Norway, a country of breathtaking contrasts! Here, Majestic Fjords, Rugged Mountain Peaks, Picturesque Towns and Natural Wonders come together to create an adventure that has come true for explorers. Let yourself be enchanted by Nordic magic, where nature itself is an artist and you can marvel at endless sunrises and sunsets at certain times of the year. There is hardly a country that has such contrasting dark and light phases. Either 22 hours of daylight or 22 hours of darkness, extreme is definitely normal here. In our article, we take you on a journey through the wild snowy landscapes of Norway, from the mystical northern lights to the charming coastal towns to the only place in the world where you can snorkel with orcas. Unleash your curiosity, unleash your sense of adventure and let's explore the beauty of Norway together. Experiences that will captivate you.Important facts before your trip Duration You can't say that in general terms. It depends on where you want to go, because one thing is certain, Norway is pretty big and also has a lot of variety and natural spectacles to offer. If you want to stay in Tromsö like us, we recommend planning around a week. This gives you enough time for the wonderful activities and tours nearby and can really immerse yourself in the flair of the city.
We flew from Hamburg with Eurowings to Tromsö on a direct flight of around 2.5 hours and rented a car directly from the airport. It was all very uncomplicated and not overpriced. Of course, you can also drive there with your car and combine it with a longer road trip, which certainly has its charm if you have more time with you. For a week, however, we would definitely recommend a flight, as the weather conditions on the roads can of course also be quite challenging, depending on the season. To book cheap flights, look here:... Where to stay again, it also depends on when you travel there. If you, like us, are there in winter, we would definitely recommend an apartment or hotel, as it can get very cold. In summer, it is certainly also a great experience to explore the area with a camper van. We stayed at a wonderful Airbnb near Tromsö, which we can definitely recommend Link Airbnb?
Summer: hiking boots, water bottle, rain jacket, sweaters, sportswear, flashlight, camera winter: dress warmly! Thermal clothing, ski pants, ski underwear, hat, gloves, warm winter boots, possibly slip-resistant spikes under the shoes (when it thaws, it can be very slippery)
It depends again on how you want to experience Norway... The months of July and August are the warmest months with the mildest temperatures and there is very long daylight. If you want to see winter vibes and orcas, then you should avoid the long daylight and travel between November and January. What you should know, however, is that the sun is actually only there for about 2-4 hours at this time and does not even really come out for a certain period of time. According to statistics, aurora activity is highest in spring (March/April) and autumn (September/October). However, you can also see them in November, December, January and February, especially because it is much longer intense darkness here. So as you can see, it is different in Norway almost every season and special in different ways.
Almost everyone who travels to Norway is looking for the aurora borealis. There are many tours on offer. However, if you have your own car, we can recommend that you go looking for it yourself. There is an app that tells you how high the probability of seeing polar lights is today, and we have also used it as a guide. Tromsö is generally a good spot to see auroras. The prerequisite for this is, of course, that the sky is clear. We were actually lucky enough to see 2 beautiful polar lights about 15 minutes from our accommodation:
Here we show you where we've been everywhere:
We used this app: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/polarlicht-vorhersage/id1073082439
Weather: Take advantage of it when you have clear skies, as the weather in Norway can change very quickly. Northern Lights: If it was cloudy during the day, it may still be clear again at night and you have a good chance of polar lights, so don't be unsettled by the weather during the day. It is also important that Polar Lights can usually only be seen after 22:00, and once you arrive at a place, you sometimes have to be patient and wait until you can see them. The sky is changing much faster than you think. So put on thick clothes, bring a pot of tea and enjoy. Driving a Car: Also plan enough time to get from one place to another, because due to the weather, you can't drive as fast in winter as the app shows. Book Tours: Definitely go on tours that show you the beauty of nature. We usually found out more about this from GetYourGuide (affiliate) and then checked the provider directly on the site to see if the price was the same there.
And the adventure begins...
The flight from Hamburg to Tromsö was probably one of the nicest we've ever had. We were lucky that the sky was completely clear that day and we were therefore able to admire a very long sunset. The nature below you looked unique and completely different from anything we've seen before. We've definitely realized that we're somewhere else on Earth. When we landed at around 3 p.m., the sun was setting again, which was really crazy and super unusual for us. What we definitely noticed was the airport. We have rarely seen such a rustic and minimalistic airport before.
We rented a car right at the airport, which was super easy and cheap. From there, we only drove about 15 minutes to our accommodation. When we arrived at the property, we were immediately impressed. We felt right at home here and would recommend them at any time.
After we had cleaned out our belongings, we set off for Tromsö and strolled through the streets. The first impression of this city was very positive and you really felt that you were somewhere else. However, more information about Tromsoe will be available at a later date. Since we had clear skies, we took advantage of the evening to look for Aurora Borealis. We went there on recommendation from our Airbnb host... It was about 20 minutes away from our accommodation. We only had to wait a short time and were able to experience a full spectacle in the sky. The Northern Lights danced above us. This was the perfect way to end our first day.
