5 Free Things To Do In Tromsø, Norway

During the summer months, Tromsø stays light all night long.

As the biggest city in northern Norway, Tromsø is an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world.

Whether it’s a desire to see the northern lights in the winter or enjoy the endless days of the midnight sun in the summer, Tromsø has plenty to see and do all year round.

But northern Norway is an expensive place to visit even by Scandinavian standards. To help keep the cost down, here are five things to do in Tromsø that are free, with only the relatively low cost of a local bus ticket required in some cases.

People travel to Tromsø from all over the world hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

Check the aurora forecast a day or so prior to your trip and be prepared to book a tour if the forecast is isn’t great. That’s because tours often travel inland—sometimes several hours into Finland—to find the best vantage spots.

The northern lights can often be seen in the skies above Tromsø, Norway.

However, the DIY option often gets good results and saves tour fees of more than $100 per person. Tromsø is one of the world’s best cities for seeing the northern lights. The best times of year are typically September-October and February-March.

Despite the light pollution, good displays can be enjoyed from the city center. If the lights are fainter, they will be harder to see so many head to the shores of Prestvannet lake or to the quieter beaches on Kvaløya island.

To fully appreciate the spectacular natural surroundings of Tromsø, many people take the Fjellheisen cable car to the viewpoint at the top of the mountain Storsteinen. At $18 one-way or $27 for a return trip, it’s a pricey trip.

An entirely free alternative is to hike, something that’s been made much easier since the opening of a sherpa-built staircase. The 922 stone steps were built to reduce erosion on the hiking paths and have become a popular tourist attraction among keen hikers.

The Botanic Gardens on the University campus present Arctic and Alpine plantlife from across the world.

Tromsø Botanic Gardens is home to Alpine and Arctic flowers and plants from all over the world.

The Tibetan blue poppy and slipper flowers from the Falkland Islands are just some of the highlights in these peaceful grounds.

Entrance is free year-round, but snow cover in the winter and spring months means all you’ll see is the rocky landscapes. The flowering season typically begins in early May and lasts until October, with different colors on display as fall begins.

There are fewer better places to appreciate the endless days of the summer than Telegrafbukta, a bay at the southern end of the island. Even on the warmest days, the water is chilled, but the calm bay and sandy beach may tempt you in regardless.

Nearby the beach, Folkeparken is a popular wooded recreation area with hiking and skiing trails, coastal paths, benches and play cabins.

Known as the Arctic Cathedral, one of Northern Norway’s most recognizable buildings is actually a parish church. Although nowhere near as famous, the real Tromsø cathedral at the very heart of the city is also an impressive sight.

Tromsø Cathedral was built in 1861 in the Gothic Revival style.

Built in 1861, the building is today the only wooden cathedral in all Norway and the world’s northernmost Lutheran cathedral.

Unlike its more famous sibling, Tromsø cathedral is free to enter. The modest interior is brightened up with golden chandeliers. A copy of the 19th-century resurrection painting by Adolph Tidemand hangs above the altar.