Tromsø has a reputation for being insanely expensive and honestly, that’s what I expected before my trip. But after traveling there multiple times in different seasons, I can say this: Tromsø trip cost doesn’t have to be outrageous if you plan things smart.
I’m sharing this full cost breakdown based on what I actually spent during my travels, including a long summer stay in Tromso and a few road trips from Finland. I booked everything myself, organized the cheapest transportation and rentals I could find, and made decisions that helped cut expenses without missing the experience.
The result? A surprisingly manageable budget in a place most people assume is unaffordable.
So, this guide walks you through exactly what a trip to Tromsø costs in 2025 — from flights and food to gear, tours, and little extras that often get forgotten.
Whether you’re planning a short winter visit or a longer summer escape, as I did, here’s what to expect, based on real prices and personal experience.
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What You’ll Need for Your Tromso Trip
You’ll want to have these things sorted before your trip because Tromsø isn’t the kind of place where you can just show up unprepared.
- e-Sim to stay connected – many mobile plans don’t work in Norway, this is the easiest (and most budget-friendly way) to stay in touch
- Insurance for peace of mind – don’t risk getting stuck with unexpected costs
- High-quality winter boots – rated for low temperatures, ultra-warm and stylish for arctic weather
- Ice grips for shoes – essential for walking safely on icy Tromso streets and trails
- Hand warmers – essential for a winter trip if you’ll be outside a lot & plan to join the northern lights tour
🚗Looking for an independent way to travel? Tromso is a very good starting point for spring-autumn road trips. Click here to check rental car prices in the area!
Quick Overview: How Much Does a Trip to Tromsø Cost Depending on the Season
Tromsø isn’t a “one price fits all” destination. Your total cost depends heavily on when you go. Here’s what you can realistically expect to spend in 2025/2026, depending on the season and your travel style.
🌨 Cost of Visiting Tromso in Winter (December to March):
This is peak Northern Lights season, and also when everything costs more. Based on my past (recent) trip to Tromsø, I can tell that a 3-night stay (mid-range) for a couple will cost around €1,400–€1,800 total. That includes shared hotel/airbnb accommodation, airport transfers, basic meals, and one guided tour (Northern Lights or reindeer sledding).
If you are on a tighter budget when in Norway and stay in a hostel or basic airbnb in Tromso, skip tours, and cook your own meals, you could do it for around €900–€1,000 total (if you find a good price for the flight). Luxury trips with upgraded hotels, private tours, and nicer restaurants can easily go beyond €2,500 for two.
💡NOTE: The most expensive part of a winter trip to Tromsø isn’t accommodation — it’s transport and tours. You can actually find decent hotels, Airbnbs, or rooms for €100–€120 per night, especially if you book early (like this cozy flat in the Gimle neighborhood or this one-bedroom apartment by the Arctic University Museum). But the real costs hit when you need to get around or go on excursions.
If you don’t rent a car (and winter rentals cost between €300-€400 per week or €50-€60 per day + don’t forget about the tolls and parking expense), you’ll still need to pay for a tour to see the Northern Lights or do any winter activity. Either way, you are going to spend a chunk — you’re just choosing whether to pay for freedom or for someone to organize it for you.
By the way, if you want to rent a car, do your booking in the late spring, summer, or early fall. In this way, you are going to score this rate that I mentioned above. Otherwise, when booking at the end of autumn (and close to the beginning of a winter trip), prices are going to double or even triple.
>>> Compare prices here (we personally had a very good experience with the Alamo and Hertz companies).
🌸 Tromsø Trip Cost in Spring (April to early May):
This shoulder season is often overlooked, which makes it a sweet spot for better prices. Snow is still around, but the heavy winter tour crowds are gone, and many operators wind down for the season.
A 3-day spring trip for two can cost as little as €600–€700 total (without the flights) but including one tour or/and cable car to the top of the mountain with one of Tromsø’s museums. For a full week, it is doable to spend €1,400–€1,500, if you stay in an apartment with a kitchen, stick to buses, and limit organized excursions.
Spring isn’t the most popular time to visit, but that’s exactly why it can be a great deal. You still get snowy views, just without the winter prices.
☀️ Cost to Visit Tromsø in Summer (June to August):
Surprisingly, summer is when Tromsø becomes almost affordable.
There is no need for expensive gear rentals, you can walk almost everywhere, and most of the magic (the midnight sun, amazing hikes, and landscapes) is completely free. You would just want to rent a car to go on road trips in the region (yes, quite reasonable to do it at this time of the year!).
From my experience, I can tell (since I am now having a long stay in the arctic summer), it is quite possible to book a 4-day trip for one person for around €600–€700 total, depending on where you stay and if you book a fjord wildlife cruise (recommending this one, I went on it and really enjoyed it!) or any other nature tour.
