20 Tips for Tromsø

Ami Hotel is a small hotel in the city centre of Tromsø, meaning you can easily walk into town. The hotel is run by a local family, so staying here will mean supporting the local economy. Another benefit of Ami Hotel is that it is reasonably affordable (especially by Norwegian standards). It has two well-equipped kitchens that can be used by guests, meaning you can cook for yourself and save some money on eating out. The common areas are also great for meeting other guests! What's more is that you can check-in as late as you want by entering a key code. There's no rush at check-out either, as you only need to be out of the room by noon. In terms of sustainability, Ami Hotel does not offer energy-intensive luxuries like many other hotels: there is no jaccuzi, sauna, firepit or anything like that. The rooms are fairly basic, and you can choose to have a private bathroom or share one with other guests. * Note: please do not use the booking.com link attached to this pin, but instead book directly via the hotel's own website to combat the exploitation caused by booking.com having a monopoly as an accommodation platform. Ami Hotel specifically asks you to book via their own website and even offers to match any lower price found on other booking websites to urge people to book directly with them.

There is one place in Tromsø that is very clearly dedicated to sustainability and that's Tromsø Lodge & Camping. Here, you can rent cabins with various levels of luxury, pitch your tent or park your campervan/motorhome. As part of an EU project on sustainable tourism, Tromsø Lodge & Camping has implemented a waste sorting system in their cabins and upgraded their recycling station. The campsite is also accredited with the local Eco-lighthouse certification, which uses an extensive list of sustainability criteria. Tromø Lodge & Camping also gives back to the local community by participating in work-programmes with the municipality. Next to that, the campsite facilitates after-school activities and sports for children and teenagers. To get to the campsite, there are clear instructions on the website. The nearest bus stop is a 10-minute walk. Buses should pass this stop every 15 to 30 minute, making Tromsø Lodge & Camping easy to reach by public transport.

If you want to stay a bit further away from Tromsø, opt for a more rural stay on the island of Vensøy. There, you will found three red cabins that are rented out by locals Maria and Nils-Jørgen. Staying here will help sustain small businesses in the northen countryside of Norway. The couple have built the cabins themselves with the dream of welcoming guests to their hometown. They are very happy to think along and advise you on activities in the region. The cabins are a 10-minute walk from the ferry. From Tromsø, you can reach the ferry by car or by taking bus 426 for about 30 minutes. Either way, make sure to check the ferry schedule! Cycling from Tromsø to the ferry terminal would take less than 2 hours. The ferry ride itself lasts 30 minutes.

Why not stay with a local without contributing to housing problems? By booking a homestay, you will be sleeping in a spare room in a local's house. This is much more sustainable than supporting a platform like Airbnb and occupying an entire apartment (probably owned by investors or rental companies). This specific homestay offered by Youkay and Sarjo is located right in the city centre of Tromsø. You won't even need a bus to get to most of the tourist highlights. The hosts enjoy running, hiking and having a chat with their guests. You can use their kitchen, and they recommend getting yourself a 'Too Good To Go' package from a nearby hotel if you fancy a big breakfast.

The perfect option for everyone on a budget: combine transport and accommodation by renting a campervan! The Norwagon campervans are pretty basic, but they still have everything you need. With a comfy double bed and kitchenette, the vans are ideal for getting around outside of Tromsø. In other words: don't expect one of those designer Instagram vans. In terms of the views, you don't have to compromise, though. In Norway you can spend the night anywhere that's at least a 150 metres away from the nearest house. Just make sure you have a valid driving license and a plan for where to bathe! Pick-up and drop-off times for the vans are quite flexible, and the pricing is straightforward.

To get up to 421 metres above sealevel on Storsteinen mountain, there is an iconic cable car. A retour trip with the cable car costs a whopping 415 NOK (which translates into roughly €35 or £30). Keep in mind that each way, the cable car trip only takes 4 minutes. Luckily, there is a cheaper option: the Tromsø Pass grants you access to the cable car, as well as buses and several museums. Although the various passes are still pricey, they provide a good combo deal, especially when you opt for a 7-day pass.

