"Life is not about the number of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."
Norway has a total area of 385,207 square kilometres and has a population of around 5,488,984
The country shares a long eastern border with Sweden It is bordered by Finland and Russia to the northeast and Norway has an extensive coastline facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea. Parts of its territories are located in the Arctic Circle which I will go deeper at the other blog on Aurora Borealis.
Tromsø
Located at 69° North. Tromsø is a city in Norway where visitors explore polar fishing excursions, whale safaris, and wildlife odysseys. Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø is an iconic landmark that hosts concerts throughout the year, but the Midnight Sun Concerts during summers are the highlight. Another one here is the magic of the Northern Lights that give glimpses of the shimmer of the dancing aurora. Aurora dinner cruise is another spectacular experience.
Tromsø is nicknamed the “Gateway to the Arctic”, located 350km of the Polar Circle it has the population of 76,734.
Established since 1838, the history dates back to the Viking Age and has the strong ties with the Indigenous Sami Tribe people which I will also do a special write up on my experience with The Sami later.
Tourists flocked to Tromsø due to 2 natural wonders:
1) The Midnight Sun from late May to late July - AKA The Polar Days where the sun does not set where the lowest point of the sun is just almost on the horizon.
2) The Northern Lights from late September to late March - where Auroras hunters come together for this unforgettable sight.
History
Tromsø has been inhabited since the end of ice age. Archeological excavations in nearby Tønsvika discovered artifacts and remains of buildings that were estimated to be around 10,000 years old.
The place was mainly populated by The Sami People who are still around since 3,500 years ago. I will go deep on The Sami on a tour at the later part of this blog. By the end of 19th century, Tromsø had become a major Arctic trading centre which many Arctic expeditions originated. It is also a very prosperous fishing port that the demand of Arctic seafoods is bringing a lot of profit into the town.
Water in Norway
The tap water in Tromsø is very pure and clean and is often better than bottled water. Very safe to drink, in other words. Fluoride is not added to Norwegian tap water and only very small amounts occur naturally. It is possible to buy fluoride tablets at most pharmacies.
We drank direct from the tap in our hotel's roon and the water condition is good, clear & refreshing like mineral water. Traces of calcium cannot be seen.
Weather
The winter season up here can be very cold, down to minus 25, and the summer season can be very wet.
Be aware though that the Polar Nights begin around mid-November and lasts until mid-January. During this time, the sun does not rise above the horizon meaning it is almost totally dark all day and night.
The climate in Tromsø is very varied, and the light and temperatures change very fast here. Normally you will find temperatures around -4 degrees in the winter, but on an Arctic winter adventure like Northern Light hunting, it can be very much colder. We are visiting on the month of February, I checked the weather forecast for these days, it will be -6 to -12 degree Celsius with average 5 hours of sunlight when the sun rise at around 915am and set at around 230pm.
So, it is very important to put on thicker clothing, make sure there are few layers.
For us, we wore 2 layers of Uniqlo Heatech Ultra before our woven shirt followed by the winter jacket. Same thing goes with our bottoms, 2 pairs of of Uniqlo Heatech Ultra leggings followed by waterproof ski pants. We dressed like the way we went up to The Matterhorn in Switzerland.
There is a saying in the Norway : " There is no bad weather, only bad clothing".
It is absolutely fine to walk on fresh snow, but it is a big challenge to walk on old snow which has already became ice and it gets really slippery if you do not have a powerful shoe for icy terrain.
Here are the spikes AKA crampons for our shoes.
Artic is well loved by " Queen Elsa" so you will expect alot alot snow, therefore it is important to have your snow boots or waterproof shoes.
Some indoor venues might impose rule of removal of crampons, do take note of signages.
The Day is here.
There is no direct flight from Aalborg to Tromsø so we will transit in Copenhagen and the whole journey is about 5hrs. At the time of the trip, we were residing in Aalborg Denmark.
On the day of arrival to Tromsø, Storm Ingunn made her way to Norway, battering the western and central parts of Norway. It has been 30 years since Norway came across such a storm and many airports in the affected areas has their flights cancelled. Though storm Ingunn do not have a direct impact on Tromsø, it definitely caused a big influence. We were praying our flight from Copenhagen will not be cancelled. Here is the news report on Storm Ingunn: ALERT Norway braces for Storm Ingunn, the biggest in 30 years (airlive.net)
Even when we already in the transit area of Copenhagen our eyes are always on the flight schedule, praying hard that the weather will be good to fly.
