What to skip in Tromso
Built from every Tromso verdict we publish. Each links to the full reasoning and what to do instead.
Skip
- Is a Tromso Ice Domes day trip worth it?: Skip it for now: the official site is not taking bookings for the 2026 to 2027 winter season after unseasonably warm weather closed the snow park months early last winter, and reports say its return is uncertain. For the ice art fix, the year-round Magic Ice Bar in the city center covers it in about an hour.
Skip this option
- Rental car, from Tromso airport to the centre: which way?
- A weekend aurora dash to either city, from Tromso or Reykjavik: which northern lights city?
Only if it fits your trip
- Is a Tromso northern lights tour worth it?: A chase buys three things: a driver who reads cloud maps all evening, a route that can run as far as the Finnish border, and warm gear you do not own. At NOK 1,200 to 2,200 that is worth paying across a multi-night stay if you have no car, but nobody can promise a display, and confident self-drivers with a forecast app regularly see the same sky for fuel money.
- Is the Arctic Cathedral worth it?: Go for the building, think twice about the ticket. The facade and its view across the harbor are free, while the NOK 90 interior is one hall built around a large stained-glass window: some reports rate the window highly, others felt short-changed. Worth it for architecture and church-music fans; admire it from outside if you are not.
- Is whale watching from Tromso worth it?: In the October to January window, yes for most wildlife lovers: 9 of 10 first-hand reports saw whales, from curious humpbacks to orca pods off Skjervøy. The catch is distance, since the whales feed far north of Tromsø, so plan a full day. Outside the season, or if a long day at sea in the cold is a problem, skip it.