Tromsø airport guide — arrivals, transfers and first steps
Tromsø: Private Transfer to/from Tromsø Airport and City
How do I get from Tromsø Airport to the city centre?
Bus 40 or 42 costs 48 NOK and takes 20–25 minutes. The Flybuss express coach is 125 NOK. A private taxi runs 250–350 NOK. The airport is only 4 km from the centre, so any option is fast.
| Where | Tromsø Airport Langnes (TOS), 4 km from the city centre |
| Cost | 48 NOK bus, 125 NOK Flybuss, 250–350 NOK taxi or private transfer |
| Time needed | 20–25 min by bus; 5–10 min by taxi |
| Getting there | Bus 40/42 or Flybuss stop directly outside arrivals |
| Best time to arrive | Daytime for the widest bus frequency; book a transfer ahead for late flights |
What to expect when you land at TOS
Tromsø Airport Langnes (IATA: TOS) sits on the western end of Tromsøya island, 4 km from the city centre. It is a mid-size regional airport that handles roughly 2.5 million passengers per year — enough to feel organised without the chaos of Oslo or Bergen. The terminal has a single arrivals hall, one baggage carousel per pier, and a row of car rental desks opposite the exit.
Arrivals and departures share the same building. You will walk a maximum of 200 metres from gate to kerbside. There is no inter-terminal shuttle, no second building, no airport train. First-timers consistently underestimate how simple and fast the exit process is.
In winter — November through March — plan to spend an extra 10–15 minutes adjusting layers before stepping outside. The temperature at TOS routinely sits between −5 °C and −15 °C. Wind chill on the exposed bridge road can push the perceived temperature well below −20 °C on bad days.
Public bus: the cheapest option (48 NOK)
Bus routes 40 and 42 are the standard way for cost-conscious travellers to get into town. Both stop directly outside the arrivals exit on the ground-level kerbside.
Cost: 48 NOK (around €4) if you pay with the Tromskortet transit card, or 50–55 NOK with cash/contactless card on the driver’s terminal. Children under 6 travel free; children 6–17 pay half.
Journey time: 20–25 minutes to Prostneset (the central bus terminal near the harbour). The route crosses the Sandnessund bridge and enters the city centre before terminating at the main harbour stop.
Frequency: Roughly every 20–30 minutes during daytime (06:00–23:00). Service drops to hourly in the early morning. There is no bus between midnight and roughly 05:45.
Buying tickets: Download the Troms Reise app before you land and top up the Tromskortet card digitally. You can also tap a contactless bank card on the bus, but some foreign cards charge a foreign transaction fee on each individual tap. If you plan to use buses throughout your stay, the app is more economical.
Pro tip: Do not rely on buses for very early morning flights. The first bus 40/42 of the day departs from the city at around 06:00, which means it reaches the airport around 06:20–06:25. Norwegian and SAS often schedule departures at 06:30–07:00 during the winter season. Allow extra time or take a taxi.
Flybuss: the midrange option (125 NOK)
The Flybuss express coach runs between the airport and the main city-centre hotels including Radisson Blu, Scandic Grand, Thon Hotel and Quality Hotel Saga. Tickets cost 125 NOK (around €11) one-way and can be bought online, on the app, or directly from the driver.
The Flybuss drops luggage-heavy travellers at hotel doorsteps rather than at a central bus stop. That said, it only runs on a schedule tied to the main SAS and Norwegian flights. If you arrive on a Widerøe regional hop or a late charter, the Flybuss may not be waiting for you.
Verdict: Good for solo travellers arriving mid-day. For groups of two or more with heavy bags, a private transfer is barely more expensive and significantly more convenient.
Transfer options compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 40/42 | 48 NOK | 20–25 min | Budget travellers, daytime arrivals |
| Flybuss | 125 NOK | 15–20 min | Solo travellers on SAS/Norwegian schedules |
| Private transfer | 250–350 NOK | 10–15 min | Groups, heavy bags, late or early flights |
| Taxi (official rank) | 250–400 NOK | 5–10 min | Last-minute or unplanned arrivals |
For travellers who want a dedicated vehicle and no shared stops, the VIP transfer option adds a slightly higher comfort tier over the standard private transfer, useful after an overnight flight.
Private transfers: convenience without excess
Private airport transfers cost 250–350 NOK for a standard car (1–3 passengers). Pre-booked transfers through established operators come with a meet-and-greet service and a fixed price regardless of traffic.
Book a private airport transferIf you need to transport skis, photography gear, or more than three passengers, a minivan transfer is available:
Minivan transfer from airport or cityWhat to avoid: Several informal “transfer” operators solicit passengers inside the arrivals hall offering fixed-price rides. These services charge 600–900 NOK for the same 4 km journey and are not affiliated with the airport. They also have no insurance obligation and no price regulation. Stick to pre-booked licensed operators or the official taxi rank.
Taxis from the official rank
The licensed taxi rank is 30 metres left of the arrivals exit. Licensed taxis display a roof sign and are registered with either Tromsø Taxi or NorgesTaxi. Metered fares run 250–350 NOK during the day (06:00–21:00) and up to 400 NOK with night-time surcharges.
Do not take taxis that approach you inside the terminal. The Tromsø Taxi dispatcher number is +47 776 00 000 if you want to call ahead for a guaranteed pickup at a specific time — useful for very early morning airport runs.
Car rental at TOS
All five major rental companies (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt) have desks in the arrivals hall at TOS. The desks open to meet morning flights and close after the last afternoon wave, typically around 20:00–21:00. If your flight arrives late, arrange to pick up the vehicle the following morning.
