View of the Arctic Cathedral across the sound from Tromsø at midnight on the night of the race - one of my favourite pictures

Tromsø, North Norway

This section includes three easy walks in and around the city of Tromsø, one of them a hike to a hilltop overlooking Tromsø and its island. The other two routes are shorter walks around the city and parts of the island. The routes take in the main museums and the attractive streets with old wooden houses, as well as an easy walk around a picturesque lake near the centre of Tromsø.

There are lots of photos as well, illustrating the Arctic scenery and the Midnight Sunshine. Some are taken from an Arctic cruise ship

Tromsø is an amazingly lively and cosmopolitan city away in the far north of Europe, beyond the Arctic Circle, where you would scarcely expect to find even a busy village. It's all made possible by the mild North Atlantic Drift, and the determination of Norwegians over the centuries to make a living even in such a remote location. When you are in Tromso, it doesn't feel so remote, with its range of shops and bars, a university, and many other facilities.

There's more background on the city in this article written after a visit in June 2004 to compete in the Midnight Sun Marathon - a terrific experience for any marathon runners looking for somewhere different for their next race. In my case, it could well be my last marathon, so I had decided on a special location to run it.

• Midnight Sun Marathon with background on Tromso
  

Whilst preparing for the race I enjoyed some easy walking, on the hill overlooking the city, and around Tromsø island. There are three stories of these half-day walks, illustrating the opportunities for hiking in the locality if you are visiting Tromsø.

Tromsdalen, Arctic Cathedral and Storsteinen (421m)

You can take the short steep climb of the hill, or take the cablecar from Tromsdalen, for some spectacular views of the city, the island and the mountains. Depending on the weather, you may continue the walk to higher points on the ridge.

Polaria and Tromsø Museum

This walk goes from the centre of town, out to the southern end, and back over the island. It describes the Polar Museum, a more up-to-date version at Polaria, and Tromsø Museum. The Mack Brewery is also on the route.

Prestvanet and the city streets

Only half an hour's walk from the city centre, Prestvanet is a wide lake fringed by trees with a pleasant path encircling it. There are splendid views of the mountains in the distance, and you can admire some of the colourful wooden houses on the way back. These provided one of the most memorable impressions from the visit to Tromsø.

Arctic Cruise There's also a short description and striking photos from a cruise between Skjervøy and Tromsø, when the legs were recovering the day after the race!

Stories

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