Things to See and Do in Tromsø: The Only Guide You Need
Tromsø punches well above its size. A city of 77,000 people sitting 350 kilometres above the Arctic Circle, it somehow manages to have a genuine arts scene, architecture worth stopping for, beaches (yes!), and enough hiking to keep you busy for weeks. Here's everything we found — in the city and beyond.
Pust floating sauna, Arctic Cathedral, mountains and the harbor: Tromsø skyline!
We came to Tromsø for the first time in winter 2009. Since then, the city has changed quiiite a bit. It’s now a true Arctic capital, offering everything that entails, which is surprising at this latitude (thanks, Gulf Stream!). However, most visitors go on a northern lights tour, take the cable car, buy a couple of souvenirs and leave without really exploring Tromsø and its majestic surroundings. This guide of things to see in Tromsø is for a different kind of trip.
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What are the best things to see in Tromsø?
The best things to see and do in Tromsø include the Arctic Cathedral, the Fløya cable car and summit hike, the Polar Museum, the beach at Telegrafbukta, the mosaics of Marit Bockelie, the floating sauna at Pust and the local design stores. Beyond the city, the island of Kvaløya has excellent hiking, and Senja — two hours away — is one of the most dramatic day trips in Norway. For food, the harbor fish market is full of local and affordable options, with excellent smoked salmon, Arctic char, halibut, and fish soup. Tromsø is a genuine year-round destination: summer brings the midnight sun and open hiking season, and winter brings the northern lights and snow-covered peaks.
Did you know?
Tromsø has been called the Paris of the North since the 19th century, when it was the most cosmopolitan settlement in Arctic Norway — a prosperous trading hub with an opera, a cathedral, and a nightlife that surprised anyone arriving from the south. What the nickname actually points to is a city that has consistently punched above its weight: a university town above the Arctic Circle, home to over 100 nationalities, with a cultural scene — art, music, food — that makes the latitude feel like a detail rather than a limitation.
Things to see in Tromsø
Sights & landmarks
The Arctic Cathedral on a sunny day!
The Arctic Cathedral
The Arctic Cathedral — Ishavskatedralen in Norwegian — is the building that appears on every Tromsø postcard, and for good reason. Designed by Jan Inge Hovig and completed in 1965, it sits across the bridge from the city center on the island of Tromsdalen, and its angular aluminum facade is one of those rare pieces of architecture that actually improves in person. The triangular form was inspired by the shapes of Håja peaks, Arctic glaciers and the Sámi tent (lavu), though it reads differently depending on the light — dramatic in winter against grey skies and almost blinding in the midnight sun. Inside, the altarpiece is one of the largest stained-glass windows in Europe. Cross the Tromsø Bridge on foot for the best approach, and the best photo, especially at golden hour. It’s also very scenic from the harbor and through the Gateway to the Arctic.
Penguin tip:
The midnight sun concert series held at the Arctic Cathedral in summer is genuinely special — classical performances at 23h30 with the sun still high. Worth planning around if you're visiting June to August.
Fløya — Cable car or hike
The view from Fløya at 421 metres is the defining panorama of Tromsø: the city spreads across the island, the bridge connecting to the mainland, the fjords in every direction, and on clear days, there are peaks stretching as far as you can see. The Fjellheisen cable car gets you there in four minutes and runs most of the year (check seasonal hours). If you'd rather earn it, the trail from Solliveien takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour (if you're in good physical shape) and follows a well-marked path through birch forest. Early May, we could hike up with microspikes, but we had to come down on our bottoms! In summer, the top is genuinely warm in the sun, and there's a fantastic café. In winter, it's one of the best spots around the city for northern lights viewing, above the light pollution. You’ll get a wonderful view of the city, but we personally prefer more natural views.
The mosaics of Marit Bockelie
Scattered around Tromsø are a series of large-scale mosaic works by Norwegian artist Marit Bockelie — vivid, Arctic-inspired pieces that most visitors walk past without clocking. The most striking is Gateway to the Arctic, which you can also see as part of a guided tour. Bockelie's work is embedded in the city's walls and public spaces in a way that rewards slow walking and actual looking. If you want the full picture and the stories behind them, Arctic Run's walking tour with Kristoffer covers the mosaics and the public art scene in real depth — more on that below.
