Tromsø

Tromsø is on an island in northern Norway, about 350 km above the Arctic Circle, connected to the mainland by bridges and tunnels. It is the largest city in the north of the country, with a university, a port and a centre of wooden houses around the cathedral. For more than a century it was the departure point for Arctic expeditions and seal hunting in Svalbard, which earned it the nickname Gateway to the Arctic.

On the other side of the strait, linked by Tromsø bridge, the Catedral do Ártico, a white concrete building shaped like triangles, is the city's emblem. Nearby, the Fjellheisen cable car climbs to Storsteinen, with views over the island, the fjords and the mountains. In the centre, Polaria, with seals, and the Museu Polar tell about life in the Arctic.

Tromsø is also one of the most used bases for seeing the northern lights, usually visible from September to March on clear nights away from city lights. Agencies run night departures by bus or van to the Kvaløya fjords, where the sky is darker, and offer dog‑sledding, reindeer visits with Sámi families and whale‑watching trips; whales commonly appear in the fjords between November and January.

From late November to mid‑January the sun does not rise: it is the polar night, with a few hours of bluish light at midday. From May to July the midnight sun usually stays above the horizon all day. Winters are typically cold and snowy, but less severe than inland because of the sea.

This destination brings together 1 city: Tromsø.