Tromsø – it’s like Christmas every single day

Disclaimer: This piece is utterly subjective as it is about a land I simply adore and I cannot find any downside to it.

This is not a regular story, this is a fairytale, because northern Norway is not just some land, it’s a winter wonderland!

Because last time when I was in Norway I didn’t see the northern lights, I decided to go again even further north, to the land of auroras – Tromsø. This time I picked a more festive period, New Year’s Eve. Some will argue this is not the best time to spot the aurora, but since it’s all a matter of luck it doesn’t even count that much.

Plan thoroughly

There are lots and lots of tourists this time of the year so make sure you book your flights well in advance. I bought my tickets in August and I went for SAS Airlines, which turned out to be an inspired choice as all was perfectly flawless. And trust me, when you change three planes to get from Bucharest to Tromsø, you want everything to go as smooth as possible.

Once you get to Langnes Airport, look for the bus station as it is below the parking lot where the Flybussen stops. The airport express tours the hotels downtown and will get you to the city centre, but it costs 80 NOK instead of 35 NOK.

Where to stay in Tromsø

Lately, I’ve been using Airbnb whenever possible. It proved to be an excellent idea for Tromsø also, as we stayed in a dreamy house perfectly decorated for the winter holidays. Should you visit that part of the world, I strongly recommend Anita’s house . You can find it here.

Anita`s home

What to do in Tromsø

So, how do you spend the very short days and long nights in this particular paradise? Here’s what I did:

• Go for a walk in the Valley

Anita was so kind to introduce us to the Valley, a vast hiking/skiing area on the continental part of the town. You’ll be surprised to see everybody taking long walk or go skiing during the few daylight hours of the winter. It’s a thrill and an absolute must!

Brilliant day in the Valley

• Ski like a Norwegian

Not so easy if you’re not a Norwegian or you barely ski, but… it definitely worth a go. Don’t be shy and feel free to fall a lot, like I did! I grantee you can master those skills a few winter later.

Just do it!

• Climb Mount Storsteinen
  

  It`s more of a hill, but the view is great!
  

View from Mount Storsteinen

• Eat delicious fish soup

The food is absolutely delicious in Norway! I fell in love with the traditional fish soup and I simply can’t get enough of! I was planning on seeing all these restaurants, but unfortunately, lots of them are closed during the winter holidays. But still, Emma’s Drommekjokken was absolutely fantastic.

Nothing fishy about this!

• Pay a visit to the Aquarium

  Had a lot of fun watching the seals and some wildlife movies at Polaria.

Say Hi!

• See the Arctic Cathedral

Arctic Cathedral ready for New Year`s Concert

New year’s concert in the Arctic Cathedral? Make sure you don’t miss that! I never knew 250 people can be so quiet! Absolutely and utterly magic!

• See the northern lights

  Don’t forget why you came all the way here: make sure you book some aurora hunting tours and get the view of a life time! It was a bit cloudy and it wasn’t a maximum of activity on that particular week, but I still managed to catch a glimpse of it. Pretty cool, isn`t it?

The northern lights

New Year’s Eve will blow your mind

Norwegians are quiet people. You can hardly see them all day long, except when they (quietly) put on their skies and go for their daily routine in the valley or the park. But that all changes on New Year’s Eve. Then they fill the streets of the city and turn it into a big firework show that lasts for more than 6 hours.

Fireworks over Tromso

Norway – the perfect country!

Norway is not easy to describe in words. Caught between mountains and sea, its vast landscapes unfold before your eyes, never ceasing to amaze you. Here you can witness true miracles of nature – the aurora and the midnight sun – and experience outdoor activities like nowhere else. But Norway is much more than unspoiled nature and rich wildlife. Make sure you don`t miss the charming villages and cities, all very much alike Norway: clean, quiet, friendly and unpretentiously beautiful.

Short stop in Oslo

On my way to Trondheim, I had half a day in Oslo, so I could enjoy a long walk. As most of the museums close really early, it really wasn`t anything else to do.

Oslo seen from the Opera House roof

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared for Christmas, Oslo is a real wonder. Actually, all Norway is like this, as all houses and streets are illuminated in winter, giving the cities and the surroundings a real festive look.

Karl Johans gate in Oslo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Market, small and picturesque, was a real treat and gave me the chance to meet Santa 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the promise to be back in Oslo some other time for a few days to really have the chance to discover it, I get on the train to Trondheim – a seven hour extremely comfortable journey.

Trondheim – peace and quiet in the north

When you research Trondheim you find out it`s a vivid city, with a spectacular night life. You`ll soon find out it`s on a Scandinavian fun measurement scale that can probably put Bucharest a few light years ahead! Nevertheless, you`re not up north to party, or at least you shouldn’t be. So let`s review some of the reasons you should visit Trondheim.

Trondheim – `home of the strong and fertile ones` in old Norse – was founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in AD 997 and it`s still the coronation place of Norway’s kings. The first capital of the country is nowadays a popular destination for pilgrimages, an ecclesiastical centre, as well as an important education and research centre.

Famous for its wooden houses, some of them a few hundred years old, One of the typical wooden cities of Europe, Trondheim is famous for its wide boulevards – made to prevent fires from spreading after the catastrophic fire in 1681 that destroyed most of the houses in the city.

Home of the well kown Norwegian University of Science and Technology, an important commercial and industrial centre, Trondheim is considered Norway’s technological capital. In this city with almost 200.000 inhabitants, every sixth inhabitant is a student. But in Norway, where new and old naturally coexist, that`s not at all bizarre.

Midday sun in Trondheim

 

 

 

 

 

 

The must see places are:

Nidaros Cathedral Nidaros Cathedral is the world’s most northernmost cathedral and Norway’s national sanctuary. Construction began in 1070 over the shrine of Saint Olav. Nidaros was an important Christian pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages.

 

 

 

 

 

The column of Olav Tryggvason the Viking king in the middle of the town square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The old town bridge (“Gamle Bybro”) with its carved gates. The 300 years old bridge is one of the most photographed attractions in Trondheim.

The wooden houses in the downtown and Bakklandet district. The old wooden buildings, originally workers houses, have now been restored and converted to flats, shops and restaurants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trondheimsfjord, an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, is Norway’s third longest fjord (130 kilometres from Ørland to Steinkjer) and it passes through Trondheim on its way.

 

 

 

 

 

Solsiden – former docks transformed into clubs, pubs, bars and some of the best restaurants in Trondheim. Parts of these former docklands have been preserved so that there is an authentic setting with docks, slipways and cranes.

Right in the centre of the city is Nordre Gate, a popular pedestrian area and night life centre.

 

 

 

 
Kristiansten Fortress – built after the great town fire of 1681, it protected the town from  the threat of Swedish invasion in 1718.

The Trampe cycle lift – the first bike lift in the world.

Go for a walk in Bymarka, a large outdoor sports area near Trondheim.

And definetly try the fish soup at Ravnkloa Fish Market.