February is when the sun comes back to Tromsø. The polar night ends in mid-January, so by February you get real daylight again, though not much of it: around 9:20am to 2:30pm at the start of the month, stretching to roughly 7:15am to 4:40pm by the end. That short, blue-lit window is exactly why where you sleep matters. You want a base you can walk out of quickly, warm up in fast, and get back to after a late aurora chase. Below are ten places we'd actually recommend for a first Arctic trip, grouped roughly from central-and-easy to further-out-and-quieter.
Check current Tromso availability and rates on Booking.com.
1. Clarion Hotel The Edge
The Edge is the obvious pick if you want to be at the centre of things. It stands on the harbour in central Tromsø, looking straight across Tromsø Sound to the Arctic Cathedral, and it's the tallest hotel in town. The headline feature is the Skybar on the 11th floor, which is Tromsø's only rooftop bar: on a clear winter night you can watch for the aurora over the fjord with a drink in hand, though it usually opens at weekends and can be booked out for events.
Rooms are modern and many face the water. There's a restaurant and bar downstairs, so you can eat without going back into the cold after dark. It's a big, busy hotel, which is a plus for facilities and a minus if you want quiet.
- Location: On the harbour, a short walk to Storgata, restaurants and tour pick-up points.
- Standout: The 11th-floor Skybar, the only rooftop bar in the city.
- Rooms: Modern, many with Sound or Arctic Cathedral views.
- Good for: First-timers who want to walk everywhere and be in the thick of it.
The Edge takes the guesswork out of a first trip. You're central, you're on the water, and you can end an evening looking for the Northern Lights from the roof without leaving the building.
2. Radisson Blu Hotel, Tromsø
The Radisson Blu is another tall, central landmark on the harbour, and it's one of the larger hotels in town with just under 270 rooms. You're within an easy walk of the Polaria Arctic experience centre and the Polar Museum, and close to where many boat trips and tour buses leave from. A useful winter detail: there's a glass bridge from which guests sometimes catch the aurora, and a 10th-floor sauna and fitness room with city and mountain views.
Rooms are comfortable and warm, many looking over the city, the Arctic Cathedral or Tromsø Sound. It's a reliable, well-run choice if you value convenience over character.
- Location: Central and on the harbour, close to Polaria and the Polar Museum.
- Standout: 10th-floor sauna and a glass bridge that's a decent aurora-watching spot in a pinch.
- Views: Many rooms face the Sound, the city or the Arctic Cathedral.
Staying at the Radisson Blu puts you a few minutes from the museums, the water and the tour departure points. It's the safe, no-surprises option, which is worth a lot on a first Arctic trip.
3. Scandic Ishavshotel
The Ishavshotel sits right out on the quay, with the building stretching over the Tromsø strait so that nearly every room has a water view. It's about 50 metres from the Hurtigruten coastal-ferry terminal, which makes it the natural base if you're combining Tromsø with a stretch of the Hurtigruten route. Rooms look across the harbour to the Arctic Cathedral and Tromsdalen, and asking for a high floor gets you the best of it.
It's a well-regarded, contemporary Scandinavian hotel with a strong breakfast. You can read recent guest feedback to get a feel for it.
- Location: On the quay in the centre, about 50 metres from the Hurtigruten terminal.
- Views: Nearly all rooms face the water and the Arctic Cathedral; ask for a high floor.
- Good for: Anyone pairing Tromsø with a Hurtigruten sailing.
With short February daylight, the Ishavshotel's position at the tip of the quay is hard to beat. You're central, you're on the water, and the ferry terminal is on your doorstep.
4. Thon Hotel Tromsø
The Thon Hotel Tromsø is a straightforward, comfortable choice a few steps from Storgata, the main shopping street. That puts you in the middle of the centre, within a short walk of shops, restaurants, the harbour and the points where Northern Lights minibuses pick up. The airport is under ten minutes away by car and the Hurtigruten terminal is about 400 metres off.
Rooms are bright, modern and functional, and the breakfast buffet is a genuine strong point, which matters when you're heading out into the cold for a full day. It's practical rather than plush, and priced accordingly.
- Location: Central, a few steps from Storgata and its cafes and shops.
- Rooms: Clean, modern, well-equipped for a short winter stay.
- Breakfast: A well-regarded buffet, a real plus before a long day out.