If you’re keeping it simple and doing mostly free nature stuff (like hiking, walking, and chasing the midnight sun), it’s easy to keep costs on the lower end and spend around the same amount for a week (if you are ready to cook your own meals and use buses).
For a week-long summer stay for two people, expect to spend about €1,200–€1,300, if you mix in a few day tours, a car rental for one day, and one nicer dinner out.
TIP: But if you have a bit more time and are flexible, I’d recommend you visit Tromsø from Rovaniemi (Finland) by car (that’s what we did on one of the trips – rented a car in Rovaniemi and combined it with a scenic drive through Finnish Lapland and then to Tromsø). In this way, you can spend the same amount (€1,200–€1,300) for 9 days with a bit of Finland sightseeing.
🍂 Trip Cost to Tromsø in Autumn (September to early November):
Autumn is one of the most underrated times to visit Tromsø. Northern Lights return, crowds are still low, and golden foliage (ruska season) makes everything glow, including your photos. Best of all? Prices haven’t spiked yet like they do in December.
A 3–4 day trip for two will land you around €900–€1,000 total, depending on whether you book a Northern Lights tour and where you stay. A week-long stay falls in the €1,200–€1,300 range, especially if you are okay exploring on your own and don’t eat out. Car rentals are slightly cheaper than in winter, but still not cheap, same goes for tours.
If you want the aurora without the winter chaos (and cost), autumn is the moment (although, of course, there is no guarantee you’ll see it, especially if visiting only for 3-4 days).
💡 Just so you know:
Just like in summer, it’s totally possible to do this kind of trip from Rovaniemi to Tromsø in autumn too (I actually looked into the prices while writing this post).
And a one-week road trip can cost just over €1,000 for two people. That includes a week-long car rental from Rovaniemi (where the price is only €180, see for yourself), an apartment in Tromsø (I found this one), train tickets from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, plus estimated food and gas — based on what we actually spent during our summer trip along the same route.
Since we live in Tallinn, we usually bring some food with us in a suitcase to use during the week, which helps cut down on grocery costs in Norway. It really makes a difference.
Tromsø Flight Prices, Food Costs & Tour Expenses
Here are a few things that can quietly eat into your Tromsø budget, especially if you are not watching them.
Cost of Flights to Tromsø
From Europe, round-trip tickets usually cost between €100 and €200 per person, depending on season, day of the week, and how early you book. Surprisingly, the best time to fly to Tromsø is winter because there are so many flights connecting it with different cities in Europe.
If you’re flying from the US, Canada, Australia, or anywhere long-haul, you may want to combine a trip to Tromsø with one (or two) European cities, because in this way you can save on flights and see more.
For example: you can often find one-way flights from or to cities like Paris, Munich, or Milan (and many others in Europe) for around €50. These cities are also well connected to the U.S., so it’s easy to find affordable transatlantic flights on these routes.
Just a heads-up if you’re flying in winter: I’ve heard from people who live in Tromsø (and from some of my Instagram followers) that flights often get delayed or canceled because of strong Arctic winds near the airport. Many times, even the bridge leading into the city from Kvaloya island gets shut down.
It’s not dangerous, but things don’t always go as planned. If you are flying between December and March, leave some buffer time, especially if you’ve booked a tour or have a tight connection. And understand, that you may have extra expenses related to this.
food prices: What Meals & Groceries Cost
Food is one of the easiest ways to overspend in Tromsø, especially if you’re eating out often. But if you are ready to cook for yourself, you will definitely keep things reasonable.
In grocery stores, here’s what things usually cost in Tromsø (depends on which store you go to, but in Rema and Eurospar prices are similar for the most part). I have just returned from the grocery store, so adding the latest prices (as of August 2025) below:
- Pack of wholemeal bread (750 gr): €4
- Artisan bread: €6–€7
- Pack of eggs (12pcs): €5
- 1 liter of whole milk: €2.10
- 250g cheese: €3–€5
- 500g chicken breast: €8.50
- Bananas (1kg): €2.20
- Red bell peppers (1kg): €7
- Frozen pizza: €5–€7
- Pack of pasta (depending on the brand): €1.50–€3.50
We now spend around €70 per 5 days for 2 people for groceries since we are fully cooking at home (and taking lunches or dinner with us wherever we go) and choosing high-quality meats together with lots of fresh vegetables (which are quite expensive too). But I am also using some foods from Tallinn until now (like spices, canned meats/fish, and some grains).
Cafes and bakeries are tempting and pricey. Expect:
- Cappuccino or latte: €4.50–€5
- Cinnamon bun: €4–€5
- Sandwich or wrap: €9–€12
TIP: Some bakeries & cafes offer a 50% discount on buns and bread at the end of the day. So that’s a good way to save and still try local pastries.