Tromsø botanical garden
The world's northernmost botanical garden sits on the university campus and is free to enter. It sounds like it shouldn't work at this latitude, but the Gulf Stream makes the climate milder than the coordinates suggest, and the garden has Alpine and Arctic plants from across the northern hemisphere — Himalayan species, North American tundra plants, Norwegian Arctic flora and flowers from my native Alps (Eli) — all growing side by side. A good hour spent, especially if you're already on the university side of the city. From there, you can continue walking to Vardentoppen. In winter, you can cross Tromsøya island on skis!
Museums
The Perspektiv Museum and old movie theater
The Polar Museum
Tromsø was the staging ground for some of the most significant Arctic expeditions in history — Amundsen left from here, Nansen prepared here, whalers and sealers operated out of this harbour for centuries. The Polar Museum (Polarmuseet) tells that story through original equipment, diaries, photographs, and objects that make the expeditions feel less romantic and more real. The building itself is a 19th-century blubber warehouse on the harbor, which adds to the vibe. If you're at all interested in the history of Arctic exploration — the ambition of it, the near-madness of it — this is a few hours well spent, especially in bad weather.
Perspektivet Museum
A smaller, often overlooked museum in the city center that focuses on photography and the cultural history of Tromsø and Northern Norway. The permanent collection draws on the city's history as a cosmopolitan Arctic trading post, and the temporary exhibitions tend to be strong. Free entry on Sundays. Worth an hour if you're interested in local history beyond the expedition-and-aurora narrative most visitors get.
Experiences
We asked this lovely couple if we could photograph them in their Norwegian best (suit and bunad) for Constitution Day!
Pust — The floating sauna
We loooove Norwegian floating saunas. We had been to Pust elsewhere (it’s one of the things we recommend in Bodø), so we were super happy to try the Tromsø location. It’s a floating sauna moored in the harbor, and it is exactly as wonderful as it sounds. You book a session, heat up properly in the sauna, then jump into the fjord. What a rush!
The backdrop is the city waterfront and the mountains beyond. It's become something of a Tromsø institution, and it fills up fast, so book in advance. There's something about ending a day of hiking or sightseeing with a sauna and a cold plunge into a Norwegian fjord that resets everything.
Arctic Run walking tours with Kristoffer
One of our insider tips in Tromsø. Kristoffer runs small walking tours of the city that go well beyond the standard landmarks — covering the public art, the mosaics, the city's history as an Arctic hub, World War II history, and local details and insights that only someone who actually grew up and lives here would know to point out. The Marit Bockelie mosaics are a highlight, but it's the framing and the context Kristoffer brings to everything that makes the difference. If you do one organized activity in the city itself, this is the one we'd pick.
→ Book Arctic Run Walking Tour with Kristoffer
Telegrafbukta
Telegrafbukta — Telegraph Bay — is a beach on the southwestern tip of Tromsø island, a short cycle or bus ride from the center. In summer, it's where locals go to play beach volleyball and swim (yes, swim — the Gulf Stream keeps it from being completely brutal), sunbathe in the midnight sun, and eat outdoors. The vibe is very local, very relaxed, and very different from the tourist-facing parts of the city. Go in the evening when the sun is low and the light over the water is extraordinary.
The hike behind the university
One of the city's most accessible and underrated walks starts just behind the UiT campus on the edge of the city. It's the kind of hike that Tromsø locals do on a weekday evening after work — not a major summit, but a proper climb through birch forest that opens onto views across the city, the islands, and the fjords. No crowds, no cable car queues, and a genuine sense of getting above the city on your own terms. Wear proper shoes; the terrain is rocky in places. Also accessible in winter with skis or snow shoes.
Constitution Day — 17 May
If your visit falls on or around the 17th of May, Syttende Mai — Norway's Constitution Day — Tromsø does it properly.
The main street fills with children's and adult parades, people dress in bunad (traditional Norwegian dress) and eat hot dogs and ice cream, brass bands move through the city, and the general atmosphere is one of the most genuinely joyful national days you'll encounter anywhere. It's not a tourist event; it's the city celebrating itself, and visitors are warmly included in it.
Even if you don't catch the official parade, the evening goes late and the city stays lively. We happened to be here for it and it was a highlight we hadn't planned for.
Shopping
Embrace your wild spirit!
Rein Love
We stopped by Rein Love because their slogan seemed to fit Penguin Trampoline’s motto: “Don’t follow the herd; stay wild.” It’s a clothing brand born in Tromsø that takes Nordic and Arctic aesthetics seriously — clean lines, quality materials, and pieces that are actually made to be worn in the climate rather than just reference it visually. But they also look sooo cool! Worth a browse even if you're not planning to buy — but you probably will!
