Norwegian is the official language of Norway and it is the most commonly spoken language in Troms. Norwegian is mutually intelligible with Danish and Swedish.
Sami is official in one municipality, Kafjord.
Most people speak English well. In theory, all Norwegians are also able to speak a third language, usually German or French (but also Spanish, Italian or Russian), as learning a third language is mandatory in the Norwegian school. However, most people's knowledge of their third "school language" is basic at best.
There are three airports in Troms:
International flights to:
Domestic flights are operated by Norwegian, SAS and Wideroe.
E6 is the main route to Troms when driving from the southern parts of Norway (Oslo, Trondheim). Be aware of the long distances. From Oslo to the southern border of Troms it is appr. 1400 kilometers, and to the northern border appr. 1820 kilometers.
It is also possible to drive to Troms from Finland via European Route E8 from Tornio through the Torne Valley. E10 from Kiruna and Lulea in Sweden enters Norway just north of Narvik in Nordland county. The distance from the national border to Troms county border is appr. 50 kilometers.
If you arrive during winter, be aware that winter tires are necessary and required by law. Do not try to drive without, even if you don't expect snow or ice.
Getting around in Troms is easiest if you have your own car. There are reasonably good roads all over the county. The main road network is mostly of quite good standard. Some roads are narrow and windy, this is especially true when it comes to local roads. Traffic levels are low, except in and around the largest towns.
If you do not have a car, bus might be a good option, maybe even the only option. Most communities in the county can be reached by bus. There are regular bus connections between the larger towns, normally several buses each day. There are also regular connections to Alta in Finnmark county and Narvik in Nordland county. When it comes to smaller communities there might be a very limited service, maybe just a few buses during the week. It's important to plan ahead and check the timetables!
Many coastal communities can be reached by catamaran from the nearest town; Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromso or Skjervoy. There are also catamaran routes between these towns. Hurtigruten travels most of the Norwegian coast and also calls at these four ports.
Air travel is possible between Tromso and Harstad (Evenes airport), and between Tromso and Storslett (Sorkjosen airport). If you book your ticket well in advance this is likely to be the cheapest (and fastest) way of travelling between these places.
Timetables for most city- local- and regional buses, catamarans and ferries in Troms county can be found at [http://177troms.no/ 177troms.no]. Unfortunately this page is in Norwegian only. Look for "Rutetabeller".