PNPremier NordicsQuiet, authentic Nordic travel
Tromsø · January

Tromsø in January: the sun comes back mid-month and prices drop after New Year.

January is the quiet winner for Tromsø: the polar night ends around 15 January, the whale boats usually keep sailing until the end of the month, snow is reliable in the hills and hotel rates fall after the New Year weekend. It is colder than December but drier.

Reviewed
2026-09-26
Sources checked
2026-09-26
Published by
Premier Nordics
Small boats moored in Tromsø harbour under snow-dusted hills on a grey winter day
Key numbers

The facts that decide this trip

Sun returns
First sunrise about 15 January; by 31 January the sun is up about 09:30 to 14:25
Usable light
Civil twilight about 09:00 to 14:50 on 15 January and 08:10 to 15:50 on 31 January
Temperature
Monthly mean −3.0 °C; average high −1.0 °C, average low −5.3 °C (1991–2020)
Precipitation
About 108 mm over roughly 15 days, mostly snow at sea level
Whales
Season usually continues to late January; confirm end dates with the operator
Prices
Lower than December after 2 January; the 'sun return' week is popular with photographers

Two different Januaries: before and after the sun returns

Until about 15 January the days are polar-night twilight, similar to December but with slightly longer light. After that date the sun clears the horizon for a few minutes, and by the end of the month it is above the horizon for almost five hours, lighting the mountain tops pink at midday. Locals mark the return with a celebration on the days around 21 January when the sun first reaches the city centre.

For a first visit, the last ten days of January give the best of both: enough daylight for the cable car and a walk, and darkness from 16:00 for aurora.

Whale season's last weeks

The herring that draw humpbacks and orcas to the fjords near Skjervøy usually stay into late January, but the end of the season varies by year. Operators publish departure dates on the listing; if the whale day is the reason for the trip, book it and then fit the flights around it rather than the other way round.

  • Sea conditions are rougher in January; choose the larger boats if you are unsure about seasickness.
  • Boat days start in darkness and return after dusk; keep the evening free.
  • A cancelled whale day is refunded or rebooked, so keep one spare day in the plan.
Where to stay

Where to stay in Tromsø in January

January is a value month: a central hotel costs less than in December and the value hotels uphill are cheaper still, with the same walk to the whale boats and chases.

Affiliate disclosure: the Stay22 comparison link is commercial. If you book through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost. Providers control prices, payment, changes and refunds; the picks stay editorial.

  • Centre valueThon Hotel TromsøFamily rooms with breakfast included and a short walk to the harbour; good value in the post-New Year weeks.
  • HarbourScandic IshavshotelNext to the quay for early whale boats; sea-view rooms catch the returning sun on the mountains.
  • Centre valueComfort Hotel Xpress TromsøKeyless 24-hour access for late chase returns at the lowest central rate.
Stay22 · live value comparisonFind best-value stays around TromsøCompare live totals, map position and cancellation terms for the exact dates.
Check live prices

Snow activities that work in January

Snow is dependable in the hills above the city, so husky sledding, reindeer sledding and snowshoe walks run daily, and cross-country trails near the university are lit. The Fjellheisen cable car gives the classic view over the city and the bridge, best in the blue hour around 14:00 or after dark for aurora.

Booking order for a January trip

Fix the whale day first if it matters, then flights that land by early afternoon, then a central hotel, then one aurora chase on the second night. Add huskies or reindeer as a morning activity on a non-whale day, and keep the last evening free as the aurora retry.

Experiences

Reviewed January tours from Tromsø

The Skjervøy RIB whale tour for confident sailors, a small-group aurora chase that drives until it finds clear sky, and self-drive husky sledding, checked on the public product pages on 26 September 2026.

Affiliate disclosure: GetYourGuide and Viator links are commercial. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost. Providers control prices, operator terms, changes and refunds.

GetYourGuideTromsø small-group aurora chaseA minibus chase that drives toward clear sky, sometimes across the Finnish border; confirm group size, return time and what the guarantee covers.
Check on GetYourGuide
GetYourGuideSkjervøy RIB whale watching from TromsøA bus-and-RIB whale day with time on the water in small fast boats; confirm minimum age, fitness expectations, thermal suits and sea conditions.
Check on GetYourGuide
GetYourGuideTromsø self-drive husky sleddingA self-drive husky sled outing near Tromsø; confirm pickup, driver age rules, clothing provided and the animal-welfare notes.
Check on GetYourGuide
Practical questions

Questions travelers ask before booking

Answers use the sources listed below. Re-check live hours, weather and operator terms close to the travel date.

When exactly does the sun return to Tromsø?

The sun rises above the horizon for the first time around 15 January, but mountains hide it from the city centre until around 21 January. Daylight then grows by about 15 minutes a day.

Is January colder than December in Tromsø?

Slightly: a January mean of −3.0 °C against −1.7 °C in December, with more of the precipitation falling as snow. Wind on the boats and at aurora stops feels far colder than the number suggests.

Can I still see whales in late January?

Most years yes, but the season end depends on where the herring move. Check the last published departure date on the listing before booking flights around a whale day.

Is January cheaper than December for Tromsø hotels?

Yes after 2 January. Rates drop from the Christmas peak and stay lower until the February school holidays, except around the sun-return days that photographers favour.

Sources

Where the numbers come from

Checked 2026-09-26. These sources support hours, distances, transport and climate facts; they do not guarantee prices, availability or operator terms.

Keep planning

Related Tromsø guides and pages

Whale season

Whale watching in Tromsø: a full day to Skjervøy in the November to January window.

Whale watching from Tromsø: the November to January season, the long transfer to Skjervøy, RIB versus large boat, what a day costs in time, and how to fit it with aurora.

Read the guide
December

Tromsø in December: twilight days, long aurora nights and full whale season.

Tromsø in December by the numbers: polar night twilight hours, −1.7 °C average, whale and aurora tour timing, Christmas and New Year prices, and what to book first.

Read the guide
February

Tromsø in February: the balance month with real daylight and dark aurora evenings.

Tromsø in February: seven to nine hours of daylight, reliable snow for huskies and skiing, long aurora evenings, school-holiday prices and the end of whale season.

Read the guide