Summer Travel Guide to Tromsø Norway

Summer Travel Guide to Tromsø Norway

On my first night in Tromsø, I met a man named Jim from Australia that had first come to Northern Norway’s largest city back in 1971 to experience the endless days of summer. After learning of the midnight sun from the tales of Arctic explorations, he became intrigued with seeing the sun shining brilliantly above his head at a time of the day when it should be far below the horizon.

Summer in Tromsø, like winter, is a land of extremes where the sun does not dip below the horizon for almost 70 days straight. On Jim’s first visit to Tromsø, he was greeted with overcast skies that persisted throughout his visit. He returned to Australia without seeing the midnight sun, but he never forgot about his yearning to see it. He was now returning 48 years later to try to see it one more time. When I met him, he was 6 days into a 7-day trip and had yet again been greeted with rain, fog, and clouds in the late evening hours, but he remained encouraged because life isn’t always about what you see or do, but about the journey in getting there.

I’m going to share my experiences spending a summer in Tromsø and how you can get the best chance of experiencing that incredible midnight sun for yourself. First, let’s look at the midnight sun phenomenon and what actually happens when this magical event occurs in the skies overhead.

While you’re experiencing the otherworldly beautiful extremes of Tromsø, make sure you’re prepared for every landscape and weather condition you could face! I’m including some of my favorite products below with affiliate links that help me earn a small commission at no cost to you if you click and make a purchase. Thanks for your support, and let’s dig into visiting this Norwegian paradise in summer!

What is the Midnight Sun?

The midnight sun happens in the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, where the sun stays above the horizon from roughly 19 May to 27 July (about 71 days), giving this area 24 hours of daylight for a time. The northern lights are not visible during these months. Much like the gentleman I met from Australia, every trip I take to Norway fuels my need to return yet again and explore more of the rich culture and landscape.

Visiting Tromsø this summer, I set out to find the best activities under its 24 hours of daylight. These are the activities, tour companies, and restaurants I recommend for a great time exploring Tromsø in summer with a special focus on sustainability.

• • 👉 Find the perfect hotel 
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  • 🧳 Pack the perfect suitcase with these packing cubes 
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  • 📱Grab an E-Sim for travel abroad

2 AM in Tromsø

Why You Should Visit Tromsø Norway 

Tromsø is located in Northwestern Norway at 69 degrees North in the Arctic Circle. Coined the Gateway to the Arctic, Tromsø is part of a rich history of Arctic exploration that dates back centuries. An easily accessible city with tons of flights from Oslo, it is the best starting point for Arctic adventures in both winter and summer.

Surrounded by mountains and beautiful fjords that interconnect with other islands and wildlands, Tromsø is an outdoor lovers haven. It is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights in winter, offering skiing and dog sledding under the polar night. Summers here offer an endless amount of activities to enjoy under the midnight sun.

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The first thing you will want to do when arriving into Tromsø is explore the city on foot. Tromsø is a very walkable city with many great points of interest you will want to see—like the fjord full of arctic vessels to the Polar Museum and Arctic Cathedral. Break up your walk with a visit to a pub, as Tromsø has more pubs per capita than any city in Norway.

After a refreshing drink at one of the many pubs you will want to get a birds eye view of the city by walking over to the Fjellheisen. ​GET THE TROMSO PASS here.

Visit the Fjeillheisen 

Tromsø’s gondola, “Fjeillheisen in Norwegian,” takes you to the top of Floya and is a great way to see the city. You can choose to hike or ride up the hill to reach this breathtaking observation deck and mountain peak. Here, you’ll see all of Tromsøya, which is the island Tromsø sits on. The short hike is steep but well worth it, taking about 45 minutes. You will be easily distracted by the great scenery!

After enjoying the views at the top, you can grab a hot beverage or a meal at the summit restaurant. For those wanting to ride up or down, the Gondola is open until 1am in the summer and costs 150 NK each way—about $17 US.

Getting There: From downtown Tromsø, you can make the walk across the bridge, past the Arctic Cathedral, and through the neighborhood to the base of the Fjellheisen. You can also drive or ride a bike. 

Tip: If the sky is clear on a summer night, head to the Arctic Cathedral for the 11pm concert and then go up the Gondola to see the midnight sun. Even if you stay out past the closing, you can walk down because it will still be light.

