14 things to do in Northern Norway in winter

Travel to Northern Norway allows you to enjoy very different experiences depending on where you go in summer o in winter.

I would even tell you that it is precisely in winter when this area of ​​the northern norway, which corresponds to the natural region of Lapland, offers you its most differential and very appropriate attractions if you like to do winter tourism.

Perhaps its greatest and best-known attraction is see northern lights, but I already tell you that that should not be the only objective of your trip to arctic norway, which is also how this region is known.

On a trip of a few days it is not easy to see the northern lights Well, you will be totally conditioned to the weather.

Therefore, you must take into account from the beginning that perhaps during the trip not all the necessary conditions will be met to see them.

What to see and do in Northern Norway in winter

Therefore, it is important that you plan a trip with visits and activities attractive enough, so that see a northern lights becomes a possible cherry on top of it.

This is what happened to me on one of the trips I made to northern Norway in winter, which has become one of those traveling experiences already unforgettable.

Based on the experiences I have had on the trips I have made in winter, I am going to give you some advice on the best places to see y what activities to do in a trip to northern norway, to the region of Lapland.

Activities to do in Tromso in winter

Tromso It is the largest city in northern Norway and is considered the Gate to the Arctic.

Therefore, to make a trip through Norwegian Lapland you will surely fly up Tromso, a city that will become the starting point of your excursion.

This will allow you visit Tromso in winter, where you can see your Arctic Cathedral, or go through the Polar museum, where you will learn about the adventures of Norwegian explorers like Amundsen.

Or also go up in funicular to the spectacular viewpoint of the mount Storsteinen, from where you have excellent views of the city and its surroundings.

Here you have information about what to see when visiting Tromso.

Activities to do in Alta in winter

Another alternative for fly to northern Norway from Oslo es get to Alta.

This city is even more north than Tromso, and it is the best option if in the end your trip is going to take place in the most northeastern areas of the country, such as the city of Kirkenes already bordering the Russian border.

Its most characteristic image is known as the Cathedral of the Northern Lights Opened in 2013, with a very modern design with its spectacular façade covered in titanium.

Alta can also be a good base to reach other places in the interior such as karasjok.

Of the city of Alta, it is worth highlighting its great features for viewing the northern lights, as well as the numerous winter activities that you can sign up for, including snow bike.

See fjords with snowy landscapes

Travel in winter to Norwegian Lapland will allow you to enjoy beautiful Snowy landscape, with the great contrast of seeing them on the seashore in the fjords, which do not freeze.

Faced with what is happening in the Baltic Sea that in winter it freezes completely, the warmth of the Gulf Stream It prevents the waters from freezing on Norway's Atlantic coast, including its fjords, even those located further north.

If you like winter landscapes, you won't forget these beautiful norwegian landscapes where completely snow-capped mountains surround the tongues of sea.

See the northern lights in northern Norway

Of course, as I said, the possibility of see northern lights It is a great attraction to travel to Lapland Norway.

This possibility also exists in other places in northern Europe, but it has been proven that the further north you go, the more likely you are to see them.

For example, in the area of Kirkenes, one of the places I have visited northern norwayIf the sky is clear, it is relatively easy to see them.

But I will tell you that it is also possible to see them in the aforementioned city of Tromso, and even in other places further south in Norway.

To see the northern lights in Norway, the ideal is to go to a northern lights camp, which are equipped to spend the night there.

Furthermore, due to its location in isolated areas, far from cities, they ensure minimum luminosity so that, if the sky is clear, you can enjoy the Northern Lights, which is how this natural phenomenon is known.

Here you have detailed information about how to see the northern lights in northern Norway.

Snowmobile driving tour

If there is an activity that we all want to do in a trip to northern norway is a snowmobile excursion all with lose you through the enormous snowy landscapes.

In various activities driving a snowmobile It is part of it since it is the way to get to the place where it takes place, but you will always go corseted for traveling in a group or at a very limited speed.

However, on one of the trips I have made to Lapland Norway We took part in a snowmobile excursion that was different from the usual ones.