This is the second time we come to Kastrup International Airport in Copenhagen, we must have a good look this time as the first of our arrival, it was at the peak of Covid when we relocated over to Denmark. You might wish to read up here: Relocation from Singapore to Aalborg, Denmark
While chilling while checking on the flight schedule... so far so good...
This ramen is up to standard, the spicy level is not a joke.
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| Always carry HP cable with you. |
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| Checking emails from office. |
And now we are at the gate, our hearts finally calmed down, there is no cancellation, and we are flying into Tromsø.
We met several turbulences and there is some "swaying" during the final approach, The SAS captain was very skilled and landed with one attempt.
Yeah! we landed Tromsø, and she welcome us with a perfect white, it was snowing heavily.
Spoiler Alerts: Sun rise at about 0930hrs and sun set at about 1430hrs.
Some photos are taken in the heavy snow or foggy weather so it might not in great conditions.
Tromsø Airport
Known as Tromsø Lufthavn in Norwegian language is an international airport that offers multiple daily flights to Oslo and other Norwegian cities, along with connections to several European destinations.
There are no direct train lines to Tromsø, but buses and ferries provide alternative means of transportation. The fifth-busiest airport in the country featured a near 2,500-meter-long runway and it is conveniently located just 10 minutes to the town.
Once we got all our baggage, we head straight to feel the arctic air outside while looking out for the bus.
Love the arctic feel here, the snow was so overwhelming! We did not encounter any snow last month when we were in Switzerland!
Renovations works are in the process at the airport and surrounding, but all signages are very clear to Travellers.
Meanwhile, there is a taxi stand right Infront of the airport.
Tromsø Airport Bus
Flybuss Airport Express Coach at NOK200 / SGD25 per person for 2 ways. There are various pick up & alight points that are conveniently located in the town. There is a large luggage compartment at the base on the coach where all luggage is safely placed - the standard kind of coach that everyone used before.
Remember to keep this receipt / ticket carefully, you need to present it for your departing flight.
Just scan your ticket at this machine will do.
The bus is clean and has many spaces for storages, the seats are very comfortable too and most importantly the driver is very kind and patience.
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| Seats are attached with charging point. |
Bus stopped directly at my hotel: Scandic Ishavshotel and this is our very first view of Tromsø which took our breaths away despite snowing heavily:
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| My first view at the entrance of the hotel. |
Scandic Ishavshotel
The Norwegian word "Ishavs" means Artic Sea in English
On a picturesque waterside location in Tromsø, which is often referred to as the Paris of the North, is Scandic Ishavshotel, offering stunning views of the harbor and city. Almost all rooms at the Scandic Ishavshotel are located at the very end of the quay and provide panoramic views of the surroundings.
There is a small shop here that is located right in front of the reception, there is also a 24hrs 7-11 less than 10 minutes' walk away.
Per twin per night with breakfast cost about SGD376 (including 25% tax) which is normal here for this time of the year. This is the first time I paid such a high price for accommodation.
It is very advisable to book a room that come with breakfast as the living standard here is very high.
Beside the good location, good views, good breakfast, another good to add is that this hotel is near to pick up points of most tours.
Room
Chic and modern design of a typical Scandinavian air of King Room that is facing the waterfront.
The bedding in this region is standard, a big comfortable bed with separate duvets, which is a common sight in Denmark too. The reason so is to have undisturbed sleep when your partner wakes up in the middle of the night.
The Water & heating pressure for shower: Strong & Powerful flow.
The Water condition from tap: As mentioned earlier, the water is drinkable direct from the tap. That is where we got the water from instead getting bottled drinks from 7-11. The condition is clean and clear, taste like spring water. I do not see any calcium floating on it.
Here is my view upon arrival which was foggy and snowy.
The night view from my room's window.
Finally, I got better views on clearer days, and I can stare this view whole day. So awesome, direct view of the iconic 3 colored buildings.
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| This is how my view supposed to be like long long ago. |
Breakfast
The Breakfast of Scandic Ishavshotel won "The Best Breakfast" award in Tromsø in 2023.
It is really amazing with such a good spread of most Norwegian food with a mix of international food that included vegetarian's choices.
PS: Most hotels here allow the guest to pack away some bread or sandwiches as those who are going for hikes or tours, there is no restaurant to be found in the wild at all. Just remember to ask for permission, be prepared to pay a little money.
The view at the foot of Scandic Ishavshotel
You no need to go far catch this view.
There are some dark corners here where you might have chance to see northern. lights.
But due to heavy light pollution, the northern lights that I caught here are faint.
The foggy view on our arrival...
The evening and night view at the same spot, the foot of Scandic Ishavshotel....
