TROMSO, NORWAY

Called “The Capital of the North”, Tromso Norway lies at 69 degrees North latitude, 217 miles North of the Arctic Circle which begins at 66 degrees North latitude.  Though relatively remote, it’s still home to more than 70,000 people, has a university and a growing tourism industry. 

 

Tromso is the largest urban area in Northern Norway and the third largest north of the Arctic Circle anywhere in the world.

The city center of Tromsø is located on the island of Tromsøya, and is connected to the mainland by the Tromsø Bridge and the Tromsøysund Tunnel, and to the island of Kvaløya by the Sandnessund Bridge.

The city centre contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest dating from 1789.

Tromso city center is compact and is easy to get around on foot. However, you will need to know your options if you're planning to visit the Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen Cable Car or the University Museum.

I cruised into Tromso aboard the Norwegian Star, arriving at 7pm on Sunday June 11, 2023.  Our ship would remain in Tromso overnight and have a full day to explore on Monday June 12, 2023. 

 

Sailing into Tromso

Docked in Tromso

 

The 12-day itinerary from Southampton to Tromso on the Norwegian Star ends in Tromso the morning of June 12^th however, I booked a back-to-back cruise and stayed on for the next portion – the 11-day Tromso to Reykjavik Iceland. 

If you book back-to-back cruises be aware there is a chance that you will need to change cabins. This became necessary for me so I will explain the process.  I was assigned cabin 8009 for the 12-day Southampton to Tromso cruise and was assigned cabin 8089 for the 11-day Tromso to Reykjavik portion.  On our arrival in Tromso the evening of June 11, 2023 I received instructions to pack my bags, tag them with provided “TRANSFER” baggage tags and leave everything on the bed before departing the ship the following morning. 

Most of my clothes were on hangers so I simply left everything on the hangers, packed the few other remaining items into my bags, put on the provided “TRANSFER” luggage tags and then set everything on my bed as instructed.   

I was also given written instructions to stop at Guest Services desk any time after 8am on the morning of June 12^th and pick up my new key card for cabin 8089 as I would need it for re-boarding.  I made the stop at Guest Services at 9:36am but the key card machine wasn’t working so a blue sticker was placed on my old room card for cabin 8009.   I then left the ship, stepping ashore at 9:45am. 

My goals for the day included riding a local bus, the Fjellheisen Cable Car, Arctic Cathedral and the Polar Museum.   Weather forecast for Monday June 12, 2023 was 42 degrees and cloudy.   

 

The Norwegian Star was docked at the Breivika Cruise Port, located about 2.5 miles to city center.  The walk is very short to the Breivika bus stop.    

 

Breivika Bus stop for #20 and #42

Bus routes

The very best option would be to download the local bus company app “Troms Billett” in advance of your arrival.  This will let you check timetables and buy your tickets in advance. 

You can also use the interactive bus route maps  to see where every bus is and provides arrival/departure times in real-time. 

At the time of this writing, a single adult ticket bought on the app costs 41NOK or $4.08USD. This ticket lasts for 90 minutes and is valid if you need to change buses during the 90 minute time limit.

I purchased a senior 24-hour ticket at a cost of 60NOK or $5.97USD. 

 

Instead of taking bus #42 left into the city center, I decided to board bus #20 and headed to the right. The bus ended at Brattbakken Snuplass.  The driver indicated he would be waiting 10 minutes before returning to the city center.  I simply remained onboard and took bus #20 back to the city, remaining on as we crossed over the Tromso bridge and went to the end of the road again, ending at the Malmvegen Snuplass. 

 

 

 After another brief wait, bus #20 began making it’s way back to the city center.  The Arctic Cathedral was on my list so instead of going back to the city center, I got off at the Tromsdalen Kirke stop.  From here it’s just a walk across the street and up a slight incline to the Cathedral entrance.

Tromsdalen Kirke - Closest bus stop to Arctic Cathedral

Walking from bus stop up the small hill to the Cathedral

 

Entrance to the Cathedral

 

The Arctic Cathedral is a beautiful piece of architecture built in 1965 and inspired by Arctic nature. Tromsdalen Church, also known as Ishavskatedralen (The Arctic Cathedral) was dedicated on November 19, 1965.  The architect was Jan Inge Hovig. The main entrance on the west side is surrounded by a large glass façade with a pronounced cross.

 

The cathedral is a landmark visible from the Tromsø Sound, the Tromsø Bridge and when landing in Tromsø by aircraft. The 11 aluminium-coated concrete panels on each side of the roof provide the cathedral’s form.

 

Photo:  Public Domain

The glass mosaic on the eastern side was added in 1972. The glass mosaic is one of artist Victor Sparre’s most noted works. It depicts God’s hand from which departs three rays of light: one through Jesus, one through a woman and one through a man.

 

The oak pews, the large prism chandeliers, the altar rail and pulpit are the most significant. 

 

The cathedral’s organ was built in 2005 by Grönlunds Orgelbyggeri. It has three manuals and pedals and 42 stops.  The organ is adapted to the cathedral’s architecture and provides associations with sails and ice flows. The organ comprises 2940 pipes, the longest of which measures 32 feet and the smallest just 19 inches. Much of the woodwork is in solid pine and the bellows are made of reindeer hide.

 

Next stop, Fjellheisen cable car.  From the Arctic Cathedral I actually walked to the cable car office and boarding area but Bus #26 stops at Fjellheisen stop. 

The cars run every 30 minutes and hold 27 passengers.  I took the 12:00 noon car to the top. 

 

 

Fjellheisen Cable Car is an aerial tramway. The lower station is located near sea-level in Tromsdalen, a suburb on the mainland. The upper station is located at Storsteinen, a mountain ledge about 1,378 feet above sea-level. The four-minute trip to the upper station destination offers commanding views of the city and the surrounding islands and fjords from an outdoor viewing deck.

 

Food and drink is served in the Fjellstua Restaurant and also at the Stone Café. I was delighted to discover free wifi was available.  It was here that I took a lunch break, enjoyed a local beer and made use of the free wifi to catch up on emails and communicate with family back home.   The local beer was 124NOK or $12.34USD 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The Fjellheisen Shuttle Bus offers a convenient transportation service to the Fjellheisen Cable Car.  Daily departures from the center of Tromsø start at 09:30am.  

At the time of this writing the ticket prices are 105NOK or $10.45USD for the RT which  includes a 50NOK or $4.97USD voucher for the Fjellstua Restaurant and Café. 

 

After admiring the fantastic views I boarded the 1:30pm cable car down the mountain.  

In parking lot of cable car

 

I walked back to the Fjellheisen bus stop and boarded bus #20.  Next on my list was the Polar Museum which is located in the city center. 

 

The Polar Museum in downtown Tromso

 

 

 

 

 

From the Polar Museum I walked to the bus stop and boarded bus #20 but quickly discovered I was going the WRONG direction as it took me back over the Tromso bridge and not toward the cruise terminal.  I got off at the first stop over the bridge and then took bus #20 back to the city center. 

 

I knew bus #42 was the bus that stopped at the Cruise port but unfortunately I didn’t know there are actually 3 routes for bus #42.  Be sure you board bus #42 that is heading to Brattbakken Snuplass.  This one goes right past the Breivika Cruise Terminal and stops at Breivika bus stop. 

 

 By the time I arrived back at the port it was 5pm.  My step meter registered 9,609 steps for 4.0 miles.