Tromsø has a good bus network, so make the most of it! Although the city centre is very walkable, you might want to take a bus if you need to get a bit further out. There are day passes available for the Tromsø buses, which cost 126 NOK (approximately €11 or £9). Most buses are wheelchair accessible, and have the option to bring a bike for a small extra fee. Tickets can be bought with cash on the bus, but for day passes it's worth downloading the Troms Billett App. In general, buses drive around quite regularly from early morning to late night on every day of the week. There are some night buses on Friday and Saturday, as well.

There are a few options to explore the surroundings of Tromsø by bus. Especially bus 450 takes you to hiking trails in the region. It's also worth having a look at The Arctic Route. This includes various bus routes in both summer and winter to explore the arctic circle. You can for example venture into Finland if you fancy that. Taking The Arctic Route is relatively hassle free and obviously more sustainable than renting a car. It's necessary to check the regional bus schedules in advance, as some buses only run don't run all year round. Tickets can be bought via the Troms Billett App or at the Tromsø Tourist Information Office. If you want to buy a ticket on the bus itself, make sure you have enough cash! Buses typically do not accept payment by card.

Winter is the best time for spotting whales in northern Norway. You will find loads of different tour operators offering whale watching boat trips, but not all of them are equally ethical and sustainable. Brim Explorer is a Norwegian company that offers boat trips in several places around Norway. They use hybrid-electric ships to minimise disturbance to sea animals. When the crew finds whales nearby, they will switch to the electric motor, so the animals are not bothered by the sounds and vibrations of regular motors. Moreover, they will not try to come as close as possible, but let the animals showcase their natural behaviour. Next to offering tours that are as non-intrusive as possible, they also consider their impact in other ways. Examples include sorting waste on the ships and selling food from local suppliers. The food that can be bought on board is primarily vegetarian or pescetarian to avoid the environmental impact of meat. In terms of educational value, Brim Explorer is trustworthy, too. Their staff include marine biologists and other researchers. The company is involved in a few research projects and actively supports anti-whaling campaigns. They also provide educational material to schools on topics such as preventing plastic pollution and safety at sea. Most importantly, whale sightings are not guaranteed with Brim Explorer. This means they are not using food to lure the animals in. You are still very likely to spot at least one whale during the 8 to 9 hour trip, but it depends on the migratory patterns of the animals, which cannot always be predicted!

To learn more about life in the arctic circle, head to the Polar Museum in the centre of town. The museum's exhibitions cover everything from local culture and history to polar expeditions and Sámi art. Anything from the 17th century onwards is displayed and discussed in the museum. The Polar Museum is part of the Arctic University Museum of Norway. Your best option for tickets is to get a combined ticket for the entire Arctic University Museum of Norway, which includes its own exhibitions, the Polar Museums, the Botanical Gardens, and the MS Polstjerna (a traditional seal-hunting boat).

Snorkelling in winter? Yes! Especially if it helps restore kelp forests, which are super important in capturing CO2 and detoxifying the water. You'll be wearing warm neoprene suits (when it's really cold, being in the water may actually feel warmer!). Alternatively, you can engage in kelp conservation from the shore and still make a great contribution to the project. Wild Lab Projects is a citizen science initiative that helps monitor and restore the ecosystems around Tromsø. The organisation partners with universities, NGO's and the municipality to collect data on climate change, restore biodiversity, and educate people on the importance of nature. This specific project involves removing sea urchins that would otherwise destroy kelp. By removing the urchins, the kelp forests can regrow. The likely reason that urchins have taken over so much space from the kelp is the overfishing of their predators (large fish like cod, haddock and wolffish). It's not too late to save the kelp, so get involved! Other projects run by Wild Lab Projects include snowshoe hikes to repair owl nesting sites, and collecting snow samples to monitor climate change.

Every third week of January, Tromsø hosts an international film festival. The screenings take place at venues across the city, and you can even help out at the event as a volunteer! You can contribute by being a host at one of the venues, helping people find their seats, selling and checking tickets, or setting up decorations. Even if you miss out on the film festival itself, Tromsø is home to a few theatres and cinemas. For example Kulturhuset is usually occupied by theatre shows, orchestral music or stand up comedy. Or visit Verdensteatret Cinematheque to watch films from its extensive collection.