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But we want to make one thing clear now because we have the feeling that no one is really talking about it. Yes, the Aurora Borealis can shimmer colorfully, but everything gets much more intense in the pictures. With your own eyes, they are not as colorful and gaudy as you always think. Still, it was a very magical moment for us.
On the second day, we went to the reindeer. We booked this tour via Get Your Guide
At 10 o'clock in the morning, we were picked up in Tromsö by a coach, which took us directly to the reindeer and to Sami Camp. Over 300 reindeer live here. Once there, we were all warmly welcomed by locals in different tents. They were wearing their traditional clothes, which made the whole experience here very authentic. There was a fire in the tents and there was a very cozy atmosphere in general.
After we had received a brief briefing, it was time to see the reindeer. We were each given a food bucket and were allowed to distribute the food to the reindeer. They were really friendly but also very hungry animals. From time to time, we had to be careful with the animals' horns or when two animals were fishing right in front of us. In general, it is always very important to us that the animals are doing really well and we had a very good feeling here. The reindeer were able to roam freely on a very large area, were well-fed and seemed satisfied.
The locals explained to us that they really appreciate the animals and want to protect them from enemies as much as possible. All in all, the experience here was very nice and we felt really comfortable. During our time there, you could also go on a small sled tour, once around the grounds, with the reindeer. There was already a bit of Santa vibes here.
After the short sleigh ride, we went back to the tents and got traditional food and tea. One of our highlights was when a local told us something about Sami Culture. We learned a lot about the Sami people's close ties to nature, from their traditional clothing to their traditional song the Joik. It was very exciting and you really immersed yourself in another world. After about 5 hours, it was time to get back on the bus home. This tour is highly recommended, everything went well and was well organized. We were back in town around 3 pm and it was pitch black again, really crazy. We then ended the day strolling through Tromsö with a refreshment at the EGON restaurant (which we can really recommend).
Good to know: Be sure to dress warmly for this tour in winter, you're outside almost all the time and it can get pretty cold in Norway. Don't be afraid of the reindeer, even if they push themselves back and forth sometimes, they are very friendly during feeding. Take the information about the Sami culture to heart and share it to help prevent such cultures from dying out.
New day, new adventure. The snowshoe hike is on today. We found the tour here
It started again at 10 o'clock in Tromsö. We took a small bus to Kvaloa, which translates as Whale Island, for about 30 minutes. The island is perfect for hiking. It is surrounded by picturesque mountains, which are reflected in the clear waters of the fjords. With our snowshoes on, we trudged through the beautiful landscape and had a breathtaking view the whole time.
The way out was a bit uphill but the tour was designed in such a way that there were a few breaks and it was therefore not exhausting at all. Nature here was a dream. A vast snowy landscape with views of impressive mountains and the sun that was slowly rising. In some places, the sky was beautiful pink and red. Picture of Mega SkyThe final destination of the hike was a place on a mountain with a beautiful view of the fjords and surrounding mountains and small fishing villages. Here we had a tea and a piece of chocolate to strengthen our energy before heading back again.
This Place is also said to be beautiful for Admiring Aurora Borealis on Dark Winter Nights. The way back was much faster and it was a lot of fun trudging through the deep snow. This tour was definitely worth it and we would book it again anytime. On the way back by bus, we stopped at one of the best stores when it comes to Norwegian delicacies. After a total of 4 hours, we arrived back in Tromsö.
Today it is time to “snorkeling with orcas” in Skjervøy. Skjervoy is a traditional, small fishing village from the 19th century and is located North of Norway. This is the only place in the world where snorkeling with orcas is possible. In the months of November, December and January, there is an incredibly dense herring population here, which attracts orcas. Of course, we didn't want to miss out on such an encounter. Since the village is about 3.5 hours away from our accommodation and we should be there at 9 o'clock, our alarm rank at 4:30 this morning. Of course, we caught a day when it snowed a lot and the road was anything but easy to drive on. With our destination in mind, we took to the snow-covered and frozen roads at 5 o'clock. We arrived in Skjervøy about 4 hours later.
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Unfortunately, our trip was a bit delayed due to weather conditions, which is why we arrived a bit late and had to jump straight into our wetsuits. You can say this much before, great care has been taken to ensure that you are dressed warmly enough. So we had 2-3 layers of ski underwear, a thick jumpsuit and a thick wetsuit on with gloves and a cap. After that, you could barely move.
We were about 10 people per boat and each had a seat. Here we got our snorkel pressed in our hands and off we went. Unfortunately we were pretty unlucky with the weather. Unfortunately, the search for orcas was accompanied by a lot of sleet and heavily cloudy and hazy weather. We were not deterred by that and so we drove around the sea for about 2 hours looking for the orcas.
