NorwayNorthern NorwayNorthern LightsChecked Oct 2026

Manchester to Tromsø for the Northern Lights

Tromsø sits under the auroral oval, well inside the Arctic Circle, and there are direct winter flights from Manchester. This guide covers flights, getting into town, aurora tours and what else to do while you're there.

Sep – early AprAurora season

Tromsø (TOS)Direct flights from Manchester

~5h 30mFastest, door to door

The short answer

Fly direct from Manchester to Tromsø with Norwegian or easyJet (about 3h 10m–3h 30m, usually a couple of flights a week each in winter). Take the airport express bus or a taxi into town, which is only about 6 km away, then book a guided aurora chase for your first clear night.

Aurora essentials

What you need to know before you go hunting for the lights.

Best months

The aurora season runs from about September to early April, whenever it's dark enough. Late autumn and late winter (October–November and February–March) give you dark nights plus some daylight for other activities; December and January are darkest but also the busiest and most expensive.

Polar night

From roughly 27 November to 15 January the sun doesn't rise above the horizon in Tromsø. It isn't pitch black all day: expect a few hours of blue, twilight-style light around midday. It's atmospheric, but plan daytime activities for that short window.

Tours vs DIY

Clouds are the main problem, not the aurora. Guided chase tours drive inland or towards the coast to find clear skies, sometimes into Finland, and usually include thermal suits and hot drinks. Small-group minibus chases are typically from around NOK 1,750 (about £140) per adult for 5–8 hours. DIY works if you have a hire car and are confident on snowy, icy roads; check the cloud forecast and aurora forecast and get away from city lights.

What to wear

Layers: thermal base layer, a wool or fleece mid layer, and a windproof, insulated outer layer. Add a warm hat, gloves with liners, wool socks and insulated, grippy boots (ice cleats help on town pavements). Town temperatures are often around or below freezing and it feels much colder standing still at night or inland.

Good to know

Norway is one hour ahead of the UK. Tromsø is expensive, so budget for food and drink. Book popular tours ahead in December–February, and plan your trip so you have several nights: one cloudy night is common, so 3–4 nights gives you a much better chance.

Every way to get there

From Manchester to Tromsø, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

Fly direct from Manchester, then the airport bus

Best for most

Door to door5h 30m–6h 30m

£ Cost££

Best forMost trips

Manchester (MAN) to Tromsø (TOS)About 3h 10m–3h 30m. Norwegian and easyJet both fly direct from Terminal 2 in winter, usually about twice a week each (Norwegian from late October 2026, easyJet from mid-November). Days and times change through the season, so check current schedules.
Airport express bus or taxi to the centreThe airport is about 6 km from town. The Flybussen airport express takes around 10–15 minutes and stops by central hotels; local buses 40 and 42 take 15–20 minutes and are cheaper. A taxi takes about 10 minutes from the rank outside arrivals.

Compare MAN–TOS flights Transfer options: Tromsø Airport → Tromsø city centre

Typical return fares on this route vary a lot, roughly £150–£320 return, with cheaper deals on some dates; check both airlines as their flying days differ.

Fly via Oslo

Door to door8–10h

£ Cost££

Best forDates that don't match the direct flights

Manchester (MAN) to Oslo (OSL)About 2h. Norwegian and SAS fly most days; easyJet also flies the route on some days.
Oslo (OSL) to Tromsø (TOS)About 1h 50m. SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe fly the route many times a day.
Airport bus or taxi to the centreAs above: 10–20 minutes by bus, about 10 minutes by taxi.

Compare MAN–OSL flights Compare OSL–TOS flights

Booking both legs on one ticket protects you if the first flight is late; leave a sensible connection time in winter.

Fly direct from another UK airport

Door to door5h 30m–7h

£ Cost££

Best forExtra dates or a cheaper fare

London, Bristol or Scotland to TromsøWinter 2026/27 schedules list direct Tromsø flights from London Heathrow (British Airways), London Gatwick (Norwegian and easyJet), London Luton (Wizz Air), Bristol and Edinburgh (easyJet), and a new Norwegian route from Glasgow (Mondays and Fridays, 11 December 2026 to 22 March 2027). Flights are typically about 3–4 hours. Check current schedules, as most run only a couple of times a week.
Airport bus or taxi to the centre10–20 minutes into town.

Compare LGW–TOS flights Compare LHR–TOS flights

Worth a look if Manchester's flying days don't fit, but add the cost and time of getting to the airport.

Where to stay in Tromsø

Compare hotels and apartments, many with free cancellation. Book early for December weekends.

See hotels in Tromsø

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

Option	Door to door	Cost	Best for
Fly direct from Manchester, then the airport bus	5h 30m–6h 30m	££	Most trips
Fly via Oslo	8–10h	££	Dates that don't match the direct flights
Fly direct from another UK airport	5h 30m–7h	££	Extra dates or a cheaper fare

Best aurora bases and trips

Tromsø is the easiest base, but the darkest skies and best day trips are outside town.

Your base

Tromsø

Stay in or near the centre so you can walk to restaurants and tour pick-up points. Most aurora chases, husky and reindeer trips collect from town, so you don't need a car.

Hotels in Tromsø

About 1–1.5h by road

Sommarøy

A small fishing village on islands west of Tromsø with open, dark skies over the sea. The public bus only runs in summer, so in winter go with a tour or a hire car, or stay a night.

Hotels in Sommarøy

About 1h by bus and ferry

Lyngen Alps

Steep mountains rising straight out of the fjords, reached via the Breivikeidet–Svensby ferry (about 20–25 minutes). Popular for ski touring and quieter, darker aurora watching; lodges here make a good add-on night.

Hotels in Lyngen

Early Nov – late Jan

Whale watching

Orcas and humpbacks follow the herring into the fjords north of Tromsø, in recent years mainly around Skjervøy and Kvænangen. Trips are a full day, by boat from Tromsø or by bus to Skjervøy then boat, and sightings depend on where the herring are that year.

Local tip: Husky sledding, reindeer visits and snowmobiling all run from Tromsø with hotel pick-ups; book a daytime activity for the morning after a late aurora chase so you're not up at dawn.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

Are there direct flights from Manchester to Tromsø?

Yes. Norwegian and easyJet both fly direct from Manchester in winter 2026/27, usually about twice a week each, taking around 3h 10m–3h 30m. Check current schedules for exact days.

When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?

Any time from about September to early April on a clear, dark night. Late autumn and February–March balance dark nights with some daylight; December and January are darkest but busiest.

Do I need a tour to see the aurora in Tromsø?

No, but it helps. Guides chase clear skies and can drive a long way to find them. If you go DIY, you need a car, winter driving confidence and a good cloud forecast.

How many nights should I stay?

At least 3–4 nights. Cloud is common, so more nights means more chances of a clear sky.

Is it dark all day in Tromsø in winter?

During the polar night, roughly 27 November to 15 January, the sun stays below the horizon, but there are a few hours of twilight around midday.

How do I get from Tromsø Airport to the city?

The Flybussen airport express (about 10–15 minutes), local buses 40 and 42 (15–20 minutes, cheapest) or a taxi (about 10 minutes). The airport is about 6 km from the centre.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.