20 Do's and Don'ts for Visiting Tromsø, Norway

20 Do's and Don'ts for Visiting Tromsø, Norway

You don't go to Tromso, 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, for culture and cuisine. They go hoping to see the legendary Northern Lights. And who can blame you? The Aurora Borealis is on every traveler's bucket list, and if you are lucky enough to see it in its glory, the memory will last forever.

Tromso is Norway's main hub north of the Arctic Circle and serves as an excellent base from which to view the majestic natural phenomenon. However, there are other things to do in Tromso other than chasing the lights.

We spent four days in the city and can give the following tips for visiting Tromsø.

Tips for visiting Tromsø

1. Wenn Sie Tromso oder Norwegen besuchen, sollten Sie bereit sein, Premiumpreise zu zahlen. Norwegen ist in den besten Zeiten ein teures Reiseziel, aber das Leben in der Arktis scheint mit zusätzlichen Kosten verbunden zu sein.
2. Planen Sie Ihre Reise so ein, dass Sie mindestens zwei Nächte der Jagd nach dem Nordlicht widmen. Die Lichter kooperieren möglicherweise nicht mit Ihrem Zeitplan und bei so vielen Reiseveranstaltern in der Stadt ist es einfach genug, Last-Minute-Touren zu buchen. Wir empfehlen Guide Gunnar und Enjoy the Arctic.

alt=”visit to tromso norway”>Atlas & BootsAn aurora viewing is not guaranteed - this shot was taken on the second aurora hunt of our trip

1. Lassen Sie sich nicht von einer DIY-Jagd verführen. Das Auffinden der Lichter ist eine Kunst und eine Wissenschaft und erfordert ein Netzwerk lokaler Verbindungen, die Informationen über das Verhalten der Lichter mit Ihnen teilen können. Wenn Sie keine Erfahrung haben, werden Sie sie wahrscheinlich vermissen, wenn Sie sich alleine auf den Weg machen.

2. Don't be afraid to ask tour operators for a discounted rate for the second night. As already mentioned, there are many operators in Tromso who would rather have a half-price customer on their tour bus than none at all.

3. Don't do what some hardened locals do. Always wear layers, gloves, a hat and good winter boots. (We spotted a local girl heading out for the evening in high heels and sheer tights!)

4. Visit the Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen), the landmark that can be seen from almost anywhere in Tromso. You can cross the Tromsø Bridge on foot or take buses 20, 24, 26 or 28 from the city center.

alt="visiting the arctic cathedral of tromso norway">Atlas & BootsThe distinctive lines of the Arctic Cathedral

1. Lassen Sie das Frühstück in Ihrem Hotel nicht aus. Norwegen ist ein teures Reiseziel, also tanken Sie morgens auf und sparen Sie ein paar Kronen beim Mittagessen! Darüber hinaus beinhalten viele abendliche Touren und Aktivitäten eine Mahlzeit oder zumindest ein warmes Getränk und einen Snack.

2. Visit the University Museum of Tromso to see the excellent exhibitions on Sámi culture, the Northern Lights and the history of life in the Norwegian Arctic Circle. Bus 37 runs from the city center to Tromsø Museum. Opening times and admission prices can be found on the museum's website.

3. Don't miss feeding Arctic reindeer and learning about Sámi culture with charismatic reindeer herder Johan-Issak.

4. If you plan to use local buses when visiting Tromso, purchase cheaper prepaid tickets instead of buying them on board (a one-way ticket costs NOK 36 in advance, compared to NOK 50 on board). Pre-purchased day tickets and 7-day tickets are sold at the tourist information office, various shops in the city and the airport newsagent.

5. From the airport, the slightly cheaper option to get into the city is the “state bus” (colored white). The correct bus stop is a bit difficult to find and can be reached by crossing the parking lot underground or bypassing it above ground. Just ask an airport representative if you are unsure.

6. Take a fjord and whale watching cruise. Unfortunately we were unlucky and didn't see any orcas or humpback whales, but the view was still incredible. Choose the fast catamaran service with MS Havcruise.

alt="visit-tromso-norway-fjord">Atlas & BootsEven if you don't see whales, a fjord cruise offers the chance to see some unique Tromso scenery

1. Besuchen Sie unbedingt das ausgezeichnete Polarmuseum (Polarmuseet) mit seinen faszinierenden Ausstellungen zur Erforschung der Arktis. Öffnungszeiten und Eintrittspreise finden Sie auf der Website des Museums.

2. Consider purchasing combination museum tickets that include the Tromso Museum mentioned above, the Polar Museum and the MS Polstjerna Museum. Combo tickets are available for 80 or 160 NOK for entry to two or three of the museums respectively, as opposed to 40-60 NOK per museum.

3. Find out about polar research and the history of the Arctic. The Norwegians have played a major role in polar exploration and pioneered many modern exploration techniques. Start with the following books about Norway's best polar explorers.

4. For the best views of Tromsø, take a cable car from Solliveien to the mountain ledge at Storsteinen (421 m/1,400 ft). It was closed when we visited but there is a hiking trail leading up. Take bus 26 from the city center.

5. Take a walk along the Tromso coast just before sunset. The view is somewhat reminiscent of Bergen's Hanseatic Wharf and is dotted with colorful buildings and reflections of the surrounding mountains in the calm fjord water.

alt="visit-tromso-norway-waterfront">Atlas & BootsSunset on the Tromso waterfront amidst calm waters and bright colors

1. Besuchen Sie Peppe’s Pizza am Stortorget im Stadtzentrum für eine sättigende Mahlzeit, die nicht die Bank sprengt. Wenn Sie wirklich sparen wollen, dann sind erschwingliche warme Snacks und getoastete Sandwiches in den 7-Eleven-Läden in der ganzen Stadt erhältlich.

2. Go on an Aurora Husky hike. If you're lucky, the Northern Lights will appear and you can kill two birds with one stone and save some money! Regardless, the Huskies are worth the fee alone!

3. Finally, make sure you give yourself enough time to fit everything in. We had four days and wouldn't have wanted anything less. The Northern Lights might not appear or the weather might change, meaning your best-laid plans could easily go awry.

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Visiting Tromsø: the essentials

What: Visiting Tromso in Norway.

Where: We stayed at the Scandic Ishavshotel, an excellent alternative to the huge Radisson next door. Located on the waterfront, Ishavshotel offers panoramic views of Tromso Harbour, Tromso Bridge and the Arctic Cathedral, as well as easy access to local attractions - the Polar Museum is just minutes away.

Our room had floor-to-ceiling windows and was equipped with the all-important heater and carpeted flooring, making it a cozy escape after a day (or night!) in the cold.

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When: There is so much information out there about the best time to see the Northern Lights when visiting Tromsø, but much of it is contradictory. We were there in October so we trust Norway Lights, which suggests March, April, September and October are best.

The snow arrives in early November, but to ensure all winter activities are available, visit us between December 1st and March 31st. However, keep in mind that the polar night begins around mid-November and lasts until mid-January. During this time the sun does not rise above the horizon, meaning it is almost completely dark day and night.

How: The best way to get to Tromsø is to fly from Oslo. Book via Skyscanner for the best prices. From Tromso Airport you can take the Flybussekspressen into the city. These cost 60 NOK ($7.3) and leave right outside the airport. Alternatively, you can take the state bus as mentioned in tip 11 above.

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The Last Place on Earth: Scott and Amundsen's Race to the South Pole covers every detail of the great race to the South Pole between Britain's Robert Falcon Scott and Norway's Roald Amundsen.
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