Visiting Tromsø on a Sunday? Here’s What to Know Before You Go.

Are you going to be visiting Tromsø on a Sunday and are unsure what to expect after (possibly) hearing rumors that Norway shuts down on Sundays? If so, this guide is for you!

In this guide, I will walk you through what to expect on a Sunday in Tromsø, including what is open, what is closed, and tips to help you make the most of your Arctic trip.

I will preface this by saying that if you plan accordingly, it is not too bad. Being in Tromsø on Sundays is far better than visiting during certain holidays. And, as a tourist, you only have a certain number of limitations, which I’ll discuss below.

Let me know if you have any questions or if there is something I don’t cover by leaving a comment below. Thanks!

Sunday in Tromsø Overview

It feels natural for things to be closed on a Sunday for me. I grew up in the US, but then I spent 4 years living in Norway and another 10 living in Germany.

Norway and Germany both treat Sunday as a rest day, and while I found it inconvenient at first, I quickly got used to it and quite liked it. That doesn’t mean it is something that I like as a traveler, on the other hand.

While Tromsø may seem quieter on Sundays, it is mostly grocery stores and select restaurants that will close their doors.

Tours and the main attractions in Tromsø are usually still open and operating! I will give a pretty solid list in this guide, so you have no questions about what is open and what is not. There is also a map at the end so you can locate all of the museums, restaurants, cafes, attractions, and grocery stores mentioned throughout the guide.

If your trip to Tromsø runs over a Sunday, just plan ahead. Use Sunday as a day to go on tours. Unless you’re a budget traveler, you may not even notice (I’ll explain more about that below). Alright, let’s get into things!

Grocery Stores

Are grocery stores open in Tromsø on Sundays? No. This is the most notable Sunday closure.

It used to be that some Asian shops would be open in some of Norway’s largest cities, but I notice those are no longer open on Sundays.

However, most larger cities, Tromsø included, have a few ‘søndagsåpent’ grocery stores that do open on Sundays, or at least have a portion of the shop open for business.

In Tromsø’s center, the søndagsåpent (Sunday-open) grocery stores are as follows:

• Joker Storgatbakken (Storgata 132F in the city center, open from 10am to 11pm)
• Joker Dramsveien (Dramsveien 153 in between the city center and the botanical gardens)

If you were counting on grabbing food from a grocery store, try to do it the evening before, or you will end up having to opt for a kiosk like 7-11 or Narvesen.

Kiosk prices are at least double what you’ll find in grocery stores, so if you’re a budget traveler, this is not going to be a good option (so plan ahead and go the day before).

Alternatively, the kiosks are a great option for a budget hot dog!

Retail Shops

Are retail shops open in Tromsø on Sundays? Most are closed. This includes malls and most of the shopping along Storgata.

The only exceptions are souvenir shops and a few other stores that are souvenir-focused but sell clothing (knitting shops come to mind).

Museums

Are museums closed on Sundays in Tromsø? No! Museums are a great thing to put on your Tromsø itinerary if you’re swinging by on a Sunday!

Here are some of the most popular museums in Tromsø and their Sunday operating hours (please double-check on their site as hours can shift with the season):

• Polar Museum: 11am until 5pm
• Arctic University Museum of Norway (Tromsø Museum): 11am until 4pm
• Perspektivet Museum: 11am until 5pm
• Troll Museum: 9am until 6pm
• Northern Norwegian Art Museum: 11am until 5pm
• Northern Norwegian Science Center: 11am until 4pm

The MS Polstjerna is only open in the summer months, and I will update those Sunday hours once they are released for the season.

Do note that museums can be quite crowded on Sundays as it is one of the best things to do then. They are also at their most crowded when cruise ships are in port.

Restaurants

Are restaurants closed on Sundays in Tromsø? Some are, yes. But some do stay open.