On my god! There she is ... The Aurora Borealis! We managed to see her, right here in Tromsø, at the foot of Scandic Ishavshotel. She was very shy, very faint green colour.
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| Can you see the faint lining of green? Lady aurora was shy. |
The magical blue hour of our third day.... when the skies were clear, and the boats are gone.
We got the view we always want.
The scene direct from the postcard and we are just at the foot of Scandic Ishavshotel.
Bonus of the view: Before the sun rises, you will have the "magical blue hour" below photos taken was at about 0845hrs of February.
When the day finally broke...
Tromsø Town
Well blessed with mother's nature to be surrounded by fjords and mountains, the heart is Tromsø is relatively compact and easily explore by foot, there are many attractions that are walkable to one another.
Tromsø town is make up of two islands (Tromsøy & Kvaløy) that are connected by Tromsøbrua (Tromsø Bridge).
We will cross over the bridges for some of the best sights in Tromso in a couple of days' time.
Storgata
The main walking street of Tromsø that is relatively compact, meaning you can walk across it in around 10 minutes, and it’s actually home to the largest collection of historical wooden houses north of Trondheim. Watch out for all of the colourful buildings with white doorways, half-columns and hound’s tooth patterns in the window frames. This is known as the ‘Empire’ style, and it dominates the city centre, making it one of the most important concentrations of this type of architecture in Norway.
It is a must come places for all tourists, it is packed with cafés, restaurants and shops. Here you can pick up some souvenirs, local handicrafts and Norwegian-design clothing before heading for a delicious lunch at one of the many eateries on the street. And if you’re up for a big night out in Tromsø, Storgata is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights.
Queen Elsa welcomed us with lots of snow and wind, that we kept being slapped by the snow that our face became pink colours.
The storgata of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789.
As mentioned, we arrived on the day when Storm Ingunn was creating a mess round the corner of Norway and bestowed Tromsø with lots of wind and snow. Here are what we received from mummy nature on our arrival:
As days went by, the weather got calmed down and snows are shorter and not that windy anymore, and we managed to walk freely here while shopping and snapping away.
On our third and fourth day, the weather was the best here.
Verdensteatret
This is the oldest cinema in Tromsø named "Verdensteatret", it has been operating since 4 June 1916 and today it is still standing strong, serving the community. The Centurian is known for its unique architecture and has been a cultural hub for the city of Tromsø for many years.
Here are the photos I got from google on the interior of the cinema.
Raketten Bar & Pølse
Located in Storgata, this is a kiosk that is known as a hotdog stand. Not only it is famous on what it is serving on the menu. This chic building is listed as an important cultural monument in 2009.
The little hot dog stand is a treasure of Tromsø. Meaning ‘Onion Kiosk’ in English (even though it’s just named after the owner and not for the shape), this was built in 1911 for 18-year-old Margrit Løkke, who wanted to sell goods from the stall. So, it means, this kiosk is more than a century old.
We shall go into more detailed as you scrolled down to the "food section".
Trolls of Norway
Beware of trolls when you walk in Storgata!
But not to worry, because the trolls we met here are cute and friendly. They are not fierce at all!
Short introduction: Trolls are mythical creatures from Scandinavian folklore that were believed to live around various landscapes around Norway. They were often depicted as being huge, ugly and dangerous and their favorite food are young children. 🤣🤣🤣
If you wish to know more about them, there is a Trolls Museum here. Check out goggle map.
Hard Rock Cafe
Who does not know Hard Rock Cafe?
The northernmost Hard Rock Cafe in the world is located in the Storgata!
It close at 2300hrs, perfect for a supper while waiting for Lady Auora in the town. We are having American food in the Arctic!
The building of this cafe is made of wood in 1868, it used to be the home of several families, pharmacy and other F&B outlet until Hard Rock move in.
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| The clear look that I got from google. |
Tromsø Cathedral
The only wooden cathedral here and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the area. The unique architectural style Cathedral was built in 1861, using the cog joint method.
The cathedral is centrally located and is believed to be erected on the foundations of an older 13th century church. The current Tromsø Cathedral was consecrated in 1861 and still features a bell tower dating back to 1862. Tromsø Cathedral is close to several other popular tourist destinations in Tromsø. It is also easily accessible due to its central location. The cathedral has the capacity to accommodate over 600 people at a time, making it one of the biggest cathedrals in Norway.
Most of the interior work was done during the 1880s. The cathedral altar contains a copy of the famous painting of the Resurrection. Another notable element of the cathedral is its stained-glass windows that were installed in the 1960s. Here are the interiors photos that I got from google as we did not enter due to limited schedule.
