Tromsø in January
Polar night and auroras
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
January is one of the best months to visit Tromsø.
January has long dark nights for auroras and the Tromsø International Film Festival.
January in detail
What January actually feels like
- Weather
- -5–-1°C
- Cold, around -1°C, snowy.
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Busy with aurora hunters.
- Prices
- $$$
- High rates.
+Dark skies and the film festival.
–Polar night until about January 15.
My tip for January
Book aurora tours that drive to clearer weather.
- Northern lights
- Festivals
How January compares
Against the other eleven months
3rd of 12 overall in Tromsø, 6th for weather, 6th for space, 5th for value. The emptiest month is October; the best value is October.
See all twelve months for TromsøPlan around
What’s on in Tromsø in January
- Winter prices
- Aurora season is the busiest and priciest time.
January–March
Not set on January?
Even stronger months in Tromsø
Weather
Weather in Tromsø in January
In January Tromsø averages a high of -1°C (30°F) and a low of -5°C (23°F), with about 108 mm of rain or snow over 15 wet days. The warmest month is July (around 16°C) and the coolest is January (around -1°C); the wettest month is October.
- Average high
- -1°C
- 30°F
- Average low
- -5°C
- 23°F
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Wet days
- 15
Climate data: Met Norway (Tromsø, 1991–2020). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
Tromsø in January: the questions people ask
- Is January a good time to visit Tromsø?
- January is one of the best months to visit Tromsø. It ranks 3 of 12 months in Tromsø overall (6 for weather, 6 for space, 5 for value). The main upside: Dark skies and the film festival. The main downside: Polar night until about January 15.
- What is the weather like in Tromsø in January?
- Average highs are around -1°C and lows around -5°C. Expect about 108 mm of rain or snow over roughly 15 wet days. Cold, around -1°C, snowy. For comparison, the warmest month is July (around 16°C) and the coolest is January (around -1°C).
- Is Tromsø crowded in January?
- Crowds are moderate-high. Busy with aurora hunters. The quietest month is October.
- How expensive is Tromsø in January?
- Prices are at level 3 of 5 ($$$). High rates. The best-value month is October.
- When is the best time to visit Tromsø?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, March is the best month overall (January ranks 3 of 12). The quietest month is October and the best value is October.
Ready to book January in Tromsø?
Dark skies and the film festival.
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