Northern Lights Chase & Adventures in Norway

Why Tromsø?

We've longed to see the Northern Lights in person, and after some online research we discovered the small city Tromsø, Norway, located high in the north — about 350 km above the Arctic Circle. It lies within the so-called Aurora Zone, which has the highest chance of spotting the Northern Lights. Thanks to its proximity to the magnetic North Pole, clear nights between September and April almost always offer opportunities to witness this spectacular phenomenon.

Another big advantage: the outskirts of Tromsø are easily accessible, and these spots offer minimal light pollution. Plus, there are many providers specializing in Northern Lights tours.

Accessibility was key for us. Tromsø is one of the northernmost cities worldwide with its own airport, and the city boasts a strong infrastructure — public transport, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, and bars — everything you could need.

Getting There & Accommodation

Flight & Transport to Tromsø

The easiest way to get to Tromsø is by airplane. Direct flights are offered by airlines like Lufthansa, SAS, or Finnair from various European cities (e.g. Vienna, Oslo or Frankfurt). From the airport, you can reach the city center in just 10–20 minutes by taxi, Uber, rental car, or bus (Airport Express or local bus lines 40 and 41). Tip: Use the “Svipper” app to locate bus routes and buy tickets — it’s often cheaper than buying on the bus.

Arrival and Departure – Tromsø Airport

Hotels, Airbnbs & Other Lodgings

Tromsø offers a wide range of accommodation to suit everyone. Stay in a modern, central hotel, or venture outside town to a cozy lodge. Particularly charming are the traditional rorbuer — fishermen’s cabins for an authentic Northern experience. For something truly unique, book one of the spectacular glass igloos, where you can watch the Northern Lights right from your bed.

I can highly recommend Tromsø Lodge & Camping. It’s located just outside the city — ideal for evening Aurora hunting — and minutes away by bus. The Explorer cabins with glass windows above the beds are a standout. There's a restaurant serving buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks; a Eurospar supermarket within walking distance; and tours/bookings available directly onsite. A big bonus: you get picked up for tours right at your accommodation.

Tromsø Lodge & Camping

Experiencing the Northern Lights

Best Observation Spots

Tromsø is one of the top destinations for Northern Lights viewing. Your best chance to catch them in all their glory is outside the city center. Highly recommended spots include the mountain ranges around the city, such as Storsteinen — the city’s 421 m high mountain accessible via the Fjellheisen cable car. Other great viewing locations are Prestvannet lake and Telegrafbukta.

Guided Tours vs. Solo Exploration

If you want to go further out, you can either book a guided tour or try your luck by renting a car. A guided tour gives you the advantage of local expert knowledge — guides know exactly where and when to go for optimal chances. Renting a car gives you flexibility, but you must be prepared for rapidly changing weather and icy roads. Accidents are common when tourists underestimate the road conditions.

Tip: Book a tour that includes “Aurora Hunting” — i.e., where you’re taken to various spots depending on the weather, rather than staying in a single basecamp. This greatly increases your chances of seeing the lights even in bad weather. And if you’re flying out the next morning: don’t book an early flight — our tour lasted until 3:30 AM 😉 (more in the travel journal below).

Tips for a Successful Sighting

First off: The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, meaning they don’t always appear. But there are indicators that improve your chances. The best time for viewing is September through March, when the nights are long and dark. Activity is highest between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM, when it’s darkest and geomagnetic activity often peaks. Ideal conditions are clear, cloudless skies and locations with minimal light pollution.

Use apps like My Aurora Forecast & Alerts, Aurora Forecast, Meine Polarlichter-Vorhersage, or Kachelmann-Wetter (a local guide favorite) to track the KP index (measuring aurora activity from 0 to 9) and cloud cover.

If the conditions aren’t ideal, expect to wait — and bring patience. Be ready to drive spontaneously to better viewing spots. Wear warm clothes, and bring hot drinks in a thermos, as waiting might take hours. My tip: Plan to stay multiple nights to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Activities Beyond the Northern Lights

Tromsø offers a wide range of things to do beyond Aurora watching. Here are just a few popular activities you can book:

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  Husky sledding: Glide through the snowy landscape pulled by dogs
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  Reindeer feeding & Sami culture: Experience the traditions of the indigenous people
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  Fjellheisen: Ride the cable car to Storsteinen mountain for panoramic views
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  Snowmobile tour: Race across frozen plains
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  Snowshoe hiking: Walk quietly through snowy forests
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  Whale watching: Spot orcas and humpback whales in the wild
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  Museum visits: Learn about local culture and history (e.g. the Troll Museum)
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  Science Centre & Planetarium: Interactive exhibitions and Northern Lights shows

My personal highlights and experiences can be found in the travel diary below.

