Kvaløya — the large island connected to Tromsøya by the Sandnessund Bridge — offers the best day-trip scenery in the area. The drive west along the coastal road passes fishing villages, fjords, and open mountain terrain. Håkøya, where the German battleship Tirpitz was sunk by RAF bombers on 12 November 1944, is accessible from the island; the wreck is not visible from shore but the bay is marked. The Kaldfjord and Ersfjord areas offer good walking and dramatic coastal views.
Senjahopen and Senja Island, about two hours south by road, is one of Norway's most scenic drives — a rugged island of steep peaks and fishing villages that has become better known in recent years but remains far less crowded than the Lofoten. A full day allows a circuit of the western coast.
Northern Lights tours in winter (November to March) typically drive east or south of the city on nights when the forecast is clear, chasing gaps in the cloud cover. Most tour operators based in Tromsø offer pick-up from central hotels. The tours run late — departure is typically 9pm or later — and last three to four hours.
Dog sledding is available at several outfits in the mountains east of the city, with half-day and full-day excursions running from December to April.