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Public Transport in Tromsø

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You can arrive in Tromsø by road, air, or sea, and get around the city thanks to the public bus service. Here's what you need to know about public transport in Tromsø.

Tromsø may be relatively remote, but it's still home to more than 70,000 people, and has a university and a growing tourism industry. As such, people need to get around just as they do in much bigger cities.

Public bus in Tromsø

While car ownership in and around Tromsø is reasonably high, many people rely on the public bus service to get around the city. Tourists can do the same, with many attractions such as the cable car accessible by bus.

Getting to Tromsø

Unless you plan a long journey on the Hurtigruten from Bergen or Trondheim, flying is your most likely route to Tromsø.

Aside from the ‘Scandinavians to the sun' winter routes to and from Spain, the only regular international route is London Gatwick with Norwegian. Otherwise, you'll need to change planes at Oslo.

As the hub for Widerøe's northern Norway network, Tromsø Airport makes a great place to start your exploration of the Norwegian Arctic.

An airport shuttle runs from the airport to the city centre in around 15 minutes, costing 70kr single and 120kr return.

Pedestrians on Tromsø bridge

An alternative option is to use the local bus routes 40 and 42, which stop just a few minutes walk from the terminal, the other side of the car park. Buy a ticket from the kiosk inside the airport for just 36kr. Otherwise buying a ticket on board the bus will cost you 50kr, and only cash is accepted.

Getting around

Tromsø city centre is compact and it's easy to get around on foot. However, it will be useful to know about your options if you're visiting in the winter or you want to visit attractions outside the city centre, such as the Arctic Cathedral or the university museum.

Buses run from early morning to late night all through the week, with a less frequent service at weekends. There is also a night bus service on Friday and Saturday nights from the city centre to selected parts of Tromsø, although this is most useful for residents of the suburbs.

Bus tickets may be purchased on board in cash, but you'll find it preferable to buy in advance from a kiosk as the price is 25% cheaper and you'll be able to pay with cards.

You can buy advance tickets or weekly passes from the Tourist Information office on Kirkegata, the WITO-kiosk on Storgata, or branches of Narvesen. Check timetables and prices here.

Smartphone app for bus travel

But the best option these days is to download the local bus company's app Troms Billett in advance. This lets you check timetables and buy a ticket in advance.

At the time of writing, a single adult ticket bought on the app costs NOK 41. This ticket lasts for 90 minutes and is valid if you need to change buses to complete your journey.

If you are travelling off-peak in Tromsø, you will be eligible to purchase a single adult ticket for just NOK 25. The app will notify you if you are within the time period where this applies.

About David Nikel

Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia.

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3 thoughts on “Public Transport in Tromsø”

  1. Please advise me what is the best mode of transport from the airport to Smarthotel Tromso, Vestregata 6, 9008 Tromso, where i have made my reservation. What is the bus route and its cost, and also the would be charge if i am taking a taxi.
    Thank you in advance.

    Reply
  2. When I arrive by Cunard cruise, is there a bus service that will take me to the cable car please? If so, can you supply me with further details and any other useful information please?

    Thank you
    David

    Reply

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