Winter rental essentials:
- Studded tyres (piggdekk): Mandatory in Troms county from 16 November to 1 April. All rental vehicles should be equipped automatically, but confirm when booking — some budget categories may be fitted with winter tyres without studs (which is legal but significantly less effective on hard ice).
- Snow chains: Not required on rental cars in Norway, but carry emergency traction devices if you plan to drive mountain passes.
- International driving permit: Not required for EU/EEA licence holders. Required for non-EU licences from countries where the licence is not in Latin script (e.g. Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia).
For a detailed guide to driving in arctic conditions, see our car rental and winter driving guide.
Airport facilities
Open hours: The terminal operates from roughly 04:30 to 23:30 daily, aligning with the first and last scheduled flights.
Food and drink: The airside café (Deli de Luca) sells sandwiches, pastries, and coffee. Prices are standard Norwegian airport level — expect 60–90 NOK for a coffee and croissant. There is a small bar in the departure lounge.
Luggage trolleys: Free to use in arrivals; the return point is the kerbside outside.
ATM: One ATM (operated by BankNord) is in the arrivals hall. Foreign card surcharges apply. Exchange rates at airport currency desks are poor — use your card in town instead.
SIM cards: 7-Eleven and Narvesen have outlets airside. Norwegian SIM cards from Telia and Telenor offer the best 4G coverage in Troms county.
Accessibility: All areas of the terminal are wheelchair-accessible. Airport assistance can be pre-booked through your airline. The taxi rank has reserved bays for passengers with mobility aids, and hotel transfers can accommodate wheelchairs with advance notice.
Connecting onwards: buses to Lyngen, Senja, and beyond
If you are heading directly from TOS to Lyngen (1.5–2 hours by car) or Senja (2.5–3 hours), the most practical option is to rent a car at the airport rather than first going into the city.
Regional buses to Lyngseidet depart from Prostneset in the city, not from the airport, so you would need to take the airport bus in, then change terminals. This adds 45–60 minutes to an already long journey.
For ferries connecting Lyngen and Senja, see our dedicated ferry guide — departure points, crossing times, and booking requirements are covered in full.
Planning your first day
First-time visitors often underestimate the time between landing and reaching their hotel. Luggage collection at TOS takes 15–25 minutes. Factor that in, add transfer time, and budget for check-in.
If you are arriving in November–January, see our polar night guide to understand the lighting conditions you will encounter immediately. The sun does not rise above the horizon between 27 November and 15 January — you will exit the terminal into full darkness even at midday.
For a full overview of getting around once you are in the city, see Tromsø city buses and getting around Tromsø.
Where to stay near the airport vs the city centre
Almost no one should book a hotel near TOS itself — the airport is only 4 km from the centre, and staying downtown puts you within walking distance of Storgata, the harbourfront, and most tour pickup points. See the where to stay in Tromsø guide for area-by-area recommendations. The one exception is a genuinely early departure (before 06:00) or a late arrival with an early morning connection, where an airport-adjacent hotel with a shuttle can save a stressful pre-dawn transfer.
Common first-day mistakes to avoid
New arrivals in Tromsø tend to repeat the same handful of errors, covered in full in the common mistakes in Tromsø guide: underestimating how dark polar-night daytime is, not budgeting properly (see the daily budget guide), and packing for a generic “cold” trip rather than the specific layering Arctic conditions demand — the Tromsø packing guide is worth reading on the flight in, not after you land.
Honest verdict
Frequently asked questions about Tromsø Airport
Is Tromsø Airport big or confusing?
TOS is a straightforward regional airport with a single terminal. Arrivals and departures are in the same building. From gate to taxi/bus takes under 10 minutes if you have carry-on only, and under 25 minutes with checked baggage.
Which airlines fly to Tromsø?
SAS (Oslo, Copenhagen, London) and Norwegian (Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim) operate the most frequent services. Widerøe runs regional hops from smaller northern Norwegian towns. Ryanair operates seasonal routes from London Stansted and a handful of European cities during winter.
Do I need to pre-book a transfer?
No — taxis and buses are available on arrival. However, if you arrive at peak winter weekend times (Friday and Saturday evenings November–February) the taxi queue can reach 30–40 minutes. Pre-booking a private transfer eliminates this wait.
Is there a left-luggage facility at TOS?
There is no staffed luggage storage at TOS. If you need to store bags between an early arrival and an afternoon check-in, most city-centre hotels will hold luggage at no charge even before your check-in time.
How far is the airport from the Arctic Cathedral?
The Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) is on the mainland side of the Tromsø Bridge, 2 km from the airport and 2 km from the city centre. You pass it on the bus route 40/42, but buses do not stop there. A taxi from TOS to the cathedral takes about 5–10 minutes and costs 150–200 NOK.
Are there showers at Tromsø Airport?
There are no public showers at TOS. The Radisson Blu Hotel Tromsø (5 minutes by taxi) offers day-use rooms that include shower access for transiting passengers.
What happens if my flight is delayed and I miss the last bus?
If your flight arrives after 23:30, public buses will not be running. Take a licensed taxi from the official rank. The 24-hour taxi line is +47 776 00 000. Fare is 250–400 NOK depending on surcharges.
Should I book a hotel near the airport or in the city centre?
The city centre, in almost every case — it is only 4 km away, well served by bus and taxi, and puts you within walking distance of restaurants and tour pickups. See the where to stay in Tromsø guide for specific neighbourhoods. Only consider an airport-area hotel for a genuinely early departure or a tight overnight connection.
What is the fastest way from the airport to the Fjellheisen cable car?
A taxi or private transfer takes about 10–12 minutes and is the most direct option, since the cable car base is on the opposite side of the city from the airport. Public transport would require a bus into the centre and a change, adding 20–30 minutes. See the Fjellheisen cable car guide for the base station’s exact location.
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