Norway

Halloween Adventure in Norway 🇳🇴 🎃 👻

Our long-awaited Halloween trip finally came about — this time, to Norway, another destination ticked off our bucket list!

With a later-than-usual flight ✈️ and the clocks going back an hour ⏰, our sleep pattern was a little off. After some rest and last-minute packing, we ordered a taxi to the airport. However, due to road closures for the marathon, we had to walk a short distance to meet our driver — who thankfully got us to the airport safely and on time.

Before we knew it, we were through security, browsing duty free, and comfortably settled near our gate with some food and drinks. Boarding was smooth and punctual, and soon we were airborne. Thanks to favorable winds, we arrived in Oslo early and disembarked ahead of schedule, which allowed us to catch the next available train into the city center.

We got off at Nationaltheatret Station, just three stops from the airport, and decided to explore a bit before checking into our hotel. Our first sights included Karl Johans Gate, Oslo’s main street, as well as the grounds of the Royal Palace, the National Theater, and the Parliament.

After a good stroll, we made our way to the hotel for a smooth self check-in — a quick and easy process. Once settled, we charged our devices, unpacked, hydrated, and set out again in the fading daylight to explore more of the city.

Several attractions were within walking distance, such as the Old City Hall (venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony), the nearby Nobel Peace Centre, and Rådhusplassen, the City Hall Square.

As night fell, we wandered towards Akershus Castle and Fortress (Akershus Slott og Festning), which offered beautiful panoramic views of the city lights and harbor.

To wrap up our first day in Oslo, we made our way to the famous Tiger 🐯 Sculpture near Central Station before heading to The Dubliner for food and drinks. We then returned to our hotel to relax and unwind while watching the Mexican F1 Grand Prix — the perfect end to Day 1 of our Nordic adventure.

Day 2 – Exploring the Charms of Oslo 🇳🇴

After a well-earned rest and a leisurely lie-in, it was time to continue our exploration of Oslo. We started the morning with some much-needed espresso and a hearty breakfast before hopping aboard our guided city highlights tour.

Our tour guide, Anita, was absolutely fantastic — funny, knowledgeable, and full of fascinating stories about Oslo’s history and landmarks. Our driver, Michael, navigated the city smoothly as we began our adventure with a panoramic view of the city’s main attractions.

Next on the itinerary was a visit to the stunning Holmenkollen Ski Jump, where we enjoyed breathtaking, bird’s-eye views over Oslo and its surrounding landscapes. After descending back into the city, we explored the impressive Vigeland Sculpture Park, learning about the life and extraordinary work of Gustav Vigeland, the artist behind this monumental collection.

To conclude our highlights tour, we spent a relaxing afternoon on a two-hour cruise around Oslo’s harbor, marina, and the scenic Oslo Fjord. The journey took us through beautiful bays and inlets, with a brief stop at Museum Island before returning to our starting point.

To finish off our second day in Oslo, we strolled along Aker Brygge, a lively area filled with shops, restaurants, and a charming waterfront pier. We couldn’t resist treating ourselves to some delicious food and cocktails at @jarmanngastropub — the perfect way to end the day.

As the evening came to a close, we headed back to our hotel to repack for our next adventure: a flight ✈️ to Tromsø, the magical city in Northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle. 🌌

Tromsø – The Paris of the North and Our Arctic Adventure ❄️✨

Next on our Norwegian adventure was a two-night stay in the Paris of the North — Tromsø, a vibrant Arctic city perched at 69° north, about 350 kilometers above the Arctic Circle.

Flying domestically in Norway was refreshingly easy — stress-free and simple. All we needed were our boarding passes, and before long we were in the air for our 90-minute flight from Oslo to Tromsø. I couldn’t help but stare out the window, completely mesmerized by the view as we crossed the Arctic Circle.

Before we knew it, we were touching down in Tromsø! I did have a minor mishap — having to knock on the plane door to retrieve something I’d left behind (oops!) — but soon enough we were through the small, efficient airport and hopping on the bus into the city.

Once we disembarked, we made our way to what we thought was our hotel… only to realize we’d gone to the wrong one! 😅 After a quick reroute through the charming main street, we finally arrived at the right spot. Once checked in, unpacked, and recharged (both ourselves and our devices!), it was time to find some grub before our Northern Lights tour later that evening.

