Tromsø, August 16, 2024

We are already in the next harbor of Tromsø. Tromsø has just over 40,000 inhabitants, but it is the northernmost city with more than 20,000 residents. Since we are a small ship, we were able to dock right in the city center.

Upon arrival, it was heavily overcast, but the temperatures were pleasant at around 15°C. The cloud cover gradually lifted throughout the day, making it even warmer so that we had to take off our jackets and sweaters. In the evening, it became cooler again, overcast, and rainy.

Tromsø is surrounded by 'mountains.' In the morning, we first took the cable car up to the city mountain, Fjellheisen. The view is very beautiful, and it offers an excellent overview of the region.

Afterwards, we visited the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic Cathedral), a pyramid-like church that looks very massive from afar but has a certain lightness when viewed up close.

After the cathedral, we visited the Arctic Botanical Garden of the university (Tromsø arktisk-alpine botanisk hage). It is beautifully laid out, showcases the geological formations of Norway, and has a different plant practically in every square centimeter. We went with modest expectations but were quite impressed in the end.

To conclude, we strolled through the center of Tromsø and the main shopping street. In one store here, it apparently has a stuffed polar bear and a moose as well as a troll. Otherwise, it is similar to Basel; the main shopping street is currently being newly paved with mosaics, and it's an obstacle course around construction pits.

Finally, we also visited the Tromsø domkirke, a typical large but simple wooden church, just like the ones we saw in the Lofoten.