Tromso is the largest city in the Nordic countries north of the Arctic Circle and is home to the world’s northernmost university, brewery and cathedral. The city lives on education, research, administration, fishing exports and satellite technology. The centre of the north has almost 70 000 residents and the Municipality of Tromsø covers an area of 2558 km². Around 55,000 live in the centre of Tromsø while the remainder is scattered throughout the whole municipality.
The Midnight Sun
The Midnight Sun is visible from around May 21 to around July 21. Between November 21 and January 21, the sun disappears under the horizon and we experience the Polar Nights. It is not completely dark during the middle of the day, and the light and colour in the sky is amazing when the weather is favourable.
The Northern Light
Tromsø is situated right in the centre of the Northern Lights zone and is, therefore, together with the interior ice in Greenland the tundra in northern Canada, among the best places on earth to observe this phenomenon. Most of the Northern Lights outbursts visible from Tromsø are green, but large outbursts can also include other colours.
Arctic culture
During the winter darkness, we turn to indoor pursuits. Local theatre and revues around New Year are a long-standing tradition. Just before the sun's return, we gather in the darkness and the cinema for the famous annual Tromsø International Film Festival, to enjoy more than 50 films from all over the world in just a few days. The sun's return is accompanied by the magic of the Northern Lights Festival, a delight of modern and classical works performed by international artists. Winter in Tromsø is a warming cultural experience. Every other year, the International Choir Festival can be heard ringing across the fjord. The soccer season really brings out the passion in the people in Tromsø and every year, people from seven continents gather to celebrate the round-the-clock daylight by running in the Midnight Sun Marathon. Summer means culture in the fresh air.
The night is young....
Tromsø is swinging! Did you know that an entire third of Tromsø's citizens could go out on the
town at the same time – and there'd still be room for a few more? The heart and soul of the town's social atmosphere are the many cafés around Storgata where people meet for lunch, after work,
or in the evenings – to meet, talk, and just be together! A quick glass or two on a Friday afternoon might last until 3am or 4am the next day. On Saturdays, Storgata is a hive of activity, and the temperature on the dance floors is tropical. On Sundays, it's time to wind down, perhaps with a café latte, and sum up the weekend.... There's something for every taste in Tromsø, whether you prefer the trendy and minimalist, or homelike and rustic. "Party animals" come in all shapes and sizes, and there's no age limit for having a good time! Dress code is not important: just come as you are – that's what we do!
