Northern lights in Tromsø without a car

City buses in Tromsø run late, and you can walk to 3 of our viewing spots from a stop. Go out after dark and take the bus back to the centre.

Read first: safe aurora hunting

Can you see the northern lights in Tromsø without a car?

Yes, on stronger nights. The spots you can reach by bus are close to town, where street lights and the glow of the city hide fainter aurora. For a dark sky, a guided tour takes you out of town, where you also see the fainter displays. Our Tromsø page has the darker spots and our pick for tonight.

Viewing spots you can reach by bus

The times say when to leave the spot to catch the last bus back to the centre.

Tromsø Airport

Use the paid P2 / P3 car park by the terminal.

Live

Later tonight the score should reach 1, around 05:00. Score updated 25 Oct 04:22 (Norway time).

Bus	26, 40 or 42
Bus stop	Tromsø lufthavn
Walk from the stop	about 170 m
Leave by, weekdays	about 23:45
Leave by, Saturday night	about 03:00
Sky	some town light

Telegrafbukta Beach

Live

Later tonight the score should reach 1, around 05:00. Score updated 25 Oct 04:22 (Norway time).

Bus	33 or 34
Bus stop	Sydspissen
Walk from the stop	about 240 m
Leave by, weekdays	about 23:45
Leave by, Saturday night	about 02:30
Sky	some town light

Prestvannet

Please walk or take the bus and keep off private land. People live here.

Live

Later tonight the score should reach 1, around 05:00. Score updated 25 Oct 04:22 (Norway time).

Bus	26
Bus stop	Myreng
Walk from the stop	about 450 m
Leave by, weekdays	about 23:45
Leave by, Saturday night	about 03:15
Sky	some town light

Fjellheisen, the cable car up to Fjellstua above the city, is a paid option. Bus 26 goes to the lower station. Check the opening hours before you go. Up there the sky is darker than at our spots in town, though it still has some town light.

We checked Entur's winter timetables for a weekday and a Saturday on 14 October 2026. Bus times are planned times from Entur and change. Check entur.no before you go. The last bus back can leave from another stop nearby, so plan your way back in Entur too. Contains data from Entur, NLOD 2.0.

Do you live near one of our spots? If it causes trouble for you or on the road, write to us at hello@aurorachaser.app and we will remove it.

Can you take bus 425 to Ersfjordbotn?

Only for a short visit. Ersfjordbotn is 20 km from the centre, and you get there by bus 42, then bus 425. On a weekday evening you arrive at 19:51, and the last bus back leaves at 20:48, less than an hour later. On Saturdays the last bus back leaves at 18:48. For a longer evening, you need a car or a guided tour.

Getting there and back safely

Wear a reflector. Statens vegvesen says drivers see you at about 140 m with one, and only at 25–30 m without.
Never walk or stand on the road. Use footpaths and pavements, or the verge where there are none, and keep left so you face the traffic.
Dress for waiting. A dark bus stop at -10 to -20 °C gets cold fast, so wear warm boots, a hat and mittens, and stand back from the road.
Check the last bus before you go, and set an alarm. If you miss it, take a taxi back to the centre.

Last updated: 21 October 2026

Pick a spot in the app and we'll alert you when its score reaches 60, so you know when the bus ride is worth it.

The app is free, and you do not need to sign up.