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Triunfo

Triunfo is a city in Pernambuco Interior, Brazil.

Triunfo is a green oasis in the otherwise arid Sertao region in Northeastern Brazil. Situated between mountains and at a lakefront, the city has a cool climate. The maximum temperature is 28ºC in the summer and 5ºC on winter evenings.

Get in
Triunfo is 449 km away from Recife.

By air
Fly to Recife Gilberto Freyre - Guararapes International Airport. A closer, but much smaller airport, can be found in Caruaru.

By car
From Recife, take interstate highway BR-232 until the city of Serra Talhada. Then take state highway PE-365 all the way to Triunfo.

By bus
From Recife's Bus Terminal (TIP), Auto-Viação Progresso  operates the line Recife-Triunfo (tel.: +55 81 3452-3079).

See

 * Açude Público (1850), man-made lake at the city-front.
 * Nossa Senhora das Dores Church.
 * Historic homes (city center) and sugar plantations (rural areas).
 * Museu do Cangaço (1975), museum dedicated to the history of "Cangaço" and its leader Lampião. At Av. José Veríssimo dos Santos, 365. Tel.: (87) 3846.1124
 * Pico do Papagaio, the highest point in the state of Pernambuco (1,260 meters above sea level).
 * Lookout points - Belvedere and Cruzeiro do Alto da Boa Vista.
 * Several waterfalls - Cachoeira do Grito, Cachoeira do Brocotó, Cachoeira de Canaã and Cachoeira do Pinga.
 * Furna dos Holandeses rock.
 * Panela crater.
 * Panela crater.

Do

 * Festa do Estudante (Student Festival), the city's main annual festivity.
 * Carnaval de Caretas, traditional carnaval celebrations

Eat
Local specialties include Bode (goat meat), Carne de Sol, Galinha de Cabidela, Alfenim de Rapadura, Angu Salgado and Licor de Rosas.

Triunfo is also famous for Rapadura, a traditional sugar candy.

Restaurants
 * Restaurante Baixa Verde, Av. Manoel Paiva dos Santos, 114, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1103
 * Restaurante Bela Vista, Av. Manoel Paiva dos Santos, 56, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1300
 * Restaurante Hotel Fazenda Calugi, Sítio Calugi, estrada de Santa Tereza, Fone: +55 81 3846-1183
 * Churrascarria do Gaúcho, Av. José Veríssimo dos Santos, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1339
 * Restaurante E Bar Rei do Caldo, Av. Jorn. Sigismundo Pinto, 334, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1510
 * Café do Brejo - Inn and restaurant, Rodovia PE 365, Triunfo, Fone: +55 81 3846-1623 / +55 81 3846-1621

Drink

 * Beto's Bar, Av. Jornalista Sigismundo pinto, 340, Guanabara, Fone: +55 81 3846-1413
 * Restaurante e Bar Rei do Caldo, Av. Jorn. Sigismundo Pinto, 334, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1510

Sleep

 * Café do Brejo - Inn and restaurant, Rodovia PE 365, Triunfo, Fone: +55 81 3846-1623 / +55 81 3846-1621
 * Hotel Fazenda Calugi, Sítio Calugi, estrada de Santa Tereza, Fone: +55 81 3846-1183
 * Pousada Santa Elizabeth, Av. Frei Fernando, 175, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1236
 * Alpes de Triunfo, R. Galdino Diniz, 250, Calugi, Fone: +55 81 3846-1371
 * Pousada Baixa Verde, Av. Manoel Paiva dos Santos, 114, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1103
 * Pousada Bela Vista, Av. Manoel Paiva dos Santos, 56, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1300
 * Pousada Recanto, Av. Manoel Paiva dos Santos, 6, Centro, Fone: +55 81 3846-1140

title: Triunfo


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Trnava

Trnava is a town in western Slovakia with a population of over 65,000 (2018). It has also been seat of archbishop and the Catholic Church has influenced the city during its history. There are many churches in the city, and a well-preserved baroque city center; it has been nicknamed "little Rome".

Understand
Trnava has a rich history as a medieval city. It was a university town as early as the 17th century, and has been industrialized since the beginning of the 20th century. It has emerged as one of the centres of the Slovak automotive industry, with a large PSA Peugeot car plant built in 2005 and many smaller car components producers. There is a nuclear power plant close to the city, near the village of Jaslovske Bohunice.

Visitor information

 * city council in Slovak

By bus
Trnava is on the major D1 Slovak freeway and close to its R1 intersection. It has a good connection to the Slovak capital Bratislava and nearby cities such as Nitra, Piestany, and Trencin. The bus station is near Trnava city center next to the railway station. There are buses arriving from Bratislava at least once every hour, more frequently in peak hours. Lots of people commute from Trnava to Bratislava and also from nearby villages to Trnava. Bus travel from Bratislava to Trnava takes about 50 minutes. There are direct bus lines to some major European cities such as Prague, Vienna and Munich.

By plane
Bratislava Airport is nearest commercial airport, about 40 km southward. Another close airport is Vienna International Airport. Small airport serving mostly ultra-light aviation is located some 10 km westward near village of Boleraz.

Get around
Most points of interest can be reached from the center by walking. Car or taxi is the preferred option to reach the city's outskirts. Traffic jams are quite common in peak hours. Trnava has a public transportation system consisting of 16 bus lines. However, their frequency and comfort are rather insufficient. There are some bicycle paths in the city.

Do

 * Watch football at Stadion Antona Malatinskeho, home ground of FC Spartak Trnava. They play in the Super Liga, the top tier of Slovak football, and often qualify for European tournaments. The national team also play their home games here. Rebuilt in 2015 with a capacity of 19,000, the stadium is close to the railway station and city centre.

Buy
The city centre (Stefanikova and Hlavna streets, Trinity square) has been the traditional shopping area. The oldest shopping centre, Jednota, is there. Modern shopping centers have opened outside the centre. Shopping centre Max is about 1 km from the city centre near the bus and railway stations. A major modern shopping cluster has evolved in the north of the city around Arkadia shopping park and Tesco mall. As of April 2023, the city's largest mall is City Arena, next to the football stadium.

Eat
Restaurant Na Mlyne, hidden down a tree-lined laneway on the road to Hrnciarovce nad parnou, is definitely one of Trnava's secret treasures. More great restaurants are Kamináč (near city edge), Forhaus which is a more expensive option and Patriot which is a certain staple of Trnava

Budget
City arena food court

Mid-range
Sumo - Tamaškovičova 10

Tučný kocúr - Štefánikova 37

Kamináč - Karola Elberta 1

Splurge
Forhaus - Kapitukská 28

Na Mlyne - hidden down a tree-lined laneway on the road to Hrnciarovce nad Parnou

Patriot - Jeruzalemská 12

Drink
The city of Trnava is one of the few in Slovakia with its own distinct brand of beer. The Sessler brewery is just north of town, on Pri Kalvarii road, and has its own restaurant. There is also a pub in the centre of town, on the main street near Trinity square, look for "Passage Europa" opposite the town hall, which serves only the Sessler brand of beer. Sessler beer comes in three varieties, light, dark and special, and does not disappoint.

Northeast of town, on Oresianska, is the Mrva & Stanko winery. This brand of wine was created in 1997 and uses local grape varieties grown in the Little Carpathian mountains. Degustation sessions are available.

Sleep
There are several small hotels and so called "pensions" in the town.

Connect
There is a free Wi-Fi zone in city centre around Trinity square. Some restaurants and cafes offer Wi-Fi for their clients and there are a few internet cafes in the city as well.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Trnava


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Trobriand Islands

The Trobriand Islands (also known as the Kiriwina Islands) are a group of raised coral atolls in the north of Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea.

Understand
Ever since the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski wrote about the courtship and marriage ritual of Trobriand Islanders in the 1920s, in books such as “The Sexual Life of Savages in North-Western Melanesia”, these islands have been visited by men hoping to be dragged into the bushes by topless, grass-skirted girls, particularly during the yam harvest when there is said to be a tradition that couples are permitted to have a fling with others. Although not easy to get to, the “Islands of Love” attract a steady stream of visitors for other reasons too. The Trobriands, which is part of the Kula Ring, have a matrilineal culture that revolves around cultivation of the yam; a unique version of the game of cricket, originally introduced by Methodist missionaries; together with white sand beaches, coral lagoons and rainforest. Most of the population of 12,000 lives on the main island of Kiriwina. Other major islands are Kaileuna, Vakuta and Kitava.

Tourism is less than it has been in the past, due to reduced air services, with the main national airline, Air Niugini, no longer flying there. Sources of cash income are few and the islanders rely to a great extent on remittances from family members working in Port Moresby and Alotau.

Get in

 * PNG Air has two flights weekly from the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, on a small Twin-Otter plane, via the capital of Milne Bay Province, Alotau.

From Alotau it may also be possible to get a ride on one of the small boats that carry stores to the Trobriands.

Get around
For a small fee, hitch a ride on one of the boats going between the islands.

