[Nordic 15-Day Independent Trip] Day 11: Stranded in Tromsø, Then Unexpectedly Flying to Stockholm | A Surprise Aurora High in the Sky Over Sweden

Table of Contents Trip 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 and High-Altitude Aurora Adventure Hostel Check-in & 7-Eleven Surprise Prices Trip Summary & Other Nordic Travel Notes 1. Trip Overview Today, we once again tried departing from Tromsø, Norway, taking a bus to Narvik and then transferring to a train to reach Abisko, Sweden's famous spot for the Northern Lights. But the trip took a dramatic turn: the train was suddenly cancelled, so we scrambled to change our plans and chose to fly to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden instead. What we never expected was that, on the plane, we actually managed to see the Northern Lights — a green glow high up in the sky, putting a perfect ending to this chaotic and helpless journey. 2. Original Travel Plan Bus: Tromsø → Narvik (Bus No. 100, about 4 hours, bookable via Svipper) Train: Narvik → Abisko (SJ train, about 1.5 hours, bookable via Omio) Route highlights: This section is the only public transport route crossing the Norwegian and Swedish Arctic Circle, but in winter it is prone to snowstorms and the risk of road closures. 2. Backup plans and contingencies Due to another transportation disruption, we will fly to Stockholm instead (SAS Airlines is the primary flight choice). We recommend downloading the SAS App to check flight status in real time. 3. Stockholm Transportation Airport → City Center: Arlanda Express, about NT$580 per person, is the fastest and most convenient way.

4. Accommodation Information Accommodation: Generator Stockholm Hostel (4-person room) Room rate: NT$3,356 per night per room Review: Affordable price, offers private space, and the location isn't bad either.

3. Tromsø → Stockholm: An Unexpected Gift of High-Altitude Aurora Challenging Tromsø → Abisko Once Again We were woken up just after five in the morning 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'd try heading to Abisko again, so everyone got ready early and set out, even stopping by a souvenir shop along the way.

Arrived at the bus station at 9:40, and at 10:10 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'd need to buy new tickets, and we could only accept it with a wry smile. Sudden train cancellation Just as we were about to buy train tickets through our phones, we received several text message notifications — our train from Narvik to Abisko had been cancelled!

I originally thought the train would be the most stable part of the trip, but something still went wrong. Fortunately we hadn't paid yet, so we immediately told the driver we'd be getting off, and decided to activate our backup plan: give up on Abisko and fly to Stockholm instead. Right there at the station, we booked flights, found accommodation, and canceled our original arrangements — we were busy with all of it until noon before it was finally settled. Walking to the Arctic Cathedral and taking in the city scenery With more than two hours left before our flight, we decided to explore Tromsø on foot instead, starting from the bus station and following the harbor coastline toward the Arctic Cathedral. This route we'd originally planned to take by bus turned out to have even more moving scenery once we walked it.

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, who happened to be dining at the same seafood restaurant we had eaten at two days earlier — what a small world!

On the way back, another little episode struck — my locker just wouldn't open, but luckily A-Cat managed to unlock it after "turning it at a different angle," and everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Airport Scare and High-Altitude Aurora Encounter After arriving at Tromsø Airport, this time we boarded the familiar SAS flight. Just as we thought everything was going smoothly, A-Juan sent over a photo — and there, right after our flight number, were the words "Cancelled"! Everyone tensed up all over again.

It turned out to be a misunderstanding when we went to ask—A-Juan was looking at the arrival flights board, not the departures one. We only relaxed once we used the SAS app to confirm the flight was indeed heading to Tromsø. Before takeoff, we also saw ground crew de-icing and clearing snow off the wings, which made the flight to the Arctic feel especially ceremonial. Fat Auntie joked, "Do you think we'll see the aurora from the plane?" I said, "That's my dream!

My dream came true — after the plane broke through the clouds, the sky above was crystal clear. I deliberately moved to a seat on the other side (my original side had the sunset), and there it was — the aurora shimmering right outside the window! My cat-friend and I were busy snapping photos from every angle, hearts racing with excitement and emotion. Even though we never made it to Abisko, we still witnessed the aurora of this trip's sixth night, high above the skies of Sweden!

Youth Hostel Check-in & 7-Eleven Price Shock After arriving in Stockholm, we checked into a youth hostel we'd booked last minute, Generator Stockholm. Even though it's a youth hostel, it has four-person rooms, offering a certain level of privacy and comfort. In the evening we popped over to the 7-Eleven next door for a quick look. It seemed like a familiar convenience store, but when we looked at the prices — turns out they were labeled in Danish krone (DKK), which is more than 3 times the price in Taiwan. We immediately snapped back to reality: this definitely isn't Taiwan 😂.

Chapter 4: Trip Summary & Other Nordic Travel Notes Although this day's itinerary turned out completely different from what we had planned, it became the most unforgettable episode of the entire trip. We never made it to Abisko as originally intended, yet unexpectedly witnessed the aurora we had long dreamed of, high above Sweden. That's what independent travel is like — plans can never keep up with change, and only by staying flexible and open-minded can you stumble upon such wonderful surprises. Explore more travel notes on independent trips through the four Nordic countries Northern Europe is not just about the aurora and snow — it also holds the elegance of its cities, the mystery of the polar regions, and the depth of its culture. This journey spanning Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden will take you to discover the charm of Europe's purest corners! 🇩🇰 Denmark Free & Easy 📍Day 2: A Day Trip to Copenhagen | 📍Day 3: Exploring Freetown Christiania, Then Flying to Finland 🇫🇮 Finland Polar Journey 📍Day 4: Helsinki City Tour & Overnight Sleeper Train | 📍Day 5: Santa Claus Village and Your First Taste of the Aurora 📍Day 6: Rovaniemi Husky Sledding & City Exploration | 📍Day 7: Inari Lakeside and the Secret Land of Auroras 🇳🇴 Norway 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 Cable Car Snow Scenery | 📍Day 11: Transport Disruption, Stranded in Tromsø 🇸🇪 A Stroll Through Swedish Culture and a Perfect Finale 📍Day 12: Fly to Stockholm, catch a stunning glimpse of the Northern Lights high in the sky｜📍Day 13: City Hall & the Vasa Museum 📍Day 14: A Deep Wander Through the Old Town and Swedish Culture