The Arctic Cathedral in brief
The Arctic Cathedral, Ishavskatedralen in Norwegian, is the tourist name of Tromsdalen church. It stands at Hans Nilsens vei 41 in Tromsdalen, across the bridge from the city center. Do not confuse it with a church in the city center. It is still a church in use, and tourist access stops during weddings and funerals.
Entry is NOK 90 on the operator's current price list, which carries no date. Children under 12 enter free, and so do people attending a service and residents of Tromsø. Concerts are sold separately. This is an independent guide, not the website of the church or the municipality.
Opening hours in 2026
The church publishes a yearly table and a weekly list.
| Period | Monday to Saturday | Sunday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to May 30 | 10–17 | 13–17 | Wednesday closed 13–14 |
| Jun 1 to Aug 15 | 9–18 | 13–18 | May 31 is missing from the table |
| Aug 16 to Dec 31 | 10–17 | 13–17 | Wednesday closed 13–14 |
Hours are shown in the 24-hour clock. The weekly list can differ from the yearly table. In the week of Oct 19 to 25, 2026, Oct 20 was 10–17, Oct 21 was 11:15–13 and 14–17, and Oct 24 was 10–11:30 and 14:30–17. Check the weekly list before you go, because weddings and funerals interrupt visits.
Our picks: Arctic Cathedral
A guided city walk and a half-day island tour, both with cathedral entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tromsø Island tour with the Arctic Cathedral
An English-speaking guide, transport from and to the centre, and entry to the Tromsø Museum and the Arctic Cathedral. Other entry fees are not included.
Check availability →City walk and Arctic Cathedral with a treasure hunt
A guided city walk with a treasure hunt, a public bus ticket to the Arctic Cathedral and back (valid 90 minutes) and cathedral entry.
Check availability →Tromsø tours and sightseeing
Northern lights, whale watching, dog sledding and other tours from Tromsø, with live prices and availability.
Tickets and visiting
What the operator lists.
Entry
NOK 90 per person. Groups of 15 or more pay NOK 85 each, and the group ticket is sold at the door. Children under 12, people attending a service and residents of Tromsø enter free. No separate student discount is listed.
Guided visits
A guided tour is available by arrangement only. Groups who want to visit outside the regular hours should agree this with the church in advance.
Access
The church has a ramp and a lift. Parking nearby is mentioned, but a price is not given.
Drones
The church does not allow drones at the building.
Christmas 2026
On Dec 24 there are only services, at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, and the church is otherwise closed. On Dec 25 you can visit from 13:00 to 15:00, from Dec 26 to 30 from 11:00 to 17:00, and on Dec 31 from 11:00 to 16:00, with a New Year concert at 21:00.
Getting there while the bridge is closed
The Tromsø Bridge is under repair.
The church gives about 20 minutes on foot over the bridge. Pedestrians and cyclists can still pass. The county announced on Oct 16, 2026 that the bridge will open to traffic by Friday, Nov 27, 2026 at the latest, with the final day still open. The municipality still gave Nov 1 and the church said "until November", so treat the date as uncertain.
Cars go through the Tromsøysund tunnel for now. Local buses use the bridge from 7 am to 5 pm, and some departures are cancelled, so look at the journey planner. The church lists bus lines 20, 24, 26 and 28 on one page and 24 and 26 on another. Do not rely on a number alone, and check the timetable for your day.
If you arrive by air, the airport page compares bus and taxi. For where to sleep on this side of the sound, see where to stay.
Concerts: Aurora Tunes and others
Priced separately from the entry fee.
Aurora Tunes in autumn 2026
The event on Oct 16, 2026 lasted about 30 minutes and was usually on Fridays at 5:30 pm. Adults paid NOK 250 and children aged 8 to 15 paid NOK 150. Under 7 is free, and age 7 is not clearly covered, so ask. Tickets are sold at the door or online.
Announced dates
The church calendar lists Aurora Tunes on Oct 30 and on Nov 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2026, each at 5:30 pm. These are single announced dates and not a daily series.
An older price
A concert on Oct 26, 2025 was included in the entry fee, which was NOK 80 then. That does not apply now. Entry and concert tickets are separate in 2026.
Summer concerts
A tourism portal describes a concert series on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 pm, 45 minutes, from NOK 200. The page has no date, so check the church calendar for the summer you travel. No daily late-night concerts are listed.
Nearby and next
The cable car is on the same side of the sound.
Fjellheisen
Tickets, hours and building works at the top station.
Northern lights tours
Season, tours and the road rules for vehicles.
Midnight sun
Dates from the Norwegian weather service, with definitions.
The coastal route Hurtigruten has its own guide. For mountains and fjords, the Lyngen Alps have theirs.
Arctic Cathedral: frequently asked questions
How much is entry to the Arctic Cathedral?
NOK 90 per person on the operator's current price list. Groups of 15 or more pay NOK 85 each. Children under 12, people at a service and residents of Tromsø enter free.
What are the opening hours?
In 2026, 10–17 from Jan 1 to May 30 and Aug 16 to Dec 31, Sundays 13–17, and Wednesdays closed 13–14. From Jun 1 to Aug 15 it is 9–18, Sundays 13–18. Weddings and funerals interrupt visits.
Are concerts included in the ticket?
No, not in 2026. Aurora Tunes costs NOK 250 for adults and NOK 150 for children aged 8 to 15. A concert in 2025 was included in the older entry fee of NOK 80.
How do I get there from the center?
On foot over the bridge in about 20 minutes. Buses 24 and 26 are listed by the church, and the timetable changes while the bridge is under repair. Check the journey planner on the day.
Is the bridge open?
Not to cars. Pedestrians and cyclists can pass, and the county announced reopening by Nov 27, 2026 at the latest. The final day is open.
Can I fly a drone at the church?
No. The church does not allow drones at the building.