See

 * Trobriand Islands Dancing. The people of the Trobriands have made great efforts to preserve their traditional culture. Dancing is common, particularly during the yam festival, which takes place in June or July. The girls have coloured short skirts, oiled bodies, faces painted and hair decorated with flowers and feathers. They use woven bracelets and shell necklaces. The boys also sometimes wear grass skirts and have head dresses of cockatoo feathers. Having resisted the best efforts of missionaries, Trobriand dancing retains its original sensuality.

Buy

Wooden carvings, particularly of traditional yam stores. Decorated gourds, used to carry the lime that is mixed with the betel nut that is much chewed in the Trobriands.

Eat
Restaurants are found in the two lodges. There is not much else.

Given that the yam is central to the culture of the Trobriand Islands, no visit is complete without trying some.

Drink
While you can buy beer and other drinks at local stores, the only bars are to be found in the lodges.

Sleep

 * Butia Lodge, close to the airport +675 641 0900, +675 641 0999
 * Village stays. It may be possible to organize stays in traditional villages on arrival or at one of the two lodges. A package trip to the Trobriands, including village stays, is offered by Ecotourism Melanesia.
 * Village stays. It may be possible to organize stays in traditional villages on arrival or at one of the two lodges. A package trip to the Trobriands, including village stays, is offered by Ecotourism Melanesia.

Go next
Flights out can be cancelled. Don't leave it until the last minute to leave the Trobriand Islands if you have connecting flights that cannot be changed

title: Trobriand Islands


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Trogir

Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Croatia, with a population of approximately 13,000 (2011). It is part of the greater Split metropolitan area or conurbation which numbers over 400,000 inhabitants. The medieval town is a popular day trip from Split.

Understand
Trogir is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as it is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. It is a fascinating place to just wander and also contains a range of accommodation. The town is benefitting from massive investments.

Trogir is a jewel of a town encased in 15th-century walls. Tiny medieval streets wind through the enchanting town revealing hidden restaurants and eye-catching galleries. A wide seaside promenade snakes around the town, culminating in a charming port full of sailboats waiting to take you to the islands of Drvenik Mali and Drvenik Veli with their pristine sand beaches and secluded coves. Stretching out from the main land of Trogir to either side is an infinite number of beautiful beaches. A pleasing blend of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. Trogir is a delightful little town from which to explore Central Dalmatia.

By plane
Split Airport is 5 km east from the town. There are a few options to reach Trogir from the airport or vice versa:

By car
Trogir is in about 25 km (30 minutes by car) from the centre of Split.

Get around
The old part of Trogir occupies an island which you can walk around in about 20 minutes.

For those who are eager to venture somewhere out of the town there are a number car rental options.

Do
Explore stunning beaches, spectacular islands with lavender-covered hills, small medieval and renaissance towns and Roman ruins characterize the intriguing strip of land that comprises Central Dalmatia. Warm Dalmatian hospitality and cheer is sure to capture your soul as you explore the quaint towns and old fishing ports.

In Poljica you can take peaceful evening walks free of modern day noise. In the village you can find a restaurant, shop and cafe bar. Peaceful place for leisure time on the reach of attractive destinations (Trogir, Split, Šibenik, etc.)

Eat

 * Fast Food Ćevabdžinica Stari Most. Obala kralj zvonimira 5. Cheap takeaway option just over the bridge from the old town. Great falafel for €4.
 * Fast Food Ćevabdžinica Stari Most. Obala kralj zvonimira 5. Cheap takeaway option just over the bridge from the old town. Great falafel for €4.

Go next

 * Split – a short drive away, visitors may explore this intriguing city with its busy commercial port, residential houses, shops and restaurants all rising from the incredible ruins of Diocletian’s Palace.
 * Solin – with its Roman ruins are also just a short drive away from Trogir and make an extraordinary day trip.
 * Island Hvar and Pakleni Islands
 * Vis and Bisevo Islands
 * Green and Blue Caves
 * Stiniva Bay

title: Trogir


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Troisdorf

Troisdorf is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia,Germany. It is located along the rivers Agger and Sieg.

Get in
Troisdorf can easily be accessed by local trains from Cologne and Cologne airport, by car from Cologne and Frankfurt via the highways A3 and A59.

Get around
From the main train station you can easily get around by bus to cities like Siegburg (line 501, 503), Sankt Augustin (line 508) and Bonn (line 551).

Sleep
Troisdorf has several hotels due to its close location to Cologne airport.

Go next

 * Siegburg
 * Hennef
 * Bonn

title: Troisdorf


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Trois-Pistoles

Trois-Pistoles is a city of 3500 people (2011) in Bas St. Laurent in Quebec. It is mainly known to English-speaking Canadians for its homestay language immersion program, which nearly doubles the population of the town each summer.

Understand
If you are in Trois-Pistoles, and you're not a language student, you are likely here because you are going to take a ferry to Les-Escoumins, or because you have just arrived by ferry. Nevertheless, the town is worth a short stopover and a cup of coffee across from the church.

The town is said to have been named for a silver goblet worth three pistoles, an old French coin, that was lost in the river in the 17th century.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Operates The Ocean route between Halifax and Montreal, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City). Operates three trips per direction per week. A shuttle between train stations in Sainte-Foy and in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.

By bus

 * Operates a route twice daily between Quebec City and Rimouski including stops in Rivière-du-Loup and Trois-Pistoles.

title: Trois-Pistoles


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Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières (historically and rarely Three Rivers) is the second-oldest city in Quebec, founded in 1634. It lies almost half-way between Montreal and Quebec City and can make a nice stopover on travel between those two cities. Trois-Rivières is the regional capital of the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, a vast area of 39,748 km². Located at the junction of two economic regions, Trois-Rivières has a population of 137,000 (2016), with almost 475,000 people in its metropolitan area. It is 130 km from Montreal and 120 km from Quebec City on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

Understand
The Saint-Maurice River, 587 km long, is the main river of the Mauricie administrative region. The waters of four rivers bathe the magnificent Laurentian plain. St. Anne, Batiscan, Du Loup River and Maskinongé River are also important for economic and recreational tourism development in the region. Lake Saint Pierre has been part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO since 2000. Lake Saint Pierre is a rare example of sustainable development alongside a major international shipping route, as the lake forms part of the busy St. Lawrence Seaway.

History
The city was founded in 1634, but the location it occupies was first known to the French in 1535, when Jacques Cartier, in a trip along the St. Lawrence, stopped to plant a cross on Saint-Quentin Island. But the Three Rivers name was used for the first time in 1599 by Sieur François Gravé Du Pont, a geographer working with explorer Samuel de Champlain, who confirmed the name in 1603. Sieur Gravé Du Pont as he sailed river towards Montreal, saw a first tributary of the river, a strip of land, a second tributary, another strip of land, and finally a third tributary he took to be a different river. He did not know then that two large islands divide the course of the Saint-Maurice River in three parts where the latter flows into the St. Lawrence River. The name Trois-Rivières has stayed through the years, and the city was incorporated as such in 1857. Location of a major fur trade during the first 25 years of its existence, Trois-Rivières remained the cradle of many travellers, explorers and trappers.

By car
Autoroute 40 between Quebec and Montreal passes through Trois-Rivières.

By bus

 * Operates bus service between Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke including a stop in Drummondville. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from Sherbrooke is 2.25-2.5 hours and from Drummondville is 1-1.25 hours. Operates several days per week.
 * Operates bus route multiple times per day between Montreal and Quebec City including a stop in Trois-Rivières. Travel time to Trois-Rivières from Montreal is 1.75-2.25 hours and from Quebec City is 1.75-2 hours.

See

Do

 * Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine
 * Festival International Danse Encore
 * Festival International de la Poésie
 * FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières
 * Rendez-vous des coureurs des bois de Trois-Rivières
 * Les délices d’automne
 * FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières
 * Rendez-vous des coureurs des bois de Trois-Rivières
 * Les délices d’automne

Eat

Drink
The main bar strip is located on rue des Forges between the Saint Lawrence River and rue Royale.

Sleep

 * Auberge Godefroy Hotel-Spa-Golf. Becancour. Four-star hotel 10 minutes' drive from downtown Trois-Rivieres. Has a fine restaurant and health center. 17 575 boul. +1-800-361-1620 www.aubergegodefroy.com
 * Auberge Godefroy Hotel-Spa-Golf. Becancour. Four-star hotel 10 minutes' drive from downtown Trois-Rivieres. Has a fine restaurant and health center. 17 575 boul. +1-800-361-1620 www.aubergegodefroy.com

Go next

 * La Mauricie National Park - 45 km north

title: Trois-Rivières


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Trójmiasto

Trójmiasto (triple-city) is a common name for agglomeration of Gdańsk, Sopot & Gdynia on Polish coast.

 * Gdańsk
 * Sopot
 * Gdynia

title: Trójmiasto


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Trollhättan

Trollhättan is an industrial city in Sweden. It lies in Västergötland province in the modern (larger) Götaland region, and has 53,000 inhabitants.

Understand
In Trollhättan the Trollhätte canal starts, connecting the Kattegat (west coast) with lake Vänern. Just outside the center of town, there are several sets of locks. A first set of small locks from 1800, which are now derelict. A second set of locks from around 1844. A third set of locks from 1916, which are still in use today. About 10 freight ships per day pass the locks today, and throughout the summer months about 4000 leisure boats pass by.

