I would like to begin this article by saying I am not a fan of winter. I despise being cold. So the idea of going to Norway, specifically Tromsø, in February did not really sound appealing to me, but now I wish we had spent more time in Norway. There is so many unique things to do in the winter. Here are some wonderful activities you can do in Tromsø in the winter, some of them budget-friendly and some of them on the more expensive side.
PUST Sauna
This was one of my favorite activities we did in Tromsø. This adorable sauna is located right on the water. It’s small size only allows for 12 people inside, creating a cozy atmosphere. You can purchase your ticket online on their website for around 21.00 USD for an hour. They will then email you a code to unlock the key pad to the sauna. There is a male and female changing rooms with lockers, the sauna part is co-ed.
The best part is the Sauna has a wall full of windows looking out to the water and the mountains and it is absolutely gorgeous. Once you heat up in the sauna they have ladder going down into the water. That’s right you dip yourself into the fridge waters and if you’re brave enough you swim a couple laps in waster.We loved this activity and we met some really cool people too, tourist and locals alike.
Visit the Library
This might sound odd, but this library is not like any ordinary library. The structure is massive and beautiful. It also has one of the most beautiful views on the top floor. It’s a great place to have a hot drink, sit and enjoy the view for free.
Verdensteatret Theater
This old time theater is located in downtown Tromsø and offers a variety of unique films, from Norwegian originals to box office classics. You can purchase tickets online or at the box office, ticket prices range from $10-$15. It is a great way to escape the cold, experience something unique to the area, and not break the bank.
Northern Lights Tour
This activity also made the top of our favorites while visiting Tromsø. To make it easy you can find your tour guide on TripAdvisor, Viator, or GetyourGuide. Most tours are going to be at least $100, a lot of them offering transportation, some sort of food, photos, and a guide explaining the Northern Lights. It is a once in a life-time experience seeing this natural phenomenon worth the extra expense.
Fjords Tour
Let me start by saying pictures do not do fjords justice. It is stunning being able to coast through these massive fjords and seeing the most adorable communities nestled in-between these mountains. I can imagine the summer is beautiful to do a fjord tour but the winter was epic. The snow gives the mountains more dimensions and there is so much more snow than I thought possible. The best part is we had this huge ship and only about 50 people on it. The crowds are minimal during this time, we had the whole lower deck to ourselves.
We booked our Fjord tour with Norway in a Nutshell and this was a unique tour, because it is self-guided. Once you purchase the tickets they will email you the tickets needed to get to the fjords. We started in Bergen and hoped on a train to Voss, got on a bus which took us toNaeroy fjord, took the boat ride through the fjord, which dropped us off Myrdal, where we got to ride on a train through the most beautiful country side. You can either take the train to Oslo or back to Bergen. It is a full travel day, but it goes by so quickly as you are gazing at some of the most beautiful scenery.
Visit A Cafe
There is this thing called hygge, which is defined by a quality of coziness that creates a feeling of well-being. A lot of cafe’s in Norway has got this hygge thing figured out. They have candles lit, soft colors, calming music, comfortable sitting. Nothing beats sitting in a cozy cafe, drinking hot chocolate, and watching the snow falling.
I hope this gets you excited to visit Tromsø! Just remember bring a good pair of warm socks, nothings worse than having cold feet.