Here is a list of Tromsø’s most popular restaurants and if they are open on a Sunday or not. Please keep in mind to double-check these before your trip to ensure they have not switched their hours at the last minute. Hours may also shift with the season:

• Full Steam: 10am to 10pm
• Fiskekompaniet: closed
• Restaurant Smak: closed (also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
• Mathallen: closed
• Raketten Bar & Pølse: 12pm to 7pm
• Art Cafe Bistro: 12pm to 9pm (closed on Mondays though)
• Størhus: 12:30pm to 10pm
• Bardus Bistro: closed (also closed on Mondays)
• Biffhuset Skarven: 3:30pm to 10pm
• Skarven Kro: 11am to 1am
• Hildr Gastro Bar: closed
• Helmersen: 11am to 5pm
• Emma’s Dream Kitchen: closed (also closed on Mondays)
• Bårstua: closed (also closed on Mondays)
• Pastafabrikken: 2pm to 10pm
• Maskinverkstedet: closed
• Burgr: open from 12pm to 9pm
• Dragøy Coastal Mathus: closed
• Bread & Wine: 3pm to 11pm
• RUDA: 4pm to 10pm

There are, of course, more restaurants than just this in Tromsø! These are just some of my favorites and some popular ones in the city.

Tromsø tends to be good about keeping Google updated with restaurant hours, so check on their hours there (but still make a Plan B just in case).

Chain restaurants, like Peppe’s Pizza, Egon, Sumo, Hard Rock Cafe, and Rå Sushi tend to be open on Sundays.

The World’s Northernmost McDonald’s is also open on Sundays. But, I recommend Burgr, a local burger spot that is much better than McDonald’s (and is also open Sundays).

I would also recommend booking a reservation if you’re planning a dinner on a Sunday. Due to limited restaurant availability, it will give you peace of mind!

Cafes

So, which cafes are open in Tromsø on Sundays? I’m a sucker for the cafes of Tromsø, but like restaurants, not all are open on Sundays.

Here is a list of popular cafes (or just ones I love) and whether they are open or closed on Sundays.

• Smørtorget: 11am to 6pm
• Risø Mat og Kaffebar: closed
• Risø Kaffebar: closed
• Svermeri Kafe og Redesign: 11am to 4pm
• Kaffebønna (Strandtorget): 10am to 6pm
• Kaffebønna (Stortorget): 10am to 6pm
• Vervet Bakeri: 11am to 3pm
• Fint Kafe & Bar: 11am to midnight
• Backstube Tromsø (a chain): 8am to 7pm
• Koseverden & Koselig Cafe: 9am to 6pm
• Tøllefsenhjørnet: 11am to 6pm

Main Attractions

Are Tromsø’s main attractions open on Sundays? While most of the city’s attractions can fit into other buckets (like tours, museums, etc), here are a few that do not with their opening hours on Sundays:

• Fjellheisen: 9am to midnight
• Tromsø Ice Domes: this is strictly seasonal and best booked with a tour, but you can also check their website for timeslots if you plan to drive out there (they are open on Sundays with a timeslot)
• Magic Ice Bar: summer from 2pm to 10pm; winter from 11am to 11pm
• Tromsø Cathedral: 2pm to 4pm
• Arctic Cathedral: 1pm to 5pm
• Polaria: 10am until 4pm
• Tromsø Library: 11am to 3:30pm
• Vulkana Arctic Spa: timeslots available on Sundays
• Pust Spa: timeslots available on Sundays from 6am to 11pm

Again, these hours may switch with the season and I’ll do my best to keep it up-to-date here, but I encourage you to double-check the hours before you head out to them!

Pharmacies

Are pharmacies open in Tromsø on Sundays? No, they are also closed.

However, if you have an emergency and need to visit one, there is Vitusapotek Svanen (Killengrensgate 5, Austadbygget) that is open on Sundays and public holidays. It is, however, only open from 6pm until 8pm.

If you need something urgently while in Tromsø, it is best to go to the hospital.

Buying Alcohol on Sundays

Nope! Not from shops or kiosks. However, you can purchase from a bar or restaurant as usual. You can also grab some from the Tromsø Airport’s duty-free section if you arrive on a Sunday.

Transportation

Transportation runs but may have more limited offerings throughout the day. You can check Svipper to see the schedules. If you’re sticking around the Tromsø city center, you can get everywhere on foot.

Taking a Tour on a Sunday

Yes, most tours operate on Sundays. Some may only run on certain days of the week but that is more the exception than the norm.

Mondays in Tromsø

Mondays operate as usual in Tromsø, but one thing you will notice is that some restaurants are closed. I notice this across a lot of Europe, so it is not just a Tromso thing.

I detailed in the restaurant section above the ones that are also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Tromsø Sunday Openings (On a Map)

Here is a map of everything listed in this guide that IS open on Sundays.

Do you have any questions (or concerns!) about spending a Sunday in Tromsø?

While there are some schedule changes compared to other days of the week, it is not bad so long as you plan ahead, especially in terms of food and grocery shopping!