Together with Göta kanal, the canal forms a waterway between the Atlantic and the Baltic Sea.

Not far from the locks, is the Olide hydropower station. The waterfall of the mighty Göta river was tamed with the construction of a huge powerplant between 1905 and 1914. The power station is built with huge granite blocks and looks like an enormous castle. On some days in the summer months the waterfall is (partly) released again.

Trollhättan has been important to Swedish industry, with the SAAB Automobile factory. Nearby, the SAAB museum is located.

By train
The train station (Resecentrum) lies just ten minutes walk from the center of the town. You can choose either to go north - Oslo or Karlstad or south towards Gothenburg or Copenhagen.

By car
80 km 1h north of Gothenburg via the road RV45.

Bus
Bus connection is very good within the city, and also covers most of the countryside and almost all surrounding cities as well as major distant cities. The standard fare is 20 kr which is valid within Zone 1 which covers the city, neighbouring cities and the countryside.

Taxi
Taxis are on the expensive side. Taximeter is virtually always used but make sure that the driver really does turn it on unless a price has been negotiated in advance. Often the price can be better this way.

See

 * The locks, the Göta Älv river, and the surrounding nature.

Museums

 * A short distance from Trollhättan the Elk Hill and the Royal Hunt museum is located.
 * A short distance from Trollhättan the Elk Hill and the Royal Hunt museum is located.
 * A short distance from Trollhättan the Elk Hill and the Royal Hunt museum is located.

Do

 * A common tourist attraction is the falls and the locks. Both attracts thousands of tourists every year. On the third Friday of July, the falls are opened and the city turns into a festival area.
 * Also popular is a walk along the 'Göta Älv' River in the western part of the city, near the locks.

Eat

 * Trollhättan has many restaurants with many different categories of food. From Japanese, Thai and Chinese to English food and basic Swedish food. During lunchtime prices are very reasonable but tend to rise during the evening. Some of the restaurants converts into bars in the late evening.

Trollhättan is also famous for its many pizzerias which have Sweden's best (?) kebab-pizza. What makes the pizza special is the sauce which is different from kebab sauce in other parts of Sweden.

Coffee
There are a lot of cafés in Trollhättan. A few of them are:

 * Café Smulan is a nice café.
 * Café Strandgatan is also a nice place with a nice view over the canal, however it's on the expensive side.
 * Espresso House on the main pedestrian mall has excellent coffee, though the surroundings are nothing special.

Budget

 * Gula Villan, Tingvallavägen 12, +46 520 129 60.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Albert is in a nice location with views all over the town.
 * Scandic Hotel Swania, Storgatan 47-49, +46 520 89 000. Also pretty nice, located in the old town-hall (not very old because the town is very young).

title: Trollhättan


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Tromelin Island

Tromelin Island is a minor one of the islands of the Indian Ocean, approximately 800 km (500 miles) east of Madagascar and 800 km north of Réunion. It makes up one of the many Scattered islands of the Indian Ocean, which is one of the five administrative districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Understand

Tromelin Island is not open to tourism. It is uninhabited, and serves as a sea tortoise and seabird sanctuary. The only facility on the island is an important meteorological station which gathers data for forecasting cyclones and hurricanes. First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. The island was discovered when the French ship Utile, which was carrying slaves at the time, hit the reefs of the island. The crew got on a floatable raft to make it to Madagascar, while they left 60 slaves on Tromelin Island. 15 years later in 1776, the chevalier de Tromelin (from whom the island takes its name), captain of the French warship La Dauphine, came upon the Island and rescued the slaves that were still alive — seven women and an eight-month-old child. Tromelin Island was occupied by France in 1954 while it was part of Mauritius and it is claimed by Mauritius.

Terrain
The terrain on Tromelin Island is sandy, flat, low and is likely volcanic. The island is also surrounded by coral reefs. The Island also has volcanic rock.

Climate
The climate in Tromelin Island is tropical.

Animals
The island is a nesting ground for seabirds and turtles. It is also a conservation area for unique vegetation and rare bird life.

Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (scattered bushes)

By plane
There is an unpaved airstrip on the island, meaning that when a plane lands, it lands on a dirt path unlike cement at airports.

By boat
Tromelin has no harbors; offshore anchorage only.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance.

Buy
There are no businesses on the island.

Sleep
There are no accommodations open to the public.

title: Tromelin Island


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Troms

Troms is a county in Northern Norway. It is an area of big islands, jagged mountains, deep valleys and long winters. Tromsø city is the northern lights capital of Norway and northern lights hunters often travel around the county and even into Finland in search of the magic light.

Understand

Troms occupies the middle part of Northern Norway, bordering Nordland (south) and Finnmark (north-east). Some 155,000 people live in the county, which also borders Sweden and Finland. Troms is almost as far north as one can travel on mainland Norway. Finnmark next door, since 2020 the other half of the county, is only slightly further north. Sweden's northernmost point is at the border with Troms. Finland's highest mountain is shared with Troms.

Except for the inner areas along the border, Troms is characterised by a fragmented landscape with several big islands, the largest of which are Hinnøya and Senja. Harstad city is on Hinnøy while central Tromsø sits on a smaller island in a fjord. The landscape is generally mountainous with several alpine areas such as on Senja and in Lyngen. Unlike the narrow valleys of Western Norway, the inner valleys of Troms are often generously wide with slow meandering rivers. There are several great fjords cutting deep into the land, almost to the border at some points.

Despite the northern location, the coastal areas, including Tromsø, have relatively mild winters, similar to Oslo much further south. The interior can however be very cold during winter and Tromsø city and surroundings can have enormous snowfalls. Even in late April there can be more than a metre of snow in Tromsø.

During the last stages of World War II, the northern and eastern part of Troms were evacuated and all buildings and infrastructure destroyed by retreating German troops. German troops retreated from the northern section of the eastern front (including Finnmark and Finland) behind the Lyngen mountains. Evacuated areas were quickly reconstructed in a post-war style.

Regions

 * South Troms – the area around Harstad; islands with mountains and some agriculture
 * Inland Troms and Senja – Bardu and Målselv; forested valleys, rivers and mountains, Dividalen national park, Senja island
 * Tromsø area – the area around Tromsø city; including mountainous islands and the Lyngen Alps
 * North Troms – the northeastern part; islands and mountains, rivers, Reisa valley with Reisa national park

Cities

 * – largest city (city pop. 40,000)
 * – in Målselv (town pop. 2,600)
 * – in Lenvik, third-largest city (pop. 10,000)
 * – in Harstad, second-largest city (pop. 22,000)
 * – in Bardu (town pop. 2,400), nearest town from on Nordkalottleden
 * – in Skjervøy (town pop. 2,500)
 * – in Nordreisa (town pop. 1,800)
 * – in Nordreisa (town pop. 1,800)

Other destinations

 * – archipelago municipality
 * – mountains
 * – the Reisa canyon like river valley and its surroundings, accessible from Storslett or by the Nordkalottleden trail. Saraelv is a small settlement close to the park, which can be used as gateway.
 * – rugged coastline and picturesque villages

Talk
Norwegian is the official language of Norway and it is the most commonly spoken language in Troms. Norwegian is somewhat mutually intelligible with Danish and Swedish.

Sami is official in one municipality, Kåfjord.

Most people speak English well.

By plane
The easiest, fastest and probably cheapest way to reach Troms is by air.

There are three airports in Troms:

Tromsø
Tromsø airport is the largest airport in the county.

and a number of smaller airports in Northern Norway
 * Domestic flights:
 * Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)
 * Trondheim
 * Bergen
 * Bodø
 * Evenes (Harstad/Narvik)
 * Hammerfest
 * Alta
 * Kirkenes

 * International connections (as of 2017):
 * London Gatwick (operated by Norwegian Air Int.)
 * Copenhagen
 * Stockholm (summer only)
 * Oulu (operated by Nexjet)
 * Alicante (operated by Norwegian Air Int.)

Bardufoss
Bardufoss airport serves Mid Troms, including Finnsnes and the island of Senja. Domestic flights to:
 * Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)

Evenes
Evenes airport is in Nordland county, and is the main airport for southern Troms, including Harstad and Narvik. Domestic flights to:
 * Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)
 * Bodø
 * Tromsø
 * Trondheim

Domestic flights are operated by SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe

By car

E6 is the main route to Troms when driving from the southern parts of Norway (Oslo, Trondheim). Be aware of the long distances. From Oslo to the southern border of Troms it is appr. 1400 kilometers, and to the northern border appr. 1820 kilometers.

It is also possible to drive to Troms from Finland via Tornio and through the Torne Valley and the "arm" of Finland by E8. in Kilpisjärvi. E10 from Kiruna and Luleå in Sweden enters Norway just north of Narvik in Nordland county. The distance from the national border to Troms county border is abot 50 km. The best way from central Sweden to Tromsø is through Pajala and Kolari and then by the E8.

If you arrive during winter, be aware that winter tires are necessary and required by law. Do not try to drive without, even if you don't expect snow or ice.

