Best Place to Watch New Year Fireworks in Tromsø, Norway

If you’re thinking about spending New Year’s Eve somewhere a little different, somewhere snowy, magical, and straight out of a winter postcard, Tromsø should absolutely be on your radar.

And if you’re anything like me, you probably Googled “New Year fireworks Tromsø” and realised, there isn’t actually that much information out there.

So consider this my gift to future you.

I spent New Year’s Eve in Tromsø, Norway, and I can confidently say it was the best New Year’s experience of my life. Fireworks exploding over a glowing Arctic city, snow crunching under your boots, temperatures well below freezing and yes, the Northern Lights dancing above it all. It honestly felt unreal.

Let me tell you exactly where to go, what to expect, and why watching the New Year fireworks from Fjellheisen is something I would 10,000% do again.

A Little History: Why Tromsø Is So Special

Before diving into fireworks, it helps to understand why Tromsø feels so magical in the first place.

Tromsø is often called the “Gateway to the Arctic.” Located over 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, it has long been a base for Arctic expeditions, explorers, and scientists. Despite its extreme location, Tromsø is surprisingly lively, full of cafés, culture, and people from all over the world.

What makes it extra special in winter is the polar night, when the sun doesn’t rise for weeks. Instead of darkness, you get this soft blue glow during the day and incredibly dark skies at night, perfect conditions for Northern Lights viewing.

So celebrating New Year’s here already feels symbolic, new beginnings, under the Arctic sky, in one of the most unique cities on Earth.

Why Visit Tromsø for New Year’s Eve?

Tromsø is an unforgettable place to spend New Year’s Eve because it offers something truly rare, the chance to experience fireworks, snow, and the Northern Lights all in one night.

The city feels festive without being overwhelming, with a cosy atmosphere that still buzzes with excitement. City lights shimmer across the water and snow, creating a magical backdrop as fireworks light up the sky from multiple spots rather than one crowded location.

Add in the Arctic winter setting and the possibility of witnessing the aurora, and New Year’s in Tromsø becomes a meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s hard to match anywhere else.

How to Get to Tromsø

Getting to Tromsø is easier than you might think.

• Fly into Tromsø Airport (TOS) via Oslo (most common route)
• The airport is only about 10–15 minutes from the city centre
• Taxis and buses are readily available

Once you’re in the city, getting around is very manageable, especially if your main New Year’s goal is Fjellheisen.

The Best Place to Watch New Year Fireworks in Tromsø: Fjellheisen

When I was researching New Year’s Eve in Tromsø, I came across one single TikTok showing fireworks from the top of Fjellheisen mountain. That video alone sold me.

And thank goodness it did.

Why Fjellheisen Is the Best Spot

Here’s the key thing most people don’t realise, the fireworks are actually launched from Fjellheisen.

That means if you’re on the mountain, you can literally lie in the snow and watch the fireworks explode directly above you as the entire city lights up below. It’s immersive, surreal, and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Our Experience at Fjellheisen (Step by Step)

Getting Up the Mountain

To avoid long lines, we decided to go up the Fjellheisen cable car at 8:00 PM and this was hands down one of our best decisions.

• We walked straight onto the first cable car
• No waiting
• No stress
• The ride only takes about 4–5 minutes

If you try to go closer to midnight, expect queues and crowds.

Finding the Best View

Once you arrive at the top:

• Turn right for the best city views
• This area is perfect for photos
• You’ll see the entire city glowing below you
• There’s also a cute pole showing directions to different countries, which felt especially fitting because based on the languages around us, people were there from all over the world

We explored the mountain a bit to scout spots, but honestly?

There is so much space up there. You don’t need to stress about finding “the perfect spot” every angle is incredible.

An Unexpected Surprise: Northern Lights

And then… something magical happened.

Completely unexpectedly, the Northern Lights appeared.

At first, they were subtle, that soft green glow stretching across the sky. But standing there, above the city lights, watching the aurora move, it felt unreal.

At that point, I already thought the night couldn’t get any better.

Warming Up & Passing Time

Because we arrived early, we had about three hours to kill before midnight. Luckily, Fjellheisen has a café at the top.