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| The interior I got from google. |
Alti Nerstranda Shopping Centre
A small shopping mall located by the waterfront which is also a good place to hide during the harsh winter. This three levels mall is made up mostly brands of the regions of Scandinavian and there are also a handful of international labels like H&M, The Bodyshop & etc.
The National Library
Known as Tromsø Public Library & The City Archives on the goggle map. This attractive building is such an attention seeker.
Located slightly off the Storgata, it is just 2-minute walk from the Burger King.
The original location is in the middle of Storgata until it moves to current premise in 2005.
Roald Amundsen Monument
The Roald Amundsen Monument commemorates the life and works of Roald Amundsen (1872 - 1928) , a prominent polar explorer. Amundsen set several records during his lifetime and participated in a large number of exploration expeditions.
He has the distinction of leading the first documented trip through the Northwest Passage. He was also a part of the first expedition to reach the South Pole. Amundsen also participated in the first airship expedition to the North Pole. He was the first person in the world to reach both the poles.
He set off on his final expedition from Tromsø, his hometown. The expedition was a rescue mission to find a crew to the North Pole. However, Roald Amundsen’s seaplane crashed in the Barents Sea during the mission, killing him and five other crew members and all six bodies were never found.
The monument dedicated to the explorer was unveiled in 1958. It is situated in a small but picturesque park, located close to the explorer’s home in town. The bronze statue is perched atop a stone pedestal. Roald Amundsen’s name is inextricably linked to Antarctic and Arctic explorations.
Well, due to the heavy snow, this is what I snapped:
And this is what I googled:
Eidis Hansen's Rock
Located within the same park as Roald Amundsen's monument, there is an interesting story behind this rock within the Arctic Circle.
It was said that Eidis Hansen was a fisherman, and he liked to drink. He arrived back to Tromsø after a fishing trip and went to a nearby shop to buy some groceries and 2 litre of alcohol but the shopkeeper refused to sell any alcohol to Eidis.
Eidis was very upset over this and decided that since he cannot buy any alcohol from the shop thus no one else should be able purchase too. So, he went to the beach and pick up this 371kg rock and carried it back to the shop and place it right at the entrance of the shop blocking anyone from entering and the effort paid off.
The shopkeeper and many other people tried to lift up the rock and none succeeded.
Finally, the shopkeeper asked Eidis to move it and in return he will get some free alcohol, a deal which he cannot resists.
And so far, nobody else able to lift up this rock ever since.
Well, due to the heavy snow, this is what I snapped:
And this is what I googled:
Here what the plaque on the rock written as :
Eidis Hansen, from Labukt Balsfjord
1777 - 1870
Carried this rock from the beach to this spot.
The rock weighs 371kg.
Trømso Holocaust Memorial
Located within the same park as Roald Amundsen's monument and Eidis Hansen's Rock. This memorial is especially for the Jews who were deported from Tromsø during World War 2. All 17 of them were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp where 16 died in 1943 and 1 died in 1945, back in Tromsø, after the war.
The plaque writes: "In memory of the Jews from Tromsø who were sacrificed during the WW2. Erected with deep love by their countrymen, we must never regret".
A moment of silence is the only thing we can offer for them today.
May their souls rest in peace. #worldpeace #LoveConqueredAll
Well, due to the heavy snow, this is what I snapped:
7-11
There are two 7-11 at the town of Tromsø but only one is opened for 24hrs which is "7-11 Strandtorget Tromsø".
Check google map before you head for it.
They sell hotdogs, pastries, instant food, beverages if you need some comfort food.
There are also various of local chips and candy to choose from.
Of course, it is not the cheapest choice but for it is convenience's sake.
Head for a local supermarket for cheaper choice if you are on budget but they are not 24hrs.
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| 2 bottles coke cost SGD8.00. |
Skansen Fortress
A historic site of Tromsø, it was originally built as a fortress in the Middle Ages and most parts are still visible today. The oldest house in Tromsø was used by custom's office in 1789. The fortress was used as a defence against attacks from the Karelians, which they were residing an area between the White Sea and the Gulf of Finland and Russia. Today, Skansen is a circular mould with a marked raised outer periphery and a diameter of 50 metres, but it is not easy to see during winter.
This is what I snapped during the snow:
Tromsø Harbor
"Havn" is the word for harbor in Norwegian which is also the same as Danish. Tromsø is the largest fishing port in the country. It also serves the port of call of most cruise ships in the region.
Many traditional wooden houses are lined along the way, there are also several piers here that organize tours or private yachting services.
