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Tromso in Northern Norway has become increasingly popular in the last few years, especially in winter, and for good reason.
The Capital of the Arctic is one of the best places to see the northern lights, the winter wonderland scenery is stunning, and there are fun activities like husky sledding and meeting reindeer.
Everyone wonders, though, is Tromso expensive? The short answer is yes. Norway is not a budget destination, but there are ways to reduce your costs.
In this post, I share our exact Norway trip cost including what we spent on transport, accommodation, activities, and food.
We were in Tromso for a week, but I’ve also included the cost per day (many people only stay for 3-5 nights).
We didn’t try to stick to a budget. I’d say we travelled on an upper mid-range budget. We chose accommodation with sea views (but not the most expensive rooms), took three tours (but also explored independently), and did a mix of self-catering and eating out.
While you could travel to Tromso on a budget (and I’ll include some tips), our costs will give you a good idea for a typical Tromso trip.
Contents
- Norway Exchange Rates
- Do You Need Cash in Norway?
- Our Norway Trip Cost
- Flights
- Transport
- Accommodation
- Activities
- Food
- Travel Insurance
- Is Tromso Expensive?
- More Tromso Posts
Norway Exchange Rates
The currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (NOK). Here are the current approximate exchange rates:
- 1 British Pound (GBP) = 14 NOK
- 1 Euro (EUR) = 12 NOK
- 1 United States Dollar (USD) = 11 NOK
Do You Need Cash in Norway?
No, we did not use any cash in Norway (and didn’t withdraw any). We paid with contactless payments everywhere (we used Apple Pay on our Apple Watch) including public toilets.
We only needed a physical card for our hotel and car hire deposits.
Just make sure your card doesn’t charge international fees. For Brits, I recommend a Starling debit card and Halifax Clarity credit card.
Our Norway Trip Cost
These charts show how much we spent during a week in Tromso, Norway in February (peak season) broken down by category. The first row is the cost per person per day and the second row is our total spend for two people.
The first chart shows our Norway travel costs in British pounds. To see the conversion into Euros or USD, click on the arrows to open the charts below.
GBP
| Transport* | Hotels | Activities | Food | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP per day | £16.45 | £125.87 | £64.87 | £40.10 | £247 |
| Total for 2 | £230.30 | £1762.23 | £908.14 | £561.41 | £3462 |
EUR
| Transport* | Hotels | Activities | Food | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP per day | €19.56 | €149.68 | €77.13 | €47.68 | €294 |
| Total for 2 | €273.85 | €2095.47 | €1079.87 | €667.57 | €4117 |
USD
| Transport* | Hotels | Activities | Food | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP per day | $21.18 | $162.03 | $83.50 | $51.62 | $318 |
| Total for 2 | $296.46 | $2268.45 | $1169 | $722.68 | $4457 |
* The transport category does not include flights as the cost will vary widely depending on where you are travelling from. See our flight costs below.
Our total Tromso trip cost was £3,938 for two people for seven nights including flights. This works out in euros as €4681 and in dollars as $5067.
Flights
Tromso is easy to access with direct flights from many European cities. If you are coming from further afield, you’ll likely need to change in Oslo.
I use search engines like Skyscanner, Kiwi, and Google Flights to find the best deals.
We flew with Norwegian Air direct from London Gatwick to Tromso (TOS). Our flight cost £104 each one-way with LowFare+, which includes one overhead cabin bag, one checked bag, and a seat reservation.
We also paid £9 each for priority boarding, but everyone was called at once so it wasn’t worth it.
We booked five months in advance, and I imagine prices will increase nearer the time.
We had originally planned to visit in mid-February, but prices were much higher due to the UK half-term, so we went the first week of February.
We flew out of Tromso on SAS to Stockholm, Sweden, for £125 each, including a seat reservation.
You can expect to pay at least £200 return from London to Tromso, but it could be significantly more if you’re not flexible on dates.
Transport
Transport Costs: £16.45 per person per day.