- Handy: Around 400 metres from the Hurtigruten terminal.
The Thon is the sensible middle option: central, comfortable and easy, with a breakfast worth getting up for before an early excursion.
5. Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromsø
If you want a budget-friendly base right in the centre, the Comfort Hotel Xpress is worth a look. It sits by Tromsø Cathedral, roughly a minute's walk from Storgata, and it's deliberately no-frills: the focus is a clean, comfortable bed and a good location rather than a big breakfast or a gym. Check-in is self-service at the “Barception”, which handles check-in, check-out and a quick bite in one spot.
This suits travellers who plan to be out all day and just need somewhere central to sleep and recharge. Rooms are compact and functional, and some have city or sea views.
- Location: Very central, by the Cathedral and a minute from Storgata.
- Rooms: Compact and functional, a few with city or sea views.
- Service: Self-service check-in via the Barception; efficient and low-fuss.
- Good for: Budget-minded visitors who value a central spot over amenities.
Think of the Xpress as a practical launchpad. You're paying for the prime location and a comfortable bed, and spending your days out in the Arctic instead.
6. Enter Viking Hotel
The Enter Viking Hotel is a budget hotel that's still genuinely central, on Grønnegata just a few hundred metres from the middle of town, so you can walk to the harbour and the main attractions rather than relying on a bus. Its room rates are among the lowest in the city, which is the main draw.
Rooms are simple but recently furnished, with flat-screen TVs and tiled bathrooms with underfloor heating, a small comfort that lands well in a Tromsø February. There are singles, doubles, triples, family rooms and a range of centrally located apartments if you want more space or self-catering.
- Location: Central, on Grønnegata, a few hundred metres from the city core.
- Rooms: Simple and modern; tiled bathrooms with underfloor heating.
- Value: Among the lowest rates in Tromsø, with apartments also available.
If you want to keep costs down without giving up a walkable, central location, the Enter Viking is one of the better-value beds in town.
7. Ami Hotel
Ami Hotel is a budget option on Skolegata, a quiet street that's still within the city centre and close to shops and bus stops. It's a small, friendly place rather than a big hotel, and the appeal is value: you can pick rooms with a private or a shared bathroom, which keeps prices low.
Facilities are simple but useful for a longer or thriftier stay, including a shared kitchen, a TV lounge with free coffee and a laundry room. It won't have a restaurant or gym, so set expectations accordingly.
- Location: A quiet central street, close to shops and bus stops.
- Amenities: Shared kitchen, laundry room and TV lounge; private or shared bathrooms.
- Value: One of the cheaper central beds, especially with a shared bathroom.
Ami trades hotel extras for a low price and a shared kitchen. For first-timers watching the budget who still want to be central, that's a fair swap.
8. Tromsø Lodge & Camping
For something different, Tromsø Lodge & Camping sits in the Tromsdalen valley on the mainland side, near the Arctic Cathedral, about a 10-minute bus ride from the city centre. Being out of town means darker surroundings, which can help if you're hoping to spot the aurora without joining a tour every night, and a few of the newer explorer cabins even have glass roofs.
The site offers economy cabins through to fully equipped lodges, many with a kitchenette so you can cook and save on Norway's steep restaurant prices. It's practical rather than luxurious, with a renovated service house, a sauna and a common kitchen. Buses run into town regularly and staff are helpful with directions.
- Location: Tromsdalen valley near the Arctic Cathedral, about a 10-minute bus ride from the centre.
- Accommodation: Economy cabins up to full lodges; some new explorer cabins have glass roofs.
- Amenities: Kitchenettes in many cabins, plus a sauna and common kitchen.
- Good for: Self-caterers and anyone wanting darker skies away from the centre.
You trade instant city access for space, self-catering and darker surroundings. For aurora hunters and families who want to cook, that trade-off often pays off.
9. Scandic Grand Tromsø
If the Ishavshotel is full, the Scandic Grand is its central sibling and a strong first-timer choice in its own right. It's on Storgata, the main shopping street, only a few minutes' walk from where most Northern Lights tours set off, and steps from Tromsø Cathedral and the Art Museum of Northern Norway.
You get a large breakfast buffet and an in-house bar, so you can fuel up in the morning and warm up in the evening without going far. It's a dependable, modern city hotel that keeps you close to the action.
