Visiting Tromso in February: Everything You Need to Know

We visited Tromso in Arctic Norway in February and found it an excellent time to visit, although there were some downsides.

In this post, I share what to expect when visiting Tromso in February, including weather, activities, what to wear, road conditions, and the pros and cons of this time of year.

Contents

• Daylight in Tromso in February
• Weather in Tromso in February
• What to Wear in Norway in February
• Crowd Levels and Costs
• Can You See the Northern Lights in Tromso in February?
• What to Do in Tromso in February
• Special Events in February
• Driving in Tromso in February
• Is February a Good Time to Visit Tromso?
• More Tromso Tips

Daylight in Tromso in February

The daylight hours were a big consideration in our decision to visit Tromso in February.

Tromso is so far north that it experiences the Polar Night from late November to mid-January. The sun doesn’t rise at all during this time, although there is some blueish twilight during the day.

We chose February because we wanted more light for activities (especially self-driving around Kvaloya Island).

We visited in the first week of February when the days got slightly longer (about 10 minutes) every day.

Sunrise and Sunset Times in Tromso in February

Here are the sunrise and sunset times in Tromso in February:

1 February – Sunrise 9.22am, Sunset 2.33pm.
7 February – Sunrise 8.52am, Sunset 3.05pm.
14 February – Sunrise 8.18am, Sunset 3.39pm.
21 February – Sunrise 7.45am, Sunset 4.11pm.
28 February – Sunrise 7.13am, Sunset 4.41pm.

As you can see, when you visit in February makes a big difference with just over 5 hours of daylight at the beginning of the month and 9.5 hours by the end.

I also recommend checking the Time and Date website for the civil twilight hours when there’s still enough light to see. This extends the time you have to do things without being in total darkness, adding at least an extra hour at the beginning and end of each day.

Our Experience in February

At the beginning of the month, we sometimes felt limited by the short days. The 5-6 hours of daylight was just enough for most activities we wanted to do, but we found it difficult to fit in some extras.

For example, we would have liked to ride the cable car at sunset but weren’t finished with other tours in time.

You might also want to eat earlier than usual. By 6pm, it feels really late when the sun has set at 3pm.

Overall, we enjoyed the cosiness at this time of year, and the long nights increase your chances of seeing the northern lights (more on that below).

We also loved the gorgeous sunrises (without having to get up early) and sunsets, especially when we stayed at Ersfjordbotn Brygge on a fjord on Kvaloya Island.

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Weather in Tromso in February

Tromso Temperature in February

February is typically the coldest month in Tromso, but it’s not as cold as you might expect for an Arctic destination. Its location by the sea means it can be surprisingly mild.

In February, Tromso has an average high temperature of -1ºC (30ºF) and an average low of  -5ºC (23ºF).

On our trip, we started with -5ºC temperatures, and then it warmed up to an unusually warm 6ºC (43ºF). The whole Arctic region had its warmest February on record.

Wind chill made the temperature feel much colder than it was—down to -12ºC (10ºF) on our coldest days.

If you are taking tours that go inland (including to Finland as northern lights tours often do), it can be much colder, down to -20ºC (-4ºF).

Is There Snow in Tromso in February?

I had hoped snow would be guaranteed in Tromso in February, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.

We did have snow in our first few days, so we enjoyed husky sledding in good conditions and the magic of snowfall.

After that, the temperature increased, and snow was replaced by rain.

Don’t worry too much—there will be enough remaining from previous months to see plenty of snow. There will be snow on the mountains visible from Tromso and in the surrounding countryside.

In the town centre, though, you may not see snow on the streets. As it was unusually warm on our trip, all the snow had melted. This made the city less scenic but easier to walk around as the pavement can be very icy at other times.

Lack of snow can affect some activities. Our cross-country ski lesson was challenging as the trails were so icy after a few days of rain.

The reindeer sledding on our Sami Culture tour was cancelled as the fields were too slushy, and we heard others who had husky sledding tours cancelled for the same reason.

This is fairly rare, though, and usually February is one of the best months for snowy activities.

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What to Wear in Norway in February

Warm layers are key in Tromso in February, even if the weather is milder than usual.

You’ll need base layers close to your skin (thermal bottoms and top), a warm mid-layer like a wool sweater or fleece, and a warm jacket (preferably waterproof).

Hiking trousers or jeans over thermal bottoms work well; add waterproof overtrousers if necessary.

For your feet, two pairs of warm socks (preferably wool) and waterproof hiking shoes or snow boots work well. Ensure shoes have good traction for the icy streets (we also added microspikes).

See my post on what to wear in Norway in winter for a much more detailed guide, including our complete packing list.

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Crowd Levels and Costs

February is a peak month to visit Tromso, so expect high crowds and prices.

You’ll definitely want to book your trip as far in advance as possible. We booked five months ahead and got all the tours we wanted.

When I looked a month ahead, the husky sledding tours were fully booked for all of January and February, and prices for car hire and hotels had increased significantly.

Restaurants also get booked up in winter, so booking a table a few days in advance is a good idea.

I found that flights from London to Tromso were more expensive in the middle of February during UK half-term school holidays. Norway also has winter school breaks at this time.

Flights were cheaper during the first and last weeks of February, so if you don’t have kids, I would recommend travelling then.

Don’t worry too much if you have to travel during the school break. Hotel and tour costs are consistent across the month, and the whole of February is a popular time in Tromso.

Although February is a busy month, that doesn’t mean you’ll always be surrounded by crowds.

The city centre never felt hugely busy—people were off on different tours. When we drove around Kvaolya and Sommaroy, the roads were quiet, and we only saw a few other people when we stopped for views and walks.

