Things to Do in Tromsø

No. The season runs from late August to early April, with the darkest months the most likely, but clouds decide on the night. Tours that drive to clear sky raise your chances; none can promise them. Some listings include a repeat trip if nothing shows – the condition is on each booking page.

The whale tours on this site follow the winter herring migration, roughly mid-October to the end of January according to local operators. Outside that window check the individual listing, because the boats and the animals are not the same.

The listings state about twelve hours. Operators put the bus transfer at roughly three and a half to four hours each way, so the time on the water is a fraction of the day. Boats that leave from the city itself are shorter in transit but not necessarily where the whales are.

Sommarøy is about 58 kilometres west, roughly an hour by road, which is why those tours run four to five hours. Senja is a full day of about nine to eleven hours in the listings, with ferry or long drives involved.

The airport lies on the same island as the city centre, about six kilometres away. The Flybussen airport coach and taxis run into town. Airport transfers are not listed on this site.

Several tours lend thermal suits and boots, and one listing rents clothing sets. Do not assume it for every tour; the booking page states what is provided. Bring warm layers for the rest, because waiting outside at night is colder than the walk from the bus.