
'Land of the Midnight Sun’ © Norwegian Tourst Board
Set in a magnificent landscape of dramatic snow-capped mountains
with a rocky shoreline, Tromsø is a lively town characterised
by unusual old wooden houses, street music, cultural events and the
most pubs per capita in Norway. It is the capital of the north and
a bustling metropolis in comparison to the surrounding fishing
communities along the northern coast of Norway; it is also a
vibrant university town.
Known as the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’ and situated
within the Arctic Circle, the town is an excellent base from which
to explore the surrounding area and has the greatest amount of
Northern Light activity on earth, making it a sought-after tourist
destination from which to experience the spectacular show of the
Aurora Borealis. The Midnight Sun during summer is another strange
phenomenon, when continuous daylight makes people forget to go to
bed, and the winters experience a few hours of bleak twilight
during midday. It is these extreme light conditions that hold the
greatest fascination for tourists, regardless of the season, and
make it such an intriguing place to visit.
There are several museums and other places of interest, a cable
car to the top of one of the surrounding hills providing fantastic
views, and boat trips into the fascinating landscape of the arctic
fjords.