Things to do in Tromsø, Norway, the world’s northernmost university town, range from mountaineering and swimming to riding the city’s cable car and checking out thrilling museums. Tromsø has a young, buzzy vibe thanks to its university, with ample opportunities for eating, drinking, and shopping. Lovers of small, offbeat museums will enjoy Tromsø’s cultural side, with a clutch of options, including the Troll Museum and the Northern Norwegian Art Museum.
Tromsø’s location, 217 miles above the Arctic Circle, means the sun rarely sets during summertime. Between late May and late July, during the period of the midnight sun, you’ll find locals and visitors making the most of the extended daylight hours, hiking, biking, and taking part in other activities late into the night.
The city is compact, too, which means you can easily tick off several activities in one short visit. Whether your preference is exhilarating nature-led experiences or kicking back with a local beer by the harbor, here are the best things to do in Tromsø.
Marvel at Tromsø’s Bridges
Tromsø Bridge
You don’t need to be a lover of architecture or smart engineering to appreciate Tromsø Bridge, a cantilever road bridge that links Tromsø, which lies on Tromsøya island, with the mainland.
The 3,399-foot bridge was opened in 1960 and became the first cantilever bridge in Norway. It was also the longest bridge in northern Europe at the time. Before 1960, travelers relied upon a local, and sometimes, unreliable ferry service to cross the narrow strait.
There are sidewalks on both sides of the bridge and the gleaming Arctic Cathedral, one of Norway’s most beautiful places, awaits on the mainland.
The cantilever Sandnessund Bridge, connecting Tromsøya with Kvaloya island, is just as spectacular. Opened in 1974, Sandnessund is 4,000 feet long, rising like a camel’s hump in the middle, with 36 support pillars.
Ride the Fjellheisen Cable Car
Fjellheisen Cable Car
One of the best things to do in Tromsø, Norway, is ride the scenic gondola cable car to Storsteinen mountain’s upper station, Fjellstua. The base station in Solliveien is a breezy 12-minute walk from the Arctic Cathedral, on the mainland.
Built in 1961, Fjellheisen whisks visitors 1,381 feet above the sea in just four minutes, operating every half an hour, on the hour and half past the hour.
There’s a lovely terrace and café serving delicious cake, coffee, and sodas at the top. It’s the wow-worthy views that are most impressive, including of the 4,000-foot Tromsdalstinden mountain in the southeast of Tromsø.
Sip Micro Brews at the World’s Northernmost Brewery
Mack Brewery Photo by Manxruler on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
A visit to Mack Brewery near Tromsø’s waterfront is a fun way to explore the local drinks culture. Founded in 1877 by Ludwig Markus Mack, it’s the fourth largest brewery in Norway.
Though the main production site is now located outside of Tromsø, the original Tromsø brewery site is home to the brand’s beer shop, a pub, and a microbrewery. Daily guided tours are offered that include tasting the microbrewery’s beers and learning about the history of brewing in Tromsø.
Two different tastings are available, the Mack Mini Tasting, with five different beers, and the Mack Beer Course, which also explores the brewing process and different styles of brewing. If you prefer, you could just sit in a cozy corner of the bar and select different beers to try. Pace yourself, though. There are more than 100 varieties to choose from.
Climb Storsteinen’s Sherpa Steps
Sherpa Steps
If you’re an active traveler, skip Tromsø’s cable car, lace up your walking boots, and hike Storsteinen mountain’s Sherpa Steps. Sherpas from the Khumbu region of Nepal built this snaking staircase over a three-year period, with the route offering sublime views of Nordfjellet, the neighboring mountain, and the island of Tromsø.
With 1,203 steps, these stone stairs are not for the faint-hearted. For comparison, that’s roughly three and a half times more steps than the Statue of Liberty has. There are plenty of vantage points and resting places to ease the journey, though.
The Sherpa Steps are best climbed when conditions are safe to do so, between June and October. Carry water and a hiking pole. And don’t forget, you’ll be rewarded with delectable baked goods at the top.
To get there, cross Tromsø Bridge from the city center on foot, which takes around 45 minutes, or you could hop on the local number 26 bus, which takes 10 minutes.
Tour the Polar Museum
Polar Museum
Take your thirst for knowledge on the Arctic region to Tromsø’s Polar Museum, which explores life in the North Pole in the last few centuries through artwork, artifacts, maps, and polar animal specimens.
Located in Tromsø’s timber-clad former Customs building, the museum’s permanent exhibition covers polar research, sealing, the cultural history of Svalbard, and how harsh winters are survived in the far north.
Further exhibitions reveal the story of Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz and his first encounter with a polar bear, and famous Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.
Visit Tromsø’s Two Cathedrals
Tromsø Cathedral
Rarely does a city of Tromsø’s compact size offer more than one cathedral. Tromsø not only has two, but they are almost directly opposite each other, on either side of the Tromsø Strait.
Tromsø Cathedral and the Arctic Cathedral are starkly different religious buildings. The 1861-built Tromsø Cathedral, on Tromsø island, is a traditional-looking Norwegian church, with a copper-spired roof, painted in a pretty shade of custard-yellow. It’s the country’s only protestant cathedral made of timber.
Inside, the cathedral is pared back, with a focus on the wooden structure and above the altar, a copy of a religious painting “Resurrection” by the Norwegian artist Adolph Tidemand.
Arctic Cathedral
Once you’ve admired Tromsø Cathedral, walk to the modern Arctic Cathedral, one of Europe’s best attractions. The distance between the two churches is roughly one mile and it should take around 30 minutes.
Built in 1965, the Arctic Cathedral is inspired by polar landscapes, with its triangular-pyramid shape bearing a resemblance to the peaks around Tromsø.