Eating out at a mid-range restaurant:
- Main dish (pasta, fish, meat): €25–€40 per person
- Starter or dessert: €10–€15
- Beer or glass of wine: €8–€12
Takeaway like Thai, pizza, or burgers usually costs €15–€20 per person, with no drink.
NOTE: If you’re joining a tour (especially in winter), some of them include a full hot meal in the price, like stew, soup, or even a reindeer dinner around the fire. Examples of such tours are: Northern Lights Tour with Everything Included in winter, or Arctic fjords and Sommarøy scenic tour that runs from late spring to early fall. I also liked this food tour with tastings, which will keep you full for a long time.
Cost of Activities & Tours in Tromsø
Most of Tromsø’s big experiences come with a price tag, especially in winter. Northern Lights tours are the most popular and usually start at around €130 per person, but there are some that cost €180–€200, like the Northern Lights tour with photos and gear included.
Dog sledding and reindeer tours are even pricier. These usually range from €180 to over €250 per person, but often include transportation, a hot meal, and cultural activities like Sami storytelling or reindeer feeding. Tours like snowmobiling or snowshoeing fall into the same price range, especially if they involve a drive out of town.
In summer, things calm down a bit in terms of pricing. You can explore the nature around Tromsø for free — hiking trails, beaches, and views are everywhere. But if you want to join a boat tour or fjord cruise, expect to pay between €80 and €150 per person. Although I have found this fjords tour, which is now on sale and costs €72 (these guys often offer discounts).
Wildlife tours, kayaking, and guided hikes are also available during the summer season, usually in that same range, though they often run shorter and don’t include meals.
Hidden Costs Most Travelers Forget
Even if you’ve planned your flights, hotel, and a few tours, there are still a handful of extra costs that tend to sneak up on most trips.
First: airport transfers. The airport bus isn’t included with your accommodation, and a round trip for two can set you back around €15. If your flight arrives late and you miss the bus, a taxi costs €30 to the library area.
Extra luggage fees are another one. If you’re flying in with heavy winter clothing, boots, or packed food from home, it’s easy to go over your baggage allowance, especially on budget carriers connecting through Oslo or Helsinki. In winter, airlines cling to every kilogram.
Travel insurance is something many people forget to factor in. In winter, when you’re dealing with icy roads, possible tour cancellations, and Arctic conditions, it’s one of those things that’s just worth having — and it does cost a bit extra if you want coverage for things like snow activities or delays.
One more thing: aurora tour photo packages. Some Northern Lights tours offer to send you high-res photos after the trip — but not all include that in the base price. It’s a small detail, but it could be another €20–€40 you didn’t expect.
And lastly, spur-of-the-moment food stops. Even if you plan to cook, after a tour or a long day outside, it’s easy to give in and grab a takeaway meal, coffee, or snack — and in Norway in summer or winter, one or two spontaneous stops like that can easily bump your total budget by €50 or more.
Tromsø Travel Budget by Trip Length (for Two People)
This isn’t a perfect science, but based on what we’ve spent (and researched), here’s what a typical Tromsø trip will cost in the 2025-2026 seasons, depending on how long you stay and how you travel. Prices include flights, accommodation, basic food, and one paid activity, but not luxury splurges.
- 3 Days in Winter (mid-range): €1,200–€1,500 (without a car, 1 or 2 tours + museum/cable car optional, considering you have your own winter clothes)
- 1 Week in Winter (mid-range): €1,800–€2,200 (slow travel, when you have a car for at least a couple of days and explore a bit on your own. Up to €2,200 if you add 1 or 2 tours, depending on the price)
- 4 Days in Summer (budget-conscious): €700–€800 (without a car)
- 1 Week in Summer (mid-range): €1,200–€1,600 (with a car)
- 1 Week Autumn Trip (Rovaniemi to Tromsø self-drive & back): ~€1,350 (based on our recent real example)
If you’re trying to spend less, check out my Tromsø on a budget guide — where I break down exactly how to cut costs without missing the experience.
More Posts to Help You Plan Your Norway Trip
If you’re planning a longer trip or want to explore more of the country beyond Tromsø, here are a few guides you might find helpful:
- Where to Go in Northern Norway – my favorite stops after a long road trip
- Things to Do in Bergen for First-Timers – my personal list after spending a few months there
- Visiting Ulvik – peaceful fjord town near Bergen worth the stop
- Modalen near Mostraumen – hidden fjord experience
- Oslo to Stavanger Drive – scenic route full of surprises
- Scenic Road Trips in Southwestern Norway – unique drives you probably didn’t hear about
Planning to Travel In the Region?
Here are more guides from the Arctic and Nordic region that might help you plan your trip:
- Spending One Week in Finnish Lapland – 7 days in winter itinerary