The famous Sauna Pust is located down this pier. see the green lighted building?
This triangle shape building can also be seen from my hotel's room.
Nestled within a corner of Storgata, the harbor is easily reached by foot. We really enjoyed the cozy walks through the coastal, filled with Arctic air.
Strolling around in Tromsø after dark is another great experience.
During a clearer night, we went out at 10pm and get back 1am, just to explore around the place and trying our luck to see Aurora. Though it was late but there are still people roaming around with the same mission as us.
In general, the place is brightly lit thought there are some places do not have lights. So far, I think Tromsø is safe and also very pretty at night.
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| Looks so "healing". |
The lovely views of Tromsø's oldest wooden buildings of red, grey and yellow is indeed Instagram friendly.
The red building is managed by The Sea Rescue of Norway.
The yellow building was from 1820, it is now a restaurant named Full Steam AS.
And the greyish white building seems like a community office to me.
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| This is the back view of these 3 iconic buildings. |
Lastly, at the tip corner of the other red house is the Polar Musem.
One of the spots here where the lightly was not so bright that we managed to capture some great night shots.
Late at 11pm hoping a chance to catch the Northern Lights here in the town while exploring around.
Wondering if these seven stars is the Big or the Small Dipper? Did I get the Polaris aka North star?
Locating Polaris is easy on any clear night. Just find the Big Dipper. The two stars on the end of the Dipper's "cup" point the way to Polaris, which is the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper.
Sidetrack: Big Dipper is an important point in Chinese Astrology, it is the AKA 北斗七星
Aurora is always there, to be see her, there three basic principles to observe: 1) Clear skies with stars 2) Very dark place that is away from light pollution 3) sheer of luck.
Tromsø Bridge (Tromsøbrua)
Tromsø is made up of 2 main platelets and it is connected by Tromsøbrua.
It is the landmark cantilever bridge opened in 1960, with views of the Arctic Cathedral & distant mountains.
After walking around and we came to the start of the bridge where we decide to cross over to get a close look of The Arctic Cathedral.
Expect to be "washed" by the dust and noise that were created by the passing cars.
High railings were installed at the walkway, I think it must be installed to prevent somebody from jumping down. But the railings prevented us from taking photos too, i do not dare to play around the rails to get a better angle as I am afraid, my phone will drop! 😱
When we reached the highest point of the bridge, we can instantly feel the vibration from the passing vehicles.
I got these 2 good pictures of the bridge from the google...
The Arctic Cathedral
The icon of Tromsø, The Arctic Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most popular Tromsø tourist attractions. The glacier shaped church is a true attention grabber that it can be seen from far, from various point of Tromsø. This famous building has been standing by the waterfront of the super North since 1965 which it was formerly known as Tromsdalen Church or Tromsøysund Church while nicked as "Ishavskatedralen" which means The Cathedral of the Arctic Sea. Although called a cathedral, it is actually a parish church. It was close to midnight when we came by after walking around.
Here are photos I took from the googles regarding to the interior of this church. As we visited during the wee hours, there are many lights around, I could not really get a super shot from my phone.
here are what I had.
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Meanwhile, these below are the ones I googled.
The Fjellheisen Cable Car & Storsteinen Mountain
Just 15 minutes' walk away from The Arctic Cathedral, we reach the base of the cable car station.
Per return ticket cost NOK415 /SGD52 for the ride of 5 minutes up to the mountain, It is very expensive but everyone are willing to pay this price for the priceless view.
The cable car was started in 1961 and runs between Solliveien in Tromsdalen and the top of Mount Storsteinen. The lower station of the cable car is in mainland Tromsø. while the top station called Fjellstua is located up on Mount Storsteinen at 421 meters above sea level.
Apparently, we did not make it for this cable car due to 2 reasons:
1)Weather was not clear during the first two days
2) We came back super later on the third & fourth nights - too tired to make the effort up to the mountain.
Nevertheless, I got these photos from google:
So, what are the delicious traditional food we had here ....
Raketten Bar & Pølse
Located in Storgata, this century old kiosk is a living legend here in Tromsø that it has a seat on the list of 'Cultural Monument."
Our first meal here and we ordered the reindeer + beef sausage! It is mid, sweet and savory - well marinated with local spices and ingredients. You may top up with various sauce to enhance your tastebuds like mustard, ketchup, fried onion and local sauce which is lingonberry sauce.
Hotdogs are a big thing in the Nordics! selling at NOK60 each which is about SGD7.75.
I like the way everyone is queuing up in the open snow while taking photos.
When you turn is here, bend your head down to the open window and place your order with the cute staff serving you.