Designed by architect Jan Inge Hovig, the concrete and glass cathedral sits on a slight hill, making it visible from the Tromsø Bridge and Tromsø’s waterfront. Inside, there are oak pews, large prism chandeliers, and a show-stopping glass mosaic window, the “Return of Christ,” by artist Victor Sparre.
Ride the Arctic Train
One of the best things to do in Tromsø, Norway, is to ride the trolley-style Arctic Train around the city’s pedestrian streets. This relaxing journey covers all of the main sights, including Tromsø Cathedral, the North Norwegian Museum of Art, and Tromsø Gallery of Contemporary Art.
There’s an opportunity to hop off at Polaria Aquarium, before the train continues to Nansen Square, the Polar Museum, and back toward Skansen. Pick up the Arctic Train, which operates between June 1 and August 15 on the hour, in the market square on Storgata, Tromsø’s main pedestrian strip.
Relax on Sommaroy’s Beaches
Sommaroy
Visiting Sommaroy is one of the best things to do in Norway. This gorgeous island of Maldives-white beaches and turquoise water, just over an hour from Tromsø by car, or a little longer on the 422 bus from the city center. It’s well worth a day trip here to soak up the ultra-fresh Arctic air as you stroll the sandy beaches and enjoy the island’s rich wildlife.
Sommaroy is home to a charming fishing village and an outdoor center where you can rent kayaks or join a guided paddle. Pack your bathing suit or a wetsuit, and a towel—the water might not be warm but its clarity is incredibly inviting.
This small, green-covered island is easy to walk around if you prefer to explore on foot. There aren’t many facilities so you’ll want to pack all of the essentials to see you through the day.
Wander Tromsø’s Old Town
Skansen
The historic heart of Tromsø is Skansen, the city’s Old Town area, located on a slight mound—a Middle Ages fortress—next to the Tromsø Strait.
Skansen comprises a group of traditional timber buildings, built between 1789 and 1850, and painted in a bright mustard yellow. They’re the oldest in the city.
Stroll around the circular fortress and the seven handsome buildings that were originally used as labourers’ quarters, storehouses, and custom houses. There’s a delightful bistro, Barstua 1840, within the compact cluster of buildings where you can stop for warming fish soup, or perhaps a more adventurous reindeer wrap, with a glass of wine.
Swim in Telegrafbukta Bay
Telegrafbukta Bay
Near the southern tip of Tromsø Island, Telegrafbukta is a bay of dazzling white sand, an effortless 40-minute walk or a 10-minute bus ride from the city center.
During summer, Telegrafbukta is a popular spot to enjoy swimming, walking, and relaxing, with a postcard-worthy backdrop of dramatic mountains, green forests, and the gentle lapping waves. It’s safe to swim so remember to pack a towel so you can go dip your toes into the invigorating Arctic waters.
Close by, within Telegrafbukta Park, is Folkeparken Friluftsmuseum, an open-air museum of 13 heritage buildings, including boathouses and old farm houses, some with turf roofs.
You can wander around the buildings at any time, since they’re not closed off, though they only open on Sunday during summertime, if you want to take a peek inside.
Join a Guided Kayak Tour
Kayaking in Tromsø
One of the best ways to see Tromsø’s spectacular fjords and serrated mountains is on a guided kayaking tour. Though you certainly don’t need to be an expert kayaker, it helps to have at least a basic level of fitness to keep up with the tour.
Various operators offer tours in the area, including Active Tromsø, between May and September, with tours departing from Kvaloya. No two guided trips are the same, with local guides tailoring tours according to the weather conditions.
Paddle along calm and clear Arctic waters and look out for isolated fishing villages and pretty coves. There’s plenty of marine life to look for, including sea eagles, seals, puffins, jellyfish, and bottlenose dolphins.
You’ll stop for a coffee and cookie break in a quiet cove or deserted beach to soak in more of Tromsø’s magical scenery, before continuing on your journey.
Wear a waterproof jacket, take a hat, and sunglasses, and wear sun block. It’s also worth packing a spare set of clothes, snacks, water, and a waterproof phone, or camera case.
Admire Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden
Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden
With 25 themed collections, including a new peony display, the exquisite Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden is a spectacular homage to all things green and floral.
Gardens are set around lichen- and moss-covered boulders and rock crevices that have been landscaped to mimic the mountainous landscape of Arctic Norway.
Alpine plants from South Africa, Turkey, Lebanon, and Chile thrive on the south-facing slopes of the garden. On the north-facing beds, species from Svalbard flourish, including one of Europe’s rarest species, ranunculus wilanderi, a type of rare buttercup only found in Cape Thordsen, Svalbard.
There are saxifrages that flower in pretty shades of pink; violet-hued gentians; vibrant primroses; and blue-flowering meconopsis.
Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden is free to visit and at its most colorful during summertime. A small coffee shop also opens during summer, serving cakes, waffles, ice cream, hot, and cold drinks.
Take a Husky Hike
Tromsø Wilderness Centre
One of the best things to do in Tromsø is to go on a hike at Tromsø Wilderness Centre in Kvaloya.
This adrenaline-fueled adventure involves a guided hike with a husky handler that sees groups take the Alaskan huskies for a yomp into the surrounding Arctic wilderness. You’ll need to be moderately fit, since the husky dogs have plenty of energy to burn, though the handler stays with the group at all times.
There’s more. Tromsø Wilderness Centre is also home to a Husky Café that opens through summer, serving up warm waffles and cuddles with the furry pups.
Tromsø
Ready for your Arctic adventure? Explore Celebrity’s cruises to Tromsø and discover culture, architecture, and some of the world’s most breathtaking mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls.
