Welcome to beautiful Tromso in Norway. The area offers everything from fantastic nature to unique and innovative restaurants, a wide range of activities and a buzzing nightlife. With its beautiful surroundings there are few places that can compete with the hiking opportunities Tromso has to offer. A large selection of restaurants ensures that everyone will find suitable options, and the midnight sun keeps the town and nightlife alive throughout the late hours. Here we will provide you with tips on activities, and on the map below we have highlighted the most interesting places to visit.
Popular attractions in the area
In between hiking trips and outdoor exploring we would recommend heading for the arctic aquarium Polaria or Tromso Museum. The former offers a live view of the arctic wildlife whereas the latter will provide a lot of knowledge about Northern Norway and its history. Their new, high-tech Aurora Borealis (the northern lights) exhibition is something one should not miss out on.
Restaurant tips in Tromso
Art Café and Restaurant Smak are two highly recommended restaurants to check out. Art Café offers authentic and innovative food, and is suitable for both lunch and dinner. Restaurant Smak is a little pricier than the average restaurant, but offers top class gourmet food that will give the ultimate culinary experience of what northern Norway has to offer. One simply cannot discuss food in Tromso without mentioning Yonas Pizzeria. Their pizza is well known among the people of Tromso and their classic, the Tako-pizza is a local favourite.
The best mountains to explore
Tromsdalstinden
Tromsdalstinden peaks at 1238 meters (4062 ft) above sea level and takes roughly 6 hours to go up and down. The mountain offers a fantastic view, and even the kids can handle this hike if they are a little used to it.
Fjellheisen
Nothing beats Fjellheisen (the cable car) for families with small children. Here you will get to experience a fantastic panorama view of the town without having to sweat a single drop! Take the Hop on Hop off bus to Fjellheisen. With a frequency of every 30 minutes you can hop on the bus in the city center and go to Fjellheisen when it suits you.
Fløya and Rødtinden
You can even head for the peak of the mountain Fløya from here, so this really is an attraction that should spark everyone’s interest. Otherwise, Rødtinden is highly recommended, and offers an easier hike than Tromsdalstinden with its lower peak of 470 meters (1542 ft).
Tips for outdoor activities
Telegrafbukta is a spot for those who want to relax with a picnic in the sun, or for those daring enough to go for a cooling swim in the ocean. Here you will find grass fields and what can be considered the closest thing to a beach you will find on the Tromso island. It can even be a little reminiscent of the tropics on the hottest days! Hella is located a little outside of the town, but is a great place to go fishing or grab a beer in beautiful surroundings by the ocean. Lysløypa (the illuminated track) on the Tromso island is easily available and takes you through the woods without too much hassle. Here you will also find Prestvannet, a nice little lake on the top of the island that you can walk around.
Things to do with children
Fjellheisen is mentioned, but Tromso Museum and Polaria can also be very exciting for the kids. The cinema in the town centre is modern and usually has a good movie or two to offer. A fishing trip to Hella is usually a success for the entire family.
Shopping tips
Look no further than Jekta Storsenter, the largest shopping centre in Tromso and undoubtedly the best place to go shopping in Tromso. If you are on the opposite side of the island then a walk through Storgata is a decent option.