I managed to get a glimpse of the interior, compact, yet neat and clean.
There is an opened yet sheltered tent with tables and bench for us to dine.
However, most of the place was covered with snow and we ended standing at a corner, trying to get away from the wind.
I would say, this dining place is pretty special, it is because on the company/companies you are with.
KAIA
We are here for our first dinner in Tromsø that is easily accessible by the waterfront which is very near to Scandic Ishavshotel.
This restaurant building was from long long ago which was once act as a warehouse for the fishermen.
In fact, the whole stretch of these old buildings was built in our great grandfathers' days which really tested through the times and harsh weather of the Arctic.
I like the cove lighting; it feels so Northern Lights.
This restaurant cum bar is popular with many people.
We are here for reindeer stew and whale steak which are the traditional food here.
Reindeer Stew
A well-received traditional dish that is well love by everyone.
Having a stew on a cold winter night is such a comfort.
Different restaurants has different recipe, just like different homes also has its own recipe. It is a common dish for the locals at home.
The meat is stewed to soft texture, and it does not taste too strong. The usual ingredients are shredded reindeer meat, butter, sour cream, bacon, milk, thymes and etc.
Whale Steak
Look so similar as beef, equally red colour and taste similar too but with slightly sweeter taste.
The bill cost : NOK718 /SGD92.76 - I already being told nothing is cheap here.
Arctandria
This restaurant is very well known here for its's specialties: Seafood... Fresh Seafood.
Located at level 2 of an old building which was served as a warehouse again to the fishermen, the interior is elegantly decorated that look pretty high class.
The staff that served us was professional, polite and friendly, she will ask us for feedback on every dish we ate. She even told us some stories about the past.
Starter
Homemade bread that goes well with homemade butter. What a great start for the meal!
Although they are just starter, but they are impressive, and we really look forward to the rest.
Carrot Soup + Local Klipfish
It was so comforting to have something so warm, smooth, creamy and nice.
Klipfish is a traditional food here, it is made of cod fish that are dried and preserved with salt. which can store for many years.
Well, despite Klipfish is dried, it still has chewy texture, unlike those dried fish in Asia where it is thoroughly dried and tough.
Mussels
Fresh mussels that cooked with butter, white wine and chilli. There is a tinge of spiciness which really suits Asian's taste buds.
Reindeer Steak
This traditional heavily protein meat is hugely popular and well like throughout the city and it is on the menu of most local restaurants. The medium rare red meat looks so similar to beef, but reindeer meat is much leaner and softer, it more like lamb steak to us. It is usually topped with red wine sauce or sweet cream sauce to enhance the taste further. The staff told us that Sami people are the only authorized distributors for all reindeer related consumption product.
Cod Steak
Cod is the favorite fish for us, we love the soft white meat whether pan fried, steamed or baked.
Now we are here to try the Arctic Cod which are mostly wild catch in the deep arctic sea, the meat are not that soft as we had in Singapore. It is slightly more muscled and the meat taste mildly sweet.
The bill cost : NOK1221 / SGD157.40 -This is the most expensive meal we had here, but it is worth the high price tag.
I rather spent my monies here in this fresh seafood restaurant than other restaurants that cost similar.
Lotus Chinese Cuisine
Located right next to KAIA, it is also housed in a old building which was once a warehouse for the fishermen.
The owner is very friendly and helpful who was originally from Hong Kong, he came here during his late teenage years.
I asked, why his family choose Tromsø this far when most Hongkongers choose Canada, Netherlands & England during those days. He said, his uncle was a sailor who came to Tromsø and like this place very much and so, the whole family all came here.
Lotus Chinese Cuisine sells not only Cantonese food, but they also sell Japanese and Thai food too.
We are here for a feast on the ARCTIC SASHIMI!
The owner even "pre-warned" us that arctic sashimi taste really different.
Indeed, the meat are more muscular and need to chew a few more bites.
Aside of wild catch salmon, farm reared salmons are also in great demand throughout the world.
Farm reared ones are more to pink colour due to the fats concentration that covers the flesh.
Wild catch salmon are more to orange colour and the texture are tighter and firmer and not as soft as farm reared.
Beside sashimi, we ordered sushi as well - rice are tight, ingredients are fresh, the roes are good. To our surprise, the wasabi is as good as the ones we had in Japan!
This is Japanese rice ball, which is to go with sashimi, I can taste the vinegar in it which is to my liking. And the last time I had this taste was in Japan.
We are really hungry as we have a 10hr night tour coming up, so we added some Cantonese dishes too:
Siew Mai - which is homemade, taste average to us.
