Winter Is Coming To Beautiful Tromsø…So How Do You Survive It?

Tips for Visiting Tromsø in winter

It’s official, we have survived one winter in Tromsø! As the days are getting longer and the ground has started showing signs of life, I thought it was the right time to share information on how to survive winter in Tromsø. Also, we are not here as tourists, so our approach to a Tromsø winter is probably not quite the same as yours if you are reading this. Expect this section to be updated throughout the years as we experience more of the variety that Tromsø has to offer during the (long) winter season! That said, we would like to offer some basic advice gained from one winter’s experience living here.

• Ask yourself what your primary reason for going is.
• Want to experience Polar Night? December or the first half of January.
• Northern Lights? October – March
• Want to see lots of snow? February and March
• Want to experience Christmas? Pretty much anytime in December.

Strongly consider bringing or buying spikes. City streets and sidewalks are frequently icy during the winter months. We are accustomed to ice and snow having lived in Wisconsin, USA, but even we found we had to adjust. If you plan to stay in the city center, many of the streets and sidewalks are heated, meaning that they will be clear and easy to walk. However, if you venture out of the city center, you will likely be confronted with steep, potentially icy hills. Keep in mind that unless you are visiting in March, it is likely to be dark more often than not. Icy streets are harder to navigate in the dark, even with the beautiful northern lights to light the way!

The locals will be walking around in shoes with minimal grip and only seem to struggle on the iciest days. It’s a Norwegian superpower called, “Ice Gliding,” I haven’t mastered it yet, but maybe one day a Norwegian will show me. Can you walk around like the locals? Sure, but be aware that it will increase your chances of an unwelcome hospital visit, or at least a bruised tailbone. The city occasionally puts down gravel on the roads and sidewalks to provide some traction, but in our experience, they tend to be about a day late in doing so. One consideration to remember is that it snows so frequently here that anything spread on the roads and sidewalks is likely to be plowed away after the next snowfall, which is most often only a few days away.

You can easily find spikes, in a variety of prices and styles, for sale in several businesses in the city center, as well as over at the shopping center Jekta, near the airport. You can wear spikes anywhere outside but remember that most of the time when you come inside, you will need to take them off to avoid damaging floors. So, it’s a good idea to get a pair that you can slip on and off your shoes without too much trouble.

Another winter safety tip is wearing reflectors. Norwegians are generally careful drivers. For a country with such mountainous geography and harsh winter weather, it has an impressively low rate of traffic fatalities. However, Tromsø winters are full of narrow roads, slippery ice, and dark days and nights. If you plan to do a lot of walking, wearing reflectors is a very wise idea. Anything from small wrist and ankle bands to full-size reflective vests will do the job. As with spikes, you can find what you need in stores in the city center or at Jekta. Better yet, bring your own with you.

What is the best thing you can bring with you on a winter trip to Tromsø? Patience. Regardless of where you go in Northern Norway, your flight/train/bus/ferry always has a real chance of being postponed or canceled due to extreme weather or dangerous conditions. Renting a car? Roads may close temporarily due to accidents, avalanche danger, or ice. In fact, my husband once had his train delayed to Sweden due to an avalanche. How do you plan for this? Well, you can’t really, other than by allowing extra time for everything. Come prepared for complications and you will have a much greater chance of enjoying your trip.

If you decide to rent a car, be aware that you will almost certainly be driving on snow and ice. Most people here use studded tires in the winter, which make handling a car on slippery surfaces much easier, but if you are from a place that doesn’t experience regular snow and ice during the winter, think carefully about how much driving you want to do on your trip. Depending on the activities you want to take part in, you may not need to rent a car. Many tours will pick you up from the city center, and the municipality’s bus system is very good for such a small city. You can even take buses afield, to Alta or Narvik for instance.

How cold is it? There isn’t one good answer to this question. It depends on what you are used to. If you’re coming from Australia, Tromsø will probably feel very cold. If you’re coming from London, you may find Tromsø a little on the cold side. If you’re coming from Chicago, you won’t have any issues with the temperature. If you’re coming from Calgary, you may find Tromsø winter downright toasty! Suffice it to say that the average winter day in Tromsø will be slightly below freezing. It’s certainly not a bad idea to bring a heavy winter jacket, but if most of your activities involve moving around, you may not need it. On the other hand, if you plan to spend hours looking for the aurora at Prestvannet, or taking any sort of excursion inland, you will want a good set of warm clothing. You are in the Arctic after all!

What To Pack For A Winter In Tromsø

• Spikes
• Comfortable winter boots (hiking boots also work if paired with wool socks)
• Your camera
• Reflectors
• A book – My book, The Song Of Koselig, is perfect for winter in Norway and was inspired by what Norwegians treasure most, family and being Koselig!
• Thermos (Optional. Great for enjoying hot cocoa/coffee in the snow at Prestvannet)
• Warm clothing – coat (at least one jacket that is water-resistant or waterproof), hat, gloves, etc.
• Skis (Also optional, but it’s an excellent place for it)