Tromsø (pronounced Trom-suh) is a little island in northwest Norway, within the Arctic Circle. This is considered one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. We picked it particularly because of its tourist readiness (direct flight from Oslo, decent hotels, and other interesting sites).
If you're wondering where is Tromso, Norway on a map, well here it is. Very far north, and very cold. Take notice of the Arctic Circle in this map of Norway. Being within the Arctic Circle boundary greatly increases your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis, so here we are!
What is in Tromso, Norway? Well, it's a cute little town that looks like any ski town I've ever been to, and there is a large bridge connecting it to the 'mainland' and slightly more civilization. Here are the views from our hotel.
If you look at a map of Tromso, you will see it is a very walkable town with restaurants, shops, and museums all within a square mile. You'll need a nice winter jacket and snow boots, but it is walkable. I especially enjoyed the unique architecture of Tromso's library and the aquarium, called the Polaria, which is the world's most northerly aquarium!
It was a nice (if not chilly) place to walk around, enjoy the water and massive fjords in the distance, and have as a home base for our Arctic adventures.