Sweet & Sour Pork (Lion Heads) - Not bad
Gung Po Chicken - wow there are cashew nuts - but more to the sweet side, I do not taste much gung po and there is no dried chili.
The bill cost : NOK1145 / SGD147.86 - I already being told nothing is cheap here. If we were to have this food in Singapore, it will cost about SGD100 but the Arctic Sashimi that we had, worthed the price tag.
Burger King.
The second northernmost outlet is where we going to have our breakfast cum lunch today located in the Storgata..
The number one northernmost BK outlet is also in Tromsø... located at Jekta Storcenter which is near to the airport.
So far, I did not see any MacDonalds here at all,
We woke up late today was because we came back at 4am this morning after 10hr chase of Northern Lights.
And tonight, we have one more chase too, so we were pretty ravenous and ate 3 meals in 6 hours.
We decided to settle for the simplest yet realistic meal instead of searching for one.
Nice view from my table, direct on Storgata.
The bill cost : NOK279 / SGD36.03 - Even in Denmark it also cost similar whereas a Double Whopper set cost SGD9.90 in Singapore, which is NOK78.
Here is the Singapore Burger King's menu that I googled:
Størhus Tromsø
Supposedly, we are here just for the coffee as the coffee serve in Burger King is average.
We were seated and saw the patron next to us ordered Flambee! There is Flambee here in Norway???
I cannot believe my eyes, if you see my blog on Colmar then you know what I am referring to. Of course, if you visited Alsace, you are surely known what Flambee is.
Ended up, we ordered 2 coffees and 1 flambee to share and I managed to finish my share, I am really that hungry.
The bill cost : NOK280 / SGD36.16 - It seems the price here is not THAT expensive than usual restaurant. Choose a cafe to dine for a better budget.
Egon
Located at Storgata, this restaurant is also very popular here, it boasts 270 indoors seats in few levels and 30 outdoor seats.
It was really packed during our arrival at 5pm and this is our third meal within 6hrs as we have one more night tour coming up.
Upon entrance, besides being attracted to the interior, I am very impressed that they have a special menu for allergy and vegetarian diets.
The standard menu is extensive with tons of options that we felt so spoilt.
Once you decided on the menu, order and pay at the cashier then come back to your table and wait.
The interior decoration is very impressive and unique, mostly made of wood with many displays of the sea related ornaments. As the place was pretty packed, the staff are all very busy, so the atmosphere was average.
Anyway, we are here for the food...
Homemade Bread
Common flat bread in the Scandic, we had them before in Denmark.
Tasted similar and equally nice with a taste of fragrance and crispy at the side.
Fish Soup
This is a common dish in the Nordic and I had a few times in Denmark.
It is so comforting for a cold night for us to share however, I wished the soup can be serve in "hotter" conditions.
Fish cubes of salmon & trout are marinated and pan fried and soaked into the white creamy soup.
Baked Cod
As long as Cod is fresh, no matter how it cook, it is gonna to be good.
I always bake Cod as home too, the texture I received is up to my expectations - slightly crispy outside while soft and juicy inside. The only different I can tasted was that Arctic Cods are much muscled than what I usually had.
In fact, it applies to all seafood, the simplest menu is by "steaming" fresh seafood with some salt rub and few pieces of ginger.
BBQ Spared Ribs
It doeant taste that some "no standard" restaurants where these BBQ spared ribs were frozen and heat up upon ordering.
The BBQ spared ribs here tasted freshly made from scratch from the kitchen. I hope I am correct for this.
The bill cost : NOK1202 / SGD155.22 - I already being told nothing is cheap here.
Cafe Aitazza
The last meal we had in Tromsø, this cafe is located in the airport, at the transit area.
Good view, nice coffee and good comfort food.
We ordered a Cappuccino, an Americano and 2 chocolate croissants.
The bill cost : NOK228 / SGD35
Side Track : Tipping in Tromsø
Tipping here is not complusory but appreciated.
Most restaurants with waiting service, will double check with the customer if they wish to add in tipping into the payment. If the customer is paying via card, the customer will be requested to key in the total amount on the card machine. Eg : The food cost NOK1000, you may want to key in NOK1050 for payment.
Some insights of all the tours we went....
Visit Tromsø ( Tourist Office )
It is always advisable to book your tours earlier despite there are near 140 travel agents.
In the event that your tour got cancelled last minute due to bad weather or personal reasons, you can always get to their Tourist Office to check. Rather than going around the town checking with each travel agency, the tourist office has the final headcounts and statistics for all the tours in Tromsø.
