Norway's Arctic metropolis
Deep inside the Norwegian Arctic, on an island fringed by majestic fjords, craggy peaks and icy waters, lies the city of Tromsø. In many ways, it belies its remote location and wild surroundings close to the northernmost edge of continental Europe, with a lively cultural scene, a thriving culinary landscape, and a fun, easy-going energy underpinned by a diverse population of around 140 different nationalities.
It’s a place of stark seasonal contrasts, from the perpetual daylight and Midnight Sun of the summer months to the near-constant darkness of Polar Night and the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights. When blanketed in snow, Tromsø’s array of colourful, timber-clad houses are a particularly charming sight, while the bold, angular elegance of the Arctic Cathedral, just across the water from downtown, is the city’s proud architectural highlight.
From the Polar Museum to the world’s northernmost botanical garden and the plethora of cosy cafes and souvenir stores along the main street (Storgata), there’s no shortage of things to see and do in the city itself. Take a trip on the Fjellheisen cable car to the summit of Mount Storsteinen for the ultimate viewpoint of Tromsø from above, and find respite from the cold in the floating sauna, Pust, in the middle of the harbour.
And of course, a whole host of thrilling outdoor adventures await, including husky sledding, skiing, snowmobiling and whale watching. Joining a guided Northern Lights tour is your best bet for escaping the clouds to witness one of nature’s greatest shows – though you might be lucky enough to see them from the city when the skies are clear.
It’s a place of stark seasonal contrasts, from the perpetual daylight and Midnight Sun of the summer months to the near-constant darkness of Polar Night and the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights. When blanketed in snow, Tromsø’s array of colourful, timber-clad houses are a particularly charming sight, while the bold, angular elegance of the Arctic Cathedral, just across the water from downtown, is the city’s proud architectural highlight.
From the Polar Museum to the world’s northernmost botanical garden and the plethora of cosy cafes and souvenir stores along the main street (Storgata), there’s no shortage of things to see and do in the city itself. Take a trip on the Fjellheisen cable car to the summit of Mount Storsteinen for the ultimate viewpoint of Tromsø from above, and find respite from the cold in the floating sauna, Pust, in the middle of the harbour.
And of course, a whole host of thrilling outdoor adventures await, including husky sledding, skiing, snowmobiling and whale watching. Joining a guided Northern Lights tour is your best bet for escaping the clouds to witness one of nature’s greatest shows – though you might be lucky enough to see them from the city when the skies are clear.
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Your Tromsø City questions, answered
It takes around three hours and 20 minutes to fly from London Gatwick to Tromsø. Once you arrive, it’s only a 15-minute bus or taxi journey from the airport into the city centre.
The city centre is rather compact, so you can explore it quite easily in a few hours. You’ll want to set aside time for the Fjellheisen cable car, though, along with activities such as husky sledding, snowmobiling and Northern Lights chasing – and perhaps a museum or two as well. Four or five nights is therefore an optimal amount of time for a trip to Tromsø, allowing you to experience the highlights without trying to cram too much in.
Tromsø has an abundance of excellent restaurants that specialise in seasonal Arctic ingredients, such as fresh cod, Arctic char, king crab, moose, reindeer and cloudberries. You’ll also find lots of wonderful local bakeries serving delicious pastries and coffee. And as it’s a diverse town with a multicultural population, it’s not difficult to find all kinds of other cuisines, including Japanese, Indian, Thai and Italian, as well as burger and fast food joints.
If the skies are clear and there’s a sufficient level of solar activity, you can see the Northern Lights anywhere in and around Tromsø – but you’ll get a better view the further you venture away from light pollution. Telegrafbukta Beach and Prestvannet Lake are a couple of ideal spots within easy reach of the centre. When it’s cloudy in Tromsø, tour guides will often head inland to the fjords, sometimes as far as the Finnish border, to find a patch of clear sky.