Spurs fans’ guide to Tromso

While our International Ground Guide is undergoing some maintenance, we thought we’d provide our usual service of advice and information for travelling supporters in brief blog form.

Once up and running again our ground guide will cover all manner of information from travel options to hotel advice, eating and drinking suggestions to practical tips on getting around, along with safety and security advice and anything else we think will be of use to travelling supporters. 

In the meantime, while the below might not necessarily have all the information you’ll be after if you’re heading out to Norway, we’re always available to help – just drop us an email if you have any questions.

We’ll do our best to find out what you need to know, either from our own vast experience in covering England and Wales games abroad, or from our friends at Football Supporters Europe.

About the Team

Tromso aren’t exactly one of the leading lights of Norwegian football, but they have a history dating all the way back to 1920. They bounced around the lower regional Norwegian leagues until their first promotion to the top flight, in 1986. Having been relegated in 2001 they achieved their second promotion immediately after in 2002, where they remained until this season. Sadly for Tromso fans they finished 15th in 2013, and will be playing second division football again next season. 

Their main achievements are relatively modest – two time Norwegian cup winners (1986 and 1996), and in 2011 they finished runners-up in the Tippeligaen, Norway’s top flight.

The Alfheim Stadium is located just west of the main town centre, within walking distance of the harbour. Tromso’s tiny home (its capacity is just under 7,000) is not the easiest place to play, as Chelsea can testify from their ridiculously snowy 3-2 defeat here back in 1997. For European fixtures only two stands are used – the temporary stand that was in place until recent seasons behind the north end of the ground has now been removed, and the South Stand doesn’t pass muster for Uefa regulations.

Things to see/do in the City

It won’t take you long to see the sights in central Tromso. The town has a number of churches and cathedrals, but by far the most impressive is the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic Cathedral), which is actually across the water back on the mainland opposite the city centre. It has enormous stained glass windows (some of the largest in the world) and distinctive sloping walls and roof. Definitely worth stopping by and having a look.

If you’re lucky enough, you might catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Tromso is far enough north that between September and March on clear, dark nights, you might catch sight of one of the greatest natural light shows around.

Tromso is home to the world’s northern-most brewery in the Mack Brewery. As is standard they run tours where you get to sample a bit of the produce at the end – but tours need a minimum number of 4. Alternatively, if you have a head for heights, you can take the cable car up to the top of Mount Storsteinen, from where you get a lovely panoramic view of the city from 1300 feet above sea level.

Most of the other attractions of Tromso are in the more active variety – cross country skiing, hiking, and the like.

Eating and Drinking

There are a wealth of cafés dotted throughout the city centre, which are handy for a quick snack. Unlike the UK, most of these double up as bars, and as evening turns into night it’s not unusual to see that place you stopped at for a sandwich earlier in the day pounding out some dance tunes until 3am.

Among the more notorious (in a good way) spots to drink are the OlHallen (Beer Hall) which is among the most traditional places in town, and the Skansen Kafé, which is housed in the oldest building in town.The OlHallen is only open from 9am to 6pm, though, so definitely a pre-game venue. Or if you like puerile names, try Bastard Bar, next to the Nerstranda Shopping Centre. It serves pub grub and has footie on the screens, along with a range of domestic and international beer.

Getting Around

It might not surprise you to know that most of Tromso can easily be covered on foot – if the weather is inclement then there’s a very handy bus network covering the greater Tromso area. 40 Kroner will get you a ticket valid for 1 and a half hours.

Thanks to Molde20 for the image used in this blog, reproduced under Creative Commons licence.