Tromso, Norway

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benhben

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Ben
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Hi. Me and the girlfriend are off to Tromso in Northern Norway on Friday. Hoping to see and photo some northern lights. Were hiring a car for 4 days so hope to get out of Tromso a bit, although I am a bit worried about driving around the Arctic in the snow!

Anyone ever been here before? Any tips on places to visit?

Thanks
Ben
 
Not been to Tromso but I did work in Oslo and Stavanger for a while, prices are sky high (or were). What I thought was a bottle price for wine as expensive turned out to be the glass price and a small glass at that.
Other than that I enjoyed both locations, the air was so clean and the light amazing, I am sure you will have a great time.
 
Indeed a very expensive place, e.g. a 500ml bottle of water for 35 NK or 3.50GBP. Best check with the hire car company if there are any restrictions on where you can and can't drive. Also bloody cold there at the moment so lots of warm gear needed.
 
Pretty much adding to other's comments. It is a most beautiful country and the Norwegians are very friendly and helpful. Almost all of them also speak excellent English. However, prices are eye watering. Just be careful when ordering and there is almost no point going shopping. However, the scenery and countryside is to die for. I have been to Tromso and was really taken by the beauty and wilderness of the place. You will have a great time.
 
I can't add much here other than to re-emphasis the bit about the car. We went to Tromso in March a couple of years ago, didn't fancy driving ourselves. There was snow and ice everywhere, but it didn't bother the locals at all because they all have studded tyres. If I had those tyres I wouldn't be bothered either. I imagine a hire car would be fitted with them too, but I don't know for certain.
 
Not sure if it's still the law but at a certain time of the year the car must be fitted with winter/studded tyres, have an accident without those tyres fitted and it's your fault regardless, so I should imagine hire cars would be so equipped too, might do well to ask.
 
MatBin said:
Not sure if it's still the law but at a certain time of the year the car must be fitted with winter/studded tyres, have an accident without those tyres fitted and it's your fault regardless, so I should imagine hire cars would be so equipped too, might do well to ask.
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That is correct however there are certain parts of the cities where driving on studded tyres attracts a charge to take into account the repair of damage caused to the road surface by studded tyres. Also bear in mind the current price of petrol in Norway is in the range of 1.45GBP per litre (as advised by my son earlier today who lives in Oslo) and it gets more expensive the further from the cities your travel.
 
I've just returned from Norway. Hired a car for 9 days and drove from Tromso to Lofoten and back. Roads absolutely fine. What snow and ice there is is dealt with by the studded tyres (standard fit in inter on ALL cars). Just be careful of the speed limits (Norway has VERY heavy fines for speeding with virtually zero margin of error) and take out excess insurance before you go. Our sister car (mate in another car) clashed wing mirrors with another car. He got the bill today. A cool £950.
 
Have been to Norther Norway several times. One alternative to hiring is to go out with the Northern Lights tours. Go to Tourist Office web site for info. They take you to the best sites, most photogenic sites too. You don't have to worry about driving and they're cheaper than a crash excess or a speeding fine;)
Tromso is a beautiful city with plenty of photo opps. You can go on a range of activities and at this time of the year they're all available via the Tourist Office. Everybody speaks English so no problems there.

There are some specialist photographic tours as well.

Good luck with the lights; if you get a good one they're fantastic. Don't forget to put the camera down and just enjoy them
 
gregww1 said:
I've just returned from Norway. Hired a car for 9 days and drove from Tromso to Lofoten and back. Roads absolutely fine. What snow and ice there is is dealt with by the studded tyres (standard fit in inter on ALL cars). Just be careful of the speed limits (Norway has VERY heavy fines for speeding with virtually zero margin of error) and take out excess insurance before you go. Our sister car (mate in another car) clashed wing mirrors with another car. He got the bill today. A cool £950.
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Thanks! Good to know the roads are ok. We have hired through SIXT. Winter Tyres as standard but not sure whether this means studded? I have taken out additional insurance but we will see if this is zero excess when we get there.

granddad john said:
Have been to Norther Norway several times. One alternative to hiring is to go out with the Northern Lights tours. Go to Tourist Office web site for info. They take you to the best sites, most photogenic sites too. You don't have to worry about driving and they're cheaper than a crash excess or a speeding fine;)
Tromso is a beautiful city with plenty of photo opps. You can go on a range of activities and at this time of the year they're all available via the Tourist Office. Everybody speaks English so no problems there.