In fact, we also found 3 single male orcas. The encounter with these magnificent animals from such a close distance in the wild was very impressive. Unfortunately, we did not find an Orca Group due to the weather conditions and the underwater visibility was also not as good, which is why the snorkeling part was omitted (it would not have been worth it). After about 2 hours, it slowly started to get a bit cold and we were happy when it went back to the countryside again. This tour was definitely not what we had imagined. But that's the way it is when you want to see wild animals. There is no guarantee, but that is also what makes the experience so exciting and authentic. After we had gotten out of the thick neoprene clothes again, it was a long journey back for us. We were thankful for this experience but will definitely do this tour again (if the weather is better) our search for orcas is not over yet. We booked our tour here:...
If you have booked a tour but live in Tromsö, plan your trip so that you spend maybe 1-2 nights in the immediate Orca Village. Save yourself the hassle of getting up at 4:30 a.m. Because of the weather, you never know whether the roads are easy to drive on. Check the weather and try to do the tour on a day when the sun is shining. Don't be disappointed if you saw it differently on Instagram. Fortunately, there are animals in freedom and it can't always be what you saw in pictures and videos. Don't be afraid of the water. You are packed super thick and we were told that it is even warmer in the water than on the boat. Simply put on 2-3 layers of ski underwear and get the rest on site.
Today we took a short break after all the exciting experiences. After a relaxing breakfast, it was off to Tromsö. However, this break soon turned into a bit of a challenge. After it snowed an unbelievable amount last night, it was plus degrees on this day, which meant that there were sometimes small lakes all over the roads. We Saw Cars Standing Up to the Windows in Water and Yet Made It Safely Into Town. Today, leisurely strolling has been replaced by sliding and jumping from puddle to puddle.
But now a bit of information about Tromsoe. Tromsö is located in northern Norway on the island of Tromsøya and is surrounded by majestic mountains, clear fjords and pristine arctic scenery.
What is special about Tromsö is that it is above the Arctic Circle, which is why the location here is ideal for seeing northern lights. Historically speaking, Tromsø has a rich past as a starting point for numerous Arctic Expeditions. The whole atmosphere here also made us want to go on an expedition. Every ship we saw at the harbor looked like it was heading straight to the North Pole.
The Old Town, with its well-preserved wooden houses from the 19th century, provided a charming insight into the history of the city. What we particularly liked about Tromsö is that this small town is simply completely authentic and has its very own style. Picture alleys We felt right at home. Our way through the city led us to the famous Polar Museum, a highlight that you should definitely do when you are in Tromsö. The museum dates back to the 19th century and is located in a warehouse.
It impressively demonstrates the pioneering work of researchers who have dealt with extreme weather conditions in the region. The Exhibitions in the Polar Museum tell the stories of pioneers such as Roald Amundsen and other explorers. Here you can admire authentic artifacts collected during these expeditions, from old navigation tools to original expedition equipment.
Through Photographs and Diary Entries, We Got a Very Vivid Impression of the Challenges and Triumphs Experienced by These Adventurers. A highlight of the museum for us was the replica of the Gjøa, the boat with which Amundsen was the first person to cross the Northwest Passage. The exhibition goes beyond the times of polar research and also covers the way of life of the local population, their traditional hunting practices and their adaptation to the harsh Arctic environment. Unfortunately, this means that there were plenty of stuffed animals here.
We think it's an essential stop for anyone interested in the adventures of polar exploration and the culture and traditions of the locals. We were able to really immerse ourselves in that time in the museum. We ended our evening at home in our hot tub, from where we could even see polar lights.
We started this morning with a short walk through our residential area. Right near us, there is a small stretch of forest with some hills that are ideal for skiing or sledding. We used to run around here like little kids and throw ourselves into the snow from time to time. It was really nice to be able to be a child again for a short time.
Unfortunately, our snowmobile tour was canceled for today, so we had to get creative. So we decided to go bar hopping today. It's off to Tromsö again.
Our first destination here was the ice bar, we had seen this bar in photos and thought it looked pretty cool.
Once there, you had to buy a ticket for 30€ per person, which we found quite expensive. The entrance fee included a drink (traditional wine or a soft drink). Before we went in, we got a thick jacket because it's — 6 degrees in this bar. Almost everything in the bar is made of ice, except the floor and ceiling. It was really cool to drink a drink sitting on an ice stool in his own ice lounge.
After about an hour, however, it was a bit too cold for us to sit and drink and our way led us out again.
You can do it, but you don't necessarily have to. We found the entrance fee to be a bit too expensive for what you can see here. But still a fun stop for a rainy day.
After our cold bar experience, we went to Mack Bryggeri, also known as Mack Brewery. This is Norway's Northernmost Brewery and one of the World's Northernmost Breweries.
We were immediately impressed. It was super cozy from the inside and we had the feeling that we could really sink in here. More than 70 types of beer are offered here. We found it particularly cool that we could easily put together our own little tasting. So we decided on 5 different sample-size varieties and enjoyed our private tasting.
That's how we ended our last day nicely before heading back to Hamburg tomorrow at noon.
