Whale watching in Tromsø with kids
Children can join most of the big whale boats out of Tromsø, though a day at sea in the polar twilight is long and four of the tours set limits by age or height. Pick by the age of your youngest first. After that, look at the length of the day and where the warm seats are.
Age limits on the tours
The listings differ a lot when it comes to children. Two set a minimum age, two more set a minimum height for their open boats, and the others say nothing about age in what we saw.
| Tour | From | Length | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our pick, Helgøy Skyssbåt catamaran | ~$217 | 7.5 h | No age limit in the listing; heated lounge with toilets |
| Brim hybrid-electric boat | ~$196 | 7–9 h | No age limit in the listing; listed as wheelchair accessible |
| Rødne high-speed catamaran | ~$196 | 8 h | No age limit in the listing; seasickness tablets included |
| MS Gabriele | ~$209 | Usually 6 h | No age limit in the listing; bar and kiosk on board |
| Polar Adventures, max 50 | ~$235 | 8 h | Not for under-4s; no strollers |
| Skua heated small boat | ~$383 | About 12 h | Not for under-6s |
| Arctic Adventure Tours RIB | ~$334 | About 12.5 h | From 14 years and 140 cm |
| Magic Skjervoy RIB | ~$353 | 12 h | From 140 cm in height |
A listing without an age limit does not mean a toddler will enjoy the day. It means the operator leaves the decision to you. If your child is very young, message the operator before you pay and ask what they suggest. Since every tour here is reserve now, pay later, asking costs nothing.
A long day for a small child
The whales feed far north of the city, so most of the day is travel. Our pick at ~$217 leaves at 8:30 am and docks again around 4 pm. Rødne's catamaran at ~$196 runs for eight hours, with roughly 2.75 hours out, 2.5 hours in the whale area near Skjervøy and the same 2.75 hours back. In December the sun does not rise at all, so the view through the window is blue twilight for much of the outward leg.
Children who will nap on a bench or watch a film on a tablet cope well. Bring the entertainment from home along with headphones. Pack more snacks than seems sensible, too. A small child who gets bored at 10 am still has six hours to go.
Space helps more than anything. Our pick carries no more than 90 guests on a catamaran with 147 seats, so a family can keep a seat each in the lounge and still find room at the rail when a fin breaks the surface. The MS Gabriele trip from ~$209 is usually six hours, the shortest day on this site, though it can stretch to eight.
The bus-and-boat tours to Skjervøy are longer again, about twelve hours from an early morning bus to an evening return, which is why their age limits sit higher. How the Skjervøy day works is in its own guide.
Keeping children warm
Winter air in Tromsø is usually only a few degrees below freezing. Out on the water the wind and the speed of the boat make it feel far colder, and children lose heat faster than adults while rarely saying so until they are miserable. Dress them in layers they can shed in the heated lounge.
- Wool next to the skin on top and bottom rather than cotton.
- A fleece or light down layer that comes off quickly indoors.
- Windproof jacket and pants, or a one-piece snowsuit for the youngest.
- Mittens instead of gloves, with a hat that covers the ears.
- Warm boots with two pairs of socks, because cold feet end a child's day early.
Let them watch from inside and go out together when the crew calls a sighting. Polar Adventures at ~$235 includes thermal suits, which helps, although the listing does not say whether children's sizes are available, so ask. Our clothing guide covers the adults too.
Room for the whole family
Our pick, the Helgøy Skyssbåt catamaran from ~$217, takes at most 90 guests on 147 seats. Hot chocolate is free in the heated lounge, and you can cancel for free until 24 hours before.
Toilets and food on board
The listings for our pick and Rødne mention toilets on board, as does Polar Adventures, which matters on a day this long. Food varies more. Hot chocolate is free on our pick, and there is a kiosk for the rest. Brim's hybrid-electric boat at ~$196 sells food on board, from pastries to soup. Rødne charges for food but runs a kiosk. Polar Adventures includes lunch with snacks (one line of its small print says lunch is sold on board, so check before you rely on it).
For a picky eater, pack sandwiches from the hotel breakfast. The Arctic Adventure Tours bus trip asks you to bring your own snacks anyway.
When a child gets seasick
The route to the feeding grounds crosses open stretches between the islands, and children often feel the motion before their parents do. A large catamaran such as Rødne's MS Rygerdronningen is steadier than a small boat, and Rødne hands out seasickness tablets as part of the ticket. Check the dose for a child with a pharmacist before the trip.
On board, the middle of the boat moves least, and sitting low helps. Keep the eyes on the horizon and step outside for fresh air before the queasiness takes hold. Polar Adventures says its tour is not for anyone prone to seasickness. Our seasickness guide goes into which boats roll least.
Teenagers and the RIB tours
Older children are a different story. A teenager who likes speed will remember an open RIB for years. The Arctic Adventure Tours RIB at ~$334 takes guests from 14 years and 140 cm, and the Magic Skjervoy RIB at ~$353 sets a minimum height of 140 cm. Both provide flotation suits with goggles. The day starts with a bus at 5 or 5:30 am, so plan an early night.
For a family with children of six or more who want small numbers without the open boat, Skua Nature at ~$383 limits the group to 12 on a covered, heated boat with a nature guide aboard. The day is about twelve hours with the bus. RIB or big boat compares the two styles.
An easier day for the youngest
With a toddler, a long day at sea may not be the right plan at all. Many families split up, with one parent taking the older children whale watching while the other stays on land. A half-day of reindeer sledding near Tromsø is shorter and closer to town, which suits small children far better than seven hours on a boat. Our sister site compares those tours.
If the whales do not show, our pick gives you a free place on a later departure while the season lasts, as long as there is room. With children, a second long day may be too much, so read what happens if you see no whales before you book, and pick dates in the heart of the season using our month-by-month guide.