By train
There is no railway in Troms. The closest station is in Narvik just south of the county border. From Narvik there are buses to Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø and other towns in Troms. Narvik is connected only to the Swedish railway network, not the Norwegian. Passenger trains, going from Stockholm, are operated by SJ.

By bus
Because of the long distance, there are no long distance buses from southern Norway to Troms or Nordland. There is bus connection from Fauske in Nordland, which has train connection from southern Norway. Check rutebok.no.

There is a summertime (1 Jun–15 Sep) bus connection from Rovaniemi, Finland. Check matkahuolto.fi. In winter (Dec–Mar) The Arctic Route has a connection from Rovaniemi.

By boat
Hurtigruten travels most of the Norwegian coast and calls at Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø and Skjervøy.

Get around
Timetables for most city- local- and regional buses, catamarans and ferries in Troms county can be found at en-tur.no (national) or snelandia.no (local).

By car
Getting around in Troms is easiest if you have your own car. There are reasonably good roads all over the county. The main road network is mostly of quite good standard. Some roads are narrow and windy, this is especially true when it comes to local roads. Traffic levels are low, except in and around the largest towns. The only road toll in Troms is on road 858.

Some fjords are crossed by car ferry. They have fees. The ferry between road 82 and 86 goes only in summertime with a few daily departures.

By plane
Air travel is possible between Tromsø and Harstad (Evenes airport), and between Tromsø and Storslett (Sørkjosen airport). If you book your ticket well in advance this is likely to be the cheapest (and fastest) way of travelling between these places.

By bus
If you do not have a car, bus might be a good option, maybe even the only option. Most communities in the county can be reached by bus. There are regular bus connections between the larger towns, normally several buses each day. There are also regular connections to Alta in Finnmark county and Narvik in Nordland county. Distances are fairly long so they take long time. When it comes to smaller communities there might be a very limited service, maybe just a few buses during the week. It's important to plan ahead and check the timetables! Search snelandia.no for bus connections. Route planner is available.

By boat
Many coastal communities can be reached by catamaran from the nearest town; Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø or Skjervøy. There are also catamaran routes between these towns. Hurtigruten travels most of the Norwegian coast and also calls at these four ports.

title: Troms


text:
Tromsø

Tromsø (Northern Sámi: Romsa, Kven and Finnish: Tromssa) is a city of around 78,000 people (2023) in the very northernmost part of Norway. It is almost 350 km north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places to view the spectacular Northern Lights in winter. Tromsø is a surprise to most visitors: Here you find art, history, sophistication, good food and an infamous nightlife in a bustling, tiny city. All of it, though, is surrounded by spectacular scenery that is visible from everywhere in town.

Understand

The city is home to the world's northernmost university, as well as research institutes and satellite based industry. The population is therefore highly skilled, but retains the straightforwardness and sense of humour that the North is known for.

History
People reached the Tromsø area 11,000 years ago. We hear about Tromsø for the first time in 1252, when the first church was built here. The next 550 years, Tromsø was a minor religious centre, as people in a vast area regularly congregated in Tromsø to go to the only church in the area. Trade and industry, however, suffered under the domination of Bergen and Trondheim to the south.

To promote trade in Northern Norway, the 80-person settlement was issued its city charter in 1794. Initially hindered by the Napoleonic wars, the city soon developed into a small trade centre with connections from Arkhangelsk to Central Europe, and from 1820 onwards, Arctic trapping was a major industry. Early visitors, who probably didn't expect people in Tromsø to eat with a knife and fork, dubbed the city the "Paris of the North" in complete surprise that French was spoken, fashions were more or less up to date and people knew what was happening down below the Arctic Circle.

Expeditions

A number of expeditions made Tromsø their starting point in the first decades of the 20th century. Explorers like Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen frequently recruited sailors in Tromsø. However, the biggest drama took place in 1928, when the airship Italia crashed in the ice near the North Pole, and rescue expeditions were sent out of Tromsø.

World War II and development
For a few weeks in the 1940 campaign, Tromsø was the capital of Free Norway. However, the city totally avoided war damage, although the German battleship of the Tirpitz was sunk near Tromsø in November 1944. Since the 1960s, the city has doubled its number of inhabitants, and the university was opened in 1972.

Orientation

Tromsø is found some 2,200 km south of the North Pole, in the far north of Norway. The distance south to the Arctic Circle is about 350 km.

Most of Tromsø is situated on the small island of Tromsøya, in English often adapted to "Tromsø Island". This low island is 10 km long, and contains both built-up areas and birch forests, as well as the airport. The city centre is located in the south-eastern part of the island. This is where you find most of the attractions, shopping, good eating and nightlife. The main artery of the city is the 1 km long Storgata, where most of the people watching takes place (an activity in which tourists play but a modest role).

Elsewhere on the Island, you find the Tromsø Museum on the southern tip, and the Botanic Garden near the University, on the north-eastern side.

On the mainland, east of Tromsø Island, you can find the Arctic Cathedral, the Cable Car, the Military Museum and extensive residential areas. The island is connected to the mainland by the 3 km long Tromsø Sound Tunnel and the 1016-m-long Tromsø Bridge.

Weather

Winter in Tromsø is not as severe as other cities at the same latitude due to the Gulf Stream. Average January temperatures hover around. The coldest temperature record of Tromsø is. Rain and temperatures up to are not unusual, even in mid-winter. Usually, there are large quantities of snow between December and May, and in April 1997, the snow depth in the city was.

The summer temperatures are highly variable. Overcast, chilly and drizzly days are interspersed with beautiful, warm, sunny days. The July average is and the heat record is.

Light and darkness
The city enjoys midnight sun from May 18 to July 26. During this period, the sun is always above the horizon. Popular viewpoints include the Tromsø Bridge, the front of the Arctic Cathedral and most prominently the Upper Station of the Cable Car, but it can be seen at most points in the city area. Due to the topography, you cannot see the Midnight Sun in large parts of the east side of the Tromsø Island, including the upper reaches of the city centre. Modern construction has also blocked off the Midnight Sun from most of the main street.

In winter, the sun is below the horizon between November 26 and January 15. Because the city is surrounded by mountains, the period is prolonged a few days. In the city centre, the sun is not visible between November 21 and January 21. However, there is some daylight for a few hours, and often there are beautiful colours at midday.

Tourist information

 * Visit Tromsø website

Get in
Despite the location, it is fairly easy to reach Tromsø. Most people get to Tromsø by plane, but one can also go by bus or boat.

Driving up is also an option, but take the 1700 km distance from Oslo into consideration. Considering the low speed limits on Norwegian convoluted roads along fjords, allow several days (a week is not too much) for the journey. There is also one ferry crossing, Skarberget-Bognes, unless you drive through Sweden. There are no particular dangers on the way, and the distances between petrol stations, accommodation and shops are not frightening. The scenery is unforgettable.

By plane

Budget-conscious travellers should have the lower summer fares in mind, usually available in July/August. Furthermore, there are plenty of cheap tickets available in the Northern Lights months of January/February. Festivals, however, fill up the planes quickly. Friday and Sunday, planes are full all year. Some budget airlines promote the rather distant TRF, Torp Airport, in Sandefjord as "Oslo Airport". Nearly all flights to Tromsø, however, leave from OSL, Oslo Airport Gardermoen. Only Widerøe has a direct route from TRF (Summer). Connections between Torp and Gardermoen are time-consuming. Budget-conscious travellers can, if lucky, find last-minute charter tickets to and from Turkey, Spain, Greece and various other charter destinations.

From the airport into town
The distance into town is very short.
 * When you exit the airport, turn left for the bus. The dedicated Airport Express Bus is right outside the door and (Flybussen) will take you straight into the town centre, only stopping at a few hotels along the way (110 kr one-way/180 kr round trip as of January 2022).
 * For a cheaper public transport option to the city centre, take public bus 24, 40 and 42. When you see the Airport Express bus stop, cross the road. Go around the parking lot and cross the road again. (You want the bus stop furthest away from the airport). The bus ride is about 15 minutes, and costs 36 kr one way if you buy a ticket from the "Point" shop in the airport arrival terminal or the Troms Mobillett app. It would be wise to buy your return ticket at the same time since the tickets are valid for 2 years, and it costs 50 kr if you buy a ticket on the bus. If you will be on the way for long, a 24-hour ticket costs only 100 kr.
 * Taxis are also available, for about 120 kr, about 260 kr on Sundays.

By train

There is no train all the way to Tromsø. Take a bus from the railheads in Fauske, Narvik and Rovaniemi. Check the timetable.

 * The Swedish railway network has a branch line to Narvik, 4 hours by bus south of Tromsø. There are 2–3 buses a day to Narvik, depending on the day of the week. As of 2017, the bus from Narvik to Tromsø costs 375 kr for adults and 188 kr for children, tickets are sold by the driver, you can pay by credit card. As of 2018 the trains arrive at 12:58 and 17:37, but the last bus departure is 15:23 so do take the early train, except on Sundays when the last bus departure is 18:43. The closest bus stop is on Korensgate, in front of the Storsenter, a 5-minute walk from the train station. Sometimes the train is very late, so then you would need unplanned accommodation in Narvik.
 * There are trains from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (a sleeper for two costs about €200). There are bus connections from there onward to Tromsø in summer (Jun–15 Sep) by Eskelisen Lapin Linjat and in winter (Dec–Mar) by The Arctic Route. There are services year round to Kilpisjärvi at the border; you could take a taxi or hitchhike from there to E6. It is possible to take the car on the train as well, see below.
 * To reach the Norwegian network, go to Fauske from Narvik by bus. If you arrive in Fauske by night train from Trondheim, it takes most of the day to reach Tromsø.

