First things first: What is the Arctic?
The Arctic is the region above the Arctic Circle, not a continent like Antarctica. Due to the glaciers and the rate at which they melt, it is still not easy to determine the boundaries of the region. What we can say for sure is that it is located around the North Pole and under the Ursa Major constellation. For many of us, our knowledge of these places is mainly that they’re very cold, but in recent years, the region has come to the fore as the center of the northern lights and winter tourism. There are lovely places to explore in the region and the Norwegian city of Tromso is certainly at the top of this list.
Notes about Tromso
Located 400 km south of the Arctic Circle, this hidden city is a special place with fantastic views. Tromso, the third-largest city in the region, is known to have been settled since the Ice Age. For this reason, it is believed that many secrets of humanity can be found here.
Snowfall in Tromso can continue for days or even months. In fact, a new world record was set in Tromso in terms of snowfall in 1996-1997.
Tromso is set on two islands, Tromsøya and Kvaløya, connected by a bridge. Tromsøya is connected to the mainland by bridge.
Tromso is among the rare places where visitors can experience the northern lights, the midnight sun and the polar night.
Important times for Tromso
Due to Tromsø’s location – its proximity to the Arctic Circle at the top of the Earth – the city experiences a set of phenomena called ‘polar night’ and ‘midnight sun’, in addition to the spectacular northern lights.
Northern Lights: These generally occur between September and April. In December and January, Tromso is windy and snowy; the northern lights are best seen in cloudless, clear conditions. Thus, the ideal time to visit Tromso is in September-October, February-March and early April. The area is sometimes called the “capital of the Northern Lights” because, statistically, it is among those places where the Northern Lights are best seen.
Polar Night: From around November 27 until January 1, the sun does not rise in Tromso. Well, technically the sun does rise but, again, due to Tromsø’s location, the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. However, city residents continue their daily lives and routines throughout this period – and many consider the polar night to be the best time to view the magnificent Aurora Borealis.
What to do in Tromsø?
- Northern Lights: As the “capital of the Northern Lights,” Tromsø is a great place to view Aurora Borealis. You can join bus or boat tours or chase the northern lights in your own car. Be aware that most of these excursions start in the evening and end in the morning!
- Whale Safari: This boat trip takes place north of Tromsø. The excursion generally lasts a minimum of 7-8 hours.
- Skiing in the Lygen Alps
- Daytime and nighttime reindeer sleigh rides
- Trekking
Places to visit in Tromsø
Places to Visit in Tromsø
- Arctic Cathedral: Built in 1965, the cathedral holds the title of being the northernmost cathedral in the world. It is also known as the Cathedral of Arctic Sea. The cathedral is a stellar example of contemporary European architecture and features spectacular night lighting. As well, sometimes midnight concerts are held there.
- Polaria: In addition to having an extraordinary Arctic experience in the world’s northernmost aquarium, you can visit the scientific center.
- Fløya Mountain: Tromsø is famous for its winter mountains, which you’ll understand as your plane descends. Mountain trekking also offers fabulous views of the city.
- Fjellheisen: This cable car line also offers wonderful views of the city, ascending 420 meters up to a mountainside observation deck. From the station, you can hike up the mountain or simply take a break at the restaurant and café and enjoy the panoramic city views.
- We also recommend visits to the Troll Museum and the Northern Norway Art Museum (Nordnorsk Kunstmuseumon) your trip to Tromsø.
Tromsø and Northern Lights guide
Even during the ideal times for viewing the northern lights, there are no guarantees that you’ll actually see them. However, there are various apps that show the activity of the northern lights by region.
Many of the places to view the northern lights are around a 30- to 60-minute drive from the Tromsø city center. Visitors can draw a route up to the Finnish border according to the northern lights’ activities, and travel by private vehicle or a night bus. However, if this is your first trip to the Arctic region, you might want to join a small excursion group.
Don’t forget to pack warm clothes, along with a tripod and a camera with night vision.
Tromsø transport guide
Turkish Airlines operates scheduled flights every day to Oslo, Norway, with connecting codeshare flights to Tromsø. After the two-hour flight between Oslo and Tromsø, you can take a bus from the Tromsø airport to the city center; the trip takes around 15 or 20 minutes. You can return to the airport from the city center via bus number 42.
Even if you arrive in Tromsø, without a set plan, you don’t have to worry. The Tromsø Tourism Office, in the city center, is one of the best and most helpful of such organizations, providing visitors with a wealth of information and, even, sometimes assisting them in activity planning. Keep in mind though, that the consultants deal with each client individually and you may have to wait.
We wish you a pleasant trip!
