What to do in Tromso, Norway

Tromsø is famous for being an excellent base for seeing the magnificent northern lights. Tromsø is also the largest city in northern Norway and is considered to be the “Gateway to the Arctic.” Having so many different winter activities and restaurants to choose from, here are the ones I considered to be well worth it when I visited during March of 2019!

Northern Lights Chasing

Kicking off this list I have to start with the most popular activity, seeing the northern lights! A lot of people go to Norway just to see the northern lights and is the reason I ended up there as well. This activity should be number one on your to do list!

There are so many different tour groups to choose from and the tour you choose really comes down to how much time you have. My sister and I decided to do the unlimited 7-night pass with Northern shots. Overall, they were a great tour company, and you save a lot of money by purchasing the 7-night unlimited pass. You can do a combination of the northern lights tour with a reindeer experience, a snowshoeing experience, a snowmobiling experience, a sailing experience, or a husky experience! We did all of our experiences separately, but I’m sure combining two activities would be a lot of fun!

This is an absolute must do and I highly recommend!  To hear about my good and bad northern lights experiences check out my other blog Tips for Chasing the Northern Lights . Seeing the northern lights is an experience like no other and if you’re visiting Tromsø, Norway seeing the northern lights is a must!

Reindeer and Sami Culture 

Another important experience you should have when visiting Norway is getting to know the Sami people and their culture. This experience is the perfect combination of fun and informative.

After hopping off the bus we were immediately greeted by the wonderful Sami people. Often referred to as “reindeer people”, Sami people live in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The Sami culture has been around for an estimate of about 4,000 years! This makes this culture one of the oldest living cultures in Norway! Their more traditional lifestyle involves hunting and fishing, while in more recent years they have adapted the lifestyle of herding reindeer.

They were extremely inviting and were very excited to see us. They lead us into their traditional tent, which they refer to as a lavvu, and gathered everyone around a gigantic fire. My sister and I sat down on the benches they provided which were covered in reindeer skin. From there the Sami people introduced themselves to us while making plenty of jokes in between.

Next, we were escorted out of the lavvu and were given buckets full of food for the reindeer. They sent us out into a herd of over 300 reindeer! This was such a breathtaking moment watching people trust the wild reindeer and watching the reindeer trust mankind. I personally thought this experience was a little scary, but also so unique and amazing. Different groups took turns feeding the reindeer while others went for a sleigh ride. They offered to take a picture of us sitting in the sleigh which I loved! Although I did read this online, I was a little surprised by how slow the ride actually was. However, it was still an amazing experience being taken around by a herd of reindeer and watching other reindeer walking alongside us.

Once the sleigh ride and the feeding were over, it was time for us to be fed! They took us inside a very dimly lit tent where there was another fire going with some tables surrounding it. They offered us water, hot chocolate, tea, and cookies before they brought out the stew. They do offer both reindeer stew and a vegetarian stew. I tried the reindeer stew, but for some reason I couldn’t have any more than a few bites! Other people seemed to absolutely love it though.

After the meal they took us back into the lavvu where they told us all about their fascinating culture and allowed us to ask any questions we had. They even let us participate in one of their joiks, which is a traditional Sami song. The day ended by saying goodbye to the Sami people with a handshake and a huge smile. Their culture is so fascinating, and they seemed like such fun people. Being able to stand in a herd of over 300 reindeer was an experience I won’t ever forget.

Cable Car Fjhellheisen 

One of the highlights of my trip was taking the cable car to the top of Mount Floya. One ticket cost about 210 NOK which is about 25 U.S. dollars, but trust me this experience is worth it! Once you pay for your ticket, you are allowed into the building to wait for the next cable car.

There is a bathroom to use and also a tea, hot chocolate, and coffee station for you while you wait. You do have the option of walking up the mountain which takes about 30-60 minutes, but we chose to take the cable car. When the cable car arrives, you step on and have a short few minute ride up to the top of the mountain.

Once you reach the top, they have a bar to your right and a cafe to your left. They have a little closed off outdoor area with some see-through glass facing towards the city. On the other side, they have an entire area where you can wander around the top of the mountain and all they have to keep you from sliding off of the mountain is a very thin rope. The freedom they give you is amazing, but also super scary so you need to be careful when walking around, especially with how windy it is. The pictures I have here of Floya are pretty, but they really do not do it any justice. The views of Tromsø, the surrounding mountains, and the fjords are absolutely beautiful! They provide you with so much space to wander around and I even had my own Elsa moment singing “Let it Go”.

This was a great place to get amazing views of the city and the mountains. I recommend doing this both during the day and at nighttime! However, make sure you call them before you go because a lot of times, they are closed due to wind. If you want to find out what happened to my sister and I go check out my other blog here: 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Tromsø, Norway

Fjord and Sightseeing Cruise 

My sister and I made the last-minute decision to book a Fjord cruise and I was very happy we did! If you don’t like boats or seeing nature, I would say this excursion isn’t for you. We set sail on what they called the “Fjord Queen” though there are many different tours with many different boats. As you leave the harbor, the captain goes over all the safety procedures and gives you a lay out of the day. Make sure you dress warm if you’re traveling during the winter months! When we went out it was snowing profusely, and it was probably the coldest we had been during our entire trip. They offer you insulated suits and I recommend taking one!

The trip consisted of looking for wildlife and hearing the history of fishing. We were lucky enough to spot a moose and some beautiful birds. The best part of the trip was when we stopped to fish and were surrounded by gorgeous fjords. The scenery was so beautiful, and it was fun watching other people fish. If someone catches a fish, they end up adding it to the fish stew for lunch!  They do offer cookies, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee to enjoy throughout the entire journey. Once it reaches lunchtime, they provide you with a fresh soup (hopefully with the catch of the day) and there is also a vegetarian option. This was a great way to be outside and to be a part of nature. If you enjoy wildlife, boats, or fishing then this excursion is for you!

Telegrafbukta Beach 

My sister insisted that we visit what the locals call “Bukta Beach” while we were in Tromsø. Most smart tourists would pay for a bus ticket and take the bus there, but we decided to make the 40-minute walk. This walk goes in the complete opposite direction of town and into where all the locals live. This was a fantastic way of seeing the everyday Tromsø, but it was definitely a hike.

Once we finally arrived, the beach was absolutely beautiful! There were so many people going for a walk, riding their bikes, and walking their dogs. You could just tell that in the summertime this place is extremely popular. You are allowed to swim there although considering we went in the winter-time we decided not to! The views of the surrounding mountains were breathtaking. If you love beaches just as much as my sister does, definitely go here. Even if you don’t and you want some beautiful scenery just hop on a bus and head over to this beach. The pictures I have don’t do its beauty justice! This is the list of things I put together that you should do when visiting Tromsø, Norway. If you have any other suggestions, please comment them below!

If you’re interested in visiting and want some more tips, please feel free to leave a comment below or direct message me on Instagram @smilesmilesaway . Also check out my Amazon Storefront where I share all of my Amazon favorites: My Amazon Storefront . If you’ve already visited Norway, please comment below one of your favorite memories. Can’t wait to read your comments!

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