Norway’s Tromso Offers Magic And Modernity

Tromso, Norway

If you’re looking for a totally different travel experience, then heading to the Arctic capital is something you have to try. Depending on what time of year you travel there, the city has something completely different to offer you. In summer, the sun literally never sets. You can go to midnight sun concerts at incredible venues like the Arctic Cathedral. In winter, you can chase the northern lights for most of the day.

We chose April for our bucket list trip. It offered us the best of both worlds – daylight hours to see the city and the landscape as well as plenty of opportunities to see Aurora Borealis. Be warned though, the temperatures get pretty chilly, regularly hitting below -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit).

Our first stop after we arrived was Mount Storsteinen. We took the cable car up and down, claiming we were still tired after travelling so it was best not to attempt the Sherpa staircase and its 1200 stone steps. We would definitely try that later in the trip (we did, and it was worth it because you feel like you have truly earned that incredible view). At the top of the mountain, you can see the entire town and the icy landscape that surrounds it. So worth the trip up whichever way you go.

Then we wanted to hit the icy waters – first by boat and then we actually went in ourselves. Firstly, we combined some whale watching with a spa experience. The Spa Boat is a brilliant experience. It leaves from the harbor and tours the region. You can watch the icy landscape drift by from the comfort of a sauna or steam room on the boat. One of the options that they offer you on the boat is the chance to take a quick dip in the Arctic Sea. I was dubious at first, but when I saw others taking the plunge, I knew I had to try it too. Talk about exhilarating!

The great thing about Tromso is that it isn’t just about using the town as a leaping off point for Arctic exploration. There is so much going on in the town itself. Firstly, the most northerly university in the world can be found here, so you know that the nightlife is truly pumping. The town is also full of art and culture, with galleries exhibiting the best local work and concerts happening all the time. We were amazed by how vibrant the town was.

The restaurant scene is also brilliant. Our favorite was a place simply called Burger. And that is what you got – some of the best I’ve ever eaten and also the biggest I’ve ever seen. The food was full of flavor and clearly made using fresh, local ingredients. Some of the local ingredients included things like reindeer, stockfish and even seagull eggs.

Then there are the northern lights. They are as amazing as the games you’ll find when you check this site. Watching them dance over the city as the skies darken is pure magic. We also took a guided trip out into the middle of nowhere to watch them move across a night sky like I’ve never seen before.