Midnight Sailing of the Fjords with Pukka Travels 

Tromsø is located on an island called Tromsøya and surrounded by beautiful fjords. One of the best ways to get a picture of the landscape is to explore by water. In summer, with 24 hours of daylight thanks to the midnight sun, you can head out into the fjords by catamaran at midnight to see the phenomenon and the beautiful waterways.

Sail with Pukka Travels for a zero-emission excursion around the island with unlimited coffee, tea, and light snacks. Sit back and relax or lend a hand in raising the sails while you sail the fjords.

Hike to Nearby Whale Island

While the city of Tromsø is beautiful, it’s the surrounding landscape that will really leave you stunned. During summer, the once snow-covered hillsides bloom to life with lush greenery, ripe berries, and gushing waterfalls. A great way to see these lands and fjords is to go on a hiking tour. Pukka Travels will pick you up in a Tesla and drive you to the surrounding islands to hike and explore on several differing day trips.

While I was there, we visited Whale Island and hiked to a prominent hilltop to see the beauty of the fjords from above. I enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa on the top and a freshly made sandwich before heading to a few more points of interest in the area. I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary!

Take a Photography Tour 

Photographers and non-hikers will love this photography tour with Wandering Owl, too. This tour is great if you’d like a tour of the area in a more relaxed setting. The small group travels by van to see some of the Tromsø regions’ most picturesque locations. Heading out from Tromsø, we drove off the island and headed towards the fjords.  A rainy morning made for great scenery as fog and whispering clouds rolled through the region.

Heading further towards the coast, we drove to small fishing villages where the icy waters of the fjords meets the windswept meadows of tall green grasses, yellow daisies, and white flowers. This was a truly stunning place to capture unforgettable photos of my summer in Tromsø trip.

This area was beautiful! With crystal clear blue water, lush grasses and colorful houses. I saw reindeer hiding in a field at one of our stops, and eagles soaring overhead at another. We stopped for a picnic on our way before continuing to see more of the landscape.

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One of my favorite stops on this tour was our visit to see a collection of old wooden houses. Tromsø, which is well known for its colorful wooden houses, contains the highest number of these homes in all of Northern Norway with the oldest dating from 1789. Outside of Tromsø, there is a grouping of several of these homes that have been collected and placed along the fjord. It made for one of my favorite stops with the opportunity for some great photos. ​

Find tours in Tromsø here

Why Are the Homes Painted Red? When Tromsø began as an Arctic hunting outpost for whaling and fur trading, the cheapest thing to paint with was mixtures of whale and animal blood. Even into the early 1900s, white paint was very expensive, so if you couldn’t afford a lot, you would paint the front of your house white and your barn red or orange.

Tromsø Daytrip Ideas

1. Sommarøy (Summer Island) 

The small island of Sommarøy is located on the outside of Kvaloya. It’s a beautiful and charming little fishing village, surrounded by white sandy beaches and the azure blue ocean. No wonder it has been nicknamed the Caribbean of the Arctic! It might also be the first place in the world to be a time-free zone after recently petitioning the government to get rid of time for the summer months.

The bridge into the village is smattered with watches—a reminder maybe we should all be less concerned with what our wrist says and more concerned with how we feel. For the best experience, get a room at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel and spend a day kayaking, fishing or biking around the island.

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How to get to Sommarøy: It is easiest to get to Sommarøy by car (1 hour). From Tromsø, drive to Kvaløya and follow the signs to Sommarøy. You can also take bus No. 420 from downtown of Tromsø to Sommarøy. The bus leaves from the downtown of Tromsø (bus stop Prostneset next to the tourist information center Visit Tromsø). The bus ticket cost 100 Nkr with the free app “Troms Mobillett”.

2. Senja 

While I have yet to visit the island of Lofoten, I was thoroughly enthralled by the epic coastline, jagged mountains and lush green landscape I saw in Senja. Arriving into the ferry terminal, the calm waters of the fjord hold the most beautiful reflections that will be hard to take your eyes off.

• Hiking Segla: If you are up for a hike, I recommend heading over to Segla to see one of the most beautiful vistas on the island. The hike is only about 2 miles each way, up a steep and rock laden path that gets gradually stepper past the tree line. You will see the village Fjordgard in the background as you head up the hillside and into a land of epic beauty. From the summit, you will see 360 degrees and really be able to take in the landscape in full. The weather can change rapidly, so be prepared for rain or wind even on the clearest of days. ​
• Drive the Scenic Route: ​One of the easiest ways to see Senja is by driving or biking the scenic route—one of the most spectacular drives in Norway. Senja is like an eldorado for outdoor lovers with unbeatable hiking, cycling, diving, and paddling. Stop along the route for a night or two and don’t miss the golden toilet at Ersfjordstranda, the winding beach walkway at Tungeneset, or the epic viewpoint at Bergsbotn. The scenic loop can you connect you with additional islands by ferry or back to tromso via the highway.  Get more info on the scenic route here.

