TROMSO
Norway

52,000 inhabitants
2,558 km2

Brief City History

The first church was built in Tromso in 1252. The pope called it “the church close to the heathens”. Tromso acquired town status in 1794, after Bergen and Trondheim had lost their trade monopoly in northern Norway. Released from the restricted trade rules imposed by these “southerners”, Tromso has flourished for the past 200 years. At the same time, Tromso has developed its own institutions in step with the general development of society. The university is the icing on the cake. For countless generations, sea traffic to and from Northern Russia has been considerable. The hunting of whales, seals and walrus near Spitsbergen gave rise to new traffic with Russian, British, Dutch and German ships visiting the town. The first whaler sailed northwards in 1820. Seal hunting in the Arctic Ocean gradually developed in to an extensive industry (without causing stock to be exhausted). A number of large arctic expeditions led by such men as Nansen, Amundsen and André, set out from here. In 1928, Roal Amundsen left Tromso in the seaplane “Latham” to rescue his Italian colleague (and competitor) Umberto Nobile. Nobile returned, but Roal Amundsen did not. A statue in his memory has been erected at the harbor.

DESTINATION TROMSO

Storgata 61-63, Tel.: 77 61 00 00, Fax: 77 61 00 10

Opening Hours:
June 1-August 15: Monday-Friday 8.30am-6pm, Saturdays & Sundays 10am-5pm
August 16-April 30: Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm, Saturdays & Sundays closed
May 1-May 31: Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm, Saturdays & Sundays 10am-5pm

MUSEUMS AND SIGHTS

Polaria
Address: Hjalmar Johansensgt. 12, Tel.: 77 75 01 00, Fax: 77 75 01 11

A science adventure center based on themes related to the Arctic region and the Barents region. Spitsbergen videorama, Arctic rambling, aquarium and exhibitions are available to visitors. The cafeteria offers Arctic specialties.

Opening Hours:
May 1-August 31: Daily 10am-7pm
September 1-April 29: 12pm-5pm

Polar Museum
Address: Sondre Tollbugt. 11, Tel.: 77 68 43 73, Fax: 77 61 16 20

The museum was set up in 1976 in Tollbodbrygga, a listed customs warehouse dating from the 1830s. The museum houses exhibitions of hunting and trapping, polar expeditions and research in the Polar Regions – especially in the northern hemisphere.

Opening Hours:
May 15-June 14: Daily 11am-6pm
June 15-August 31: Daily 11am-8pm
September 1-May 14: Daily 11am-3pm

Northern Lights Planetarium
Address/Location: University Campus in Breivika, Tel.: 77 67 60 00, Fax: 77 67 57 00

Here you can discover more about the Northern Lights, the stars, the polar night and the Midnight Sun.

Opening Hours:
May 21-August 20: Monday-Friday 11am-12pm, 1.30pm-3pm, 4.30pm-6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am-12pm, 1.30pm-3pm, 4.30pm-6pm
August 21-May 20: Monday-Friday – inquire at the local tourist office, Saturdays and Sundays 1.30pm-3pm, 4.30pm-6pm

Tromso Museum
Address: Lars Thoringsveg 10, Tel.: 77 64 50 00, Fax: 77 64 55 20

Founded in 1872, the museum has been part of the university since 1976. Multi-discipline museum with scientific exhibitions in geology, zoology, archaeology, Sami ethnography and cultural history.

Opening Hours:
June 1-August 31: Daily 9am-8pm
September 1-May 31: Monday-Friday 8.30am-3.30pm – Wednesdays also 7pm-10pm, Saturdays 12pm-3pm, Sundays 11am-4pm

Arctic Cathedral
Tel.: 77 63 76 11, Fax: 77 63 86 73

Opening Hours:
May 1-May 31 & August 16-September 15: Daily 4pm-6pm
June 1-August 15: Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm, Sundays 1pm-8pm

Art Museum of Northern Norway
Address: Musegt. 2, Tel.: 77 68 00 90, Fax: 77 68 58 40

The museum was founded in 1985. North Norwegian pictorial art and handicrafts are specialties. It houses permanent and temporary exhibitions. Paintings, drawings, graphics, photographs, sculptures, textiles and handicrafts are all on display.