There are some specialist photographic tours as well.

Good luck with the lights; if you get a good one they're fantastic. Don't forget to put the camera down and just enjoy them
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Yeah, we have booked onto a chasing lights tour. Sounds good. They provide transport, warm clothes and a meal! I would like to try and find some ourselves though!
 
Just got back from 5 nights in Tromso! What an amazing place. The scenery is unbelievable! We were so lucky with the weather with clear skies pretty much every night. Within 2 hours of landing in Tromso we were watching the most amazing show of the Northern Lights from the side of the road. So bright, you could see them dancing around the sky. I have put some photos in the Landscape section if anyone is interested!
 
benhben said:
Just got back from 5 nights in Tromso! What an amazing place. The scenery is unbelievable! We were so lucky with the weather with clear skies pretty much every night. Within 2 hours of landing in Tromso we were watching the most amazing show of the Northern Lights from the side of the road. So bright, you could see them dancing around the sky. I have put some photos in the Landscape section if anyone is interested!
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Well done Ben
Great to hear, where did you stay? I have been to Tromso and Alta a lot, i'm really glad to had a great time!
 
Best advice I can give you is go on a Northern Lights cruise. I went with P&O a couple of years ago, and besides having lots of excellent photo opportunities (not just of the lights), your food is all included and the drink prices are reasonable.

We called at Stavanger, Andalnes, Alta and Tromso.
 
The coastal ferry service (Hurtigruten) is brilliant, we have done the round trip from Bergen to Kirkenes & back twice, once in February & the other in April. We saw the Northern Lights both trips. Highly recommended. The ferries are modern, food is excellent & they spend much of their time in-shore where the sea is calm. You can go ashore at many of the ports of call & there are trips such as dog sledding, snowmobile or eagle watching.......
 
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Wife and i are doing the Fjords in a few weeks time, so most of the time we will be eating on board ship . No way will we be paying a lot of cash at their prices when it is free on the ship
 
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PhotoBoris said:
Best advice I can give you is go on a Northern Lights cruise. I went with P&O a couple of years ago, and besides having lots of excellent photo opportunities (not just of the lights), your food is all included and the drink prices are reasonable.

We called at Stavanger, Andalnes, Alta and Tromso.
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Yep done that too, twice. Just outside Tromso past the airport on the 862 you come to a little village called Ersfjordbotn there are some B&B's and Apartments to rent there that is a great, or Laresng or a bit further round on the 858.
There are some great deals to be had, just remember to buy your food from the big supermarket when you come out of the airport on the RH side heading out.

Cruise ships are also a good deal as you do not pay the high food and drink prices. On the other hand you are only there for a couple of days and 7 days up there really gives you a chance to hammer the photography!!
 
69Bonni said:
Yep done that too, twice. Just outside Tromso past the airport on the 862 you come to a little village called Ersfjordbotn there are some B&B's and Apartments to rent there that is a great, or Laresng or a bit further round on the 858.
There are some great deals to be had, just remember to buy your food from the big supermarket when you come out of the airport on the RH side heading out.

Cruise ships are also a good deal as you do not pay the high food and drink prices. On the other hand you are only there for a couple of days and 7 days up there really gives you a chance to hammer the photography!!
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Ersfjordbotn is a beautiful spot. A great little cafe there overlooking the Fijord. Another amazingly beautiful place was called Sommeroya. A bunch of small islands with carribean like beaches and snowy mountains. Amazing place and quiet. About a picturesque 1.5 hour drive from Tromso.

If I was going back to Tromso for Northern Lights I would stay a bit out of the City. There is so much light pollution from the city the best views of the lights are where its darker. Also make sure your car has studded tyres. Our didnt, and whilst we were lucky with the clear dry weather it would have been difficult if there was a sudden snowfall.
 
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