By car

The roads up to Tromsø are in good condition, but it is a long drive from Southern Scandinavia. When in Tromsø, renting a car is an option. In June, July and August, prices are high and reservation is a must. The rest of the year, it is relatively cheap (around 1000 kr) for a small car for a whole weekend. Make the reservation in the office hours before 16:00 on Friday. The application Qpark is being used as digital subsitute (Four digit codes on Lightposts for the specific streets) when you need to drive within Tromsø and paying to stay parked.

Driving in winter usually poses no problem – more than anywhere. However, the occasional snow storm closes the roads for shorter periods. This is broadcast on radio, but if you don't speak Norwegian, the petrol stations along the route are well updated.

From Oslo
The E6 goes all the way from Trelleborg, south Sweden, through Oslo, Trondheim and Narvik to Nordkjosbotn, from where you take off along the E8 to Tromsø. The distance to Oslo is about 1700 km.

The road conditions are good, especially compared to the traffic. Despite the long distances, there are plenty of accommodation options as well as petrol stations along the way, and you encounter no particular dangers. It's also possible to drive the inland road through Sweden, it's longer but may be faster.

From Sweden and Finland
From Stockholm and Luleå in Sweden the recommended route would be E10 to Överkalix, road 392 to Pajala, crossing the border to Finland at Kolari, from where the E8 goes to Tromsø. Luleå–Tromsø is 700 km, 9 hours. Alternative longer routes are E10–E45–E8 over Gällivare–Karesuando or E10–E6–E8 over Kiruna.

From Helsinki, use E75 to Tornio and continue along E8 via Karesuvanto. E8 crosses the Norwegian border at Kilpisjärvi, a 160-km (3-hr) drive from Tromsø. From Turku, you can use E8 all the way.

When coming from southern Finland, you should also consider the car train option: overnight trains from Turku and Helsinki take cars to Oulu, Kolari or Rovaniemi; to drive yourself takes around 16 hours from Helsinki, excluding breaks and sleeps, normally 2–3 days.

From the Baltics
It's just some six hours of actual driving from Tallinn to Tromsø. First there are plenty of ferries going from Tallinn to Helsinki – the slowest ferries are often nicest and cheapest. The next step is to take a car train from Helsinki to Oulu, Kolari or Rovaniemi as described above – or drive yourself, if you want to sightseeing on the way.

From Finnmark and Russia
Driving south from the Nordkapp region is easy and straightforward along the E6. The National Highway 91, with a ferry from Olderdalen to Lyngseidet and again from Svensby to Breivikeidet saves you no time, but is a lot more relaxing. Driving from Kautokeino, Karasjok and parts of East-Finnmark the fastest route is through Finland: take the National Highway 93 to the south from Kautokeino to Hetta in Finland, turn northwards again when you hit the E8 and drive into Norway again in Kilpisjärvi. From the Norwegian-Russian border and the area around Kirkenes in Finnmark the fastest route is driving the E6 until Neiden, follow road 92 until you reach Finland. In Finland the road keeps it number, follow it via Sevettijärvi, Kaamanen on E75 and Karigasniemi to Karasjok, then follow the route described above. There is a shorter but more isolated route from Kaamanen: take the E75 to Inari, then change to road 955 until Köngäs (the last 50 km of this road has no asphalt as of 2009). From Köngäs take road 956 to Sirkka and Levi, then road 79 until you hit E8 at Muonio. From Muonio, keep heading northwards on the E8 until you reach the border at Kilpisjärvi and finally Tromsø.

By bus
There is one daily bus from Alta. There are three daily buses from Narvik. They might combine with the train from Sweden and buses from Fauske (Bodø, with train from Trondheim).

In summer (Jun–15 Sep), there is a daily bus by Eskelisen Lapinlinjat from Rovaniemi, Finland. In winter (Dec–Mar) the route is served by The Arctic Route. In spring and autumn, you must go via Tana and Alta, the former with connections from Finland all year.

By boat

The legendary Hurtigruten ships stop in Tromsø. The northbound ships arrive daily at 14:30 and continues at 18:30 to Skjervøy, Hammerfest, the North Cape and Kirkenes. The southbound ships arrive at 23:45, and depart at 01:30 in the night, to Finnsnes —, Lofoten, Trondheim and Bergen all year round.

These ships depart from the Prostneset terminal (Samuel Arnesens gate 4-5), less than 290 m (310 yd) from the church.

Rarely, some departures are cancelled in winter when harsh weather prevents any boat or ship to sail. Otherwise, the service is punctual. There is no luggage storage service for the southbound coastal express, but the Rica Ishavshotel allows non-guests to store their luggage there. You can check times either with the Tourist Information or at the Hurtigrute website.

Due to a building project at Prostneset (near Kirkeparken), this embarkment area will be modified by late 2018.

Cruise boats for all parts of Europe and North America often often moor in Tromsø, too.

For Hurtigbåter  services, see below: Get around – By ferry

Get around

Generally, most things in Tromsø's compact centre are within walking distance. However, there is also a good network of buses. In summer, you can rent bikes, and in winter you can rent cross country skis, both allowing you to roam the built-up areas of Tromsø.

By bus
Buses are plentiful, very reliable and generally run until midnight; some lines also operate around the clock for trips to/from the airport and on weekends. Buying a 90-minute ticket costs 39kr when bought from one of the locations listed here or through the Troms Mobillett smartphone app. Choose credit card payment rather than prepay account else you'll have to pay 200 kr upfront. You can also pay on the bus for 60 kr one way, but only cash is accepted. If you are planning to use the bus frequently, it would be wise to purchase a 24-hr ticket for 110 kr or a 7-day ticket for 270 kr instead. Single ticket prepaid 25 kr (Off-peak: M–F 09:00–14:00 and 17:00–01:00).

Many routes have the city centre in the middle of their route, therefore it is essential to catch a route in the right direction. If it says 'via sentrum' it might already have been there and drives away from the centre, e.g., 42 (Stakkevollan) is driving to a residential area on the Tromsø island, 42 (Storelv) is driving to Kvaløya. The ride from Storelva to Stakkevollan takes 45 minutes.

From the city centre:

 * Bus 28 (Solligården), 26, 20 (Kroken), and 24 (Kroken) are found in the Sjøgata/Havnegata street just down below the Torget (Main square). Any one of these is good for the Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen).
 * Bus 26 goes to the Cable Car from Peppe's Pizza near Torget (The Main Square). Ask for a "Fjellheisbillett" (Cable Car Ticket). This includes a return bus ticket and the Cable Car ride, and is cheaper than buying each ticket individually.
 * Bus 37 goes to The Tromsø Museum. It leaves from Fredrik Langes Gate, just down below the Åhléns outlet.
 * Bus 20 (Stakkevollan) and 21 (UiT/UNN) goes to the University. For the Botanic Garden, take the 20/21 to the (Bankrupt) Planetarium, walk down the nice foot path, enjoy the Garden and take bus 20 or 42 (Storelv) back into town.
 * Bus 34 from the southern end of Sjøgata (opposite Dolly Dimple's), just up from the Tourist Information for a tour of the Island. It takes you around the southern tip to the shopping centre of Jekta, from where there are lots of buses back into town: 24 (Kroken sør) and 26 (Kroken) tae rather long detours through several residential areas (26 also passes the Carmelite nunnery), 28 (Solligården) and 40 (Sentrum) take a somewhat more direct route, while 42 (Stakkevollan) takes you to Polaria and then downtown through a tunnel (with two roundabouts inside). Lots of scenery and cityscape for 34 kr.
 * Bus 20 (Stakkevollan) from Fredrik Langes gate or 42 (Stakkevollan) from Sjøgata to Stakkevollan Skole, walk up the hill at the water reservoirs and watch Northern Lights to the north (less light pollution than elsewhere on the island).
 * Bus 20 (Kroken) or 24 (Kroken) from Havnegata to Tromsø alpine centre

By taxi
There are plenty of taxis all over town, however, you will probably have to wait in line if you plan on taking a taxi home after a long night out. This especially goes for Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays as these days are particularly busy.

The rest of the time, there are plenty of taxis. Call them at 77 60 30 00. It is, however, cheaper to just go to a taxi stand and pick one up. Taxis are metered, and completely safe.

 * Uber

By train

There is no train, although there is a pub called Jernbanen (the train station), 3.48 metres above sea level. The project planned in 1872 has never been built.