Packing List & Travel Tips

Clothing for Arctic Temperatures

In Tromsø, winter temperatures can drop well below -10°C, especially from December to February. However, it’s also possible to experience days with temperatures above 0°C. That's why it's important to be prepared for any weather and dress in layers, allowing you to adapt to different activities and temperatures.

My tips: Start with a thermal base layer (e.g. polyester or merino wool) that wicks moisture from the body, followed by an insulating layer such as a fleece pullover and/or down jacket. Top it off with a windproof and waterproof outer jacket (like a ski jacket) and pants, along with a warm hat, gloves, and a scarf or neck gaiter.

Extra tip: Wear mittens over finger gloves to stay warm and maintain dexterity. Don’t forget insulated, waterproof winter boots, wool insoles, and thick merino wool socks. Also, ice spikes are a must for walking on icy paths. Consider bringing hand and foot warmers for extended time outdoors.

If you're joining a tour, check with the provider if they offer thermal suits, gloves, or snow boots for rent.

Here are my top recommendations that kept me warm throughout the trip:

Thermal Base Layer

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  Merino wool thermal underwear by Danish Endurance: https://amzn.eu/d/gl4DGPW
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  Polyester thermal underwear by Lapasa (warm or extra warm): https://amzn.eu/d/icVPrnB

Winter Boots

Finding the right footwear — waterproof and suitable for very cold conditions — was a challenge. After lots of research and testing, these are my picks:

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  Columbia Minx IV (non-leather): https://amzn.eu/d/dprGNhi
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  Columbia Ice Maiden II (leather): https://amzn.eu/d/cTePFyt
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  Sorel Carnival (non-leather): https://amzn.eu/d/1axr2fd
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  Kamik Momentum 3 (non-leather): https://amzn.eu/d/2uuRfPH
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  Keen Greta (leather): https://amzn.eu/d/cyffAeQ

Other Useful Items

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  Fleece jacket – Columbia Fire Side II: https://amzn.eu/d/9kYFMXP
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  Softshell pants – 33,000ft: https://amzn.eu/d/3tNkK1F
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  Wool and felt insoles: https://amzn.eu/d/84ZauRl
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  Mittens – Reusch Helena R-TEX XT Mitten: https://amzn.eu/d/5Wd9bhc
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  Merino wool socks – Danish Endurance: https://amzn.eu/d/j0ESQPM
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  Hand warmers – The Heat Company: https://amzn.eu/d/9PX1JgQ
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  Foot warmers – The Heat Company: https://amzn.eu/d/9stmOKq
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  Ice spikes – Eonpow: https://amzn.eu/d/dDESPHp

> These are affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, you support the TravelCockatoo blog at no extra cost to you! ✌️ You benefit from top recommendations, and we get a small contribution to keep creating helpful content. 🎉🚀

Tips for Photographing the Northern Lights

Capturing the Northern Lights can be a real challenge, but with the right settings, it’s absolutely doable. Here are some tips to help you photograph the aurora with your camera or phone:

1. Set manual exposure : Use manual (M) mode to control settings yourself. Set ISO between 800–1600 to reduce noise while still gathering enough light.
2. Use a wide aperture : Choose a low f-stop like f/2.8 or lower to let in as much light as possible and capture the colors more vividly.
3. Shutter speed : Aim for 5 to 20 seconds depending on aurora brightness. Shorter for weaker lights, longer for strong displays.
4. Manual focus to infinity : Autofocus often fails in darkness, so set your lens to infinity manually to ensure sharp shots.
5. Use a tripod : Essential for stability during long exposures. A sturdy setup means sharper photos.
6. Shoot in RAW : This gives you the most editing flexibility later for exposure and color correction.

