The polar nights from 21 November to 21 January offer stunning light conditions during the short dawn. Far from hibernating, the locals enjoy numerous festivals and cultural events, and appreciate the unstoppable nightlife even more than during the rest of the year. Dining is also a favourite pastime, as cod and shellfish are more succulent in winter.
Floodlit tracks enable cross-country and alpine skiing even in the winter darkness.
When the sun returns in late January, it is time to enjoy loads of snow. Cross-country skiing is a local favourite, nicely complemented by alpine skiing and snowboarding.
Practice off-piste skiing in the Lyngen Alps. are among the best places on earth to practice off-piste skiing, and between March and April a variety of guided off-piste skiing trips are offered. Expect plenty of snow until May.
Most visitors in winter, however, come to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Tromsø is among the best places on earth to observe this phenomenon, although it is best to seek out a dark location out of town.
In Tromsø, the highest northern lights frequency is between 6 pm and 1 am, and the best months are December, January, February and March. However, no guarantees can be given concerning the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, as the weather and solar winds are both highly unpredictable.
Northern lights safaris and nightly visits to northern light camps along with activities such as dog sledging, snowmobile rides and reindeer sledging are all good ways of being out beneath the northern lights.
See slideshow with pictures of the northern lights.