We’d spotted a restaurant called Epic earlier in the day, and decided to give it a try — especially after Niamh noticed Reindeer Burger on the menu. She ordered it and declared it succulent and something she’d definitely have again, while I couldn’t help but think… poor Sven. 🦌

Later that evening, we boarded our Northern Lights tour bus, which took us about an hour outside the city in search of clear skies and aurora activity. For a while, we saw only a faint flicker — and nearly gave up hope — when suddenly, the sky exploded in color. Dancing ribbons of green and purple shimmered across the night. It was utterly magical and worth every minute of waiting. 🌌

Returning to Tromsø late that night, we weren’t ready to call it a day just yet. We wandered around the harbor, snapping funny photos and soaking in the peaceful Arctic stillness before heading back to the hotel well past 1 a.m.

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A Leisurely Day in the Arctic City ☕️

The next morning was all about a late, lazy breakfast before heading out to explore. First on the list was a hike up to Tromsø Utsiktspunkt, a hidden gem above the city that offers incredible panoramic views. The crisp air and snowy trails made it feel like something out of a storybook.

Back down in the city, we checked out a few local highlights — Tromsø Cathedral, the Roald Amundsen Monument, and Eidis Hansen Rock — before stopping for a coffee break at Risø Mat & Kaffebar. Their espresso cake and drip coffee were just what we needed to warm up and refuel.

We spent the afternoon hunting down Tromsø’s amazing street art, before taking the scenic walk across the Tromsø Bridge to the Arctic Cathedral. The views from there were stunning! Feeling adventurous, we continued up the Sherpa’s Trail for a higher vantage point. Let’s just say… I learned the hard way how slippery Arctic ice can be. Thankfully, only my pride was bruised. 😅

After a safe descent and a walk back across the bridge, we relaxed at the hotel before heading out for our final evening in Tromsø. Dinner was at Pastafabrikken, a cozy Italian spot — and on our walk there, we were treated to another surprise burst of Northern Lights right by the harbor!

We couldn’t have planned it better if we tried. 🌠

To wrap up our stay, we visited the Magic Ice Bar, an incredible ice lounge filled with crystal-clear ice sculptures and chilled cocktails served in glasses made of ice. It was freezing, yes, but such a fun, surreal experience.

And on our stroll back to the hotel — as if Tromsø wanted to give us one last gift — the aurora appeared again, dancing faintly in the sky. It was the perfect ending to our Arctic adventure. 💚

Next stop: Bergen — the gateway to Norway’s longest and deepest fjord! 🇳🇴🌊

Day 5 – Bergen Bound 🇳🇴

On the morning of Day 5 of our Nordic adventure, we were both grateful we’d packed the night before — neither of us wanted to leave our cozy bed. Still, we had enough time to enjoy breakfast before checking out and heading to catch our bus to the airport, which we timed perfectly.

There was a slight queue at security, but we breezed through in no time. Before long, we were boarding our plane ✈️ for our next destination — Bergen. We were flying on an Embraer 290 aircraft and had our row to ourselves. The 1 hour 45 minute flight treated us to incredible views of the fjords as we descended into Bergen Airport.

Continuing our streak of perfect timing, we caught the Airport Express bus just as it arrived, which dropped us close to our hotel, conveniently located near the harbor and fish market (Torget).

As we spotted Bergen Cathedral in the distance, we joked, “Bet our hotel is right next to that — maybe we’ll even have a view from our room.” Of course, that turned out to be true!

We were a bit early for check-in, but since it was a self-check-in process, we decided to give it a go — and it worked perfectly. After unpacking and recharging everything (as per usual), we made a plan to explore the city while there was still daylight.

First on the agenda: coffee — specifically, a much-needed double espresso from Kaffemisjonen, an award-winning coffee shop known for its brews. Once refueled, we wandered along Bryggen, the medieval wharf in the historic harbor district famous for its colorful wooden boathouses.

From there, we continued toward the 13th-century Bergenhus Fortress, enjoying sweeping views of the harbor.

After a leisurely stroll, we tackled the steep zig-zagging hike toward the Mirador viewpoint. The climb was worth every step — we were rewarded with panoramic views of the entire city just as the sun was setting. With the daylight fading and travel fatigue setting in, we decided to descend and continue exploring the city itself.

