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What is the best of Tromso, one of the highest latitude cities in Europe? First of all, the geography of Tromso is truly unique. It is located at 70ยฐN, so a good three degrees above the Arctic Circle, just a thousand kilometers away from the North Cape. Despite the high latitude, Tromso is populated by about 70 thousand inhabitants and is definitely worth a visit!
I visited Tromso in both September and January. I must admit that visiting Tromso in January, with a temperature of about minus fifteen degrees, was a powerful and unforgettable experience! Also, having chosen to sleep outside the city I had the opportunity to see the Northern Lights both nights!
What to see in Tromso: the funicular railway
The list of what to see in Tromso certainly begins with its funicular railway, located about three kilometers from the city center. The funicular allows you to reach the 420-meter peak of Mount Storsteinen: you can book your ticket online (the cost is about 35 euros; you have to specify a timetable, however, which does not have to be adhered to). Tromso’s funicular railway allows you to appreciate the city and its fjord from above. There is also the possibility of taking a walk of about an hour that leads to an even more spectacular vantage point.
Here is a video demonstrating the beauty of the view in the winter season!
At the top of the Tromso funicular there is a restaurant where you can have something to eat. Bus 26 and the Fjellheisen shuttle connect the base of the cathedral with downtown Tromso.
What to see in Tromso: the Arctic Cathedral
A short distance from the funicular railway, then two kilometers from the city center, is the so-called Cathedral of the Arctic. This church, built in 1965, is reminiscent of Arctic glaciers. There is an entrance fee (about 8 euros). I did not find the entrance interesting, but it is still worth a visit for its decidedly distinctive facade. In fact, the church features a large mosaic stained-glass window depicting the hand of God, from which three rays of light come out.
To get to the cathedral you can walk for about 30 minutes or take buses 20, 24, 26 or 28.
What to see in Tromso: downtown and museums
The center of Tromso features a pedestrian island, located near the Domkirke, one of the largest wooden churches in Norway. At the Rorbua bar there is a beautiful view of the fjord, the Arctic Cathedral, and the Tromso Funicular. Also in Tromso is the Polarmuseet, a museum dedicated to Arctic explorations, especially Amundsen’s. Other activities to do in Tromso include a visit to the Polaria Aquarium (where you can also see a video explaining the retreat of the ice) and the University Museum, dedicated to local traditions.
Personally, on a one-day visit to Tromso I have always excluded all museums, leaving room for walking around the city center, which is very pleasant. This choice of mine is also due to a mere price reason: each entrance costs ten euros, and in my opinion it is fair to spend the budget on the 35 euros for the funicular.
What to see in Tromso: excursions
Here we come to the most interesting part of Tromso: hiking! Tromso is the perfect place to visit the Great North. The most beautiful excursion in my opinion is the one that allows you to get to know the island Kvaloja: you can visit this island with this tour. I toured Kvaloja by car and it is a wonderful on-the-road tour, about three hours long. There are spectacular viewpoints, such as those at Ersfjordbotn and the one at Sommaroya.
In addition to this on the road, other activities in Tromso include. whale watching (in the winter season especially) .
With a car, I slept in Kvaloyvagen: the road to get there is very beautiful and there are reindeer nine kilometers before reaching Kvaloyvagen!
In addition to what to see in Tromso you might also be interested in …
Lofoten and Senja itinerary in summer
Southern Norway: a trip from Bergen to Stavanger!
What to see in the North Cape!
USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO SEE IN TROMSO
- A visit to Tromso is worth a day in my opinion: one half day is devoted to the cathedral and the funicular railway, the second half to the old town. The second day, however, is devoted to visiting Kvaloja Island, or to one of the excursions recommended above.
- Tromso, because of its latitude, makes it possible to see both the midnight sun and the northern lights. In summer, the sun never sets for about 50 days. In winter, however, the sun is below the horizon for as many days. On the other hand, in winter there is always light for at least four hours, even on days when the sun does not rise. I recommend seeing this site for times (the civil column says when there is light in the sky). This light is very peculiar: it seems to be a continuous twilight, or aurora.
- In Tromso it is possible to attempt to view the Northern Lights from late August to early April. Winter temperatures can drop as low as minus fifteen degrees, but generally averages around minus five degrees. The northern lights are difficult to predict. To get an idea of solar activity I recommend downloading the aurora forecast app.
- Renting a car is a wise choice, especially to be able to view the Northern Lights outside the city. Without a car, it is possible to participate in northern lights tours, such as this one..
- In Tromso I slept well at the Smarthotel, right in the center of town. If, however, you intend to visit Tromso in the winter, I strongly recommend sleeping outside the city so that you can see the northern lights without the city lights. In this case, Maribell Sjobur in Kvaloyvagen is an excellent choice. Along the road from Tromso to Kvaloyvagen, about nine kilometers before you reach your destination, you can see reindeer.
- In Tromso I ate well in Kaia: this place is famous for its whale and reindeer burgers. Among the many bars in Tromso, however, I recommend Rorbua, Olhallen, and Hjemmebane. Tromso’s typical beer is Mack: the half-liter of beer costs about 11 euros in the brewery. The burger plus beer combo, then, costs about 34 euros.
- This is a perfect place to end a trip leading to the Lofoten Islands and the North Cape. Lofoten is about seven hours from Tromso by car, while North Cape is about nine hours away. North Cape can only be reached in the summer season. Lofoten, on the other hand, is beautiful all year round.
- Tromso is well connected to Oslo by about ten direct flights a day. If you time it right, it is possible to reach Tromso from Italy in just one day’s travel, with a stopover in Oslo. Bus 42 connects the airport to the city center.
- World War II was also fought in these latitudes. One of the most famous battles took place in Narvik, only a three-hour drive from Tromso, in 1940. Also at the North Cape, in December 1943, a bloody battle was fought between the Germans and the British: the latter came out victorious, but respected the defeated as the battle was bloody and took place in harsh weather conditions. A Nazi concentration camp was established near Tromso, at Tromsdalen, where over two thousand prisoners passed between 1942 and 1945. This camp was run by one of the most brutal Nazi commanders, Julius Denzer.
- This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Tromso.