Trust me, you will need it.

It was -11°C, and after being outside for a while, we went inside to defrost. Hot drinks never tasted so good.

Pro tip to Bring:

• A portable charger
• Playing cards or something to pass time

This made the wait fun rather than uncomfortable.

Midnight Magic: Fireworks and Northern Lights

We headed back outside around 11:15 PM to secure a spot.

And to our surprise, the Northern Lights were still there. Stronger than before.

I was honestly shocked that I could see them so clearly with my own eyes and even record videos. I always thought that level of visibility was only possible in photos.

They stayed for so long. I loved it!

Then midnight hit.

Fireworks exploded above us.

Snow beneath our feet.

Aurora overhead.

Experiencing Northern Lights and New Year fireworks in one night felt like something straight out of a dream. I don’t think anything will ever top this New Year’s Eve.

Getting Back Down

After midnight, getting down does take patience.

• Cable car wait time: about 1 hour
• Taxis and Uber were available but had long waits

We decided to walk back across the bridge into the city instead and honestly, I loved it.

• It warmed us up
• The walk was peaceful
• The city looked beautiful from the bridge
• And we even caught a few more fireworks going off

Sometimes the slower option ends up being the best one.

Best Time to Visit Tromsø

For New Year’s specifically:

• Late December to early January
• Expect cold temperatures (-5°C to -15°C)
• Peak Northern Lights season
• Polar night atmosphere

If you’re visiting for auroras and winter vibes, this is prime time.

Travel Tips for Watching Fireworks from Fjellheisen

If there’s one main goal, it’s staying warm.

What to Wear

• Toe warmers & hand warmers (non-negotiable)
• Layers, layers, layers
• I wore:
  • 3 thermal tops
  • 2 thermal bottoms
  • Waterproof pants
  • Beanie, scarf, neck warmer
  • Insulated gloves
• Waterproof & thermal boots (feet get cold first!)

We even brought a warm water bottle to help defrost our hands, highly recommend.

Highlights of the Experience

• Watching fireworks launched from the mountain
• Seeing Tromsø lit up from above
• Northern Lights appearing twice
• Sharing the moment with people from all over the world
• Feeling like I was standing at the edge of the Arctic welcoming a new year

Alternative Fireworks Viewing Spots in the City

If Fjellheisen isn’t for you, there are still great spots in town:

• Porten til Ishavet
• Along the coastal harbour area, where boats line the water and you get a perfect view of the mountain and fireworks above

These are great options if you want to stay closer to the city.

Final Thoughts

If you’re debating whether Tromsø is worth it for New Year’s, let me save you the internal debate.

Yes. A thousand times yes.

This was the most magical New Year’s Eve I’ve ever experienced, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Standing on a snowy mountain, watching fireworks explode overhead while the Northern Lights dance above an Arctic city, it doesn’t get more unforgettable than that.

If you’re planning a New Year’s trip to Tromsø, I hope this helps you experience the same magic I did. And if you do end up at Fjellheisen, bundle up, look up, and take it all in.

---

MORE ON MY BLOG

Explore more of my food blog

Explore more of my travel blog

---

CONNECT WITH ME ♡

♡ Instagram: @juliaxeats

♡ Tik Tok: @juliaxeats

♡ YouTube: @juliaxeats

♡ Blog: www.juliaxeats.com

Business inquiries: juliaxeats@gmail.com

---

Explore Tromso, Norway

---

More Norway Posts

---

Tags: Tromso New Year fireworks, New Year’s Eve Tromso, Fjellheisen fireworks, best place to watch fireworks Tromso, Tromso winter travel, Tromso New Years Eve guide, Tromso Northern Lights winter, Tromso fireworks viewpoint, Fjellheisen cable car, Tromso travel blog, Arctic New Year experience, Norway New Years Eve, Tromso winter itinerary, Tromso fjellheisen viewpoint, Northern Lights New Year, Tromso winter tips, Tromso travel tips, Tromso things to do winter, Tromso Norway winter travel, Tromso polar night, Tromso city lights, Norway winter destinations, Tromso photography spots, Tromso Arctic Circle, Tromso harbor fireworks, Tromso scenic viewpoints