I spent Easter in Tromsø, population of 65,000-odd, and one of the northern most cities in the world. It has many “northern most X in the world” claims, such as northern most brewery and northern most Burger King. These add little to its charm, but swells the roster of incentives the tourism board has to get people to trek up. Needless to say, such properties are moot, because the northern most whatevers are actually quite like any of its kin, regardless of location. The world’s northern most Burger King is quite like the Burger King that’s around the corner from where you are now.
What Tromsø really offers is a spectacular natural environment. Lofoten-like mountains that soar straight up from the sea, gentle rolling valleys, waterfalls, fjords and long stretches of mountain ranges. If you want to experience Norway, especially the wintery Norway of popular fantasy, Tromsø is a good place to go and experience it all. Road trips out of town take you to any number of fantastic spots with amazing scenery all the way along.
There’s not a whole lot to do in the town itself, but if you need a haircut, you’re in luck. I’m not sure if the statistics back me up on this, but it must surely be one of the highest hairdressers per-capita in the world.
There are some more photos from the area in the landscapes section
A mother waiting for her son to return with his purchases?
Across Tromsø fjord
The Arctic Cathedral
A very un-Norwegian way up a mountain is the cable car. A very Norwegian way down, however
One of approximately 10,000 hairdressers
So often is the town snow-covered that signs to warn you of impeding icicle death from above are permanently fixed
Tunnels can be hairy at times, but often transport you to stunning vistas
A Norwegian flight pulling in
