Tromso, a city situated to the north of Norway, is the most lively and major city in the far north, and its a good place from which to organize trips farther afield. Tromso is in the Arctic circle and is culturally rich, possibly due to world's most northern university situated there. This is a good base for winter skiing or summer wilderness hiking.

What to Do

The most surprising thing about Tromso is the people themselves. You can see many different models of Tromso folks. In the north, you can find the best raw materials. During the winter darkness, the Tromso people turn to indoor pursuits. Local theater and revues are long standing traditions of Tromso.

The heart and soul of the town's social atmosphere are the many cafés around Storgata, where people meet for lunch, after work, or in the evenings – to meet, talk, and just be together! A quick glass or two on a Friday afternoon might last until 3am or 4am the next day. On Saturdays, Storgata is a hive of activity, and the temperature on the dance floors is tropical. On Sundays, it's time to wind down, perhaps with a café latte, and sum up the weekend.

What to Eat

Cod, coalfish, halibut and haddock are taken fresh from the sea, cooked and delivered straight to the table. Reindeer, goat and elk get their taste from the forests and mountains. Strawberries ripened under the Midnight Sun have their own sweet secret. The best food in Tromso is prepared from these fresh raw ingredients, with all the skills of a master chef – such as goat steak, Arctic char in Pernod sauce, seal meat lasagne and grilled stockfish.

Tromso cuisine has been influenced by many new and exciting cultures, and we love to try new ideas. There are many restaurants like Astro, Aunegarden, Ban thai, Brasseriet and more.

Where to Stay

Tromso's hotels collectively offer around 2,000 beds, and they maintain a good standard. They also offer conference facilities that seat up to 500 guests. The areas surrounding Tromso also have many nice small country hotels, guest houses, cottages and camping grounds. The major hotels are City Living hotel, Clarion hotel bryggen, Rica Ishavshotel and Hotel Viking.

Budget Hotels

The budget hotels are ABC HOTEL NORD, AMI HOTEL, THON HOTEL POLAR and SYDSPISSEN. They offer all the comforts of home right in the heart of Tromso.

Travel

Tromso is an important air hub, with flights to many destinations in Norway, including Svalbard. Buses run from here to Bodo, Narvik and Alta.

Attractions

Tromso centre is the largest wooden city north of Trondheim, and has a rich architectural inheritance in the Imperial style of the 1800s, richly interspersed with both beautiful and not so nice buildings from later periods. The Arctic Cathedral, built in 1965, is the city’s most recognizable feature. This distinctive structure was inspired by Northern Norwegian faith and nature. One of its features is a flaming and extremely original glass mosaic.

The Polar Museum is devoted to the city’s past as the center for Polar sea catches and the starting points for Arctic expeditions. The University Museum of Tromso shows the depth of Northern Norwegian nature and culture. Aquariums with seals and fish from the region, along with a wonderful multimedia presentation on Svalbard, are attractions at Polaria, a knowledge-based experience and adventure center for the Polar regions. The Art Museum of Northern Norway portrays Northern Norwegian art and Northern Norwegian motives.