Tromso is a city in northern Norway, located about 217 miles above the Arctic Circle. Don't let Tromso's location fool you, though. The average temperature in January is still 2 degrees higher than in northern Indiana. However, don't look forward to much over 65 to 75F during summer. Tromso boasts having the world's northernmost botanical garden, brewery, university and planetarium. Whether you are a history buff, a partier or you enjoy learning about foreign cultures, you're sure to find something perfect to fit your interests in the Arctic city of Tromso.

Historical

Tromso Cathedral is the only wooden cathedral in all of Norway, as well as one of the largest wooden churches in the country. The cathedral was finished in 1861 and is still in use today. You will even find an abundance of history right in Tromso's city center. Some of the houses date back to 1790 and it is the largest concentration of wooden houses in northern Norway. The large red building that houses the Polar Museum in Tromso is a wharf house built in 1837. All of these locations are within walking distance from the city center.

Cultural

Within the Tromso municipality is an area called Ullsfjord. The population of this village within Tromso is a bit over 2,000 and primarily housing those of Sami heritage. The Sami are the indigenous peoples of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and some of Russia. In Ullsfjord, you can visit the Sami Language Center and, if you're lucky, you may even get to see some of the locals in traditional Sami clothing, consisting of bright blues and reds with men often wearing the typically Sami Four-Winds hat. Every year, on February 6th, is the International Day of the Sami People, held at the University of Tromso and the City Hall.

Going Out

The Kulturhuset (Culture House) hosts many shows, especially music concerts. During holidays, you can find the program to include many Christmas shows and, during other times of the year, you can see anything from folk to rock concerts. You will find numerous pubs and and clubs in Tromso, as electronic music is one of the city's major cultural exports. The Olhallen (The Beer Hall) is one of the most popular clubs in Tromso. If you are able to visit the city during the summer, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of Bukta Tromso Open Air Festival, which hosts musicians from all over the world. During January, you can see both the Tromso International Film Festival and the Nordlysfestivalen (The Northern Lights Festival).