Abanti
A Sámi design clothing shop carrying pieces rooted in Indigenous Arctic craft traditions — the kind of place where what you're buying has a genuine cultural lineage rather than a souvenir-shop version of one. If you're going to bring something home from Northern Norway, this is a more considerate option than most “Sámi” souvenir shops.
Skaperlaget
A pottery workshop and gift shop on Storgata 32, run by three local women who design and make a large part of what they sell — ceramics, hats, tote bags, and clothing with motifs rooted in Arctic nature and outdoor life. The shop also stocks carefully sourced products from local and Scandinavian makers, and the potters work on-site, so there's a good chance you'll catch Laila or Ingvild at the wheel. It's one of the better places in Tromsø to find something genuinely made here rather than imported and branded for tourists. We loved everything there.
Blåst — Northernmost glass studio
Blåst has been operating in central Tromsø since 2002 and holds the title of world's northernmost glassblowing studio. You can watch the glassblowers at work on weekdays, and the studio offers courses if you want to try it yourself. The pieces on sale are made here — bowls, vases, and decorative objects with a distinctly Arctic palette. A more memorable souvenir than most (they’ll wrap it very carefully), and one that comes with a story.
Outdoor Gear — Sport Outlet and XXL
If you arrive in Tromsø underprepared for the outdoors (it happens), both Sport Outlet, XXL and OBS stock full ranges of hiking gear, waterproofs, thermals, and footwear at reasonable prices. They're in the main shopping area and easy to find. Better to sort it here than halfway up a mountain.
Food & drink
Reindeer hot dog anyone?
Cheap bites — Backstube and Raketten
For eating well on a small budget, two places stand out. Backstube is a German-style bakery on the main street — pretzels, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes at prices that feel reasonable even by Norwegian standards, with a self-serve setup and no pressure to stay long or leave. We really liked their cardamom buns with berries or pistacho. And Raketten Bar & Pølse, the small yellow rocket-shaped kiosk in Stortorget square, has been a Tromsø institution since 1911 — founded by an 18-year-old named Margit Løkke, it’s now listed as a protected cultural heritage site and still serving reindeer hot dogs with delicious toppings on homemade buns. It also holds the unofficial title of Norway's smallest bar. In winter there's a fireplace outside. You will queue, and beware of the seagulls!
The harbor fish market
The most honest meal in Tromsø is the one you eat standing at the harbor. The fish market serves what came out of these waters very recently — smoked salmon, Arctic char, halibut, fish gratin, fish soup — at prices that make the sit-down restaurants look like they're charging for the view (which, admittedly, they are). Order the fish soup and something smoked and eat it outside if the weather allows. It’s also a great idea if your accommodation has a kitchen.
Risø mat og kaffebar
On Sjøgata, Risø is a historical café that has the best cinnamon buns according to Kristoffer, from Arctic Run. We had coffee and a bun with him there, and we agree!
Wi-To
Touristy? A bit, especially in winter. But a must-visit in Tromsø — even the bus stop outside is named after it instead of the street. This historical, local family-owned café and bar has served drinks and food since 1921: Norwegian waffles (with brunost, yuuuuum), soups, reindeer sausages and local beer.
Smørtorget
On Fredrik Langes gate in the heart of the city, Smørtorget has the kind of unhurried café atmosphere that Tromsø does well. Come for waffles with brunost, stay for Kvæfjordkake — a layered meringue and cream cake that Norwegians claim, without much argument from anyone else, is the best cake in the world. Open daily.
Kaffebønna
The cinnamon and cardamom buns here are the size of a small meal. Also worth ordering: skolebrød, a Norwegian “school bun” filled with vanilla custard and dipped in coconut that is addicting (trust us) and completely underrated outside Norway. Several locations around the city center.
Ølhallen and the Mack Quarter
Mack has been brewing in Tromsø since 1877, making it one of Norway's oldest independent breweries and for a long time the world's northernmost — a title the company still leans on, though production moved to Nordkjosbotn in 2012. What remains in the city centre is the Mack quarter, which houses the historic Ølhallen pub and a microbrewery. Ølhallen has been open since 1928 and is the kind of place that feels like it belongs to the city rather than to any particular era of it. Come for the local lagers and Arctic ales and the very specific atmosphere of a pub that has been exactly what it is for almost a century.