We wandered through the streets, admiring statues, plazas, and landmarks such as the Ludvig Holberg statue, Sailor’s Monument, The National Stage, Edvard Grieg statue, and even tried (unsuccessfully) to locate the Gestapomuseet — despite standing right near it outside Finnegan’s Bar and The National Stage.

Re-evaluating our route at the Henrik Ibsen statue, we walked toward Festplassen (“The Party Place”), a lively public square featuring the Ole Bull fountain and Musikkpaviljongen. The park offered lovely views over Lille Lungegårdsvann lake, home to art installations like the Steel Sculpture of King Olav Kyrre, Byge (which displays real-time weather data), and Sprøytegutten.

Our exploration continued past the KODE Art Museum toward St. John’s Church, Bergen’s highest. Unfortunately, it was under full restoration, but it did give us another great vantage point over the city.

We strolled down to Torgallmenningen, Bergen’s main square, and decided it was time for food. We settled on Egon restaurant near the harbor, chatting about the city, the sights, and our plans for the next day.

Before calling it a night, Niamh’s curiosity got the better of her — we made one final stop to check out the Leprosy Hospital, rounding off another full day of adventure.

Day 6 🇳🇴- Bergen : Fjords, Coffee & Halloween Magic 🎃

The morning of our first full day in Bergen started slowly — our hotel room was toasty and cozy, making it hard to leave the warmth. Once we finally got up and ready for the day ahead, our first mission was to locate the meeting point for our Nordic fjord cruise later that morning. But before that, priorities: coffee.

We stumbled upon a quaint little café tucked in the heart of Bryggen Wharf called Kaf Kafe, where the scent of freshly baked pastries drifted through the crisp air. Over steaming cups of coffee and a delicious Kanelboller (Norwegian cinnamon bun), we watched the quiet bustle of the historic harbor come to life.

Soon after, we took the short stroll toward the pier for our 3.5-hour fjord cruise from Bergen to Modalen. The journey through the fjords was nothing short of breathtaking — gliding through still waters framed by towering cliffs and waterfalls. We sailed under the impressive Nordhordland Bridge, passed the serene Lonevåg Fjord on the island of Osterøy, and marveled at how the fjord seems to end abruptly right in the middle of the island.

The cruise continued toward Romarheim, the final branch of the fjord, before reaching Mostraumen — once the furthest point boats could travel. Thanks to a man-made canal, vessels can now continue all the way to the end of Mofjorden, offering an unforgettable journey through one of Norway’s most striking fjord landscapes.

Returning to Bergen’s harbor, we were ready to explore more of the city. We wandered over to Skostredet, the hip and artsy quarter of Bergen, where I had what might be the best double espresso of the trip. Niamh also couldn’t resist a gingerbread dark hot chocolate (70%) winter warmer special from Fjåk, a local craft chocolatier. As we sipped, the sound of “Whiskey in the Jar” and “The Wild Rover” filled the air, played by a street musician — a perfect soundtrack to the moment.

From Skostredet, we walked toward Festplassen, finally seeing the Christian Michelsen Statue we had missed the previous evening in the dark. From there, we strolled on to Knøsesmauet Alley on the Nordnes Peninsula — a narrow, cobblestoned lane lined with colorful wooden houses. It’s often said to be one of Bergen’s most beautiful streets, and it’s easy to see why.

We continued along the peninsula to the viewpoint at the very end, where we found Heksestein (The Witch Stone) — a quiet memorial dedicated to the victims of the witch trials in the 16th and 17th centuries.

On our walk back toward the city center, we stumbled upon the Magic Ice Bar — fully decorated for Halloween 🎃. Naturally, we couldn’t resist stepping inside. Sitting among shimmering ice sculptures with a drink in hand was a surprisingly cozy way to spend Halloween evening in Norway.

For dinner, we returned to the harbor and debated where to eat before settling on Porto 13, a cozy Italian restaurant. We savored delicious pizza, pasta, and cocktails — the perfect ending to a day filled with fjords, history, and a touch of Halloween magic.

Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a quiet, relaxing evening — our last night in beautiful Bergen and our farewell to Norway 🇳🇴.