Home › Compare › Reykjavik or Tromso
Reykjavik or Tromso? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Reykjavik as a base for Iceland's road-trip landscapes: the Golden Circle, the south coast's waterfalls and black beaches, plus geothermal lagoons. Pick Tromso for an Arctic city surrounded by fjords and mountains, with a strong winter programme of northern lights, dog sledding and whale watching. Both are expensive, but Tromso is cheaper on our numbers: about €319 a day mid-range against €372 in Reykjavik.
Reykjavik: suits couples, solo travellers and friends who want geothermal pools, a small capital with good food and day trips to volcanic landscapes.
Tromso: suits couples, friends and first-timers to the Arctic who want northern lights, snow activities, fjords and mountain views.
Side by side
| Reykjavik | Tromso | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €372 ISK51,000 local | €319 NOK3,450 local |
| Budget day* | €190 | €135 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €372 a day mid-range; among Europe's priciest | ●●●●●About €319 a day mid-range; expensive, but less than Reykjavik |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Golden Circle and lagoons busy; the town itself is calm | ●●●●●Winter tours fill up; small centre feels relaxed |
| Food | ●●●●●Fish, lamb soup and hot dogs; dining out is very expensive | ●●●●●Excellent cod, king crab and reindeer at high prices |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Laugavegur bars busy on weekends until late | ●●●●●Lively for its size, with student bars and Ølhallen |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Swimming pools in every district, safe and easy | ●●●●●Activities great for older children; extreme cold for toddlers |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Walkable centre; you need tours or a car beyond it | ●●●●●Compact centre, buses; tours collect you for activities |
| Best months | year-round, see below | year-round, see below |
| Warmest / coolest | Aug 14°C / Dec 0°C | Jul 17°C / Dec -4°C |
| Known for | Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Sun Voyager, Laugavegur, Sky Lagoon | Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen, Polaria, Mack Brewery, Tromsø Cathedral |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Reykjavik and Tromso day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Reykjavik if…
- you want volcanic landscapes, geysers and waterfalls
- you plan a self-drive road trip
- Geothermal lagoons and pools are a highlight
- you want more flight connections from Europe and North America
Pick Tromso if…
- Northern lights in a reliably dark, Arctic setting are the main goal
- Dog sledding, snowshoeing and fjord trips appeal
- you want winter whale-watching trips
- you want the slightly lower costs of the two
Weather month by month
| Month | Reykjavik high / rainy days | Tromso high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1°C · 17 | -3°C · 16 |
| Feb | 3°C · 18 | -2°C · 16 |
| Mar | 3°C · 16 | -1°C · 19 |
| Apr | 6°C · 17 | 3°C · 19 |
| May | 9°C · 20 | 7°C · 18 |
| Jun | 11°C · 19 | 14°C · 18 |
| Jul | 13°C · 13 | 17°C · 14 |
| Aug | 14°C · 15 | 16°C · 18 |
| Sep | 11°C · 17 | 10°C · 19 |
| Oct | 7°C · 16 | 4°C · 19 |
| Nov | 5°C · 16 | -1°C · 14 |
| Dec | 0°C · 14 | -4°C · 11 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Reykjavik
Icelandic hot dog · Lamb soup · Fish stew · Fresh fish of the day · Skyr · Rye bread
Where: Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur, Old Harbour and Grandi, Food halls (mathöll), Kolaportið flea market
Tromso
Winter cod (skrei) · Cod, liver and roe dinner · Fish soup · Bacalao · Reindeer · King crab
Where: Storgata and the city centre, Stortorget and the harbour front, Ølhallen (Mack's beer hall), Supermarkets and fish counters
Doing both in one trip
8 days: 4 in Reykjavik + 4 in Tromso
Either order; check which routing is cheaper, as there is usually no direct flight and you will connect via Oslo or another Nordic hub.
Getting between them: No regular direct flight; typically Reykjavik–Oslo about 2 h 45 to 3 h, then Oslo–Tromso about 1 h 50. Allow most of a day. Check current schedules for any seasonal direct service. Distance about 1,843 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1: Reykjavik — Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, Harpa and the Old Harbour
- Day 2: Golden Circle tour or self-drive
- Day 3: South coast waterfalls and black-sand beach
- Day 4: Sky Lagoon or a city pool, then fly towards Tromso via Oslo
- Day 5: Tromso — Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen cable car, northern lights tour at night
- Day 6: Dog sledding or snowshoeing
- Day 7–8: Fjord trip or whale watching in season, Polaria, then fly home
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Is Reykjavik or Tromso cheaper?
Tromso is cheaper on our numbers, though neither is cheap: about €319 per person per day at mid-range in Tromso, against €372 in Reykjavik. Restaurant meals and alcohol are expensive in both. Tours are the big extra: northern lights chases, sledding and whale trips can add a lot per person, so price them before deciding.
How do I get from Reykjavik to Tromso?
There is usually no direct flight, so most travellers connect through Oslo: roughly 2 h 45 to 3 h from Keflavík to Oslo, then about 1 h 50 to Tromso, plus the connection. Allow most of a day. Keflavík airport is about 45–50 minutes from Reykjavik by bus or car. Check current schedules for any seasonal direct flights.
Which is better for the northern lights?
Both sit in good aurora zones, and the season runs roughly September to March. Tromso lies well above the Arctic Circle and has long polar nights from late November to mid-January, while coastal weather can bring cloud. Reykjavik is often cloudy or rainy too, but you can drive inland. In both, a tour that chases clear skies improves your chances.
When is the best time to visit?
For snow and northern lights, December to March. For hiking and midnight sun, June and July; Tromso's midnight sun runs roughly late May to late July. Summers are cool: Reykjavik reaches about 14°C in August and Tromso about 17°C in July. In winter Reykjavik is around 0°C and Tromso about -4°C in December.