Around Tromsø
This easy hike on Kvaløya is reachable by bus from Tromsø
Hikes
Kvaløya
Kvaløya is the large island directly connected to Tromsø by road and bridge, and it has the kind of scenery that would be the headline attraction almost anywhere else. Mountains that drop into the sea, long fjords, quiet fishing villages, and hiking trails that range from accessible valley walks to proper ridge routes with serious exposure and views. It's also the island the Senja day tour passes through, so if you do that you'll get a first taste of what it offers — but it's worth going back to on its own terms.
Oldervik — Our hidden gem
Most visitors never make it to Oldervik, a small village about 40 kilometers from Tromsø, and that's precisely the point. The surrounding terrain is wild — trails push up into the mountains toward DNT huts, with long fjord views and almost no one else on the path. In winter, the area sits far enough from the city's light pollution to make it one of the quieter aurora-watching spots in the region. A car gets you there easily, and a few buses run every day. The landscape around Oldervik reminded us of British Columbia and Alaska, and we really loved the “end of the world” feeling, especially being that close to Tromsø.
We'll have a dedicated Tromsø hiking guide coming soon with specific trail recommendations across Kvaløya, Oldervik, and beyond.
Day tours
Senja is spectacular in any season! Here in May
Senja
Norway's second-largest island sits two hours from Tromsø and holds some of the most dramatic Arctic coastline in the country — near-vertical peaks meeting the sea, turquoise beaches that shouldn't exist this far north that will remind you of the Lofoten Islands, fishing villages at the ends of roads that barely go anywhere. Senja's National Scenic Route is narrow and winding enough that having someone else drive is the better choice if you want to look at the landscape rather than the road. We took Unique Norway's small-group day tour with local guide Henrik and spent nine hours covering Kvaløya, Senja, and a scenic ferry crossing via Sommarøy.
→ Read our full Senja tour review
→ Check reviews and book the Senja day tour
Fjord cruise
Tromsø's position deep inside the Tromsøysundet strait makes it an ideal departure point for fjord cruises, and the scenery — mountain walls dropping into dark Arctic water, small islands, the occasional fishing village — rewards time on the water in any season. Several operators run evening cruises with dinner on board; others offer daytime sightseeing routes. In winter, some of the best northern lights sightings happen from the deck of a boat, away from the city's light pollution and with 360-degree sky visibility.
Whale watching (seasonal — November to January)
Every autumn, vast shoals of herring migrate into the fjords around Tromsø, and the orcas and humpback whales follow them. For a few months — roughly November through January — the waters around Tromsø become one of the most accessible whale watching destinations in the world. Tours operate from the harbor and put you close to the animals in a way that's hard to replicate anywhere else.
→ Browse whale watching tours in Tromsø
Northern lights tours (from late August to early April)
Chasing the aurora from inside the city is hit or miss — cloud cover, light pollution, and the unpredictability of the lights mean that a guided tour that moves to find clear skies dramatically improves your odds. Options range from minibus chases that follow the forecast to snowmobile tours and boat excursions where the guide does the tracking and you focus on looking up. If seeing the northern lights is the reason you came, a guided tour is the most reliable way to make it happen.
→ Browse northern lights tours in Tromsø
Dog sledding (winter only)
Running behind a team of huskies through a snow-covered Arctic landscape is one of those experiences that doesn't need much selling. Dog sledding tours from Tromsø range from short introductory runs to longer wilderness routes, and most include time with the dogs before and after (sometimes with puppies!) — which turns out to be nearly as good as the sled itself. Available through winter, roughly December to March depending on snow conditions.
→ Browse dog sledding tours in Tromsø
Sámi and reindeer experience (winter only)
The Sámi people have lived across Arctic Norway for thousands of years, and some of the most thoughtful cultural experiences available in Tromsø involve visiting a Sámi camp, learning about the relationship between the Sámi and their reindeer herds, and eating around an open fire inside a lavvu — the traditional conical tent built low to the ground against Arctic winds. Bidos, the slow-cooked reindeer stew served at these camps, is earthy, deeply warming, and one of the most specifically Arctic things you can eat. A respectful and genuinely interesting evening, particularly in winter when the setting — snow, fire, the possibility of aurora overhead — is at its most complete.
If you visit in spring and summer, you’ll spot reindeer everywhere in the city’s surroundings as they free roam.