Bonus tip: Set up your camera before you head out, so you don’t have to fiddle with settings in the cold and dark. The aurora sometimes only lasts a few minutes — be ready to go to capture the magic! ✨

Money, Prices & Budget Planning

Heads up: Norway is significantly more expensive than most other European countries — and Tromsø is no exception. Especially during high season, costs for accommodation and food can be steep. A simple restaurant lunch can cost 150–200 NOK (~15–20 €), although grocery shopping is a cheaper alternative. Accommodation ranges from budget Airbnbs to luxury hotels. To save money, try booking group activities instead of private tours, or rent a place with a kitchen so you can cook your own meals. Keep in mind that many excursions (e.g. snowmobiles, Northern Lights tours) come with extra costs, and credit card fees may apply depending on your bank.

Exchange rate: 1 NOK = 0.085 EUR (as of February 2025)

Here’s a summary of my own expenses (per person):

Travel Diary: Experiencing Tromsø in 6 Days – Personal Experiences, Activities & Tips

Day 1: Arrival, Accommodation & First Exploration

After a journey of about six hours with a layover in Frankfurt, we landed on time at Tromsø Airport. A 15-minute taxi ride later, we arrived at our accommodation, Tromsø Lodge & Camping, located just outside the city.

We highly recommend the Explorer Cabins, situated right by the river. They are not only equipped with a practical kitchenette and a small balcony but also feature large glass windows above the beds — perfect for stargazing on clear nights. Absolutely magical!

Next to the campsite, there's a lit forest trail that you can use to go on a northern lights hunt after dark. Unfortunately, we weren't lucky enough to see them on the first night.

Tromsø Lodge & Camping

Day 2: Lyngen Snowmobile Safari

Early in the morning at 8 AM, a bus from the tour operator Best Arctic picked us up directly at our accommodation. We were first taken to the city to meet the rest of the group. After about 1.5 hours by bus, we reached Breivikeidet, where we boarded a car ferry for a 20-minute ride to the mainland. In Svensby, our snowmobile guides were already waiting for us. A short drive up a hill brought us to our final destination.

At a hut, we received our gear for the tour (thermal suits, helmets, snow boots, gloves, and balaclavas). After a brief safety introduction and instructions on how to operate the snowmobiles — including some hand signals to communicate while driving — we were ready to go! Each snowmobile could be used by two people. Drivers needed to hold a valid driver's license, otherwise only the passenger seat was allowed.

We started off slowly on narrow trails through a snowy winter forest, then sped up across a snow-covered landscape with stunning views of the Lyngen Alps. The guides made frequent stops to check in and allowed us to swap seats. The tour was very beginner-friendly, with no difficult sections and a moderate pace that let us soak in the incredible scenery.

Midway, we stopped at a viewpoint to take pictures and warm up with coffee or tea. After about 1.5 hours of snowmobiling, we returned to the starting point.

In a nearby lodge, we were served traditional fish soup (or carrot soup for vegetarians), cake, and drinks. Then it was time to head back to Tromsø. As it was already getting dark on the return trip, we were glad to have chosen the earlier tour. Our verdict: two thumbs up — this experience is a must!

Back in Tromsø, we went souvenir shopping and tried our luck again with the northern lights — but still no success.

Lyngen Snowmobile Safari

Day 3: Troll Museum, Science Centre & Planetarium

We had planned an Aurora Safari with Tromsø Friluftsenter for this day. However, we woke up to a cold winter day with light snowfall and a cloudy sky. Knowing how quickly the weather can change in the north, we didn’t let that discourage us.

Troll Museum

The charming Troll Museum is located in the heart of Tromsø and is Norway's first museum dedicated to the legends and stories about trolls. Using augmented reality, the folklore comes to life in an entertaining way. The museum includes two small exhibition rooms, a library, and a playroom. Due to its size and crowd levels, we only spent about 30 minutes there. If you want to explore everything thoroughly, plan for about an hour.

Ticket prices were a bit steep for the short visit:

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  Adults: 200 NOK (~€17)
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  Children (5–12 years): 100 NOK
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  Children under 5: FREE
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  Seniors and students: 150 NOK
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  Family ticket (2 adults + 2 kids): 450 NOK
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  Guided group tour: Regular price + 1000 NOK

A printed or audio guide in German was included in the ticket price.

Science Centre of Northern Norway & Planetarium

A 10-minute bus ride brought us to the Science Centre of Northern Norway (Nordnorsk vitensenter). The on-site planetarium offers a daily show on the northern lights (weekdays at 2 PM, weekends at 12 and 2 PM). The exhibition and the show were included in one ticket, which we purchased on-site without issues.

