Tromsø – Chasing the lights

When we downsized and got ready to move across the world to get ready to set sail, we never figured that we would ever need winter clothes again, but with the boat not ready, we found an opportunity to wander to places we’ve not been and do something we been wanting to do. 

So, before we are in perpetual summer, we want to experience a proper snowy winter.  There’s only one place for that.  The arctic circle!

My only reference to a place like that was this show called Northern Exposure.  I never really watched it, but I caught enough episodes to get a sense of what it was like to live in a small town near or in the arctic.  For me, Tromsø has the quirky personality and out-of-this-world seasons of (fictitious) Cicely Alaska meld with Viking modern aesthetic and culture.  Personally, that is attractive enough to come see this place of polar nights (sun never rises) and midnight sun (sun never sets)!

However, we are here to see the northern lights or aurora borealis!  Tromsø is one of the places in the world where you can pretty much see the northern lights all the time, if the sky is clear and dark.  With it in the arctic circle, you can look up and see the aurora circle all around you above.  It’s pretty amazing!  We were definitely not disappointed. 

Within the city, there are several really great tours to help you see the northern lights or you can head out on your own with a rental car (you should have experience driving on ice).  We personally like meeting new people and driving didn’t seem that appealing.  To chase the lights, it was a no brainer to go with guides who knew the best places and were in constant contact with other guides on the best places at the moment.  For us, it made all the difference on a day where it was very cloudy and the aurora was weak.  They were amazing!!!  We would recommend these guys.

Tromsø is setup for tourism and there is a lot of options for outdoor adventures.  Unfortunately for us, either the weather was bad or the adventure wasn’t available on the day we were free.  So, it can be unpredictable, but even on the down days,  Tromsø can be spectacular (see more below)!

Here’s our thoughts on Tromsø:

1. Northern Lights!  Unless you come in the summer, this is probably why you are in Tromsø.  It’s a must do!  Tip: Don't buy a bunch of expensive clothes and gear for this trip, especially if you are going to use it once.  Some of the tours provide what you need or you can rent what you want in town at a very reasonable price.
2. Enjoy an amazing culinary experience!  Tromsø is littered with some fabulous restaurants that deliver on creative Scandinavian cuisine.  For example, we had a great dinner at Mathallen, which we would highly recommend.
3. You get better value with the finer eats!  Folks from outside of Scandinavia will probably suffer a little sticker shock when visiting Tromsø on pretty much everything.  For foods, what we found was a compression of prices.  For example, cheap food cost way more (2x or more) while fine dining is at a slight discount with amazing quality, especially on seafood.  So, if you can afford it, spring for the good stuff.  You will be much happier with your meal and feel like you got a good deal.  We learned the hard way!
4. Don’t forget about the town!  The tours are definitely great, but they are expensive.  It’s worthwhile walking around: 1) Tromsø center and landmarks, 2) Prestvannet, 3) Tromsø arktisk-alpine botaniske hage, 4) Arctic Cathedral, and 5) Tromsø cable car.

Seeing the aurora is an amazing experience!  Something worth doing.  Of course, there are many places where you can see the northern lights, but we can definitely recommend Tromsø. 

If you want to see what it was like, check back in a couple of weeks.  We will have a video that shares some of the things we experienced.
 
-Vu
 
P.S.  If your are looking at the Grocery Beer Price Index (GBPI) in the blog, Tromsø definitely set a new high.
 
Grocery Beer Price Index: 29.50 NOK for 500ml Mack Pilsner ($3.58)