Welcome to Tromsø town

Whilst Tromsø may seem like an organised and lively town, there’s one thing you can never predict in this most northerly part of the country; the weather. On a good day in Tromsø you can go ahead and bring out the summer clothes, but don’t forget to pack an all-weather jacket too - the next day can bring fairly cold weather. The short summer will offer anything from 5 to 28 degrees Celsius. In other words, the weather forecast should be used as a guidance tool and taken with a pinch of salt! Bring warm and waterproof clothes, as well as summer clothes and sandals. A pair of sturdy shoes would also be a good choice for those wishing to experience some of the many fine attractions within walking distance of the town.

The advantage of a relatively small town like Tromsø is that most things are close by - on one scale or another.

Telegrafbukta is one of Tromsø’s most popular nature spots located on the island’s southern tip. It is surrounded by trees and mountains, has it’s own beach and lies on the island’s southern tip about half an hour’s walk from the town centre. If you are lucky, the bathing temperature on a good day in July can be in double figures.

The Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival is an annual festival held this year on the 14th to 16th of July. Unless you’d prefer to stroll to Telegrafbukta, you can take the number 34 or 37 bus from the town centre. Bring food and a disposable barbecue! Once you are in Telegrafbukta, it’s only a two minute walk to Tromsø Museum.

Bus: 34, 37

Tromsø Museum is at the southern tip of Tromsø, just by Telegrafbukta. The museum, established in 1872, is Northern Norway’s oldest scientific institution. Here, you can see displays on the Northern Lights, stone age archaeology, indigenous Sami culture and the Vikings. Coffee is served every day from 12.00-16.00 hrs to traditional story telling in the Sami hut. There are also daily guided tours at 15.00 hrs.

The Museum is open every day from 09.00-18.00 hrs. It is half an hour’s walk from the town centre, but if you prefer not to walk you can take the number 34 or 37 bus from town.

Admission: Free of charge

Opening times: 09.00-18.00 hrs every day.

The Arctic Cathedral lies on the mainland of Tromsø town and is the city’s most recognisable landmark. It was built in 1965 and restored two years ago. Because of the acoustics within the Cathedral it is often a prime choice as a concert venue. During the summer season the cathedral’s Midnight Sun Concerts take place every evening at 23.30 as the midnight sun streams through the cathedral’s beautiful original glass mosaic (NOK 120). There are also 25 minute organ concerts at 14.00 hrs every day performed by accomplished organists both from Norway and abroad. Even if you are not of a musical bent, the cathedral’s architecture and stunning views are reason enough for a visit. The cathedral is half an hour’s walk from the town centre, but you can also take the number 26 bus from Sjøgata. Once you are in the neighbourhood, it’s only ten minutes’ walk to Fjellheisen Cable Car.

Admission: 35 NOK/ Children under 15 free of charge

Opening times: 09.00-19.00 hrs, Sunday: 13.000-19.00 hrs

For further information please visit: www.ishavskatedralen.no

Fjellheisen Cable Car in Tromsø runs from Solliveien to Storsteinen at Fløya. The trip up Storsteinen mountain takes four minutes and offers fantastic panoramic views over the city, Kvaløya, and surrounding waterways and mountains. At the top of Storsteinen is a cafe serving food and drink. Storsteinen is 421 metres above sea level. If you are really energetic, you can hike further up to Tromsdalstiden, which lies 1238 metres above sea level (the hike to the top takes around two hours). Fjellheisen Cable Car operates between 10.00 hrs and 01.00 hrs, running on the hour and at 30 minutes past the hour. You can take the number 26 bus from the town centre to Fjellheisen.

Adults: NOK 105/ Children NOK 55/ Families NOK 260 /Bicycles NOK 50

Polaria lies five minutes’ walk from Tromsø town centre. This discovery centre offers a panoramic cinema experience and an arctic aquarium with seals as well as a gift and souvenir shop. The panoramic movie on the Antarctic is shown twice a day (13.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs). The panoramic movie on the arctic wilderness is shown every half an hour.

Feeding and training of the seals takes place every day at 12.30 hrs and 15.00 hrs.

Adults: NOK 105/ Children: NOK 55/ Seniors: NOK 85/ Students: NOK 70

The Art Museum of Northern Norway lies in the centre of Tromsø town. The museum aims to highlight art connected to Northern Norway, portraying Northern Norwegian art and motives ranging from 19th century masters to contemporary art. This is the place for art lovers! National romantic works will allow those who so wish to become familiar with idyllic Norway.

Opening times: 11.00-18.00 hrs every day.

Admission: Free of charge

For further information please visit http://www.nnkm.no/

The University Museum of Tromsø lies on the south of the island, by the university. It provides a meeting place for children and young people to explore mathematics, science and technology both though individual activities and in collaborative work with others. Fun for the whole family! The Northern Lights planetarium is Norway’s largest 360 degree planetarium and shows spectacular films every day. Perfect for those interested in the Northern Lights.

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 11.00-16.00 hrs. Sunday 12.00-17.00 hrs.

Tickets: Children NOK 50/ Students NOK 60/ Seniors NOK 90/ Families NOK 230

Bus: 20 or 21 from town centre.

For further information please visit: http://nordnorsk.vitensenter.

High up on Tromsø island lies Prestvannet, a park area often used for hiking and recreation by the local Tromsø population. The lake has a rich birdlife with ducks, gulls, loons, hooded gulls, tufted ducks and many more. Bring a picnic blanket and crumbs for the birds!

Walking time from the town centre is 20-30 minutes.

Bus 40 from town centre.

Sommarøy is located an hours’ drive from Tromsø, and shows Northern Norway at it’s most beautiful. This island community is surrounded by sandy beaches and is entirely untouched by the hustle and bustle of the town. A trip to Sommarøy can be highly recommended if you have some time to spare. There is a shop, hotel and a cosy tavern. Trips by passenger boat and smaller hire boats allow visitors to explore the many islands surrounding Sommarøy.

The Perspektivet Museum lies right at the heart of Tromsø town centre, in Storgata. The museum’s has an aim the dissemination of photography in the documentary genre, disseminating and developing knowledge as a basis for understanding relationships, creating tolerance for cultural diversity, and to provide thought-provoking exhibits on culture and society.

Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday 11.00-17.00 hrs

Admission: Free of charge

For further information please visit: www.perspektivet.no

For those with money to spend: Vulkana is a boat converted into a floating spa, on the pier in the centre of town. The transformed fishing vessel has a restaurant and bar, wood burning sauna, Turkish steam room and wood burning hot tub on the deck. Vulkana is available for all tours and events. When the boat is in dock, you can just enjoy the restaurant. A three course meal costs around NOK 495,-.

For further information please visit: www.vulkana.no

Tromsø Cathedral, built in 1861 by architect Christian Heinrich Grosch, is Norway’s only wooden Cathedral. The Cathedral’s architecture is in the neo-gothic in style, with the church tower and main entrance facing west. The Cathedral is located in the heart of the town centre and surrounded by the Church Park, which had a graveyard from the Middle Ages until the first half of the 1800s.

This church lies in the square, in the centre of Tromsø town. This is the seat of the world’s northernmost Catholic bishop. The church was built in 1861, and in 1989 the Pope himself stayed overnight in the stately Empire House.