[Free Travel to the Four Nordic Countries | Norway Chapter] Coastal Cruise Arctic Route, Chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø | Seafood, Storms, and a Journey of Improvisation

Table of Contents First Impressions of Norway Itinerary Trip Preparation (Transportation and Weather Response) Food and Accommodation Experience Sharing Tips and Practical Information I. First Impressions of Norway: A Paradise of Storms, Northern Lights, and Seafood Norway was the most challenging yet most delightful country of this Nordic trip. We arrived in Kirkenes by chartered car from Inari, Finland, and from there boarded a coastal cruise ship heading all the way toward the heart of the Arctic Circle — Tromsø. Along the way, we not only enjoyed the Northern Lights over the sea, but also got caught in a snowstorm in Tromsø that closed the roads and halted the trains, forcing us to stay put for two days. This experience gave us a deep appreciation for how unpredictable winter transportation can be in Norway, and it also sharpened our ability to adapt on the fly while traveling independently. But thanks to this unexpected layover, we made a surprising discovery: seafood in Norway is the cheapest among the four countries — whether at restaurants or supermarkets, the brown cheese, canned mackerel, and caviar were all impressively delicious. In terms of city traffic, cars are extremely polite and always yield proactively to pedestrians; city road surfaces are largely treated with geothermal heating, and some sections remain dry and passable even in heavy snow, demonstrating a mature response to polar living conditions. II. Itinerary: From Sea Cruise to Land-Based Aurora Date / Location / Highlights Day 8 / Kirkenes → Board the Havila cruise ship / Coastal route begins, aurora viewing at night Day 9 / Cruise ship → Tromsø Docking at Hammerfest, the Northern Lights appear, cruise life Day 10 One-day trip to Tromsø Walking around the city, the Polar Museum, the Arctic Cathedral, snowy views from the Storsteinen cable car Day 11 Stranded in Tromsø Roads closed and trains stopped, so we had to stay locally on short notice Day 12 Flying to Stockholm A surprise sighting of the Northern Lights from the plane! III. Trip Preparation (Dealing with Transportation and Weather) Modes of transportation Inari → Kirkenes: Private car charter (booking: Visit Inari), approximately 3.5 hours

Tromsø → Narvik: Bus No. 100 (but due to storm road closures, we were unable to arrive successfully)

Note: Tromsø → Stockholm flight: SAS Airlines, recommend downloading the SAS App in advance to check flight status. Weather reminder Blizzards are common along the Norwegian coast in winter (like the storm we encountered this time) — even if it's clear in the city, mountain roads or highways may still be closed. It's recommended to prepare a Plan B in advance (such as changing flights or booking extra accommodation). 4. Food and Accommodation Experience Sharing Food Experience Dragøy Seafood Market Restaurant (Tromsø): Highly recommend the salmon & Arctic shrimp cold platter, the mixed seafood pot, and the fish soup. Given Norwegian prices, this place offers excellent value for money.

Must-buy at Tromsø supermarkets: brown cheese (TINE), canned mackerel, Mills caviar (fish roe spread), and Arctic salmon — prices are much lower than in the other three countries, so it's highly recommended to stock up here in bulk. Accommodation Experience 📍Tromsø Apartment (Airbnb): Located a bit far from the city center, the room was cramped but had all the basic amenities.

📍Tromsø Temporary Accommodation (In the heart of city): A spacious apartment booked temporarily, with plenty of space and multiple rooms, but no kitchen facilities.

5. Helpful Tips & Practical Information Aurora Tracking Tips: The area around Tromsø is excellent for viewing the northern lights. On clear nights, you can take the cable car up the mountain to watch, or walk along the lakeside into areas free of light pollution. City Transportation: Most locations are within walking distance, and buses are available for some spots, with a one-way fare of 48 NOK, payable via the Tromsø Taxi App or in person. Aurora Forecast Apps: We recommend Aurora and My Aurora Forecast, paired with Windy to check cloud cover. Weather changes fast: even a sunny day can suddenly turn to snow, so it's recommended to carry waterproof gear and snow boots with you all day. The key to staying warm: multiple layers of socks plus hand warmers are a must — if your phone gets so cold it shuts itself off automatically, stick a hand warmer on it to protect it too! 📍 Want to see more Norway travel spots? Further reading: 👉 【Nordic 15-Day Self-Guided Trip】Day 7: Inari → Kirkenes｜Crossing the Finland–Norway Border & Cruise Northern Lights Tour 👉【Nordic 15-Day Independent Trip】Day 8: Sailing from North Cape to Tromsø, stopping at Hammerfest, sauna experience, and getting seasick along the way 👉 【Nordic 15-Day Independent Trip】Day 9: A Day in Tromsø | Polar Museum, cable car snow views, and the ultimate guide to chasing the Northern Lights 👉 【Nordic 15-Day Independent Trip】Day 10: Stuck in Tromsø | The failed train transfer to Abisko & improvising on an independent trip 👉【Nordic 15-Day Self-Guided Tour】Day 11: Stranded in Tromsø, We Unexpectedly Flew to Stockholm | A Surprise High-Altitude Aurora over Sweden Planning an Aurora Trip Across Four Nordic Countries 👉【Nordic 16-Day Self-Guided Tour Full Recap】Traveling Through Four Countries × Chasing Lights in Three | Collecting Auroras in Finland, Norway, and Sweden All at Once!