[16-Day Solo Trip to Nordic Countries] Day 11: Stranded in Tromsø, Then Unexpectedly Flying to Stockholm — A Surprise Aurora from High Above Sweden

Table of Contents Itinerary Overview Trip Preparation Today's Itinerary: The Twist from Tromsø to Stockholm Challenging Tromsø→Abisko Again The Sudden Train Cancellation Incident Hiking to the Arctic Cathedral & City Views Airport Panic & High-Altitude Aurora Adventure Youth Hostel Check-in & 7-11 Price Surprises Trip Summary & Other Nordic Travel Journals 1. Itinerary Overview Today I once again tried to set off from Tromsø in Norway, taking a bus to Narvik and then transferring to a train to reach Abisko, Sweden's famous spot for the aurora. But the trip took a dramatic turn: the train was suddenly canceled, and we had to hastily change our plans, choosing instead to fly to Sweden's capital, Stockholm. Unexpectedly, on the plane we actually managed to see the aurora — a green glow high in the sky, putting a perfect end to this chaotic and helpless journey. 2. Trip Preparation 1. Originally planned transportation route Bus: Tromsø → Narvik (Bus No. 100, about 4 hours, tickets available via Svipper) Train: Narvik → Abisko (SJ train, about 1.5 hours, tickets available via Omio) Route highlights: This section is the only public transport route crossing the Arctic Circle between Norway and Sweden, but in winter it is prone to snowstorms and road closures. 2. Backup plans and contingency measures Due to transportation disruptions, we're rerouting to Stockholm (SAS Airlines is the primary flight option). We recommend downloading and using the SAS App to check flight status in real-time. 3. Stockholm Transportation Airport → City Center: Arlanda Express costs approximately 580 Taiwan dollars per person and is the fastest and most convenient option.

4. Accommodation Information Accommodation: Generator Stockholm Youth Hostel (4-person room) Room Rate: 3,356 TWD per night per room Review: Good value for money, has private space, location is also not bad.

III. Tromsø → Stockholm: An Unexpected Gift of Aurora at High Altitude Challenging Tromsø → Abisko Once Again Just after five in the morning, we were woken by the sunlight outside the window and the cries of seagulls, and the weather felt much more stable than yesterday. Today was the day we would try again to head to Abisko, so everyone got ready and headed out early, even stopping by a souvenir shop along the way.

We arrived at the bus station at 9:40, and at 10:10 we boarded the familiar No. 100 bus again, explaining to the driver about yesterday's situation where we had to turn back due to road conditions. He said we would need to buy tickets again, and we could only accept it with a bitter smile. Sudden Train Cancellation Just as we were about to buy tickets on our phones, we received several text message notifications — our train from Narvik to Abisko had been cancelled!

We initially thought the train ride would be the most stable part of our journey, but unexpectedly it ran into trouble. Fortunately, we hadn't paid yet, so we immediately told the driver we wanted to get off and decided to activate our backup plan: abandon Abisko and fly to Stockholm instead. Inside the station, we rushed to book plane tickets, find accommodation, and cancel our original arrangements—everything was settled by noon. Exploring the Arctic Cathedral & City Views on Foot With more than two hours remaining before our flight departure, we decided to re-explore Tromsø on foot. Starting from the bus station, we walked along the harbor coastline toward the Arctic Cathedral. This route that we would have originally traveled by bus turned out to be far more moving when experienced on foot.

Even though the weather was unpredictable, switching between sunshine and snow, we still fell deeply in love with this city. Along the way, we even ran into our British travel companion Lumos by chance — he happened to be dining at the very seafood restaurant we had eaten at two days earlier, which really made us marvel at how small the world is!

On the way back, another little mishap popped up — my locker just wouldn't open no matter what, but luckily A-Mao "turned it at a different angle" and managed to unlock it, so everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Airport Frights and a High-Altitude Aurora Adventure After arriving at Tromsø Airport, we boarded the familiar SAS flight this time. Just as we thought everything was going smoothly, A-Juan sent over a photo — and it actually had the word "Cancelled" marked right after our flight number! Everyone tensed up all over again.

We only discovered it was a misunderstanding after going to ask—Ajuan had been looking at the arrival flight, not the departure flight. We didn't feel relieved until we used the SAS App to confirm that the flight was indeed heading to Tromsø. Before takeoff, we also watched the ground staff removing snow and ice from the plane's wings, which made the Arctic flight feel especially ceremonial. My aunt joked, "What if we see the northern lights on the plane?" I said, "That's my dream!

Dreams came true in the end — After the plane pierced through the clouds, the sky above was beautifully clear, so I specially moved to another seat on the other side (my original side had the sunset), and discovered the aurora borealis flickering right outside the window! Both my cat and I were busy taking photos from various angles, our hearts racing with both excitement and emotion — Although we didn't manage to reach Abisko, we witnessed the sixth night of the aurora borealis on this journey in the high skies of Sweden!

Youth Hostel Check-In & 7-11 Surprise Prices After arriving in Stockholm, we checked into the youth hostel we'd booked last minute, Generator Stockholm. Even though it's a youth hostel, it has four-person rooms, offering a decent level of privacy and comfort. In the evening, we wandered over to the 7-11 next door. It looked like a familiar convenience store, but when we looked at the prices — turns out they were listed in Danish Krone (DKK), which is over 3 times the price in Taiwan. We snapped right back to reality: this definitely isn't Taiwan 😂.

IV. Itinerary Summary & Other Nordic Travel Diaries Although today's itinerary was quite different from what was originally planned, it became the most unforgettable interlude of this trip. We were originally unable to reach Abisko, but unexpectedly witnessed the long-dreamed-of northern lights in Sweden's high skies. That's what independent travel is like—plans can never keep up with changes; only by being flexible and keeping an open mind will you encounter unexpected delights. Explore more independent travel diaries of the four Nordic countries The Nordic region is not just about the Northern Lights and snow — it also holds the elegance of its cities, the mystery of the polar regions, and a deep cultural heritage. This journey across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden will take you to explore the charm of Europe's purest corners! 🇩🇰 Denmark Independent Travel 📍Day 2: Copenhagen Day Tour｜📍Day 3: Explore the Free City, Fly to Finland 🇫🇮 Finland Polar Journey 📍Day 4: Helsinki City Tour & Night Train｜📍Day 5: Santa Claus Village and Your First Taste of the Northern Lights 📍Day 6: Rovaniemi Husky Sledding & City Wandering | 📍Day 7: Inari Lakeside and the Secret Land of the Aurora 🇳🇴 Norwegian Cruise Voyage & Aurora Exploration 📍Day 8: Crossing the Border from Inari into Kirkenes to Board the Cruise | 📍Day 9: Stopping at Hammerfest and Life Onboard 📍Day 10: Tromsø Museum and Snowy Views from the Cable Car | 📍Day 11: Transport Disruption, Stranded in Tromsø 🇸🇪 A Stroll Through Swedish Culture and a Perfect Finale 📍Day 12: Flying to Stockholm, an incredible sighting of the Aurora Borealis high in the sky｜📍Day 13: City Hall & the Vasa Museum 📍Day 14: A deep wander through the Old Town and Swedish culture