What would be your best birthday present to yourself?
For my last birthday, I gave myself five days in Tromso.
Where is that? So, Tromso is at the very north of Norway and one of the cities to go to watch the Northern lights.
I flew from Dublin to Tromson with Norwegian Airlines after got a very good deals on tickets. I paid €118 on a return tickets in November 2016. There is no direct flight from/to Tromso, except to Oslo.
The city is very small, even though is considered the biggest city in the Arctic Circle. To get the city center from airport is very easy, you can just take a bus. But if you want to spend money, also can get a taxi.
Talking about money, get the pockets ready. As a Scandinavian country, Norway is a very pricey place.
For accommodation there are option of many Airbnb, hotels, only one hostel in town though. I had couchsurfing! And got a lift from the airport to place where I stayed.
There are many places to visit and see:
Tromso Tourist information Center: In city center, is a good place to check what to do or access WiFi. Also you can buy bus ticket, tours and souvenirs.
- Arctic Cathedral: Modern architecture, the church is beside the bridge and has a huge glass windows with religious paint.
- NordNorsk Gallery - Free entrance. Small gallery with some sculptures and paints. Very interesting.
- The Polar Museum: Cost 60NOK or 80NOK if combined with Tromson Museum. Shows how is life in the Polar, the houses, food, sea life. Also tell the hunting history.
- Tromso Museum: Cost 60NOK or 80NOK if combined with The Polar Museum. Interesting museum, tell the story of Tromso city, exposition of the clothes, habitat and history of Norway. Also has a section to explain how the Northern lights phenomenal happens.
- Perspektivet Museum: Free entrance. It is social museum, exhibits pictures of many rituals from different religious. Has interesting pieces like a stick, or a sand box. The visitors is invited to have their own perspective.
- Polaria: It shows the life of the sea animals in the Arctic. We can watch the sea lion training and food time. There try to focus on the importance of preservation and alert about the impact of the global warming for the Polar animals. Price 130NOK.
Telegrafbukta Beach: Nice place to seat and admire the sea, if it is not on the winter or if you are wearing warm clothes. Beautiful place for a walk.
Fjellheisen: Cable car to bring you up the Storsteinen mountain, which is 421 m above sea level. A bit pricey for four minutes ride, costs 170NOK return. You can have a view from whole city and go for a hiking. On winter is all covered by snow, still a nice activity (photo). During the Summer, you can walk up the mountain as well.
There are lots of other places to visit. Prices and opening times depends on the season.