The lively city of Tromsø is surrounded by picturesque mountain landscapes. Explore museums and art galleries, relax in alpine gardens and experience two spectacular natural phenomena: the Midnight Sun and the northern lights. Northern Norway’s largest town, Tromsø sits 218 miles (350 kilometers) north of the Arctic Circle.
The colorful city center spreads along the eastern banks of Tromsøya island. Find major city attractions such as the Gothic-revival-style Tromsø Domkirke. See Norwegian art at the Tromsø Contemporary Art Gallery and the Art Museum of Northern Norway. Learn about the history of Arctic fishermen and explorers at the Polar Museum. Spot bearded seals and cold-water fish at Polaria, an Arctic-themed science center and aquarium. Delve into the local beer culture at Mack’s Brewery.
Tromsø literally lights up with cultural activities from mid-May to mid-July, the months of the Midnight Sun and 24-hour daylight. Enjoy round-the-clock opening hours in bars, cafés and nightclubs along Storgata. Join locals for a midnight swim in the cool waters at Telegrafbukta Beach. Admire the blossoming alpine flora at the Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden. Watch late-night concerts at the Arctic Cathedral.
Ride the Fjellheisen Cable Car to Storsteinen Mountain for panoramic views of the city, waterways and surrounding snowcapped mountains. Visit between September and March for the chance to witness the mysterious spectacle of aurora borealis, the northern lights. Marvel as the night skies become a multicolored blanket of light.
Tromsø is a year-round destination for outdoor adventures, most notably in the nearby Lyngen Alps. Enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, ice fishing, dogsledding and snowmobile safaris in winter. Go horseback riding, walk across glaciers and hike through forests during the milder summer months.
Reach the city by flying to Tromsø Airport or catch a long-distance bus from major cities in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Get around on foot or use the efficient network of local buses. Take a cruise along Norway’s magnificent fjords to appreciate why Tromsø is known as the “Gateway to the Arctic.”
