2 Days in Tromso: The Ultimate Winter Itinerary
Are you planning on spending 2 days in Tromso? This is one of our favourite places in Norway, and here’s the perfect 48-hour itinerary!
Tromso is an absolutely wonderful city, and we truly loved our time here. We visited in early March, and it was a winter wonderland with icy streets, cosy coffee shops, and snow-capped mountains.
Trust us when we say that if you’re visiting Tromso, you’re in for a treat!
It’s the perfect city to get an introduction to the Arctic, and we actually spent 4 days here. However, if you’re exploring other parts of Arctic Norway and only have 2 days in Tromso, you can still have an amazing time.
Here’s exactly how we recommend spending 48 hours in Tromso to make the absolute most of your time.
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Tromso Must-Do’s!
Short on time? These are 5 bucket-list things you NEED to do in Tromso! ❤️
This is where we stayed: Total Apartments.
Where to Stay for 2 Days in Tromsø
Tromsø is quite compact, so staying near the city centre is ideal for a 2-day visit.
We stayed in this cute apartment within walking distance of many of the attractions in the city, and it was ideal for us. Plus, because it was self-catering, we could pack ourselves a lunch and save a bit of money on food!
We highly recommend this place. It was affordable, central, cosy, and they had luggage storage, which was ideal for our final day in the city.
However, if you’d prefer a hotel, a few great options include:
- Scandic Ishavshotel – a stylish hotel with beautiful views over the harbour and close to the Arctic Cathedral.
- Tromso Lodge and Camping – unique self-catering lodges just outside the city, where you can see the Northern Lights.
- Radisson Blu Tromsø – perfect for tour pick-ups and within walking distance of most attractions.
👉 If you’d rather stay somewhere unique, check out our favourite Northern Lights Hotels in Tromso.
Day 1: Arctic Adventures and the Northern Lights
Start your first day in Tromso by crossing some activities off your Arctic winter bucket list! These are no doubt some of the most amazing things to do in Tromso and things that we absolutely loved during our visit.
10:00 – Husky Sledding Tour
Start your first day with one of Tromsø’s most iconic experiences, a husky sledding tour. This is one of the most popular things to do in Tromso, and it’s easy to see why, as it’s a completely magical experience.
There are lots of different operators around the city, but we recommend choosing one where you can meet the dogs, learn about their training, and even try mushing the sled yourself. This tour is absolutely brilliant.
Most tours will offer a pick-up service from the city in Tromso – this is often the bus station – so, if you’re staying in the city centre, it makes it super accessible.
The experience usually lasts a few hours and takes you deep into snowy valleys surrounded by mountains. It’s pure Arctic magic, the huskies absolutely love to run, and they are usually super excited and barking their heads off!
It’s one of the most fantastic experiences and a must-do during 2 days in Tromso.
👉 This is the husky sledding tour we recommend – it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
TOP TIP: Be sure to dress warmly, though most tours provide thermal suits and boots.
13:00 – Polar Museum
After you arrive back in the city centre, you’ll have a few hours before this evening’s activity. We recommend warming up with lunch in one of the city’s many cafes before visiting the Polar Museum.
This small but fascinating museum is dedicated to Norway’s polar exploration history. You can learn about everything from daring Arctic expeditions to the life of seal hunters and trappers.
It’s located in a charming old warehouse on the harbour and gives a great insight into why Tromso is known as the “Gateway to the Arctic.”
16:30 – Dinner
You’ll need to grab an early-ish dinner tonight as you’ll be heading out of the city for the rest of the evening, and this tour doesn’t provide proper food.
We loved Restaurant Skirri, which served a range of delicious local and international dishes. However, for something more affordable, this burger joint is also really tasty and themed around vintage video games!
18:00 – Northern Lights Tour
No trip to Tromsø is complete without chasing the Northern Lights, and for your first evening in the city, we highly recommend hopping on a tour.
Once again, there are numerous tours in Tromso, but we recommend this one.
We saw the most amazing Northern Lights display on this tour and would book it again in a heartbeat. The guides were fantastic and went out of their way to help us find and take great photos of the aurora.
These tours often take you far outside the city – our tour took us close to Finland – depending on the conditions, and it included warm drinks, cookies, and photography tips.
