Tromsø is the seventh largest city in Norway by population, and the largest city in Northern Norway.

The area has been inhabited since the end of the ice age, and the Sámi culture is the first known culture of the region. Speakers of Norse, the ancestor of Norwegian brought their culture to the area during the migrations of the Vikings before AD 890. The first church on the island of Tromsøya was erected in the 13th century.

Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the small island of Tromsøya in the county of Troms, 350 kilometres (217 mi) inside the arctic circle. The island is connected to the mainland by the Tromsø Bridge and the Tromsøysund Tunnel. The city is warmer than most other places located on the same latitude, due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream.

The city centre of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789. The Arctic Cathedral, a modern church from 1965, is the most famous landmark in Tromsø. The city is a cultural centre for its region. In the summer, several festivals are taking place there.

Hurtigruten offers exciting excursions during your stay in Tromsø:

On Northbound cruises

• The Arctic Capital Tromsø
• Dog Sledding, Tromsø
• Scenery and Huskies, Tromsø
• Polar History City Walk

On Southbound cruises

• Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral

Check out our Hurtigruten blog for great photos, the latest offers and additional information on Norway

Arctic hunting, from Novaya Zemlya to Canada, started up around 1820. By 1850, Tromsø was the major center of Arctic hunting, overtaking the former center of Hammerfest, and the city was trading from Arkhangelsk to Bordeaux.

By the end of the 19th century, Tromsø had become a major Arctic trade center from which many Arctic expeditions originated. Explorers like Roald Amundsen, Umberto Nobile and Fridtjof Nansen made use of the know-how in Tromsø on the conditions in the Arctic, and often recruited their crew in the city. The Northern lights observatory was founded in 1927.

Not only is Tromsø the largest town north of the Arctic Circle, it also has a unique history that includes hunting in the Arctic Ocean for walrus and polar bears, the transporting of logs from Russian rivers, the Pomor trade, coal mining and sealing. The battle to survive in the hard but naturally resource-rich far north of Norway provided hard-earned experiences that, more recently, have turned Tromso into a research and education center.

Hurtigruten recommends that you visit Polaria, with its Arctic aquarium, seal pool, educational displays and a panorama cinema. Watch the movie 'Svalbard - Arctic Wilderness', which will take you on a fantastic journey through Svalbard's spectacular scenery. After the movie, go on an Arctic 'expedition', experiencing a close-up look at natural phenomenons such as the Northern Lights, tundra, and blizzards.

We also recommend the famous Arctic Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece and town landmark. Built in 1965, the design of the church was inspired by the beliefs and natural surroundings evident throughout northern Norway, and features a fantastic glass mosaic that's rich in both colors and symbols. 

Visit Hurtigruten's Blog: Check out our Hurtigruten blog for travel videos, great photos, the latest offers and additional information on Norway, Antarctica, Greenland and Svalbard

On the blog we appreciate and value your comments! We would also like to hear about your experience with the destinations and cruises we write about on the blog.