- Location: On Storgata in the centre, minutes from Northern Lights tour departure points.
- Amenities: Large breakfast buffet and an in-house bar.
- Good for: First-timers who want a central, hassle-free base near the tours.
The Scandic Grand keeps you on the main street and a short walk from the tour pick-ups, which is exactly what you want when daylight is in short supply.
10. Arctic Homes
Arctic Homes is a Tromsø apartment-rental operator worth considering if you'd rather have your own space and kitchen than a hotel room. Its apartments sit in and around the city, with several a short walk from the Polar Museum, the Fram Centre and Polaria, so you're not sacrificing location to self-cater. Many come with sea views and a balcony.
Renting an apartment gives you a fully fitted kitchen, a washing machine and room to spread out, which suits families, groups or anyone staying longer. You'll want to check the exact address of the specific apartment against the sights and bus routes you care about, since the portfolio spans several buildings.
- Location: Various central apartments, several near the Polar Museum and Polaria.
- Amenities: Full kitchens, washing machines and living space; some with sea views.
- Good for: Families, groups and longer stays that benefit from self-catering.
An apartment lets you cook, do laundry and spread out, which is a welcome change of pace on a longer trip. Just confirm which building you're booking so the location matches your plans.
For a fuller picture of what to expect from the month itself, this first-hand account of Tromsø in February and this local February guide are both worth a read.
Wrapping Up Your Tromsø Trip
Whichever base you pick, the plan is the same: stay central enough to walk, book aurora tours and dog sledding ahead of time, and don't over-pack your days when the light lasts only a few hours. Note that whale-watching season has usually ended by February, so swap that for a fjord safari, dog sledding or a reindeer-sledding trip with the Sami. If your dates land in early February, look out for Sami Week around the Sami National Day on 6 February, when reindeer races run down Storgata, the main street. Pack for real cold, give yourself time to just wander, and let the short days set the pace.
Not ready for Arctic Norway this year? For a lower-stakes first try at the lights, see our honest guide to aurora-hunting from Inverness, where the displays are rarer but the trip is far easier to arrange.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the weather like in Tromsø in February?
February in Tromsø is full winter. Temperatures usually sit below freezing, often around minus 3 to minus 6 Celsius, with plenty of snow and the occasional cold snap colder still. It's great for winter activities, but you'll want a proper thick coat, hat, gloves and waterproof boots.
Will I see the Northern Lights in February?
February is one of the better months to try. The nights are still long and dark, and Tromsø sits under the auroral oval, so the odds are good on clear nights. There's never a guarantee, but joining a tour that drives to find clear skies gives you the best chance, and you can also watch from darker spots away from the city lights.
Is Tromsø easy to get around for first-timers?
Yes. The city centre is compact and walkable, and most of the hotels above are central, so you can reach the museums, shops and harbour on foot. Local buses cover the areas further out, such as Tromsdalen, and taxis are available when it's icy or you're carrying gear.
What should I pack for a trip to Tromsø in February?
Layering is the key. Bring thermal base layers, warm jumpers, a waterproof and windproof outer coat, a warm hat, a scarf, gloves and sturdy waterproof boots with grip for icy pavements. Add sunglasses for bright snow and a camera or phone that copes with the cold for the aurora.
How much daylight is there in Tromsø in February?
Daylight grows quickly through the month. Around 1 February you get roughly five hours, from about 9:20am to 2:30pm; by the end of February that stretches to around nine hours, from about 7:15am to 4:40pm. The polar night is already over, but the darkness after sunset is still your window for the aurora.
What kind of activities can you do in Tromsø in February?
Plenty. Northern Lights tours, dog sledding, reindeer sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing all run well in February, and there are scenic fjord cruises and city museums for the daylight hours. Whale-watching season has usually finished by February, so a wildlife or fjord safari is the winter alternative.
Is it expensive to stay in Tromsø?
Tromsø is on the pricier side, as much of Norway is, and February is peak aurora season. Booking accommodation well ahead helps, and choosing a hotel with breakfast included, or an apartment where you can cook, softens the cost of eating out.
Do I need to book tours in advance?
Yes, for the popular ones. Northern Lights chases and dog sledding fill up fast in February, so book before you arrive to be sure of a place on the day you want.