We’ve done a few aurora tours in Tromsø, and honestly, they never lose their magic. Standing under the stars, watching the sky come alive in greens and purples, is easily one of the best things to do in all of Norway.
❤️ This was the best Northern Lights tour we booked, and we cannot recommend it enough!
Day 2: Fjord Views and Reindeer
On the second day of your two days in Tromso, you’re going to be doing another one of the Arctic’s most iconic nature experiences and seeing some of Tromso’s most beautiful city sights.
9:30 – Fjellheisen Cable Car
Start your morning nice and early with a ride on the Fjellheisen Cable Car. This is arguably one of the best views in Tromso and will take you high over the fjords and up to the snowy peak of Mount Storsteinen.
The ride only takes around 5 minutes, but when you’re at the top, the view is amazing. It’s absolutely beautiful with the city tucked between the fjords and snow-capped mountains on either side.
It’s really not cheap, and tickets cost 595 NOK for a return ticket (which is around £44 or $60). But, on a clear day, the view stretches for miles, and you’ll get panoramic views over the city, fjords, and surrounding mountains.
If you’re lucky enough to go at sunrise or sunset, the light is absolutely stunning. There’s also a café at the top, so you can grab a hot chocolate, warm up your fingers, and take your time soaking up the view.
11:00 – Arctic Cathedral
On your way back to the city centre, stop by the Arctic Cathedral. This is one of Tromsø’s most iconic landmarks, and the unique design is inspired by Arctic nature, such as icebergs and northern lights.
Inside, the massive stained glass window is also pretty impressive, especially when the light hits it just right. It’s small, but definitely worth a quick visit.
12:00 – Explore Storgata
Once you get back to the city, go for a little wander around Tromso’s city centre before this afternoon’s activities. Tromso has the cutest little old streets with colourful buildings, and small shops.
It’s the perfect place to go for a bit of souvenir shopping and soaking in the local atmosphere. You could also grab a quick snack at one of the tiniest restaurants in Tromso – this hot dog stand.
13:00 – Reindeer Sledding Tour
In the afternoon, head out on another classic Arctic adventure – a reindeer sledding tour. It’s another must to tick off your Norway bucket list, and is another of the most popular things to do in Tromso.
This is a more peaceful and cultural experience than husky sledding, as you’ll be visiting a Sami camp, learning about their traditions, and enjoying a meal inside a warm lavvu (Sami tent).
We really enjoyed the slower pace of our reindeer sledding tour and thought the cultural element was fantastic.
However, we visited Tromso in March and there wasn’t quite as much snow as expected for that time of year, so we had to have a shorter sleigh ride than what we had originally planned.
Nonetheless, it was a wonderful experience and the reindeer are so friendly – although also pretty greedy, especially when you have food in your hands!
❤️ This was the tour that we booked, and it was such a fantastic experience!
18:00 – One Last Northern Lights Tour (Optional)
If you didn’t catch the Northern Lights on your first night – or just want to see them again (we wouldn’t blame you!) – you could join another tour on your final evening.
We actually recommend booking two northern lights tours in Tromso, especially if one of your main goals is to spot the aurora. We went out on two different nights and only saw them once.
On the first night, it was too cloudy and we ended up going back to our hotel disappointed. Even on a guided tour, the sightings aren’t guaranteed, so booking multiple is your best bet!
However, if you don’t fancy heading out again, you could spend a relaxing evening at the Pust Sauna in the centre of the city, relaxing and arctic plunging into the fjord!
❤️ This was the best Northern Lights tour we booked, and we cannot recommend it enough!
And that concludes your 2 days in Tromso!
Is 2 Days Enough in Tromso?
We think it can be enough time. Two days in Tromsø might sound short, but it’s the perfect introduction to this Arctic city. You can do a lot in just a few days, including husky sledding, reindeer sledding, and watching the Northern Lights.
Of course, staying longer will give you more of a chance to explore the city, book more tours (for instance, we loved our fjord tour in Tromso), and more chances to watch the aurora, but if you only have two days, this itinerary is perfect.
If you do have longer, check out our 3-day Tromso itinerary for more inspiration!
Whether you’re visiting as part of a longer trip through Norway or just a snowy getaway, Tromsø in winter will steal your heart and make you want to come back again and again!
👉 Haven’t chosen your accommodation? Here are all our favourite places to stay in Tromso!
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