Our Norway travel budget included:
- Car rental for 3 days – £192 (€228)
- Petrol (we had a hybrid car) – £20 (€24)
- Taxi from Tromso centre to the airport – £19 (€23)
Renting a Car
We chose to rent a car for our first three days when we stayed in Kvaloya (an island next to Tromso). We picked it up from the airport and dropped it off in the city centre.
We loved staying out of town and exploring independently, but driving on the icy roads should not be taken lightly. Read our Tromso in winter guide for more on what to expect.
Again, we booked our car five months in advance with Booking.com Car Rentals and ended up with Avis. When I checked again a month before our trip, car rentals had tripled in price!
Advance booking is key here. Most rental companies offer free cancellation until 48 hours before collection.
We don’t pay for extra insurance for car rentals as it really adds to the cost. Our insurance policy with True Traveller covers the car hire excess, or you can purchase a separate excess policy, which will be much cheaper than buying from the rental company.
Tromso Without a Car
The second half of our trip was staying in Tromso city centre without a car. We walked everywhere or took tours (which include collection from the centre).
Most visitors to Tromso don’t rent a car, so transport costs should be minimal if you stay in the centre. I don’t recommend renting a car when you are staying in town as parking is limited and expensive, and Tromso is very walkable.
We took a taxi to the airport on departure (booked via our hotel), which only takes 15 minutes.
You could save money by taking the local bus (48 NOK/£3.45 per person) but a taxi was easier and faster.
There’s also an airport bus, but it’s much more expensive. A taxi is only slightly more expensive if there are two or more of you.
Accommodation
Accommodation Costs: £126 per person per day.
Accommodation was by far our biggest cost. We stayed in two places in the Tromso area.
Ersfjordbotn Brygge
First, we rented a two-bedroom holiday apartment at Ersfjordbotn Brygge in the village of Ersfjordbotn, 20 minutes from the airport on Kvaloya Island.
At £195 (€232) a night, we thought this was good value compared to hotels in Tromso. The location on a fjord was incredible—we couldn’t get enough of those fantastic views.
The bedrooms were basic (twin beds in one and bunk beds in another), but the living area was spacious and comfortable. We had a kitchen, so we could self-cater (essential in this area).
You can read more about it in my Kvaloya and Sommaroy Islands travel guide.
Check the latest rates at Ersfjordbotn Brygge on Booking.
Clarion Hotel The Edge
In Tromso city centre, we chose a hotel at the harbour as it’s very central and we wanted sea and mountain views.
We stayed at Clarion Hotel The Edge, one of the city’s best hotels (although there aren’t any very luxurious options). We paid extra for a Superior Double Room to get a sea view, although it’s not guaranteed.
At £295 (€351) a night, our room was expensive but more affordable than other sea view rooms in the area such as the Superior King at Scandic Ishavshotel.
I very much enjoyed having a view and did not regret it.
Hotel room rates in Norway typically include breakfast, and the buffet at Clarion Hotel The Edge was excellent.
As always, with Tromso in winter, it’s worth booking in advance. A month before our stay, our hotel would have been £75 a night more expensive.
Check the latest rates for Clarion Hotel The Edge on Booking.
More Affordable Accommodation in Tromso
If you are visiting Tromso on a budget, you can find cheaper hotels in the city centre. However, you’ll need to move back from the water and forgo the view, and your room will likely be very small.
Budget hotels include Comfort Hotel Xpress and Smarthotel. Both cost from £150 (€178) a night in winter and are in central locations.
The cheapest accommodation is likely to be an apartment further out of the centre, but even then you can expect to spend at least £100 (€119) a night for two people in winter. You can save money by self-catering, though.
Note that there is controversy around using Airbnb in Tromso as rentals have become so expensive that locals are being priced out.
Activities
Activity Costs: £65 per person per day.
There’s no getting around it—tours will be a significant part of your Tromso travel budget if you visit in winter.
We aren’t usually tour people, but it was the only way to do some things.
These are the tours and activities we did (with prices per person):
- Self-Drive Husky Dog Sledding – 2950 NOK (£212/€252) – (an absolute must-do!)