By ferry

 * Hurtigbåtene (The express ferries)  are quick catamaran boats, of great benefit for those living here or visiting the area: they ply the waterways north and south of Tromsø. There are four daily departures from Tromsø to Harstad via Finnsnes, Brøstadbotn and Engenes (two services only on Saturdays and Sundays). The catamaran to Lysnes departs twice a day (once on Sundays), making a loop between the peninsulas south of Tromsø, with calls at Vikran, Lysnes and Tennskjær, and back: a scenic ride. A single daily service links Skjervøy to Tromsø once a day, via Finnkroken, Vannvåg, Nord-Lenangen, Arnøyhamn, Nikkeby and Vorterøya (two departures from Skjervøy to Tromsø on Tuesdays and Thursdays). The route differs according to the day. The boats are operated by Torghatten Nord. The Hurtigbåter depart from the pier facing Kaigata,  by the Hurtigruten  terminal
 * Fergene (ferries) ride four to six times a day from Bellvika (also called Belvik, on the northeastern peninsula of Kvaløya), a 25-minute drive northwest of Tromsø, to Vengsøya (70 inhabitants, according to the last census), Musvær (a tiny island where just 2 inhabitants live), Laukvika (Hersøya), Risøya and Mjølvika (Sandøya). Expect no on-board service, “just” a lovely ride between the islands and the occasional possibility to buy coffee. The ferries are operated by Torghatten Nord.

Note: Where the places above are not islands (øy in Norwegian bokmål and nynorsk, singular indefinite form, suolu  in Northern Sámi) by themselves, the name of their island is given in brackets. Names may differ from what timetables indicate, e.g. Bellvika is also spelt (and pronounced) Belvik, Risøya  may be Risøy, etc. This depends on the use (or not) of the definite article -a,  in many cases, and on the fact that various dialects coexist, together with the Sámi language.

For Hurtigruten services, see over: Get in – By boat

See

Tromsø's most visited attractions include Polaria, The Arctic Cathedral, the Cable Car, the Tromsø Museum, the Polar Museum and the Botanic Garden.

Aurora
The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights is a natural light phenomenon in the night sky.

Tromsø is very favorably located for viewing the Northern Lights, but you cannot see the aurora at all times.

 * The aurora is visible mostly between 18:00 and 00:00, occasionally between 16:00 and 02:00.
 * It has to be dark for you to see it. Between late September and late March, it is dark after 18:00, and you have maximum chances of seeing the lights.
 * Clouds obstruct the view of the Northern Lights. October and November are humid autumn months, and often you don't see the lights. From December onwards, the weather is drier. March is the driest month in this six-month period of good chances.
 * Conclusion: December to mid/late March are the best times. Pick December/January for atmospheric visits in the dark, or February/March for thrilling outdoor activities. Sporty, outdoorsy people are recommended to come in March, as this month gives the opportunity to do outdoor activities in plenty of sunshine and good weather, and still observe the aurora after dark. The mid term holiday in February in many European countries is also a good time to come.

Churches

Tromsø's inhabitants are overwhelmingly Lutheran, and at the same time overwhelmingly secular in attitude. Small communities of other faiths are also present, like around 400 Catholics, and probably a similar number of Muslims. Various non-Lutheran Protestant churches and Lutheran dissenters are also important.

Other churches in town of note include:

Occasionally, Orthodox masses are held on the premises of Kirkens Bymisjon on Jaklins plass. The most welcoming of the two mosques in Tromsø is the Alnor Senter, with prayer rooms for both men and women.

Museums and galleries

Other

Café inside the garden (open 11:30–15:30 daily in summer, on Sunday only otherwise).
 * The Rhododendron Valley with specimens from the China and the Himalayas, as well as the local variety rhododendron lapponicum.
 * The Himalaya section with the blue poppy (Meconopsis).
 * The friendship garden, with plants donated by the Kirovsk Botanic Garden in Russia, previously the world's northernmost.
 * Various sections of alpine plants and southern hemisphere plants.
 * The pond, surrounded by giant perennials.
 * The traditional garden with plants used in traditional medicine, magics and even as aphrodisiacs.
 * The pond, surrounded by giant perennials.
 * The traditional garden with plants used in traditional medicine, magics and even as aphrodisiacs.

Parks
The extent and quality of parks in Tromsø is no great draw for travellers. There are only a few parks in Tromsø, and they are not very large. Your best shot would probably be the Kirkeparken ("Church park") surrounding the Domkirken. Whenever the temperature exceeds +18 °C, bluish white flesh is frying in the sun.

Kongeparken, the Royal Park, a couple of blocks up from the main street, is curiously empty on warm days. There is also a patch of park down below the Art Society, just south of the city centre. But don't let the kids run wild there; this park is surrounded by heavy traffic.

A much larger park is Folkeparken (the Popular Park), surrounding the Tromsø Museum. This, though, seems like a patch of wild forest saved from development by its park status. When you visit the University Museum, take a stroll down to the Folk Museum, with a few old houses moved here from various parts of the county of Troms. The Telegrafbukta beach is also within easy reach. There is no lack of greenery in the residential areas, and the "Lysløypa" (floodlit ski track) runs from around the Tromsø Museum to the Northern tip of the island. In winter, this is perfect for cross country skiing; in summer the locals enter it on sneakers, mountain bikes and horses. The residents of the residential areas on the mainland and on the Kvaløya Island usually have less than 5 minutes' walk to reach the surrounding forests and mountains.

Nature
The nature surrounding Tromsø is spectacular. Mountains, fjords and fauna in an arctic perspective. Just outside Tromsø you can find various birds (sea eagles, puffins, fulmars), musk oxen and the world's largest mammals – the whales.

Do
Most activities take place in the sheltered waters around the city area, or in the mountains surrounding the city. Check out the website of the Tourist Information for all the details. The Tourist Information also has a number of organised tours on offer.

Some activities are easy to do without assistance, whereas others require the guidance of a trained guide. Make sure you know what you're doing before setting off on your own.

Winter

The reason people go to Tromsø in the winter is to experience the Northern Lights and the spectacular snowy landscapes through various winter activities. The most optimal time for the former is December to March. March and April are good for cross country treks and off-piste skiing.

The winter temperatures hover around -4°C, occasionally dropping to -12/-15°C, or rising to around +5°C. This means it's never too cold to do outdoor activities. Snowmobiles are not allowed in the borough of Tromsø, but in neighbouring Lyngen, you can speed up assisted by Natur i nord

The Tourist Information has a number of activities on offer, and they can usually be reserved on short notice, i.e., Northern lights visits.

The Lyngen Alps and other mountains around Tromsø are among the best places in the world for Off piste. The catamaran Cetacea of Arctic Cruises offers rides from town to the Lyngen Alps in March/April, or you can stay in the Lyngen Area in huts.

 * Dog-sledding at the Tromsø Villmarkssenter, Arctic Adventures or Lyngen Outdoor Adventure
 * Snowmobiles are not allowed in the borough of Tromsø, but in neighbouring [Lyngen], you can speed up assisted by Natur i nord
 * Reindeer sledding at Tromsø Friluftsenter or with Lyngsfjord Adventure in neighbouring Tamokdalen
 * Reindeer sledding at Tromsø Friluftsenter or with Lyngsfjord Adventure in neighbouring Tamokdalen

Summer

Seasoned mountaineers should seek out the Lyngen Alps as well as the Keel range close to the Finnish/Swedish border. This requires membership in the Troms Turlag (or its mother organisation, the Den Norske Turistforeningen) and careful planning (help provided by Troms Turlag).

 * On a warm summer day, visit the beach Telegrafbukta near the Tromsø Museum.  Bring a picnic or barbeque (small disposable grills, available in grocery stores, are popular here). If you dare, take a dip in the water—it may just have reached 11°C/52°F.
 * Football: Tromsø IL were promoted in 2020 so they play soccer in Eliteserien, Norway's top tier. Their home ground Alfheim Stadium (capacity 6700) is 500 m west of town centre.
 * Go fishing You can try from the shore or even better from a boat. Fewer species are fished than in Southern Norway, but the amount and the size is far better. Common fish are coalfish, cod, halibut and seawolf. Fishing trips are organized by the Tourist Information in summer, but you can just as well go to Hella, next to an ocean current half an hour's drive out of the city.
 * Glacier walks in the Lyngen Alps are on offer from Tromsø Villmarkssenter and Lyngsfjord Adventure. Do not go glacier walking without a guide, you might fall into a crack.
 * Kayaking is a good idea between the islands off Tromsø, and trips are offered by both Tromsø Villmarkssenter and Arctic Adventure

Hiking
Hiking is safe and beautiful, although strenuous due to the topography. Troms Turlag in Kirkegata 2 (same house as the Tourist Information) offers maps and good information.
 * The mountains nearest to the city are suited for beginners: hiking to the top station of the cable car takes less than 1 hr from the bottom station. Hiking to the Fløya summit (675m) takes at most 2 hr one way (from the base cable car station). Bønntuva (776m) can be reached another 45 min further. Many further paths are available nearby.
 * Troms Turlag operates mountain refuges in the mountains on the mainland side, from North to South Trollvassbu, Nonsby, Blåkollkoia and Skarvassbu. Non-members can stay here from kr 200/night. You just leave the sum there, and make use of woodfire and gas for cooking. Bring a sleeping bag.

Culture and festivals
The cultural centre of the high north of Norway offers some interesting festivals.

Winter fun

When temperatures are freezing and the night seems endless, enjoying culture is a good idea.