The objective of this excursion was to make a long tour of different types of Snowy landscape, from plains to lush forests, to crossing a frozen lake.

The great attraction of this tour that I enjoyed near the city of Alta was that we could drive around freely, so you didn't feel like a tourist, but almost like a local resident who is using their usual means of transport for long journeys in winter.

Here you have more information with our experience in the snowmobile excursion through snowy landscapes.

Husky Dog Sled Tour in Norway

I assure you that one of the most pleasant activities you can do in a winter trip to Lapland Norway is a dog sled excursion.

They are excursions that are organized in such a way that you can go in a dog sled husky, a very original and different way to enjoy beautiful snowy landscapes.

On my trip I did this excursion in an area near Tromso, and I was lucky enough to enjoy a bright sunny day which further increased its appeal.

Here you have information with our experience in the dog sledding tour in Tromso.

Visiting a Sami camp in Norwegian Lapland

Another interesting excursion that you can sign up for in your trip to northern norway It is what will allow you to delve deeper into the crop Sami.

This excursion called Sami experience we made it near kautokeino, and after a tour in sleigh pulled by snowmobile to reach a camp Sami settled next to a reindeer farm, we did some activities.

Thus, in addition to see the reindeer up close, we were able to manage our own sleigh pulled by a reindeer, emulating the reindeer races that are periodically practiced by Samis.

Then in a big sami store, around a bonfire we tasted some gastronomic specialties of the Samis.

And finally we heard some Sami songs and we were able to delve into all the curiosities that arise to understand what their culture and lifestyle are like. reindeer herders.

Night Snowmobile Tour in Norway

Another alternative within the activity of the driving a snowmobile is one ago night excursion, just like I did too near Tromso, with the added attraction of the possibility of seeing the northern lights.

If you sign up for night snowmobile safari, they will pick you up at 5 pm at a central hotel next to the port of Tromso, and they will take you in a minibus to the place where it takes place.

On this excursion, each snowmobile carries two people, the driver and the passenger, with the possibility of exchanging positions during the journey.

In a route of about 15 kilometers one way, plus another 15 kilometers returning, we went up some winding snowy trails in a heavily wooded area, so the speed was always quite low.

This excursion reaches its goal when it reaches a frozen lake where the most daring had the opportunity to make strong accelerations.

Of course, only the expert guide showed us his skills as a snowmobile rider going up and down the slopes of the mountains that surrounded the lake.

The motorcycle excursion lasts about 4 and a half hours, with the transfer from the hotel to the starting and return point and a dinner, a total of about seven hours.

This is what snowshoeing is like in Norway

Another activity that you can do in your trip to Lapland Norway is a snowshoe trekking.

Of course, you must have a minimum of physical conditions for the walk because of the snow is really nice.

I have had this experience on a couple of occasions, and as an example, I will tell you about the experience on our most recent trip to the Lapland region of Finnmark Central, in which we did an excursion that combines two activities.

It is a excursion which has one duration of about four hours, time that, as is usual in this type of activity, includes travel from the hotel where they will pick you up to the area near karasjok where it takes place, and the return to it.

After leaving the transfer van on the side of the road and put on your snowshoes, which is very simple, you will begin to walk along a route along trails that will take you to a frozen lake where will you do the ice fishing activity.

I can tell you that at least in this case it is not a very physically demanding activity, and having a minimum state of fitness you will be able to snowshoeing smoothly.

Of course, pay maximum attention and do not get distracted when you are walking, as it is not difficult to trip and fall on the snow.

On snowshoe tour They explain various things to you curiosities about flora and fauna of this arctic area, which implies successive stops that allow you to regain your rhythm.

In this area close to karasjok you will be able to see the characteristic arctic landscape of plains with gentle hills where in winter the birch thickets and the snow take center stage.

Of course, you will find some curious corners, such as some large granite rocks that they explain arrived there once as a result of the movement of a large glacier.

You will also see tracks of various animals, and the guide will give you some keys that will allow you to recognize them.

