Positioned well within the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is your perfect northern base for a winter city escape or the ultimate launchpad for Aurora hunting and polar adventures.
Luxury Holidays in Tromso
@ Yngve-Olsen Visit Norway
@ Yngve-Olsen Visit Norway
A word from our travel specialist
Tromsø is probably the Arctic’s coolest city and your ultimate base for chasing the Northern Lights! Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and sparkling fjords, this vibrant town packs big-city vibes into a small, stunning package.
Think colourful wooden houses, buzzing cafes, and a vibrant dining scene serving fresh, local Arctic flavours. Whether you’re dog sledding, whale watching, or soaking up the midnight sun (or polar night), Tromsø offers authentic Arctic adventure in abundance.
Lucy
Nordic Experience Curator
Inspiration for Holidays in Tromso, Norway
A Nordic Christmas Adventure from Oslo to Arctic Lapland
A festive Nordic escape from Oslo to Arctic Lapland featuring Northern Lights, Sami culture, snow adventures and an unforgettable igloo stay.
A Winter Escape Through Norway’s Arctic Wonders
A luxurious winter journey through Norway’s Arctic landscapes featuring culture, wildlife, Northern Lights and unforgettable boutique stays.
An Arctic Escape beneath the Aurora
Celebrate in the Arctic with luxury lodging, snow adventures, reindeer encounters, and extraordinary northern lights.
Tromsø and Malangen Winter Escape
Explore Tromsø and Malangen by snowshoe, sled and snowmobile, with Arctic wildlife, Sami culture and Northern Lights at every turn.
The Ultimate Arctic Aurora Journey
From Lofoten’s fjords to forest spas in Swedish Lapland, this luxury Arctic escape blends wild landscapes with warmth and wonder.
Tromso Experience
Arctic dog-sledding, Sami culture, fjord cruises & Northern Lights city escape—discover Tromsø’s best in one curated winter experience.
@ Novemberlys
Tromso, Designed Around You
Welcome to Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic, where snow-dusted mountains meet serene fjords and the dancing Northern Lights paint the skies. Whether you’re seeking solitude in nature or adrenaline-fuelled exploration, this city, dubbed the Paris of the North in Northern Norway, offers an exquisite balance of luxury, culture, and adventure.
Let our team of Nordic Experience Curators create your bespoke experience in Tromsø. Simply share your interests—whether it’s wellness, Arctic cuisine, or thrilling excursions—and we’ll curate your perfect itinerary.
No matter your style of travel, Tromsø is a place to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the extraordinary.
Speak to your Adventure Artist today and let us design a journey as unique as you are.
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
Skaret Lodge
A private hilltop retreat near Tromsø with panoramic views, Nordic design and Arctic adventures from your doorstep.
Hotel St Elisabeth, Tromsø
A unique, luxury hotel in the heart of Tromsø, premium comfort, with a rich history
Vindlys Luxury Apartments
Luxury private apartments with 360° views of the mountains and fjords
The Dock 69°39 by Scandic
A unique hotel in the heart of Tromsø, premium comfort and rich history
Clarion Hotel The Edge
Northern Lights, whale safaris and the Arctic Cathedral on your doorstepThe Guidebook
Explore Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø is a city of contrasts — where Arctic wilderness meets lively cultural life, and where you can chase the Northern Lights in winter or bask in the Midnight Sun during summer. Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Arctic”, Tromsø is a year-round destination that offers unforgettable adventures, warm hospitality, and a genuine connection to nature.
Despite its remote location, Tromsø surprises visitors with its buzzing food scene, dynamic festivals, and easy access to fjords, mountains, and wildlife.
Getting There
Getting to Tromsø is easier than you might think. The city is served by Tromsø Airport Langnes, with direct flights from Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki, as well as several other European hubs during the peak seasons. From Oslo, it’s just under two hours by plane. Once you land, the city centre is a short 10-minute taxi or airport shuttle ride away.
You can also arrive via a scenic journey on the Hurtigruten coastal ferry, which sails north and south along Norway’s rugged coastline — a perfect twin-centre idea when combined with Bergen or the Lofoten Islands.
Arctic City Charm
Tromsø sits on an island surrounded by dramatic mountains and is connected to the mainland by an iconic arched bridge. At the heart of the city lies a charming centre with wooden houses, lively bars, local boutiques, and inviting cafés.
Key highlights include the Arctic Cathedral, the Polar Museum, and the Fjellheisen Cable Car, which takes you up Mount Storsteinen for panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding fjords — an absolute must, day or night.
