Skarven
Restaurant · harbour
A harbourfront pub-restaurant serving Arctic seafood and fish soup.
Best for: Arctic seafood
Best time: dinner
Where to actually go in Tromso
Where to eat, drink and go out in Tromso: 20 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Eat & drink in Tromso
Emma's Drømmekjøkken
Restaurant · centre
A cosy restaurant known for northern Norwegian cooking like bacalao and fish.
Best for: a special dinner
Booking: Reserve ahead.
Best time: dinner
Fiskekompaniet
Restaurant · harbour
A seafood restaurant on the harbour, known for Arctic fish.
Best for: a seafood splurge
Best time: dinner
Sights & days out in Tromso
Northern lights chase
Activity · leaves from the centre
A minibus or bus that drives to wherever the sky is clearest, sometimes into Finland.
Best for: the reason most people come in winter
Booking: Book a tour that rebooks you free if there is no aurora.
Best time: late night
Heads up: Never guaranteed; dress for serious cold.
Arctic Cathedral
Sight · Tromsdalen (across the bridge)
A white triangular church across the bridge, with midnight-sun concerts in summer.
Best for: architecture, photos
Best time: afternoon
Fjellheisen cable car
Viewpoint · Tromsdalen
A cable car up Storsteinen for a view over the island city, and sometimes the aurora.
Best for: the city view
Best time: sunset or night
Sherpa steps to Storsteinen
Walk · Tromsdalen
Over 1,200 stone steps built by Nepalese sherpas, up to the cable car station.
Best for: a free climb in summer
Price: free
Best time: afternoon (summer)
Heads up: Icy and closed to sensible people in winter.
Polaria
Museum · centre
An Arctic aquarium in a building like toppled ice blocks, with bearded seals.
Best for: a polar-day or bad-weather visit
Best time: afternoon
Polar Museum
Museum · harbour
Stories of Arctic trappers and explorers like Amundsen, in an old warehouse.
Best for: polar history
Best time: afternoon
The Arctic University Museum of Norway
Museum · Folkeparken (south of centre)
Sámi culture, the northern lights explained, and Arctic nature.
Best for: understanding the aurora and the Sámi
Best time: afternoon
Pust floating sauna
Activity · harbour
A floating sauna in the harbour, with dips in the Arctic sea between sessions.
Best for: the bravest thing you will do in Tromsø
Booking: Book a slot online.
Best time: evening
Dog sledding
Activity · outside the city
Huskies pulling you through snowy valleys; most tours include driving your own sled.
Best for: the bucket-list winter day
Booking: Book ahead; popular weekends sell out.
Best time: daytime (winter)
Sámi reindeer camp
Activity · outside the city
Feeding reindeer and hearing about Sámi life in a lavvo tent.
Best for: culture with animals
Best time: daytime
Whale watching
Activity · fjords north of Tromsø
Boat trips to see orcas and humpbacks that follow the herring, usually from about November to January.
Best for: a once-in-a-lifetime winter trip
Best time: full day (winter)
Heads up: Season and sightings vary year to year.
Arctic fjord cruise
Activity · harbour
A boat trip through the fjords around the island, with mountains and sea eagles.
Best for: scenery without a long drive
Best time: daytime
Kvaløya and Sommarøy
Activity · west of Tromsø
A drive across mountain island scenery to white beaches and turquoise water at Sommarøy.
Best for: a scenic day trip
Best time: full day
Prestvannet lake
Walk · top of the island
A lake on the hilltop of the island, a darker spot for aurora watching close to town.
Best for: free aurora watching
Price: free
Best time: evening
Telegrafbukta beach
Beach · south tip of the island
A small beach at the island's south tip, good for the midnight sun or the aurora.
Best for: a free evening spot
Price: free
Best time: evening
Nights out in Tromso
Ølhallen (Mack brewery)
Pub · centre
The old Mack brewery's beer hall with dozens of taps; one of the most northerly breweries.
Best for: a beer with history
Best time: evening
Raketten
Bar · Storgata
A tiny kiosk bar and hot dog stand that claims to be the smallest bar in the world.
Best for: a cheap reindeer hot dog
Best time: any time