How to get to Senja: After an exploration of Sommarøy, head to the ferry terminal in Brensholmen, drive aboard, and set sail for the neighboring island of Senja. Ferries run several times a day and take about 90 minutes. They don’t hold that many cars, so get there a few minutes early to be farther up in line. Ticket information available here. Pack snacks and something to drink. Stores nearby and in Senja don’t open until 10am or later. ​​

Things to Know About Summer in Tromsø

No summer travel guide to Tromsø Norway is complete without a few of the special tips you can only get from seasoned travelers. I’ve really enjoyed exploring the city and its surrounding landscapes, so take these tips to heart to make the most of your trip!

• Sleeping: With 24 hours of daylight getting enough shut eye can be a challenge, as your body will want to be awake in the light. It is important however to try to keep to a normal sleep schedule to keep you feeling at your best. Close those blackout curtains tightly when you go to bed so the lights don’t rouse you to soon. On my first night I woke up at 3am to the bright shining sunlight of the midnight sun, and almost got up for a stroll. Resist the urge to start your day so early.
• Weather:  Since Tromso is located on the Gulf Stream it experiences milder weather than most places at a similar latitude. With subarctic conditions it rarely gets below 0 in winter, and summers have an average temperature of 50 F.
• Currency: Norway uses the Norwegian Crown (NOK) which is equal to about $0.11 USD. Note that Credit Cards are supreme in Norway with many places not even accepting cash.
• Opening Hours: While sunlight persists for 24 hours in summer, most businesses with the exception of some pubs and tours still close at normal times.

Getting There

Taking into consideration my long flight in getting to Norway, I made sure to fly with the most energy efficient transatlantic airline, Norwegian Air, which offers some of the best rates on more than 60 nonstop routes. ​Check out their LOW FARE FINDER for the best rates. 

Where to Stay in Tromsø

Clarion The Edge Hotel has the perfect location in Tromsø—right on the water’s edge and across the street from the Tromsø tourism board and ferry terminal. Step outside for brisk walk along the harbour or some shopping in the main square. This hotel has a superb breakfast buffet with dozens of choices, fresh breads, norwegian waffles, made to order omelets, cheeses, meats and much more.

In the evenings, you can dine at the gourmet restaurant or head to the roof to enjoy a cocktail from its indoor/outdoor deck that overlooks the town and has a superb view of the Arctic Cathedral.

Where to Eat in Tromso

Tromsø has a number of great eateries most of which source from local purveyors, with fine quality meats and seafoods. A few of my favorites are below.

Emmas: Visit Site
Emmas is an upscale restaurant in the town square, it’s simple but elegant decor has touches of rose and gold accents and its large picture windows look out into the main square.

It’s a great spot for an intimate dinner with friends or family or solo as I was. Mind you, I was the youngest person by about 20 years. Age aside, I ordered a delicious plate of Norwegian salmon, crisped to perfection with mashed sweet potatoes and crunchy turnips. The staff do their best to keep the ambience quiet and peaceful.  At one point, a pan was dropped in the kitchen followed by a loud “Shhhhh” and I couldn’t help but giggle out loud.
​
BARDUS: Visit Site 
Bardus is located across from the library so it’s fitting that the interior looks like the perfect place to curl up with a book. It’s small, like many of the best Tromsø restaurants and has a very small menu of northern Norwegian staples.  Reindeer, halibut, whale (a Norwegian Delicacy), and celery stew. While whale may be hard to swallow to most Americans, I highly recommend trying a reindeer filet.

The meat, which is lower in fat than cow is much more tender and rich, with antioxidants and omega 3’s. Still raised as they were hundreds of years before, reindeer is the ultimate sustainable meat. As a non-meat eater, I enjoyed a freshly poached piece of halibut that was exquisite to say the least. For cocktail lovers, the sister bar is a great place to enjoy a nightcap before you teeter off for a daylight rest. 

For more resources on travel in Norway check out these articles and pages:

• Norway Travel Articles
• Winter In Norway Guide
• Norway’s North Cape
• 10 Photographs to Inspire your Travels to Norway
• Norway Video Series

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Join the conversation and let me know what would your first stop be in Tromsø?