Tromso has twenty-four hours of sun for two months around the midsummer third week in June. It also stages the Midnight Sun Marathon on that weekend, which brings hundreds of international visitors to the Arctic city. This article provides a few ideas about what to do with all that daylight.
Whale and Wildlife Watching
Probably the most spectacular activity around Tromso is the whale-watching.
Sea cruises sail out through spectacular fjords to the open sea, where they then search for whales in their feeding waters.
Expectation reverberates around the boat as everybody scours the sea for a sign of whales, and this breaks out into excitement and exhilaration when one of the giants of the deep is spotted.
Many species of whale are resident in the waters off Tromso, and a variety of other wildlife is also often seen on the cruises. This includes dolphins in the water and sea eagles and puffins in the air.
Hiking around Tromso
While the whale-watching is a luxury there are plenty of free alternatives to balance the expense. Although peaks in the Lyngen Alps or on Kvaloya island might need professional guides and gear, there are also some scenic walks that can be undertaken independently.
For example, the Tromsdalen Valley provides a wonderful setting to spend a day hiking, with long forested hills on either side leading to a small lake below the great wall of Tromsdalstinden (1238 metres, 4062 feet) at the valley end.
You can also walk up the valley edges for great panoramic views, or even to the summit of Tromsdalstinden.
The island of Tromsoya also provides an easygoing scenic walk from the city to the airport, or vice versa, with the Lake Prestvannet wildlife reserve sitting at the top of a hill en route.
Mountains on the mainland dominate the skyline when walking towards the city, while those on the neighbouring island of Kvaloya provide a wonderful wilderness panorama when hiking towards the airport.
Midnight Sun Viewing
While the sun lights Tromso for twenty-four hours a day during the summer months, on a clear night it is advisable to head to the west coast for the best views of the midnight sun.
The islands of Sommaroy and Hillesoy, which are about an hour's drive from Tromso city and accesible via bridges, are recommended for a relaxing location to watch the sun dipping close to the sea and sky horizon, but never falling out of sight.
Whatever you want to do around Tromso, the friendly tourist office of this small and welcoming city is probably the best place to start your sightseeing.
Tromso can be reached by road, sea or on a Norway flight.
Marc Latham - Doctor of Philosophy and experienced freelance writer searching for truth and meaning, and reporting it in clear and concise copy.
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