We've been coming to Tromsø, Norway, across every season for years now, climbing half-frozen trails with crampons in May, hiking at midnight under a sun that never sets in June, and waiting out a week of clouds for one clear March night before we finally saw the aurora.

There isn't one right answer to when you should visit Tromsø; there's a right answer for whatever you're interested in doing and seeing. Come for the northern lights and you want the dark months. Come for whales and you want a narrower window inside those same dark months. Come for the midnight sun, hiking, or a fjord cruise and you want the exact opposite end of the year.

Here's a seasonal breakdown of the best time to visit Tromsø, based on our different experiences.