Tours have maximum numbers, so as long as you book far in advance, it won’t make much difference when you visit in winter.

I imagine the very beginning (November) and end of the winter season (early April) are quieter, but you’ll risk not having enough snow for some activities.

See my post Is Tromso Expensive? for our detailed budget breakdown for our February trip.

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Can You See the Northern Lights in Tromso in February?

Yes, you can see the northern lights in Tromso in February, and it’s one of the best months.

The aurora appear throughout the darker months from September to early April, but the middle of winter is best.

As Tromso is so far north, it always has high aurora activity—we saw the lights on a day when the My Aurora Forecast app only gave us a 10% chance.

The biggest issue is cloud cover as you need clear skies to see the lights. During our week in Tromso, we only had two clear nights, and on one of those, there was a brief two-hour window without clouds.

To increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, stay in Tromso as long as possible and keep a close eye on the weather forecast to find the best time for viewing.

Northern lights tours are a popular way to see the aurora. You often drive hours away to find clear skies and high activity.

We managed to see them without a tour from Telegrafbukta, a 35-minute walk from our hotel in Tromso.

Read more in my Tromso in winter travel guide.

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What to Do in Tromso in February

During February in Tromso, you can do all the winter activities, such as:

• Husky dog sledding (our top pick)
• Northern lights viewing
• Reindeer feeding and sledding
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Snowmobiling (although these tours are 90 minutes away)
• Cruising or kayaking in the fjords
• Sauna and cold plunge

You can also do year-round activities like visiting the Arctic Cathedral and riding the cable car for stunning views.

See my guide to the best things to do in Tromso in winter for details on all these.

Can You Go Whale Watching in Tromso in February?

Unfortunately, you can’t go whale-watching in Tromso in February. The whale-watching season starts in November, and 31 January is usually the last day of the tours.

We met a family who had done the final whale-watching cruise on the last day of January and were lucky to see plenty of whales. If whale-watching is important to you, you could visit in late January/early February.

Of course, there are never any guarantees with wildlife, and the whales could leave the area earlier.

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Special Events in February

The main annual event in Tromso in February is Sami Week, which took place from 3 to 9 February 2025.

This includes various events to celebrate Sami culture and people (the indigenous people of northern Norway), including workshops, concerts, and sporting events.

It’s a fairly low-key event, so if you visit during this week, you won’t need to worry about higher costs or crowds.

During the week, Sami National Day is on 6 February, when many locals are out in traditional dress. Make sure to make a restaurant reservation, as it’s an especially busy day.

The most interesting event for visitors is probably the Reindeer Racing Championship, which takes place on the last Sunday of the week.

This is a paid event where you watch reindeer sprint down a snowy city street with riders on skis behind them. It’s quite fun if you are around.

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Driving in Tromso in February

Expect challenging driving conditions in Tromso in February. Renting a car in winter is not recommended for most visitors as the roads are icy and snowy. Tourists have been in accidents because they aren’t used to the conditions.

If you have some experience driving on snow and narrow, winding roads, renting a car gives you the freedom to explore the neighbouring Kvaloya and Sommaroy islands.

You won’t need a car in the centre of Tromso—it’s very walkable, parking is limited and expensive, and all the tours include transfers.

As we wanted to see a more rural part of Norway, we spent three nights on Kvaloya (renting a car) and four nights in Tromso city centre (without a car).

When we first left the airport and crossed the bridge to Kvaloya, the roads were clear and easy to drive on. However, as we got further into the island, the roads became icy.

All rental cars come with winter tyres, so we had no problems, but the roads felt slippery in parts. Simon drove slowly and carefully and always kept his distance from other cars (and let locals pass him when it was safe to pull over).

On subsequent days, we drove through snow, which was a little nerve-wracking. The roads quickly got covered (but never too deep). The worst days were when it rained, as the roads were the iciest then.

Another thing to be careful of is parking by the side of the road on snowy verges. We saw someone with their car stuck in the snow, so we always made sure we could see the road underneath before parking.

We also got stuck driving back from Kvaloya to Tromso as the one bridge connecting the islands was closed due to high winds. We had to wait about 90 minutes in a traffic queue before we could cross.

I don’t think this is very common, but it’s something to be aware of. Allow plenty of time for journeys in winter, and I wouldn’t recommend driving back on the day of a flight.

Simon is a confident, experienced driver who has driven in all kinds of challenging conditions around the world. Renting a car gave us the freedom to explore independently, and we loved staying on Kvaloya.

Driving in the winter isn’t right for everyone, though, so consider it carefully.

If you decide to rent a car, see my travel guide to Kvaloya with suggested driving routes.

We used Booking Car Rentals to find the best deals and booked one way from Tromso airport to Tromso city centre. Again, booking far in advance will pay off.

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Is February a Good Time to Visit Tromso?

Yes, February is a fantastic time to visit Tromso. There’s a lot more daylight than in December and January for exploring, but nights are still long enough for viewing the northern lights.

You can also do all the amazing snowy activities like husky sledding and cross-country skiing.

The only downsides are that it’s too late for whale watching and that it’s a popular time to visit, so book well in advance.

We absolutely loved our trip to Tromso in February and would go back at that time of year.

What do you think is the best month to visit Tromso? Leave a comment below.

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More Tromso Tips

Read more about visiting Tromso in February with our other guides:

• 12 Unmissable Things to Do in Tromso in Winter (and What to Skip)
• Exploring Kvaloya and Sommaroy Islands Near Tromso
• What to Wear in Norway in Winter: Our Packing List for Tromso
• Is Tromso Expensive? Our Northern Norway Trip Cost

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