- Cross Country Skiing Beginner Lesson – 1303 NOK (£94/€112)
- Reindeer Feeding and Sami Cultural Experience – 1590 NOK (£114/€136) (our least favourite tour)
- Pust Sauna (one hour) – 360 NOK (£26/€31) (another must!)
- Reindeer Racing (an annual event during Sami Week) – 250 NOK (£18/€21).
See our guide to the best things to do in Tromso in winter for more information on all these activities.
When we stayed on Kvaloya Island, we could drive around and enjoy the beautiful scenery for the price of our rental car. These were some of our favourite days.
Our Kvaloya guide has some itineraries to follow (and alternative tours if you don’t want to rent a car).
Other Activities in Tromso
The top tour to take in Tromso is a northern lights viewing tour. If seeing the aurora is a must for you, a tour will increase your chances of seeing the best display.
A tour costs from £75-160 (€89-190) depending on the group size and what’s included. There are many on offer.
We skipped a tour because we didn’t want to drive around for hours until after midnight. Instead, we saw the northern lights for free by walking to Telegrafbukta from Tromso city centre.
Many visitors to Tromso ride the Fjellheisen cable car for stunning views. This is pretty pricey at 545 NOK (£39/€47) return. It was closed due to high winds on our stay.
Other possible tours include kayaking (£114/€135), which we booked but was cancelled due to weather, snowmobiling (£185/€220), and snowshoeing (£112/€133).
From November to January, a whale watching cruise is also popular (£142/€169).
If you want to cross-country ski or snowshoe on a budget, you can hire gear from Tromso Outdoor in the city centre and take a bus to nearby destinations (they can advise).
Cross-country skiing was harder and hillier than I expected, though, so it’s a good idea to start with a lesson.
Food
Food Costs: £40 per person per day.
Eating out is expensive in Norway, so you’ll save money by self-catering or picking up sandwiches from cafes and takeout places.
We self-catered for the first three days plus enjoyed daily hot drinks and sweet treats in cafes.
We brought a few things from home (see our Tromso packing list) and splurged on treats at the excellent Eide Handel supermarket in Kvaloya.
We didn’t drink alcohol, but if you want to, your best bet is to pick up a bottle from duty-free at the airport. On this part of the trip, we spent about £19/€23 per person a day.
When we stayed in Tromso centre, we had a complimentary breakfast at our hotel, ate lunch at cafes or on tours, stopped by a cafe for a coffee, and ate out at restaurants in the evenings (plus room service one night). We also enjoyed a few alcoholic drinks (which are pricey!).
This cost us about £56/€67 per person a day. As you can see, you can save a lot by self-catering and avoiding alcohol.
We found cafes quite affordable—certainly no more expensive than the UK. Two hot drinks and two cakes/cinnamon buns cost £12-16 (€14-19).
Alcohol is expensive. A beer cost from 100 NOK (£7/€8.60) in a restaurant to 170 NOK (£12/€14.60) in our hotel bar.
Restaurants are also pricey. Our cheapest meal was at casual Burgr—£51/€61 for two burgers, fries, and drinks.
Casa Inferno and Wedeb’s were both excellent, but a meal for two with one beer cost about £70/€83.
You can expect to pay at least 200 NOK (£14/€17) for a main dish in casual restaurants and from 250-300+ NOK (£18-22) in nicer places. The fanciest restaurants will cost much more (400 NOK/ £29 a dish or more).
If budget is a concern, check menus online in advance. You’ll also need to book restaurants at least a few days in advance as they get very busy in winter.
Travel Insurance
Don’t forget travel insurance for your trip as healthcare in Norway is expensive.
We used our True Traveller annual policy for this trip. The policies are comprehensive, and we’ve always had good experiences with them.
Is Tromso Expensive?
Yes, Tromso is expensive, but it was very much worth it for us.
Activities like husky sledding and seeing the northern lights are once-in-a-lifetime experiences for many people. The winter wonderland scenery in the areas surrounding Tromso is also spectacular.
You could save money by choosing cheaper accommodation and self-catering, but if you visit Tromso in winter, save up for those amazing activities you can’t do elsewhere.
More Tromso Posts
Read more about Tromso and Northern Norway with our other guides:
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