OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the history of polar exploration and how sled dogs have been used for centuries to travel through the Arctic wilds. Because of its location above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø became a base for polar exploration in the 19th century. While browsing the Polar Museum, you will delve into the stories of those expeditions and the lives of the intrepid explorers, seal hunters and trappers that ventured into the Arctic. One of the more intriguing displays depicts the exploits of Norwegian-born Roald Amundsen, including his pioneering trip to the North Pole in an airship. Alaskan huskies were often used as sled dogs for polar exploration and the tradition of dog sledding continues today. At a wilderness center on the outskirts of Tromsø, you will enjoy a close-up view of these dogs, which are known for their speed, endurance and strength. You will also gain insight into how they are raised and trained.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse exhibitions in the Polar Museum that detail daring Arctic expeditions.
• Learn about the intrepid men and women that braved the bitter cold while exploring.
• Tour a wilderness center for Alaskan huskies that work as sled dogs for polar expeditions.
• Interact with the huskies, a breed known for being highly intelligent and affectionate.
• Be dropped off at the airport in plenty of time for your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See several uniquely designed attractions that add character to Tromsø, an Arctic city so far north that the sun never sets there. Tromsø wasn’t bombed in World War II, so its historical 18th-century wooden houses are still intact. You will pass by these colorful architectural treasures on the way to Polaria, the world’s most northern aquarium. A modern building unlike any other, it resembles a line of domino-like ice floes that the pounding sea has knocked over. Polaria is just as striking inside. You will be free to watch a short introductory film about Arctic sea life or head straight for the exhibits, which include different species of Arctic seals and other northern marine life, some in open tanks. You will also visit the triangular-shaped Tromsdalen Church, better known as the Arctic Cathedral. Its highly symbolic interior glass mosaic wall and organ – whose bellows are made of reindeer hide – truly set it apart.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through Tromsø’s city center, a district known for its 18th-century wooden houses.
• Browse the Polaria aquarium and observe an array of marine life only found in the Arctic.
• Behold the Arctic Cathedral, a boldly designed church that is a Tromsø icon.
• Be dropped off at the airport in plenty of time for your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

View Tromsø from an aerial perspective while ascending Mt. Storsteinen on a cable car and through attractions that highlight the city’s unusual character. On the approach to the Tromsdalen Church – or the Arctic Cathedral as it is commonly called – you can’t help but admire its steep triangular shape, which aluminum-coated concrete slabs cover. The interior is also starkly simple yet dramatic, especially its glass mosaic with three symbolic luminous rays emanating from the hand of God. The Tromsø Museum is noteworthy for its focus on the natural world, especially in depicting how plants and animals have adapted to the Arctic environment. Highlights include a whale skeleton, a nugget of solid gold and a giant fossilized ichtyosaurus, an extinct marine reptile from the Jurassic Age. Riding in a Tromsø cable car will present the ultimate view of the city and your cruise ship in port. The higher you go, the more panoramic the sights.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse the exhibitions at the Tromsø Museum, which is also a scientific research institute.
• Behold the Arctic Cathedral, a boldly designed church that is a Tromsø icon.
• Admire the spectacular views as you climb Mt. Storsteinen in a window-walled cable car.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.