Check which quay you get. Prostneset is in the center; Breivika is about 4.5 km out, so you need a bus, shuttle or taxi. The Arctic Cathedral and cable car are across the bridge on the mainland side.
Where Tromsø lies
TromsøBergenOsloStockholmÅlesundFlåmGeirangerGothenburgHammerfestHaugesundHellesyltHelsinkiHonningsvågKristiansandLeknesMoldeNordfjordeidOldenSkagenSkjoldenStavangerTallinnVisbyWhere your ship docks
Two main cruise quays. Prostneset (Quay 8) is right in the city center, for ships up to 230 m. Breivika (Quay 21) is about 4.5 km north of the center and takes big ships (Cruise Norway lists 365 m and 400 m in different places). Quay 25 is used rarely. Shore power at Prostneset not confirmed by an official page.
Shuttle. Check your ship's planner if at Breivika.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| City bus 42, ship shuttle or taxi to City center from Breivika | not confirmed | not confirmed, pay in the Svipper app, at a machine, or by Visa/Mastercard on board (no cash on city buses) |
| Walk over the Tromsø Bridge, bus 26, or taxi to Arctic Cathedral and Fjellheisen cable car | About 45 minutes on foot from the center to the cable car; cathedral to cable car about 15 minutes on foot; taxi about 10 minutes | Bus fare not confirmed. Taxi about NOK 150-250 (Fjellheisen). Cable car NOK 645 adult return / NOK 415 one way (Fjellheisen; year not stated). |
City bus 42, ship shuttle or taxi to City center from Breivika
- From the cruise port, use the underpass to the bus stop across Stakkevollvegen.
- Take bus 42 toward Eidkjosen into the center.
- Going back: bus 42 toward Stakkevollan, get off at Breivika.
Fare not confirmed: official Svipper and Troms fylkestrafikk pages could not be opened. Some cruise lines run their own shuttle. Taxis also available.
Walk over the Tromsø Bridge, bus 26, or taxi to Arctic Cathedral and Fjellheisen cable car
- Walk across the Tromsø Bridge to the Arctic Cathedral.
- Walk on about 15 minutes to the cable car lower station, or take bus 26 from Torgsenteret to the 'Fjellheisen' stop.
The bridge walk is windy and exposed. Gondola runs 09:00-00:00 daily, every half hour; ride 4-5 minutes.
What to see
Arctic Cathedral
Iconic triangular church.
- How
- Bus or walk over the bridge.
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Tickets
- Paid; price unverified
Fjellheisen cable car
View over the city and islands.
- How
- Bus 26 from Torgsenteret, taxi, or walk (about 45 minutes).
- Time
- 1.5-2 hours
- Tickets
- NOK 645 adult return (fjellheisen.no; confirm year when booking)
Polaria
Arctic aquarium with seals.
- How
- Walk from center.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Unverified
Polar Museum
History of Arctic expeditions.
- How
- Walk in center.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Unverified
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- If at Breivika, take bus/taxi to the center.
- Walk the center and Polar Museum.
- Cross to the Arctic Cathedral; continue to the cable car.
- Return to center; then to ship 45-60 minutes before all-aboard (more if at Breivika).
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Cold, even in summer. Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves.
- Breivika is far from the center.
Do this
- Midnight sun runs roughly late May to late July (unverified).
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Norway has no cruise passenger tax in 2026. A national fee of NOK 100 per passenger per 24 hours in port is proposed from January 1, 2027, if approved (reported by The Local Norway, March 2026). Norway's separate local tourist tax of up to 3% applies to hotel stays, not cruise passengers.
Accessibility
Center is compact. Bridge walk is long and exposed.
Money
Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards (tap-to-pay) are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts. You rarely need cash. Tell your bank you are traveling.
More of the Norway & the Fjords
Sources & what we could not confirm · 6 sources · checked 2026-11
- Cruise Norway: Tromsø port information (PDF)
- Cruise Industry News: Norway to introduce cruise taxes for guests (June 2025)
- Visit Tromsø: getting around (bus 42 from Breivika)
- Fjellheisen: cable car tickets and directions
- Tromsø Havn: cruise calls (quays 8, 21, 25)
- The Local Norway, how the proposed cruise tax will work (Mar 2026)
- Bus fares and trip time
- Fjellheisen price year
- Arctic Cathedral, Polaria, Polar Museum prices
- Prostneset shore power
- 2027 tourist tax
- Bus or shuttle time and fare from the Breivika terminal were not confirmed. Tromsø plans a visitor tax from January 1, 2027 (reported by Life in Norway).