Arctic Cathedral
Ishavskatedralen
A triangular modernist church completed in 1965, and a landmark of Tromsø. At night its lights reflect on the strait, making it a classic spot to photograph alongside the northern lights.
The Arctic Cathedral's official name is Tromsdalen Church. It stands on the mainland side of the east bank of Tromsø Bridge. Architect Jan Inge Hovig designed it, and it was completed in 1965. Its eleven layered white triangular concrete panels look like drifting ice or drying racks for fish, making it the most famous modern building in northern Norway. The east wall of the interior holds a 140-square-meter stained glass mural, The Second Coming of Christ, created by Victor Sparre in 1972. The west facade is a huge glass curtain wall that glows from within at night. From early June to mid-August, the church holds a Midnight Sun Concert around 23:00 each night, and in winter it holds Northern Lights Concerts. Tickets cost about 250–300 NOK, and it is a wonderful way to experience the atmosphere of the Arctic. Admission to the church costs about 70 NOK (as of 2024), and it is closed to visitors during services and concerts. Getting there: it takes about 20 minutes on foot from the city center across Tromsø Bridge (the bridge itself is also a great angle for photographing the city and the church), or you can take bus 20 or 24 to the Ishavskatedralen stop. The lower station of the Fjellheisen cable car is next to the church, so you can plan a combined visit. In winter, the church is lit up at night, and the best photography spot for capturing it with the aurora and its reflection in the strait is the waterfront promenade on the west bank of the city.
Opening hours
Usually 09:00 or 13:00–18:00, varies by season; closed to visitors during concerts and services
Nearby sights
- Fjellheisen Cable Car
- Tromsø Bridge
- Skansen
- Polar Museum
- Northern Norway Art Museum
- Perspektivet Museum
- Winter Whale Watching
- Tromsø Cathedral