Tromsø, Norway
I’ve always wanted to go to Scandinavia, but warmer destinations have always lured me away. I’m from Vancouver, Canada, and whenever it dips below 0 degrees celcius I complain (Okay, I complain when it’s under 10C). However, Tromsø just looks so incredible that I think I could brave the cold to see it. Oh wait, what’s that? It’s not actually that cold? Despite being 2000 km from the North Pole, this place has the mildest cimate in the world for its latitude. Thanks, Gulf Stream!
FAST FACTS:
- Population: 65,000
- Climate: Summer is usually 5 to 28C, while Winter is around -4 to -18C
- Things to see: 1877 Mack Brewery, Reindeer races, Botanisk Hage (world’s northernmost Botanical Garden), Polaria (Arctic Musem where you can see Bearded Seals), Panoramic views from the Storsteinen Fjellheis (goes 420m up Mt. Storsteinen)
- Mindblowing naturalness: Aurora Borealis (September - April), Midnight Sun (May 21 - July 21), Polar Night (November 21 - January 21)
- Arctic Safaris: dogsledding, snowmobiling, reindeer sledging
Lonely Planet says “Simply put, Tromsø parties. The main town of Troms county – by far the largest in northern Norway – is lively with cultural bashes, buskers, an animated street scene, a midnight-sun marathon, a respected university, the hallowed Mack Brewery – and more pubs per capita than any other Norwegian town. Its corona of snow-topped peaks provides arresting scenery, excellent hiking in summer and great skiing and dog-sledding in winter.”
Seeing the Aurora Borealis is definitely on my bucket list. I can think of nothing more spectacular to see, and no better place to see it!