A must when visiting Tromsø in winter is engaging in Norway's national sport: skiing! Tromsø Outdoor organises (beginnner) cross-country skiing activities and rents out ski and snowboard equipment in case you want to go out on your own (please be safe!). Outdoor Tromsø is a local organisation that genuinely cares about sustainability. A showing example is the fact they don't use wax on their skis, so the wax doesn't contaminate the snow. They also buy high quality equipment and try to repair it when necessary to make every item as long-lasting as possible. Gear that needs to be replaced gets sold as secondhand. Tromsø Outdoor also works together with the local university to ensure the safest and most environmentally friendly practices, backed by science.

Snow won't stop you if you're on an electric fatbike! This is another activity organised by Tromsø Outdoor. The company promotes cycling as an alternative for car rentals, but in winter getting around on a bike is not as easy. If you still want to go cycling despite the suboptimal weather conditions, you shouldn't miss out on this fatbiking tour. It's an epic, healthy way to spend a few hours exploring Tromsø's surroundings from a unique perspective. Just make sure you follow all the guidelines on warm clothing and bringing sun cream!

The best time to visit Tromsø in winter is around February 6th, which marks the Sámi National Day and falls within the celebrations of Sámi Week. The city centre of Tromsø will be full of activities that celebrate the Sámi culture and its traditions. You might hear the 'joik', the traditional singing style of Sámi people. Although the Sámi Week is a popularised event, it is a good opportunity to learn about Sámi culture and history. It's hard to find other authentic experiences, as many tours involving Sámi are mostly aimed at making money from tourists. Those can involve groups of up to 50 people, so you're unlikely to really connect with locals. A better way to meet Sámi would be to try and find a homestay with people from the region, instead of funding large tour operators that run the exact same, orchestrated experience every day.

Kayaking on the sea may sound a little daunting, but you'll be in safe hands with ArcticWild. It's a small family business with over 25 years of experience in the region and certifications in guiding adventure activities. Concerning the kayaking tour, it's wise to let the guide know your level of experience beforehand, so they can tailor the tour to your skills. However, no experience is needed! The tours will always be in small groups, both to give you the best experience and for safety reasons. ArcticWild advocates for the 'leave no trace' principle to minimise impact on the ecosystem. They also aim to increase your understanding of the arctic environment through their outdoor activities. The meetup point is a bus stop some 13 kilometres from the city centre of Tromsø and can be reached with bus 42.

ArcticWild also offers snowshoe hiking in winter. The route into the mountains will depend on the weather conditions and fitness level of the group. If you are not at all an active person, or simply don't feel comfortable hiking through the snow, head to Tromsø Outdoor for easier snowshoe walks. At the end of the hike, there's the option to warm up at a coffee shop in an old renovated building that used to house a fish factory. The meeting point is the same bus stop as for the kayaking tour.

Missed out on seeing the real Aurora? The documentary at the Northern Light Planetarium is a good alternative! The daily screening in the full-dome planetarium tells you everything about the northern lights in science, history and art. The show provides 26 minutes of the best shots of the Aurora. The planetarium is part of the Science Centre of Northern Norway. The Science Centre contains exhibitions about energy, the environment, the human brain, weather, and the Earth's magnetic field. It's a great museum for both kids and adults.

The most ethical way to incorporate animals into your travels is to lend a hand to the local animal shelter. The passionate team at Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge Tromsø is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. Especially if you are staying in Tromsø for a while and/or have experience with animal shelters, do send them a message to see if you can help out in any way. I'd always recommend these kinds of experiences over husky or reindeer sledding, as such practices essentially use animals to make money. If you insist on doing a husky tour, at least Arctic Adventure Tours is transparant about their animal welfare policy. Still, they breed dogs and train them from a young age with the sole purpose of entertaining people. So, if you're in doubt about wanting support that, consinder helping out the animal shelter! Volunteering is the perfect way to give back to the region you're visiting.

This modern cathedral building is an artwork in and of itself. It's an iconic landmark of Tromsø with its aluminium-coated roof panels and stained glass mosaics. The cathedral is also a popular spot for concert, so have a look at the calendar to see what's on. There are often organ recitals as well. Even when there is nothing special happening, the cathedral is worth checking out!