 * Tromsø International Film Festival takes place the 3rd week in January.
 * The Northern Lights Festival happens in late January/early February
 * The Sami week is centered around the Day of the Sami people, on February 6.
 * No Siesta Fiesta is a festival of Latin Music, starting with a Samba parade in the snowy main street.
 * The Polar Night Half Marathon in early January

Luminous summer festivals
The summer festivals celebrate the endless days, and are preferably outdoor.

 * The Midnight Sun Marathon in mid-June. This festival fills up the city until bursting point. Never arrive without a hotel reservation.
 * The Bukta festival of rock in mid July
 * The Beer Festival in late August

Autumn festivals

 * Ordkalotten festival of literature in November or October depending on the year.
 * Døgnvill outdoor music festival in September.

Learn
Most locals will be happy to teach you a few Norwegian words and phrases over a few beers at one of the many pubs and bars. Use them with care down below the Arctic Circle, as the local lingo is peppered with colourful profanities.

The University offers several Master programs in English, including the Peace Studies, Visual Anthropology, the International course of linguistics, Indigenous studies etc. Check if your university has some kind of co-operation with or recognition of the University of Tromsø.

Norwegian classes are hard to come by. Immigrants receive basic education at Voksenopplæringen i Tromsø kommune. The University organizes classes for its international staff. Foreigners who just want a quick introduction, have few or no options. Neither is there anything on offer for short term visitors who would like to learn Sami.

Work
The University of Tromsø (UiT) and the nearby University Hospital of Tromsø (UNN) are situated at the northern end of the Tromsø island, and are the two largest workplaces in Tromsø. The Norwegian Telemedicine Centre at UNN is a WHO collaborating center. The Norwegian Polar Institute is another major institution. All these institutions employ a good many foreign nationals.

In Tromsø, more than 100 nationalities are represented. However, getting a job for someone with no special skills or no knowledge of Norwegian is difficult. Hotel housekeeping and cleaning, along with fish processing are often the only options. Health workers are much in demand, though.

Anyone who wants to work in Norway, needs a valid permit. These are readily available for residents of the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. For anyone else, getting a work permit means an endless papermill and probable rejection.

Buy

Most shopping takes place in the busy main street, Storgata. These days, we can thank the Chinese for most souvenirs, but the attentive shopper will find locally made stuff. Business hours are traditional: most main street shops close at 17:00, although they usually stay up until 19:00 on Thursdays. They close at 15:00–16:00 on Saturdays, and remain closed all Sunday. Department stores stay open longer, though.

Department stores and shopping malls
Department stores in Tromsø are easy to overview, and hold no surprises. They are convenient for any necessity, though, since they stay open until 20:00 (18:00 on Saturdays).

Design
Original buys include:

Literature
The production of interesting books about the north in Norwegian language is huge. However, the selection of good titles in English is limited.

 * Tromsø Museum, part of the University of Tromsø, has a rather good selection of scientific books on the north, again mostly in Norwegian.
 * For English-language pocket books, many Narvesen kiosks stock the latest best-sellers (Norwegians buy them too). Bookshops like Bokhuset, Ark and Tromsø Bokhandel (all in the main street) have a bigger selection. Prices hover around kr 100, so you might consider bringing them from home instead.
 * For English-language pocket books, many Narvesen kiosks stock the latest best-sellers (Norwegians buy them too). Bookshops like Bokhuset, Ark and Tromsø Bokhandel (all in the main street) have a bigger selection. Prices hover around kr 100, so you might consider bringing them from home instead.

Markets
Since Tromsø has a refreshing climate, the outdoor markets are not all that impressive. Look for the following, though:

 * The Main Square (Torget) has numerous souvenir sellers in summer. Russian souvenirs including knitwear and Sami souvenirs are on sale. Due to the northern location, local vegetables are of limited volume. However, in August and September, little turnips and carrots that are crunchy and tasty are for sale. In late July you might want to look for northern strawberries.
 * The fish port sells cod, coalfish and shrimps directly from the boat. This is not the biggest fish market in the world, but the catch is direct from the sea. If the boats are all gone by the time you visit, go to Dragøy next to the dockside. Here you get good quality fish, they can even make you a picnic of varied fish and seafood. Another interesting place to purchase interesting food are the lorries selling fish, particularly during the winter cod fishery. Cod flesh, liver, roe, tongues, stomachs and chins are on sale. Ask how to bread your cod's tongue right to get that crunchy taste.
 * Before Christmas, the farmers from the inland valleys visit. In addition to Christmas trees, they sell local cakes and sweets.
 * Julemesse is another pre-Christmas speciality, and means a small craft fair. The knitting ladies from the whole area sell their mittens, tablecloths, etc., and the income is often goes to charity. An excellent way to stock up on original Christmas presents, and see traditional crafts.

Eat

A number of good seafood restaurants are worth the extra kroner, and especially in the winter, when the cod reaches the coast, there is a lot of good eating. It all comes at a price, though. Do note, however, that cheap food is relatively expensive in Tromsø (as in Norway in general), whereas exclusive food is relatively good value. In other words, a little extra money increases the experience immensely.

Vegetarians have a hard time in Tromsø, as the knowledge of vegetarian food is limited (however, there is at least one cafe with a vegetarian menu in town, see below). Most places can cook something up, but be prepared to explain your food requests in detail. There is probably no point in going to an expensive restaurant. Chinese places have stir fries, etc., that can be filling enough. Vegans and vegetarian Hindus have to take special care.

Budget
Budget-conscious visitors should avoid anything named "restaurant". Instead, all the cafés in town are good for a quick bite. Expect friendly service at the counter; table service is a luxury in Norway. Expect to pay around 100 kr for a filling meal.

The canteen for employees in the town hall serves reasonably cheap food, and there is also the student canteens at the university campus. It's possible to buy hot food in many supermarkets, and the price may be a bit lower than buying something in a café. Several greasy spoon bakeries and cafés serve the infamous tacobolle (taco bun), a doughy bun with mince, tomato sauce and cheese. Highly uncultured, but yummy, for 30 kr. Both Yonas and Peppes Pizza have lunch buffets (eat as much as you can) during the daytime on weekdays, for around 100 kr. Peppes Pizza has free internet as well.

Mid-range
In this category expect sit-down friendly service and prices varying from 150–230 kr for a filling plate of food. Italian food is not found in the city centre, but a few places in residential areas serve up thin, Italian pizza and pasta. Picando and Allegro are found on the mainland side, and La Speranza is found at Håpet on the west side of the Island. On Kvaløya, Thai food is found at Ban Thai where Kusaya prepares tasty home cooking from her homeland in a rather unassuming restaurant (Bus 42 takes you there). Finish off with some Thai karaoke. Chinese food is available at Choi's Kjøkken and Shanghai, both situated in the north of the city. Mains here start at 130 kr. More upmarket alternatives include Tang's, Lotus. Authentic Thai food is found at Thai House Restaurant. Steakhouses are popular (many people that cook good fish at home, prefer a good steak when they go out). Expect no local character.

Splurge
The price difference between mid-range and splurge is not that big, making the occasional splurge a good value. Local fish options can be found in Full Steam and Skirri in the east side of the island.

Drink

Tromsø is known throughout Norway for its hefty nightlife, and there's always room for one more barfly. Throughout the week, people hang around in cafés, and in the week-ends, it's always full at every dance floor.

People in Tromsø have an emotional relationship to their beer. Mack continues to resist takeover attempts from the dark forces of Southern Norwegian capitalism, and locals expect outsiders to join in on the battle. Other Norwegian beers are difficult to get, but a few places specialise in international brands. Blanding is half a pilsner and half bayer, a dark beer, in the same glass. Try it out!

The per capita consumption of cognac must be among the highest in the world, and don't be surprised to see 2-year-olds nursing a fine VSOP at 02:00. Daiquiris, caipirinhas, mojitos, etc., are in fashion, but not all places serve good ones, so look at the recommendations below!

Don't take the age and crowd indications too seriously; in Tromsø the stylish set mixes easily with everyone, and young and ex-young people can actually talk to each other.

The most original place to hang out in Tromsø is definitely Ølhallen, the Beer Hall. It opened its doors in 1928, and has hardly changed since then. Their only concession to modernity was the installation of a ladies' room in the 1970s (in fact, they made a swanky, new toilet for the blokes, and gave the old one to the ladies). They open at 09:00, and close M-F at 18:00, and Sa at 15:00, and that's the way it is. Promise not to ask for Chardonnay.

Cafés

Cafes stay open from lunchtime, and typically serve good value food and coffee specials before they turn into crowded bars at night. Being flexible is the key to survive the stiff competition in Tromsø.

Nightclubs

During week-ends, the places fill up. However, on a dull Monday, go to cafés to find people.

Oddities

 * The Chinese restaurant Il Mare doubles as a Latino dance hall on Saturdays. The crowd falls into three categories: the Latino community that always knew how to salsa, the salsa class Norwegians with more sedate hips counting their steps and the curious onlookers. ¡Que empiece la fiesta!
 * Despite Tromsø being a tolerant and open minded city, no gay place has managed to stay afloat. Open gays are possibly too well integrated, and closeted gays may be too visible in this, after all, small city. However, gay parties are occasionally organised. The first gay festival, Homsø, took place in 2007. Arctic Pride is also an annual event since 2020, happening in November.

