Tromsø Travel Guide

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Tromsø

'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.

Attractions

Arctic Cathedral interior, Tromso

Arctic Cathedral

The spectacular design of the white and ultra-modern Arctic Cathedral is visible from afar, situated on a small hill on an island linked by the spindly Tromsø Bridge. It is an architectural masterpiece, made up of eleven large triangular sections representing the eleven faithful... see full details

Polaria, Tromso

Polaria

Polaria is an information and experience centre for the whole family, combining interactive experiences with knowledge about the arctic environment. There is a panoramic film about the arctic wilderness of Svalbard, an Arctic Walkway that creates a snowstorm experience and the Northern Lights spectacle. The... see full details

Tromso Musuem

Tromsø Museum

The Tromsø Museum is northern Norway’s oldest and largest museum with exhibitions devoted to the cultural and natural history of the region. There is a comprehensive display relating to the traditional culture and music of the Sami or Lapp people and their nomadic, reindeer-herding way of... see full details

Events

Bukta - Tromsø Open Air Festival

A relatively new festival on the music calendar, Bukta is acclaimed as the festival where the sun never sets. Held during summer in the northern part of the country, the festival boasts the natural splendour of snowcapped peaks against the Artic Ocean as a backdrop to some of the finest in local and international music.

Venue: Telegrafbukta, located 30 minutes from the city centre
Date: 2 - 4 July 2009
Website: bukta.no/article.php/nyheter/20060322134741581

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