Statsraad Lehmkuhl visits Tromsø April 20–22, 2025
Modern-day Tromsø is a vibrant city, but people have lived on Tromsøya for more than 10,000 years. The city centre is located at the southern end of the island, though today Tromsø has expanded across the bridge to the mainland and out to the neighbouring island of Kvaløya. In total, around 80,000 people live in the city.
Midnight sun
Tromsø lies far north of the Arctic Circle and experiences the midnight sun from late May to late July. The polar night lasts from late November until mid-January. It’s not completely dark around the clock, though, the soft winter light and the aurora borealis or northern lights, which often flicker across the sky, attract visitors from all over the world during the winter months.
Tromsøya itself is low-lying, but to the east the Lyngen Alps rise sharply, while to the west and north, Kvaløya and Ringvassøy offer steep and dramatic mountain landscapes.
Fishing
Fishing built this city. The waters around Tromsø are rich in fish, and the sheltered harbours offered protection from storms. From the 18th century onward, the fisheries grew in importance, and Tromsø became a key harbour for traders and fishermen following the northward migration of the cod.
In the 19th century, the city gained a new role. Ships set out not only to fish, but also to explore. Tromsø became a base for seal hunting, polar research, and scientific expeditions to Svalbard, Greenland, and the Arctic Ocean. This is when the city earned its nickname Gateway to the Arctic.
Many of the crew members aboard these vessels came from Tromsø and the surrounding areas, people who were used to ice and cold, and skilled in navigating unfamiliar waters.
A city of knowledge
The sea still lies at the heart of Tromsø’s life. The modern city is home to fishing fleets, aquaculture industries, research vessels, and Arctic tourism. The ocean provides both livelihoods and challenges—particularly around sustainability, environmental change, and climate.
Tromsø is a centre of knowledge. The University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway - brings together researchers and students from all over the world. Here, scientists study everything from ocean currents and marine ecosystems to Indigenous knowledge systems. The Sámi language and culture are a visible and natural part of city life.
Despite its location far to the north, Tromsø is a colourful and lively place. It’s often called the Paris of the North.
Normal maximum temperature in April: 0.8 °C
Normal rainfall in April: 92 mm