Sleep

Tromsø's main bulk of hotel rooms are in the upper mid range, since they mainly cater for business people. There are no five-star luxury hotels, no grand old hotels, no spa hotels and no boutique hotels, and there is one whole swimming pool. Expect multi-lingual, friendly and professional, if overworked, staff, and breakfast is usually very good. Rooms and baths are often renovated.

Tromsø is a popular place to stay, and consequently it can sometimes be hard to find a place to stay. In June, it's full all the time, and the Midnight Sun Marathon weekend people practically sleep in hotel elevators. July is a lot easier, August even more so, and you can benefit from lower summer rates. September, October and November are usually rather full, as are March/April. December, January and February (except the January Film Festival) are less full, with possibilities for a bargain. Also the Easter week (between Palm Sunday and Easter Monday), the Ascension long weekend (Thursday to Monday) and occasionally the Whitsun weekend are less busy. Timing your visit to low season will save you some kroner, and many of the low seasons are good times to visit (Easter, Whitsun, August, etc.).

Rock bottom
There are few of the really cheap dorm-style places, but the right to access means you can camp mostly anywhere (outside the city centre) for free! (nearest spot 10-min walk uphill from the centre), otherwise try these:

Budget
Make sure to contact some of these places as early as possible, since they fill up early. These places more or less have the same rates mid-week and week-end, and do not give particular summer discounts. Private accommodation can be a good alternative. Check out the home page of the tourist board. Most places, though, are rented to students in the school year, and only available in the summer months.

Mid-range
Although Norway has no star-rating system, the hotels in this category could be called three star. Expect well-furnished rooms with tiled bathrooms and a good buffet-style breakfast. Double room rates hover around 1200 kr mid-week, but expect substantial discounts in weekends, especially in winter, and during the July/early August holiday period, when business people stay away. The price difference between budget and mid range might be narrowed by major discounts in the mid-range places in July/August and during week-ends the rest of the year.

Splurge
The top-end hotels are but a small step up from the mid range in price and quality. No hotel in Tromsø is in the absolute top division in the world. Week-end discounts and favourable summer rates can make these hotels an affordable alternative.

Connect
Free internet is found at the Public Library in the city centre (ask the main desk for WiFi access). Burger King also has free WiFi. The student house Driv (see Cafes section) offers eduroam, and unlike the library they stay open a lot longer. Coin operated machines are found at Dark Light and at Meieriet.

Free wireless zones are found in many places around town, including Peppe's Pizza and Kafé Verdensteatret, where it is free of charge. Many hotels also have it, but often charge you.

Stay safe

 * Norway is a fairly safe country in general, and Tromsø is no exception. Violence is usually limited to drunk 19-year-olds fighting in the taxi queue at 04:00. However, theft is not unheard of, and don't leave your camera unattended.
 * Earlier, the local drug addicts used to beg for money along the main street. They sell "Virkelig", a local street newspaper, although they have now been replaced by beggars from the Balkans. Neither represent a danger.
 * Far more life-threatening are outdoor activities. Tourists occasionally try unguided glacier walks, deep sea fishing, hiking and off-piste skiing without being properly trained or equipped, once in a while with fatal results. Do not try any glacier walks on your own. Deep sea fishing and off-piste need good training. Don't over-estimate yourself when hiking in the mountains, although there is a mountain for any level. Most accidents could be avoided by seeking local advice (tourist information, Troms Turlag, etc.)
 * In winter, the city centre occasionally resembles a giant ice rink or a bobsleigh track. To save your neck, make sure your shoe soles have good grips, and perhaps consider purchasing a pair of crampons.

Go next

 * If Tromsø isn't far enough north for you, it's only a short flight up to Longyearbyen on Svalbard. This should be planned ahead, though, as flights vary incredibly in price. On short notice, your best bet is a flight-hotel package delivered from one of the tour operators located there.
 * Sommarøy is a fishing village south-west of Tromsø, with lovely, south-sea beaches and a fantastic view towards the island of Senja as well as the numerous islands belonging to the borough of Tromsø. No bus connection for day trips, except in summer.
 * Island Hopping in the north western archipelago goes with a local ferry from Belvik, 50 minutes' from Tromsø. Islands visited are Vengsøy (100 inhabitants), Musvær (5 inhabitants), Risøy (only inhabited in summer) and Sandøy (3 inhabitants). Bring your own food, and lots of clothes. Sadly, there is no bus to the ferry (or if there is, no bus going back), so you need your own transport, which might be a rental car or a bike.
 * Lyngen a peninsula 2 hour's drive east of Tromsø. The mountains rise 1800 metres dramatically from the sea. Plan well ahead, as there are few buses. Excellent destination with a rental car. Steindalsbreen is the most easily accessible glacier in the Lyngen Alps, found a few hours' walking distance from the road. It's a recommended sight, but hurry up as the glacier is disappearing rapidly. The walk up to the glacier is safe, but do not walk on the glacier without a guide.
 * Senja is a bigger island just south of Tromsø. The area of interest is the outer side of the island, with a dramatic, rocky coastline dropping straight into the ocean. The fishing villages, notably Husøy, Mefjordvær, Bøvær, Torsken and Gryllefjord all enjoy fantastic locations. In summer, there is a ferry from Brensholmen near Tromsø to Botnhamn on Senja. The rest of the year, you drive inland through Nordkjosbotn and Finnsnes to reach the island. If by public transportation, plan well ahead.

There are very few buses into the immediate surroundings of Tromsø. It is difficult to find a bus that goes out of the city in the morning, and back again in the afternoon.

title: Tromsø


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Troncones

Troncones, or ' Playa Troncones', is a small coastal town about 20 miles (32 km) north west of Zihuatanejo on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the state of Guerrero.

Understand
Hammocks and palm trees are in most yards, chickens roam the streets and loud nightlife is limited to very few weekly events, making for quiet nights. Some local hotels and restaurants offer special events such as Movie Nights and Dance Parties, mostly during the Oct-May high season.

Get in
By car, Troncones is about 25 minutes from Zihuatanejo. Negotiate with a taxi before you get in, but a taxi will usually charge about US$30 from the airport. Alternatively, there are frequent small white "combie" buses that head north on the highway from Zihuatanejo. If you board one of these, ask the driver to drop you off at the turn off to Troncones, and then take a colectivo to the township. This is a much cheaper option.

Get around
Most things are within walking distance in Troncones, but 'colectivos' run up and down the beach from Troncones to Majahua, and from Troncones to the highway for M$5 per passenger.

Do
Enjoy all kinds of activities on the town's 5-km (3-mile) stretch of nearly empty beach. Spend the day splashing around, boogie boarding and/or body surfing. Take long walks, runs, or horseback rides on the playa. Or just relax in the hammock, read, and recharge your batteries.

Snorkeling directly off Troncones Point is some of the best in the area. A public access to this area is located directly in front of Troncones Point Surf Club and Hostel (see "Sleep" below). You can learn to surf on Troncones beach and/or tackle one of the many nearby surf breaks, including Saladida, a.k.a. “The Wave Machine” (a great spot for beginners and long boarders). Local ecotour companies provide additional entertainment and exercise. Surfboards, stand up paddle boards, bikes and ATVs can all be rented in town. For the more contemplative, Troncones offers daily yoga, meditation, and chi gong classes—all with a stunning ocean view.

The major surfing area is called Troncones Point, a steady left break, where Troncones Beach meets Manzanillo Bay just to the north. Waves tend to be smaller in the winter, as the Point needs a southern swell to break well, and it is recommended for confident surfers because it is a rock bottom with some coral. Many hotels offer surfing classes.[3] There is only one surf shop, but several of the hotels have basic equipment for ding repair, waxing, fin replacement, and other emergencies. There is also a professional surfboard shaper in town who offers repair services. There are many breaks and few surfers, especially in the low season of June - October when the swell is from the south and the breaks at Troncones Point and El Rancho can hit 25 feet (7.6 m). Breaks in Troncones tend to be gentler in the "shoulder seasons" of spring and fall, and some spots are better suited to long boarders. Near the beach are two sea caves called Troncones and Majahua as well as a waterfall called Cascadas Artesianas. Sportsfishing trips to the open ocean are available as well.

Eat

 * (Steakhouse)
 * Martha's Restaurant
 * Antonio's Bar & Grill
 * Tronco Bay Inn
 * Orbe's
 * Martha's Restaurant
 * Antonio's Bar & Grill
 * Tronco Bay Inn
 * Orbe's

Sleep

Dos Palmas - 2-bedroom house with beautiful pool. Weekly rates from US$1900 to $2500. www.dospalmastroncones.com

Stay safe
Always watch for riptides as they can get strong sometimes. Small children should not be in the water without supervision as it is open Pacific coast and large waves may come even on a very calm day.

Go next
Nearby Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo serve up a cornucopia of more urban entertainments—shopping, nightclubs, movie theatres, amusement parks, dolphinariums, and miniature golf.

title: Troncones