The interactive exhibits are fascinating for both adults and children. Spread over three floors, more than 100 stations cover meteorology, natural phenomena, weather and climate change, energy production, and the human body and brain. You could easily spend two to three hours here — we had to shorten our visit due to time constraints.

At 2 PM, we watched the 30-minute planetarium film **"Extreme Auroras"**, which was in English (other showings are available in German and Norwegian). It explained the history and science behind the aurora with stunning visuals — though the title may have been a bit of an exaggeration.

Sightseeing in Tromsø

Northern Lights Tour [Cancelled]

Back at the lodge, we bundled up for the Aurora tour. However, our guide wasn’t optimistic due to the thick cloud cover. At the meeting point, he offered us three options: go ahead with low chances, get a refund, or reschedule. We chose to rebook for two days later. A bit disappointed, we spent the evening at the cabin. Luckily, we still had more nights in Tromsø — unlike some less fortunate tourists.

Day 4: Reindeer Feeding & Sami Culture

At 10 AM, Tromsø Arctic Reindeer picked us up by bus to visit the Sami and their reindeer. After about 30 minutes, we arrived at the Sami Camp, perched on a hill. A traditionally dressed Sami host greeted us and handed out buckets of feed. We also borrowed ice spikes, which were a lifesaver on the slippery paths.

The reindeer were very tame and came close to feed, making it easy to snap photos. After about 45 minutes, we warmed up in a hut with cookies, tea, and coffee. However, the camp was quite crowded, with two full tour buses at once.

Lunch included reindeer stew, or potato goulash for vegetarians. Afterwards, we were invited into a large tent to learn more about Sami culture and history. Sadly, the presentation felt rushed and uninspired. It was also freezing inside, with strong winds making it hard to concentrate. We left half-frozen and disappointed — this tour was not worth the money. The experience felt impersonal and overly touristy. A real letdown.

Sami Culture & Reindeer Experience

Day 5: Northern Lights Tour

Tonight, we gave the northern lights another try. Although it was cloudy during the day, the forecast predicted clearing skies at night. Knut, our guide from the tour operator Tromsø Friluftsenter, picked us up in a minibus and shared funny anecdotes and facts about Norway and the auroras.

After a quick restroom and snack stop — the last toilet for the next 9 hours! — we continued toward the Finnish border where temperatures were around -20°C. We had our passports ready but weren’t checked.

Knut made frequent stops to scan the sky. At a remote cabin, he pointed out a faint white veil and declared: “There they are — the northern lights!” Somewhat puzzled, we got our camera out. Knut helped us adjust the settings — and sure enough, the camera showed a vibrant green glow!

We were about to leave when suddenly Knut urged us out of the bus again: the sky lit up with fast-moving auroras! Not quite as green as in the pictures, but still breathtaking. Despite the freezing cold, we stayed out taking photos. Well past midnight, we began the return journey. After a slippery, snowy adventure, we arrived at the lodge at 3:30 AM, completely exhausted but thrilled. A true highlight!

Northern Lights Chase – Tromsø Friluftsenter

Day 6: Husky Safari in Tamokdalen

For our final day, we booked a husky safari that started at 11 AM. We met the group downtown and then took a 1.5-hour bus ride through spectacular mountain scenery. Tip: Bring snacks — there’s no lunch stop.

At the husky farm, we were divided into two groups and received warm clothing (thermal suits, boots, gloves). The dogs were excited and ready to go! One person stood on the sled’s back (braking), while the other sat in front. Halfway through, we swapped positions.

The sled ride lasted about 1.5 hours, winding through forests, past a lake, and across snowy fields with views of the surrounding mountains. Afterwards, we were served hot drinks and a warm meal (fish soup or potato goulash). The guides shared stories about the dogs and life at the farm. Before heading back, we got to visit the adorable husky puppies.

Husky Safari Tamokdalen

Day 7: Departure

Early in the morning, a taxi took us to Tromsø Airport. After a six-hour journey with a layover in Munich, we finally landed in Vienna.

Conclusion

Our trip to Tromsø was absolutely worth it. The northern lights are a magical natural phenomenon that everyone should see at least once. Just make sure to plan enough days to catch them! A six-day stay is perfect to explore the city and enjoy a few activities.

My personal highlights were the snowmobile safari, the husky tour, and of course, finally witnessing the auroras. Be prepared for all kinds of weather — we experienced everything from -20°C to +6°C.

With the right clothing and mindset, nothing stands in the way of an unforgettable Arctic adventure. ☺️