After walking almost a couple of kilometers along wide icy tracks and narrow paths through bushes, you will finally reach a frozen lake.

Trekking to fish on a frozen lake

As I have mentioned, this activity of the snowshoe trekking It was combined with another winter activity, such as fishing in a frozen lake.

And on our excursion, it's finally time to go fishing!!

The first thing you might want to consider is whether you are in danger of sinking in the lake.

In this regard I will tell you that this activity in karasjok It takes place from December to mid-April, so it is ensured that the ice on the lake remains very thick.

In our case we were able to verify this when the guide made the first hole in the ice.

Under the first superficial layer of snow that covers the entire lake, the guide found a layer of ice more than a meter thick and had to make a great effort to cross it and thus open the hole.

In this regard, it must be remembered that it is common for trucks weighing between 40 and 50 tons to circulate on the large frozen lakes of Norway in winter.

With the first hole open, the guide will explain to you how easy it is to handle the small rod that he will give you, which consists of a simple reel and at the end of the line, a "teaspoon" and a hook where live bait is placed.

With two or three more holes, there are already several of us trying to fish, although in our case we were not lucky, but I assure you that it is possible.

On a previous trip to arctic regions We had the opportunity to do the activity of ice fishing with the fortune of catching a couple of fish.

While developing the fishing activity, on the shores of the lake a fire is prepared and the place where you are going to eat is set up in a hole opened in the snow, where reindeer skins are placed so you can sit.

Eating typical Lappish food

When you finish fishing, it's time to eat various specialties that are part of the lapp diet, who spend day and night outdoors caring for large herds of reindeer in harsh winter temperatures.

So we were able to test the banana with chocolate heated directly over fire, or smoked cheese with potato bread, and sausages also heated in the campfire.

Finally it's time to return, so what you will do again with the snow rackets the same route until reaching the van.

I also warn you that it is likely that on this excursion you will have very variable weather, with times when it is even snowing, and with others when you can enjoy the sun.

This great climatological variability is very common in winter in this Arctic area.

Sleep in an ice hotel in Norway

Without a doubt one of the experiences that can attract your attention the most, as was my case, is sleep in an ice hotel.

I tell you that it is a very exclusive activity because in very few places in the world you find the possibility of staying in a ice Hotel.

Because from the outset you should know that the hotel is set up every winter, so it is not available until December.

The point is not to stay in an ice hotel for several nights, but live a true arctic experience for just one night, because it is very expensive and I can't tell you that it is especially comfortable.

I had the opportunity to experience it in Kirkenes Snowhotel, almost on the border between Norway and Russia, although you also have another alternative to live this experience in the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel Alta.

Here you have the information about what this unforgettable experience is like. sleep in an ice hotel in Lapland Norway.

Go on a King Crab Safari

In a previous trip to northern norway I had already had the opportunity to participate in a safari King crab, a huge and delicious crustacean with a striking red color originating from the Bering Sea which can weigh several kilos.

In summer this activity is carried out in a motor boat that navigates you closer to the place in the fjord where the fish is fished. King crab to later go to the cabin or store Sami where they are cooked and tasted.

But you have to know that in winter You can also do this activity, just as I experienced it near Kirkenes in one of my winter trips to Norway.

This time you will go in a kind of carriage pulled by a snowmobile that will travel over a frozen area of ​​the fjord to the place where the king crabs.

Then you will return to a comfortable cabin where you will finish tasting them in a very pleasant meal in a wooden cabin.

Here you have all the information about what the experience of a safari King crab in winter.

Flying over snowy landscapes in northern Norway

Finally, facing your trip to northern Norway in winter, I also want to highlight that one of the attractions is fly over at very low altitude on Snowy landscape from this region so far north of the country.

To fly between its small cities you will use the regional airline Wideroe, with small propeller planes with just 20 seats that take you on flights at very low altitude, for example, between Alta and Kirkenes.

This will allow you to enjoy these at all times. beautiful snowy landscapes of Norway, so, without a doubt, this flight becomes another true experience to tell after the trip.