Plan and book your perfect trip to Tromso

Many people wish to travel to the Arctic Circle, but hate the idea of a package tour.

Although package tours often makes things simple – all you have to do is turn up – they can often be expensive and may not suit your needs.

Planning and booking each step of you trip will in most cases save you money and give you the freedom to see and explore exactly what you want.

But piecing together all the aspects of your trip, hotels, flights, car hire and activities, can sometimes be quite time consuming and you may struggle to find the information you need to tailor your perfect Tromso holiday.

In this guide I will take you through step by step, the best places to go, how to book and give you plenty of tips to help you on your way North.

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1) Plan your purpose

Most likely you have a reason to want to go to Tromso, be it to experience the midnight sun or the northern lights, go to a festival or to go fishing.

Knowing when you want to go is crucial. For example, the northern lights can only be seen between September and March, and the midnight sun stays above the horizon from late May to late July.

2) Find your flight

Most websites will recommend a flight to Oslo and then on to Tromso.

Unless you have very specific dates, there’s really no need to stop over in Oslo, and the Gardermoen Oslo Airport really isn’t worth the visit.

Budget airliner Norwegian flies directly from London Gatwick to Tromso twice a week, and if you’re lucky you can get a return for under £100.

In our calculator you can compare flights from British Airways, SAS and Norwegian, so you can check out all your options before you book.

3) Decide how you want to stay and book

In Tromso you have the option of staying in a hotel in the city centre, from budget option self-catering apartments to luxury hotels with hot tubs on the roof terrace.

You might want to escape people by staying in one of the many Fisherman’s Huts or cottages on one of the islands near Tromso.

Most of these are self-catering and can sleep up to 6 people.

The companies that offer Fishermen’s Huts are mostly family run and do not offer online booking with the larger search engines, but contact us for more information on what’s available.

There is also a hostel within walking distance of the city centre, and a campsite a short bus ride away.

You can compare and book available hotels from all the large search engines below.

4) Car Hire

Nothing in Norway is close by. If you’re planning to stay in Tromso, the city centre is absolutely manageable by foot, and there are local buses.

However, to really be able to explore and experience this part of the Arctic, hiring a car is not a bad idea.

Car hire often turns out cheaper if you are more than one person - and – you don’t have to wait out in the cold for the bus.

Be careful when driving in the winter, and watch out for sheep and reindeer in the road. The speed limits are low for a reason. Read more about driving in Norway.

You can compare car hire rates from all the largest providers below.

5) Activities

Planning your activities in advance is a smart way to maximise your stay in Tromso.

Getting there only to realise the husky rides are fully booked and the northern lights guides over for the season is not the best start to a holiday.

Also, in the dark season it is quite natural to become both lazy and tired. Planning your days in advance will prevent you from hibernating in your hotel, which can be quite tempting when it gets dark at noon.

6) Find out what’s on

On the same note, there are many festivals and quirky events in Tromso all through the year.

Why not plan your trip to fit with the annual Reindeer Race Championships, or the Beer Festival? You can find out more about what’s on in Tromso in our events guide.

7) Pack for the weather

So you have booked your flights and hotel, planned your activities and sorted out the car hire.

All that is left is packing your bags. Make sure to pack for the weather.

Summertime weather changes from day to day.One day you’ll have 20degrees and sun, the next 8 degrees, rain and a cold northerly wind.

In winter the temperatures can fall below -10 degrees, which means you’ll be glad you’ve brought your thermals and ski socks.

Footwear is equally important, if you want to ensure your hips will live to see the end of the holiday, opt for shoes which can deal with icy conditions. Rubber soles and tracks are recommended – UGG boots are not. You might think they will keep you snug and warm, but trust me, they are lethal on ice.

This guide was made to help people put together their own independent holiday to Tromso. I hope you have found it useful. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us: contact@iglobetrotter.com . We’ll be happy to help you plan your perfect trip to the Arctic.