Sights in Tromsø
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Mack Brewery
OK, this brewery isn’t really the world’s northernmost – a microbrewery in Honningsvåg takes that title – but it’s still a venerable institution that merits a pilgrimage. Established in 1877, it nowadays produces 18 kinds of beer, including the very quaffable Macks Pilsner, Isbjørn, Haakon and several dark beers. At 1pm year-round – plus 3pm, June to August – tours (Nkr130, including a beer mug, pin and pint) leave from the brewery’s own Ølhallen Pub, Monday to Thursday.
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Polar Museum
The 1st floor of this harbourside museum, in a restored early 19th-century customs house near the colourful Skansen docks, illustrates early polar research, especially the ventures of Nansen and Amundsen. Downstairs there’s a well-mounted exhibition about the hunting and trapping of fuzzy Arctic creatures on Svalbard before coal became king there. Note the nasty exploding harpoons outside; the whale didn’t stand much of a chance.
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Arctic Cathedral
The 11 arching triangles of the Arctic Cathedral, as the Tromsdalen Church is styled, suggest glacial crevasses and auroral curtains. The magnificent glowing stained-glass window that occupies almost the whole of the east end depicts Christ redescending to earth. Look back toward the west end and the contemporary organ, a work of steely art in itself, then up high to take in the lamps of Czech crystal, hanging in space like icicles.
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Tromsø Forsvarsmuseum
The southern end of Tromsø’s mainland was first developed by the Nazis in 1940 as a coastal artillery battery, complete with six big guns. The cannons have been restored as the basis of the Tromsø Forsvarsmuseum, which also includes a restored commando bunker and an exhibition on the giant German battleship Tirpitz, sunk at Tromsø on 12 November 1944. Take bus 12 or 28.
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Andreas Aagaard House
You'll find lots of early-19th-century timber buildings around the centre. Andreas Aagaard House, constructed in 1838, was the first building in town to be electrically lit. Explore too the stretch of 1830s shops and merchants' homes along Sjøgata.
The booklet Town Walks, on sale at the tourist office, is a well illustrated, exhaustive run-down of Tromsø's historic buildings.
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Polaria
Tromsø’s museum of the Arctic, Polaria is daringly designed. A panoramic film takes you to Svalbard and aquariums house Arctic fish and – the big draw – a quintet of energetic bearded seals. Other exhibits explore nature and human habitation at both poles. Just try to leave without a polar-bear mask from the gift shop.
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Tromsø University Museum
The Tromsø University Museum, near the southern end of Tromsøya, has well-presented displays on Arctic animals, church architecture, Sami culture and regional history – plus a ‘northern lights machine’ that gives you a sense of the splendour of the aurora borealis. Catch bus 28 from Torget.
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Tromsø Cathedral
The Church of Norway’s Tromsø Cathedral is one of Norway’s largest wooden churches. Its opening hours are erratic. Built in 1861, it lays claim to be – here comes yet another superlative – ‘the world’s northernmost bishopric’ of its sect.
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Catholic Church
Up the hill from the Tromsø Cathedral is the town’s Catholic Church. Built in 1861, it, like the Tromsø Cathedral, lays claim to be ‘the world’s northernmost bishopric’ of its sect.
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Botanisk Hage
Within the Arctic and alpine landscapes of Tromsø’s Botanisk Hage grows flora from all over the world’s colder regions. And yes, it’s the world’s northernmost…Take bus 20.
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Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum
The Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum exhibits mainly 19th- to 21st-century sculpture, photography, painting and handicrafts by artists from northern Norway, and runs an active programme of temporary exhibitions.
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Storsteinen Fjellheis
You get a fine view of the city and midnight sun by taking the Storsteinen Fjellheis, 420m up Mt Storsteinen (421m). There's a restaurant at the top, from where a network of hiking routes radiates. Take bus No 26.
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Art Foundation
The Tromsø branch of this national contemporary art foundation makes the most of its late-19th-century premises and promotes rotating exhibitions of contemporary art.
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Tromsø Domkirke
The city centre has many period buildings, including the old cathedral, Tromsø Domkirke - one of Norway's largest wooden churches built in 1861.
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Blåst
Pass by the world’s most northerly glass-blowing workshop to see the young team puffing their cheeks and perhaps to pick up an item or two.
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