Museum of Norway, Polaria and the Perspective Museum. In most cases, each of these museums will only take about an hour or two. It’s a good way fill out your afternoon without adding much stress.
Best Tip: Check the hours in advance. These small museums have limited daytime hours and some are not open every day.
7. Walk Storgata
The main tourist thoroughfare in town is Storgata. Along this street — particularly in the pedestrianized zone between Tromsø Cathedral and the Perspective Museum — you’ll find souvenir shops, restaurants and bars, along with a healthy bustle of crowds throughout the day.
It’s a small strip, so realistically this won’t take that long, but it’s cute and essential. It’s also worth walking multiple times, specifically in the daytime and nighttime, as it has a different vibe. And if you have time, the cathedral and museum that bookend the main district are great ways to keep busy (and warm up, assuming you’re visiting in the winter.)
Best Tip: If you’re in the market for souvenirs, consider picking up some wool yarn and/or a knitting kit. There’s a really cute yarn shop right across the street from the McDonald’s that has a great selection.
8. Go for a Hike
If you’re interested in getting out into nature, there are several good hiking trails in the area. Some you can hike on foot, while others are best handled with snowshoes. (You can rent snowshoes from a few spots around town, like this one, if you don’t have your own.)
One of the most popular hiking trails in the area is from the top of the cable car station up to nearby Mt. Fløya. You can hike it with good boots, but Snowshoes would make it much easier. This trail is about one mile, with a moderate incline.
Another great option not far from the city center is Prestvannet. This lake is just northwest and literally above the downtown area. You can get there by walking (steep incline) or taking the bus (28 or 40). There is about a mile of trail around the lake, where you’ll get a variety of great views.
A third nearby option is Telegrafbukta. This large, waterfront park is located on the southwest tip of the island. You can walk there from the city center (about 3 miles) or you can take the bus (33). The Arctic University Museum is right here, so those pair together perfectly. The trail in the area isn’t that long (as in only about a half mile round trip) but the views are nice. There’s also an open air museum of historical Norwegian buildings to explore.
Best Tip: All three of these locations are also decent places to see the Northern Lights, too. They are still effected by the city’s light pollution, but when the lights are strong and the skies are clear they are popular viewing spots. If you already saw the lights on a tour, but want to try to spot them again, definitely head to one of these three areas.
9. Spot Street Art
I’m not sure if it’s the contrast of bright colors against the always-grey skies or just the fact that I didn’t expect it, but the street art in Tromsø really pops. As you wander through the small town, be sure to keep your eyes open and divert down nearby side streets when you catch a glimpse of color.
The works around town grow and change, but here’s a glimpse of some of the major works you might come across.
Best Tip: Search “Street Art” in Google, and you’ll find some of the prominent works.
10. Take a Daytime Tour
There’s a pretty good chance that you’re already planning to take a Northern Lights Tour in the evening. (In which case, be sure to read our our Northern Lights Tour Guide.) For that tour, we recommend a tour that is purely focused on chasing the lights — as opposed to an experience that involves going to a specific location or doing a specific activity.
However, during the day is a perfect time to go on all the other adventures around Tromsø — and boy are there adventures to be had! From water activities (like exploring the fjords or whale watching) to animal excursions (maybe feed the resident reindeer or rake a ride with local sled dogs) to my personal-new-found-favorite-hobby of snowshoeing, there is so much to experience in the region!
If you have the budget to add on an additional daytime tour while you’re in Tromsø, you will not regret it! Just try to do it separately from a Northern Lights tour.
Best Tip: Book a refundable tour on Get Your Guide, and you can get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. If you end up needing to take multiple Northern Lights tours, you might not have the budget to keep your daytime excursion. However, if you see the lights on your first try, you can cancel subsequent Northern Lights bookings and then reroute that money toward a daytime excursion.
Closing thoughts on Tromsø
Tromsø is great because it has a lot that you can do, but not a lot that you have you to do. That makes it easy to build out a relaxing itinerary. You can fill just as much time as you choose to, without getting overwhelmed.
It’s also a great place to just relax. While I personally am the type of traveler who likes to keep busy at all times, I know that’s not everyone’s style. The city has a slew of cozy cafes, patio bars (yes, even in the winter time!), and charming hotel lobbies where you can just relax. It’s not hard to find a comfy spot with an epic view to just take it all in.
The Northern Lights are the reason most tourists come to Tromsø, but the town and region itself holds its own. From breathtaking views to arctic culture to endless adventures, Tromsø has so much to offer. I hope your days and nights in this Nordic wonderland are everything you ever dreamed of.