→ Browse Sámi and reindeer experiences in Tromsø
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Where to stay in Tromsø
Midnight sun from Hotel Havbblik
Tromsø has accommodations ranging from city center hotels to fjord-view cabins on the surrounding islands — and where you stay genuinely affects the experience, especially if seeing the northern lights is part of the plan. We have a full guide to the best hotels in Tromsø for northern lights viewing, covering the properties that combine location, aurora access, and quality most effectively. A broader guide to the best hotels in Tromsø and the surrounding area — including options beyond the aurora-focused picks — is coming soon.
Find hotels, cabins and apartments in and around Tromsø:
Plan your trip to Tromsø
✈️ Find flights to Northern Norway — Omio Flights
🏨 Find hotels in Northern Norway — Booking.com
🧭 Book Northern Norway tours — Viator
🚗 Compare car rentals in Norway — Booking.com (exercize caution in winter)
🧤 Get Arctic gear — Shop our Amazon Arctic gear list
🛡️ Heymondo Travel Insurance (5–15% off) — Get Heymondo
🐾 Fahlo Wildlife Bracelets (20% off) — Shop Fahlo
📱 Travel eSIM — Get an Airalo travel eSIM
FAQ: Things to see and do in Tromsø
Is Tromsø worth visiting in summer?
Absolutely — and it's arguably the most underrated time to go. The midnight sun means you're never short of light, the hiking season is fully open, Telegrafbukta beach comes alive, and the city has a warmth and energy that the northern lights season doesn't always offer. It's less busy than winter, and the landscape on a clear Arctic summer day is extraordinary.
Is Tromsø worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for different reasons. Winter is northern lights season, the cable car views are dramatic in the snow, and activities like dog sledding and reindeer experiences are only available in the colder months. Come prepared for short days and cold temperatures — but also for some of the most dramatic light you'll see anywhere.
Do you need a car in Tromsø?
For the city itself, no — Tromsø is walkable and has decent bus connections. For Kvaløya and the surrounding islands, a car opens things up considerably. We have a full guide to renting a car in Tromsø coming soon. The Senja day tour is also a practical car-free option for getting beyond the city.
How many days do you need in Tromsø?
Three to four days is the minimum to feel like you've actually been there rather than just passing through. That gets you the city sights, one day tour, and some hiking. A week or more lets you settle in — day trips to Senja and Kvaløya, slower mornings, and the kind of exploring that turns up the places not in any guide.
When is the midnight sun in Tromsø?
The midnight sun runs roughly from mid-May to late July, with continuous daylight around the clock at peak. The light is extraordinary — soft, golden, and seemingly endless. Constitution Day (17 May) is usually the first proper midnight sun celebration of the year.
What is the Arctic Cathedral?
The Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen) is Tromsø's most recognisable building — a striking triangular structure on the Tromsdalen side of the bridge, designed in 1965. The aluminium facade and the giant stained-glass altarpiece inside make it worth visiting even for non-religious visitors. Midnight sun concerts are held here in summer.
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Tromsø is one of those places that changes completely depending on when you come and how long you stay. A long weekend gives you the landmarks and a taste of the fjords. A week starts to reveal the city beneath the postcard — the hike nobody mentions, the kiosk that's been there since 1911, the evening at the floating sauna that ends up being the thing you tell people about. What stays consistent, whatever the season, is the feeling that you're somewhere far from ordinary. The Arctic has a way of doing that, and Tromsø — for all its cafés and culture and cosmopolitan self-regard — is still, at its edges, wild.
Ready to plan your Northern Norway adventure? We’ve got dedicated guides:
🏨 Best Hotels in Tromsø — Cozy stays, fjord views, and a front-row seat to the Northern Lights.
🏔️ Senja Tour from Tromsø — Explore Arctic peaks, turquoise waters and white sandy beaches with a local.
🌌 Northern Lights in Norway — Your guide to clear skies, fjords, and the best aurora spots.
🇳🇴 Alta Travel Guide— Ice hotels, rock carvings, and one of the best places on Earth to spot the aurora.
⛰️ Lofoten Travel Guide — Dramatic ridges, secret beaches, and cod-drying racks in Arctic Norway.
🧖♀️ Bodø, Norway — Things to Do — Floating saunas, sea eagles, and the Arctic city everyone skips (and shouldn’t).
🧊 Svalbard & Jan Mayen — Polar bears, ghost towns, and next-level Arctic mystery in Norway’s far north.
💚 Northern Lights for Dummies — How to actually see the aurora (without freezing your butt off or waiting 12 nights in vain).
🥶 Our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide — How to explore, survive, and avoid becoming a polar bear’s lunch.
