Cost: €€ (expensive)
Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers
Tromsø is so unique, and is by far one of the coolest places I have ever been. Located 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and 2200 kmsouth of the North Pole, this city has been on my bucket list for quite some time.
Tromsø is surrounded by icy fjords and snow-capped peaks, and is famous for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.It’s the biggest city in northern Norway, and it has super opportunities for outdoor activities.
The city is quite accessible by foot, and I felt very safe during my trip, including late at night. Therefore, I would highly recommend this city for solo female travellers. I spent 2 days there, but I wish I had stayed another 2!
How to get there
You can fly from Dublin to Tromsø via a number of airlines as there is a stop-over included in the journey. The length of the journey will vary because of this.
I flew via Scandinavian Airlines from Dublin to Oslo and then on to Tromsø. On my return, I flew to Stockholm and then on to Dublin. It’s also possible to stop-over in other parts of Norway, Sweden and the UK.
Language, Currency & Weather
The official language in Tromsø is Norwegian, but I got by perfectly fine with English as most locals speak some level of it.
The currency used is the Norwegian Kroner (NOK), so you will need to change your cash before travelling. However, I used my visa debit or Apple Pay during my trip.
Summers are short and cool, with temperatures ranging between 9 and 15 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, winters are long, freezing and snowy, with temperatures between -1 and -15 degrees Celsius.
I travelled in November and the temperatures ranged between 1 and -3 degrees Celsius. However, if you are chasing the Northern Lights the weather could get A LOT colder (it was -6 when I was touring). I would recommend bringing very warm clothes if you’re travelling here, with lots of layers.
Public Transport
Tromsø’s public transport system comprises of buses – the city doesn’t have a rail network. To get between the airport and the city centre, you can get the airport expressor you can get one of the city buses (routes 24,40 and 42).
I got the 42 bus and the journey took about 15 minutes. I downloaded the Troms Billet app and paid for my ticket there. Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the ticket machines or on the bus using cash.
I only used public transport for my journey to and from the airport, as I walked everywhere in the city.
Where To Stay
Accommodation in Tromsø is expensive, much like everything else in the city. I stayed at Enter Viking Hotel which was very central.
I would also recommend the Radisson Blu, Enter Amalie Hotel, Comfort Hotel Express or Clarion Hotel The Edge.
For something a bit more reasonable, I would choose Ami Hotel, Thon Hotel or Enter Backpack Hotel.
I only came across a couple of hostels during my trip, Osiris Home and SDK Apartment. They looked quite nice, but they are a bit away from the city centre.
Where To Go & What To Do
Tromsø has amazing outdoor activities and I managed to do a lot in 2 days.
On my first day, I embarked on a boat tour through the Norwegian Sea from Tromsø to Skjervoy, where I watched for whales, killer whales, orcas and wildlife. On the journey I passed by the beautiful landscapes of Norway (the fjords) and caught a glimpse of the Lyngen Alps. It was absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend this activity to anyone – check it out here.
That evening, I booked a Northern Lights tour which brought us to Elsnes, which is one of the best spots to view this amazing atmospheric phenomenon. Before I travelled to Norway, I downloaded an Aurora forecast app on my phone, which predicted how strong the lights would be. I would advise you do the same if you are interested in seeing the lights. That night I was very lucky, as green, purple and pink lights appeared and danced across the sky (there must be no light pollution). You can check out the Northern Lights tours here.
The next day I explored the beautiful city (there was only 5 hours of daylight when I visited, the sun rose at 9am and set at 2pm). Tromsø has cute shops, quirky restaurants and cool pubs. I stopped by the public library, Tromsø Domkirke and walked along Tromsø Bridge to the Arctic Cathedral.
That evening, I travelled to a traditional Sámi camp at Breivikeidet. Sámi are theindigenous peopleof the northernmost parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia.
The camp was surrounded by mountains, with a great view of the Lyngen Alps. While there I fed reindeer, saw the Northern Lights again and ate Bithos which is a traditional Sámidish. I sat with the group in an authentic Gamme (traditional housing), listened to a joik (folk music) and learned all about their history and culture.
After this, my advice would be to book the Ice Domes tour (weather dependant), an Aurora overnight experience, snowmobiling, a snowshoe hike, a visit to Polaria, ice floating, an evening Aurora cruise, as well as skiing in the Lyngen Alps.
It is possible to bookreindeer or dog sledding tours, however I did not do this as I had already tried husky sledding in Finland.
Just outside Tromsø centre there is a popular mountain gondola called “Fjellheisen” which brings you up to the top of Mount Storsteinen to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
If saunas and sea swimming are your two loves, then pust is the place for you. This is a floating sauna in the middle of Tromsø, where you can also bathe in the ice cold waters of Tromsø harbour.
During the summer months, you will get to experience the midnight sun. In my opinion, the best way to fully experience this is via a boat tour.
What & Where To Eat
Tromsø is full of really cool cafes, restaurants and bars, and its nightlife is buzzing.
For my first night in the city, I went to Skirri for dinner, which is located on the harbour and has amazing fish and chips as well as wine. After this, I popped in to Rorbua for a drink, which claims to be the most famous pub in Norway. The place was hopping, and it also has live music on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
The next day, I stopped by Kaia bar for a late lunch, and while the drinks here are good (I had an Arctic gin that is brewed locally), I didn’t enjoy the seafood as much! That evening, I went to Emma’s for a drink at the bar. I really enjoyed this spot as it has great staff and a lovely atmosphere.
The next morning, I went to Nyt for a delicious breakfast. This quirky spot also serves dinner and co*cktails. Later in the day, I stopped at Kaffebønna for great coffee and pastries.
I then tried Full Steam Tromsø which has amazing seafood and very friendly staff.
I hope you enjoy this arctic city as much as I did!
