How dark it gets in Tromsø
You need darkness and a clear sky. Darkness is the easy part: from mid-September to early April there are enough hours of night to see the aurora. Bar height shows approximate hours without daylight in the middle of each month.
Best all-round months
Polar night: the sun stays below the horizon
Guides
- Tromsø northern lights tours comparedBig bus, small group or private, with prices from 1,285 NOK and what each one includes.
- Tromsø whale watching tours comparedOrcas and humpbacks from late October to January: catamarans, small boats and a 24-hour expedition.
- Tromsø husky sledding tours comparedDrive your own team or ride with a musher: real time on the sled, age limits and prices.
- Best time to goMonth by month: darkness, cold, cloud and crowds, and what the solar cycle means for 2026–27.
- Tromsø, Abisko, Lofoten or Alta?Which base gives you the clearest skies, the easiest trip or the best photos.
- What to wear on a tourA three-layer system and a packing list for −15 °C nights inland.
In short
- Come between late September and October, or late February and March.
- Book a chase tour for your first night, so you have spare nights if it's cloudy.
- A small-group tour, around 1,550–2,500 NOK, is the best value for most people.
- 2026–27 should be a strong season, in the active years after the solar maximum.