Tromsø is beautifully located city by the fjords and the mountains and is the perfect choice for starting your Arctic adventures both concerning the Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun and many kinds of activities. The city lies 400km north of the Arctic Circle and the main part of the city stretches along the east shore of the island Tromsøya and is linked to the mainland by a gracefully arched bridge. Tromsø is home to the northernmost university and college in the world.
Tromsø is the gateway to the Arctic
Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to spot the Northern Lights because you can discover this special Lights from September to March. It`s possible to spot this amazing natural phenomenon in the evening in winter from 5 pm to 11 pm. Therefore it`s very popular to stay in Tromsø and from here take one of the many Northern Lights tours and Tromsø is also called "the Gateway to the Arctic".
The city Tromsø is the gateway to the Arctic, at 70 degrees north. In the months when the Northern Lights are most active, you can participate in all kinds of cultural activities, winter activities and festivals events are also arranged at this time of year.
Stable and mild climate in Tromsø
The climate is both fairly mild and stable with an average winter temperature of -3 degrees due to the Gulf Stream. Since the early 1800 century, the city has been a starting point for Arctic expeditions and is also called the Gateway to the Arctic.
In the early 19th century Tromsø was a starting point for traping expeditions to the pack ice to the north and east and to the archipelago of Svalbard. If you wish to discover about the polar explorers you can visit the Polar Museum in the harbour district.
Tromsø has a population of 74,500 and is the largest city in Northern Norway and the second-biggest in Lapland, and has great restaurants, top hotels and several big-name stores. It`s also the centre for the surrounding fishing and agriculture settlements and the home of the Polar Institute.
Most visited Tromsø attractions
Tromsø is a town with an enjoyable atmosphere and a fascinating history. The centre of Tromsø is a composite and multi-layered mixture of colourful, pretty wooden houses from the 1800s. The city has a couple of superb museums which will whet your appetite to learn more about the Arctic.
It is an excellent idea to start your tour down by the harbour, which is where most of the hotels are located. Here you take in the main pedestrian street before continuing west to one of the town`s most enjoyable museums, Polaria, nearby the waterfront. This museum includes an aquarium and a 3 D cinema with movies about Svalbard and the Northern Lights.
Another big attraction is the city centre is the Tromsø Cathedral and the cable car which bring you to the top of Mount Storsteinen. From here you have a magnificent view over Tromsø and the surrounding area. Here you also have a great view to the Arctic Cathedral from 1965 and designed by Jan Inge Hovig.
Popular Winter Adventures in Tromsø
There’s a lot to do here all year around. In the winter adventures like cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, reindeer rides tours are some of the big adventures together with of course the Northern Lights adventures. From November to January many tourists also come here to discover whale safaris. Nearby Tromsø you find the Lyngen Alps where they also offer many different winter activities.
Discover the Midnight Sun
In the summer adventures like hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing and river rafting and climbing are some of the most popular of course together with the Midnight Sun adventures.
Visit also the Lyngen Alps
In 2004 the local government established the Lyngen Alps protected area and includes parts of municipalities Lyngen, Storfjord, Tromsø and Balsfjord.