Nature & Northern Lights
From late September to early April, Tromsø is one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights. With high solar activity and clear Arctic skies, this region offers nightly opportunities to witness this natural wonder.
In summer (late May to mid-July), the sun never sets — giving you the rare chance to hike, kayak or whale-watch under the Midnight Sun. Whether you’re dog sledding through snowy forests or paddling a fjord at 11pm in daylight, the Arctic experience is always magical.
Wildlife lovers can spot reindeer, sea eagles, whales (especially in winter), and even try king crab fishing or husky safaris with local guides.
Culture & Cuisine
Tromsø may be small, but it’s culturally rich. The International Film Festival (January) and Northern Lights Festival (February) attract global artists and visitors. There’s also a growing foodie scene, with restaurants serving Arctic delicacies like smoked cod, reindeer stew, and wild berries.
Be sure to try the local speciality — Boknafisk (semi-dried cod) — or warm up in a cosy café with Norwegian waffles and cloudberry jam.
Climate
Tromsø has a sub-Arctic climate, but it’s milder than you might expect due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. Winters are snowy and magical, with average temperatures around -5°C, though it can drop lower in inland areas. Summers are cool and fresh, averaging 12–15°C, but the Midnight Sun makes it feel warmer and more energising.
Despite the latitude, Tromsø is a lively, liveable Arctic city — perfect for those who want a balance of adventure, nature, and Nordic charm.
Hello Lucy!! Kim and I had a fantastic time in Iceland! Probably one of my top 3 trips I’ve ever taken!
It was everything we asked for and you did a wonderful job coordinating it all so beautifully!!
Thank you very much and we will contact you again when we get ready to plan our trip to Norway and Lapland!
Doreen
I used OTMT to organise a holiday to see the Northern Lights for my partner’s 50th birthday. They took the time to understand my priorities, the kinds of places we like to stay and the things we like to do. They recommended a fabulous itinerary in Norway centred around the Lyngen Experience Lodge. The holiday itself lived up to expectations and I have no hesitation in recommending OTMT. They listened carefully during the planning and delivered the perfect present for my partner.
Alex
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
Karen
We originally hired Off the Map Travel in 2020 to set up a trip to see the Northern Lights. That didn’t happen, thanks to COVID. But, we persisted and in March of 2023, we took a 16-day trip that included both Iceland and Norway. IT WAS MAGICAL! Off the Map took care of everything! We were pampered at every stage of our trip. The people they hired and the activities they planned added up to a trip that will set the standard for any we’ll ever take in the future. Alex and his team were fabulous! We recommend them without restraint!
Jim & Kris
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
What an amazing trip we are having. It is incredible. Many many thanks for arranging such an incredible trip.
Giles
Amy planned a fantastic trip! Everything was very well-thought out. All transfers went smoothly, accommodations were amazing, great restaurant recommendations and the tours were once-in-a-lifetime, can’t book it yourself off the internet experiences. The guides were all fantastic. Communications were prompt and everything worked exactly the way it was supposed to. What a pleasure! Already working on our next trip.
Anonymous
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
We have loved it so much here that we have extended our stay and will come back to Bjornfjell and stay in one of their cabins until Jan 3 then we are staying in the igloo hotel the night of the 3rd. 😊We added a few excursions this week – we did the whale trip on the RIB boat (wow!), toured the igloo hotel (which is why we decided to book the last night!) and did the reindeer sleigh at Sorrisniva. You were so right, the bonfire excursion was incredible!!It has been an absolutely amazing trip!
Kristen
Fantastic trip to Svalbard which delivered the true Arctic experience we were hoping for. The hotels were excellent and the activities – dog sledding and snowmobile expedition were lead by first class guides.
Top tip! The champagne tasting in the world’s most northerly wine cellar in the exceptional Funken Lodge is not to be missed!
Faith
We really enjoyed our Norwegian adventure despite the -22 days! Unfortunately no real experience of viewing the Lights but we did capture a couple of images on our last night – too much cloud otherwise so lots of snow. We really enjoyed the husky lodge – not at all what we had tentatively imagined. Thanks for your assistance, maybe next time we will see the Lights in all their glory.
Andrew
Exceptional service throughout the entire planning and booking process – travel agencies don’t get any better than this. A brilliant, seamless experience matched by the holiday experience itself. Would recommend ‘Off the Map Travel’ to anyone considering booking for a Nordic experience ‘par excellence’.
Chris