Like us, our tour was cancelled due to bad weather and here we are to get a substitute tour for coming days.
This office also have local souvenirs, hiking needs for sale too.
We bought the Spikes from here too that sell each pair at NO244 / SGD31.
Located at the level 2 of port terminal, it is a good place to collect free brochures and maps too.
Free feel, get a queue number and have a chat with the staff, they are professional, patient friendly and helpful.
Update: During the second week of March, The Tourist Office moved to 80, Storgata which is the main street. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/i61PuPPwFzrCCvjG9)
Here are the photos that I got from google as we were feeling sucks and were anxious to get a substitute tour.
Arctic Fjord Tour
By Framtours
4 hours included lunch
Price : NOK2780 / SGD358 for 2 people
Via a minibus and a friendly guide, we set off to the beyond. I never seen a fjord before and Norwegian fjords are the best icons for the country where beautiful deep valleys and fjords are well scatter all over the country.
We went to quite a few fjords, beach, landmarks places.
Here are some photos to share, we will go deeper on this tour on my coming blog that we will delicate to the Fjords.😝😝
Arctic Reindeer Tour and Sledding
By The Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
4 hours included lunch
Price : NOK3580 / SGD442.74 for 2 people
The tour is conducted from the original reindeer herding family that is 30 minutes drive away from Tromsø.
Reindeer herding by group of people called "Sami" has been around before the arrival of modern Norwegians.
Here, beside learning more of the culture of Sami people, we fed, pet and sled the reindeers.
It is truly an amazing experience.
By the way, I did not see Rudolph the red nose reindeer at all. 😝
Northern Lights Big Bus Chase
By Chasing Lights
10 hours included hot beverages and snacks
Price : NOK2400 / SGD301.64 for 2 people
This is a 10-hour chase via a big bus which is 44 seaters, we went all the way into Finland and waited nothing.
Finally, at the outskirt of Tromsø, we got the Lady Aurora doing some slow dance.
By the time we are back to Tromsø , it was already 4am in the morning. Though tired, but worthed!
Here are some photos to share with Chasing Lights:
Polar Northern Light Chase by Minibus
By Polar Adventure
6 hours included hot beverages and snacks.
Price : NOK2900 / SGD373.83 for 2 people
This is the substitute tour we bought from Tourist Office as our original tour was cancelled due to bad weather.
There is a service provided that the guide would take a photo of you with the NL.
We were very lucky, we went to 3 rewarding locations. We even took photos of the Northern lights with various stars and the Big Dipper and Small Dipper..
Some photos to share from the fruitful night with Polar Adventure.
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Please keep a look out for coming blogs where I will share more photos and information on above 3 activities.
5D4N Artic adventure came to an end. We came with 1 luggage and 1 hand carry and we leave as per same because we have no time for shopping due to late nights return. Its sad to leave this beautiful city, it is amazing that they could built a city in the Artic. This is one of the coldest country we ever been as winter is alway harsh in the north. There is a Norwegian saying : "There is no bad weather, only bad clothings". Dont forget your snow boots 
1. Reindeer meat - 
2. Whale meat -
3. Reindeer sled-
4. The Magical Blue Hour-
5. North Stars-
6. Artic weather & "bonus"storm -
7. Aurora Borealis-
8. Artic Fjords-
9. Artic Seafood-
10. Artic Views-
11.Whale Watching- 
12. Husky Sled -
13. Midnight Sun-
Next Artic Trip : Lofoten (quite some time later)
Going back to 
Going home 
The blog of Tromsø has come to an end here with great achievement, high satisfaction, bucket list completed and happily fulfilled. The wonderful and romantic memories we created on this trip is going to last us forever and we will return to Norway again.
One of the best times of our lives in our Arctic Journey can be found here:
Here are the shortcuts to the blogs on our trips in/ from Switzerland around last Christmas:
Between 2022 to 2023, we visited The Netherlands & Belgium, here to share : Amsterdam, The Hague , Rotterdam , Kinderdijk , Naarden ,Muiden , Haarlem , Nijmegan, Brussel, Bruges
and Antwerp.
We even moved to stay in Denmark during the peak of Covid : Relocation from Singapore to Aalborg, Denmark
Feel free, you are most welcome to browse through my other blogs to France, Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia and cruises etc.
Next Trip: Bangkok again but this round it is pure sisters' trip for me & Miss Piggy only then I need to go back to Denmark for a month before coming back to Singapore.
Shanghai is in the plans but not confirmed yet, please check out later. :D
"I travel because seeing photos in books and brochures was not good enough for me, To be there, that was everything"
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