Polar night, northern lights, midnight sun and everything in between. We guide you through the year in the Tromsø region – month by month.
Tromsø does not have four seasons – we actually have six. Polar night, spring, midnight sun, autumn, northern lights season and everything that happens in between. That is precisely why our region is one of the few places in the world where "what should I do" has a new answer every month.
Here is a month-by-month guide to what you should prioritise – whether it is a summit tour, a local event or simply an evening out in the dark looking for green light in the sky.
January – Polar night and northern lights
The polar night ends around 15 January, but the mountains mean the sun is not visible in the town centre until a few days later. The darkness has a charm of its own, and this is one of the best periods for seeing the northern lights, as the nights are long and dark. Dress warmly, head a little way out of the city lights and be patient.
Do not miss: The Tromsø International Film Festival takes place in the middle of January and fills the city with film screenings at a time when it is dark outside for much of the day anyway.
February – Sami Week and reindeer
The first half of February is Sami Week, which celebrates Sami culture, livelihoods and sport in connection with Sami National Day on 6 February. Snow is still firmly in place, and conditions are good for dog sledding and reindeer safaris.
Do not miss: The Northern Lights Festival – ten days of classical music, jazz and other concerts around the city. It takes place in February (in 2027: 11–20 February).
March – The light returns
The days grow noticeably longer with each passing week, and snow conditions in the mountains are often at their best. This is peak season for ski mountaineering for the experienced – always check the avalanche forecast at varsom.no – and for cross-country skiing in floodlit and recreational tracks for the rest of us.
Do not miss: Snowmobile rides and fjord cruises work well at this time of year – and you can still see the northern lights on clear evenings, although the window grows shorter as the light takes over.
April – Spring skiing and longer days
Daylight stretches past 16 hours during April, opening up ski tours late in the afternoon under brilliant spring sunshine. This is often the period that local ski mountaineering enthusiasts call "the best month of the year" – snow still in place, but milder temperatures and calmer weather.
Do not miss: An evening ski tour to a nearby mountain with corn snow on the descent – classic spring skiing conditions. Check the avalanche forecast first; spring often brings wet-snow avalanches when the sun warms the slopes.
May – From winter to light nights
From around 20 May the sun no longer sets – the midnight sun is here – and snow begins to retreat from lower-lying terrain. The first hiking trails that have been inaccessible throughout winter open up again.
Do not miss: The first evening hikes without a head torch – and one of the last opportunities for good skiing high in the mountains combined with bare ground down in the valley.
June – The midnight sun takes over
From around 20 May to around 22 July the sun does not set at all. Nights become golden daylight, and your daily rhythm becomes more of a suggestion than a rule. This is the season for evening hikes, paddling at midnight and long, leisurely evenings outdoors.
Do not miss: The Midnight Sun Marathon is held in June and draws thousands of participants from around the world who run through the night in daylight.
July – Peak season for fjord and mountain
The warmest month of the year, with an average temperature of around 12 degrees – and often well above 20 on the fine days. The fjords are open for kayaking, beaches fill up and hiking trails are at their most accessible.
Do not miss: A summer midnight swim at one of the beaches in the region, such as Telegrafbukta, Grøtfjord or Sommarøy – ideally with a sitting mat and a packed lunch, just as the locals do it.
August – The last of the light, the first of the dark
The midnight sun is over – the sun sets again from the end of July – but long nights with twilight provide wonderful light for photography walks. Towards the end of the month the northern lights season begins to open up again ever so slightly, although organised northern lights activities do not normally start until September.
Do not miss: Picking mushrooms and berries in the forest – bilberries and lingonberries are often at their best now, and you avoid both the midges and the crowds of tourists.
September – The northern lights season opens
This is the month many people wait for: the northern lights season is officially under way, and organised northern lights activities are in full swing. At the same time, autumn colours are taking over the hillsides, so day trips offer a vivid display of red, orange and yellow.
Do not miss: An afternoon hike in the mountains to see the autumn colours, followed by an evening out to see whether the sky plays along.
October – Autumn colours and quiet trails
The tourist season quietens down, and you will often have the hiking trails to yourself. Temperatures slowly drop but often remain surprisingly mild well into October. This is a pleasant month for relaxed day hikes before the snow settles in earnest.
Do not miss: One of the short mountain hikes on Kvaløya while the trails are still free of snow – plenty of time to enjoy the view before the polar night sets in.
November – Darkness descends, the whales arrive
The polar night is approaching, and this is also the start of the whale safari season in the fjords around Tromsø, when orcas and humpback whales hunt herring in nearby waters. Combine a boat trip with a chance of seeing the northern lights the same evening.
Do not miss: A whale safari or fjord trip – from mid-November to the end of January is considered the best period for seeing whales in the region.
December – Polar night and winter cosiness
The sun is below the horizon throughout December – the polar night lasts from around 27 November to around 15 January – but blue twilight for a few hours in the middle of the day creates a unique atmosphere. Snow lies thick, and this is a perfect time for dog sledding, skiing on floodlit tracks and a festive feel in the city.
Do not miss: An evening of dog sledding or a reindeer safari combined with northern lights hunting – December has some of the darkest nights of the year and therefore some of the best conditions for the northern lights, provided the clouds stay away.
Sources
- Visit Tromsø – Midnight sun — the midnight sun from around 20 May to 22 July
- Visit Tromsø – Winter in Tromsø — the polar night, the northern lights season and whale safari
- Visit Tromsø – Northern lights: when & where — when and where to see the northern lights
- Yr – Tromsø, historikk med normaler — normal temperatures per month
- Samisk uke — Sámi Week around Sámi National Day on 6 February
- Nordlysfestivalen — festival programme and dates
- Varsom.no (NVE) – Snøskred — daily avalanche warnings for the Tromsø region
Last checked 19.10.2026.
