Things to do in  Tromso

Thanks to its spectacular setting among a series of islands and skerries laced with waterways and scalloped inlets, Tromso is the epicenter of day trips out into the fjords bordering the Norwegian Sea. These long, narrow sea inlets are characterized by steep, mountainous slopes carved out by glaciation during the last Ice Age.

The fifth-largest island in Norway, Kvaloya connects to mainland Tromso via the winding, floating Sandnessund Bridge—just soaking in the views from here is an experience in itself. The island is intimately connected with its smaller sister, Sommaroy, and between the two of them, they offer some of Northern Norway’s wildest adventures: think winter surfing on white-sand beaches, chasing the northern lights, and beyond.

The tiny Arctic Norwegian island of Sommaroy lures travelers with its white-sand beaches and rugged scenery. Traditionally a fishing community, red wooden buildings raised on stilts surround the harbor and small fishing boats bob in the water. It’s an easy day-trip from Tromso, but it's never crowded and so retains a laid-back atmosphere.

High above the Arctic Circle and northeast of the Norwegian city of Tromso, the Lyngen Alps (Lyngsalpene) stretch from Lyngenfjord in the south up to Ullsfjord, close to the Swedish border. The 56-mile-long (90-kilometer-long) mountain range forms a spectacular landscape of deep gorges, gleaming icy glaciers, and wild, boulder-filled rivers.

Under 30 minutes from Tromsø, Ersfjordbotn is the kind of place most of us dream of visiting—picture rugged, snowy peaks, sparkling seas, towering cliffs, the midnight sun come summer, and reliable northern lights come winter. A simple village at the base of the pristine Ersfjord, it’s a destination for travelers looking to marvel at Mother Earth.

Known as the “Gateway to the Arctic” since the days of polar explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, Tromsø is a natural setting for the Polar Museum, housed in an 1830s warehouse on the seafront. Part of the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), the museum invites visitors to explore Arctic history, from the Indigenous Sami and their survival strategies to the controversial sealing industry and more.

The Arctic Cathedral’s strikingly modern glass-and-aluminum facade and daring angular planes form a much-loved landmark in Tromso. With an appearance distinct from that of most churches, it dominates the city’s skyline and is visible from the Tromso Sound, the Tromso Bridge, and the sky when arriving by airplane.

The first aquarium set within the Arctic Circle and one of only two places in Europe where you can see bearded seals up close, Tromsø’s Polaria is a wildlife experience of a superior kind. Focused on education—including, of course, the climate dangers facing the Arctic—this spot connects visitors with northern Norway’s most beloved marine creatures via hands-on demonstrations, a panoramic cinema, and more.

Offering some of the best views of Tromsø, the Fjellheisen Cable Car whisks you from Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the Storsteinen mountain ledge, which sits 1,378 feet (420 meters) above sea level. From a spacious mountaintop terrace, you can enjoy panoramic views over the Norwegian Arctic city and its surroundings.

At 217 miles (350 kilometers) above the Arctic Circle, the Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden (Arktisk Alpin Botaniske Hage) is the world’s northernmost botanical garden. The Tromso attraction is home to thousands of plants from around the world, but the emphasis is on species that flourish in Norway’s cold, snowy winters and cool, moist summers.

One of the highest points on the island of Tromso (Tromsoya) happens to be this small lake, a former reservoir near the center of Tromso town. Locals walk their dogs around the track and nature trails ringing the body of water, where travelers sometimes stop to view the northern lights. In the winter, the frozen-over pond becomes an ice-skating rink.

Roald Amundsen, Norway’s favorite polar explorer, left Tromso for his last expedition in 1928 and never returned. This bronze memorial statue of Amundsen lies atop a stone pedestal in a small waterfront park near the explorer’s former home and Tromso’s old downtown. Stop by to take a walk in the park and pay tribute to Norway’s contributions to polar exploration.

The Arctic Circle doesn’t scream beach destination, but there’s an ideal (summer) swimming and picnicking spot on the water not far from Tromso. When the weather’s warm, this small, shallow beach gets crowded with locals looking to swim within view of Vengsøy Island and the open Norwegian Sea. Hiking and hunting for the views of the northern lights round out the activities here.

Perspectives big and small (read: local and global) reign at this small museum. Visit to examine what it means to be from the far north—and to be a human at all. Permanent exhibits are dedicated to the life and works of writer and artist Cora Sandel, known for the Alberta Trilogy, and to Puutalo, a Finnish company that built prefabricated wooden homes for refugees.

Contemporary Norwegian aesthetics mix with Indigenous creations at the Northern Norway Art Museum (Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum), which is dedicated to the life and people of the far north. Step inside the museum’s yellow neoclassical building in the heart of Tromso, and you’ll find varied exhibits of Norwegian and international art, with an emphasis on Sami art and crafts.