WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TROMSØ TOUR – GATEWAY TO THE ARCTIC – APPROX. 4 HOURS

About the wheelchair accessible Tromsø tour

Between the wide fjords and mountain peaks lies the beautiful city of Tromsø. Situated beside The Arctic Ocean and known as the gateway to the Arctic, Tromsø was a center for Arctic hunting and a starting point of many polar expeditions in the past. Tromsø is also the site of the world’s northernmost university, specializing in research into all aspects of the Arctic. Check out the Accessible Tromsø tour highlights below!

Note: this is a combined transport and walking/rolling tour.

Polaria

You will be met by your guide who is also your driver with a wheelchair accessible vehicle. He picks you up at the cruise port or your hotel. This tour starts by paying a visit to Polaria! The first picture is the image of this aquarium. The architecture represents the ice floes that were pressed upon the land by the rough seas of the Arctic. You can discover Polaria at a five minutes stroll from the center of Tromsø. In the museum, you find the well preserved, former sailing ship MS Polstjerna inside in a glass building. Go and see the original interior, the rig, small hunting boats, tools, and equipment.

Besides exploring the deck of the ship, you will also learn about arctic fauna, polar expeditions, and the lifestyle of the indigenous Sami people.

Polar Museum

This museum tells the story of the city’s history as a starting base for Arctic exploration missions. The museum opened its doors 50 years after Roald Amundsen left Tromsø on his last expedition north. He never returned from his mission, that is why a large part of the museum is dedicated to Amundsen. He was the first man that reached both the North and South Pole. Some of the exhibition is only explained in Norwegian, so make sure you ask an English language information booklet at the reception.

Arctic Cathedral

The Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø is actually a local church, but people call it a cathedral because of its impressive architecture. See the Arctic Cathedral´s impressive interior architecture and stained glass mosaic. Experience the cathedral’s breathtaking acoustics when they play the piano. And get inspired while you hear beautiful Norwegian folk songs and hymns performed by professional musicians.

Tromsø Museum

Another museum on this tour is the Tromsø Museum. Here you see the Sami exhibition. Learn about the Sami people, their traditional culture and recent history. The museum is certainly a must-see for northern light hunters because the permanent ‘The Aurora Explained’ exhibition explains the science behind the magical ribbons of light. Then there is also another permanent exhibition that shows the political struggle for recognition of the Sami people in Norway.

Accessibility note: the museum has good access for a wheelchair. The museum shop, ticket counter, one of the exhibitions and an accessible toilet are situated on the ground floor. The rest of the exhibitions are situated on the first floor and are accessible with a lift.

Tromsø Cable Car

To finish this tour, you will take the Tromsø Cable Car for a beautiful panoramic view of Tromsø and its surroundings. The two gondolas, known as Seal and Polar bear will take you up and down the mountain. So relax and take in the epic views!

Accessibility note: there is a ramp to get into the cable car, but unfortunately they do not have a ramp for access to the ticket room (note: only for guests who are paying directly). Guests who have voucher or payment confirmation can call to their lower station if assistance is needed to access the cable car.