Tromsø Cathedral sits in the city centre, a few minutes' walk from the harbour. Built in 1861, it is Norway's only wooden cathedral — a simple Gothic Revival structure in white-painted timber, modest by southern European standards but striking in the context of the far north. The steeple is a city landmark visible from most of the island.
The cathedral is still in active use as the main church of the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland. Inside, it is bright and plain, with a fine altarpiece. The surrounding square fills up for the Christmas market in December, when the combination of cold, darkness, and illuminated stalls is genuinely atmospheric.