When we travelled first time in Tromsø, in January 2023, at the beginning of the year, we covered a lot of things, and activities, but we actually miss some as well. This is why when we decided to spend our New Year’s Eve in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, we jointed four more nights in the Paris of the North once more. This time we stayed not at a hotel, but in an apartment, a very cozy experience because, in many ways, we felt like home, in Tromsø. We learned, a bit, and imagined more, how would it be to live a life in this Nordic city. Anyway, aside from the accommodation, our plans involved as well many activities we couldn’t accomplish in our first visit.

Polaria – world’s northernmost aquarium

The world’s northernmost aquarium was very accessible to us, as it was only… 200 meters away from our accommodation! This was a must from our first visit because, frankly speaking, we missed it out because we actually realized a bit late that it was there… The shape of Polaria impresses you from the start,  as it represents ice floes that have been pressed up on land by the rough seas of the Arctic or pressure ridges, and it echoes a lot with the famous Arctic Cathedral. Starting 1998, this work of art is dedicated in many ways to educate children, with a lot of interactive panes, a movie theatre, but, on top of everything, a pool with bearded seals, that offer a huge spectacle to everyone is visiting the place – while they are keeping fit and healthy. The water comes directly from the fjords, so the animals feel like home, literally. To enter this beauty costs 295 NOK, or around 27 EUR, but the experience really is amazing!

Ølhallen & Kjeller 5 – the home of Norwegian beer

I was telling you at the beginning of 2023, that we had huge problems to drink beer in Norway, simply because the law doesn’t allow you to buy anything , any type of alcohol after 20:00 o’clock, and neither you can drink it freely, wherever you like, for example in a hotel lobby. Then he just dragged and dropped the intention of going to Ølhallen, a famous pub inaugurated in 1928! “You haven’t been to Tromsø, if you didn’t visit Ølhallen!” So we did, and while drinking on of the 72 selection of beers – one of the biggest in Europe, guarded by a stuffed polar bear, we learned more about the Mack beer. Baptized after its founder, a German – who else? – named Ludwig Mack, in 1877, when he was the big thing in Tromsø, the beer launched to a high standard an now has a reach history.

And of course, every history needs a museum, and you can find it basically next door, at Kjeller 5 – both locations were 400 meters away from our accommodation, so, again, the access was so easy. The entrance to the Mack beer museum is normally between 11:00 and 18:00 in week days, so be careful when you schedule it, because the tour starts at certain hours. I think ours begun at 15:30, but don’t take that for granted, just check, because it is written or you can find out from the pub directly. You’ll see a short movie that explains the history of the Mack beer, the way in which the brewery was moved and why from Tromsø, a bit South – but still the northernmost brewery in the world, though – and also you will make a tour, see equipment that has more than 100 years, and, of course, you’ll be given a sample of genuine beer! Didn’t know Norwegian beer can be so good!

Arctic Cathedral – Tromsdalen kirke

It was the first place I wanted to “land”, when I first arrive in Tromsø, exactly, as I did with the Brandenburg Tor, when I first visited Berlin. Unfortunately, though, our first visit in Tromsø, didn’t allow us to visit the interior of the place built in 1965, in an unique shape, that most likely makes reference of the twin-peaked island of Haja. The window of getting in is rather narrow, 13:00 – 17:00 in working days, so we missed it back then. Now, though, we have secured our time in such a manner to see it. For 80 NOK – around 7 EUR – we were allowed inside, and the fact that we saw only white, but imposing walls, but also a huge mural added in 1972, a glass mosaic, named “The return of Christ”, and some additional information, allowed us to understand in full the masterpiece that is actually a church, but because of it’s unique shape, it is also know as the Arctic Cathedral, and it is one of the most interesting in the whole world!

Verdensteatret Kino Cafe

Honestly speaking, seeing a movie, even an old one in a more than 100 year old movie theater from Troms was a must, but because of our timing, that was impossible. However, this time at least we have entered Verdensteatret Kino Cafe, the cafe from the cinema, so we drank some tea, and at least enjoyed the building. We have imagined also that we’re watching a movie, which, in the end, for sure we will, at some point. For the time being, we just took a flavor of the place.

Prestvannet

Returning to Hard Rock Cafe Tromsø facilitated the acknowledgement of a hike trail in the city, we weren’t aware of. Prestvannet lake, previously a reservoir for the city, now a recreational zone, surrounded by a park, at the top of Tromsøya island, made us decide to explore it by foot. So we did. The splendid white continuous landscape with some mild snowfall, and a shy early half-sunset provide unique sensation. On top of this, being a pedestrian area, a lot of… skiers were exercising or just wandering around – you can imagine how loved is ski in Norway! The wonderful hike-walk (mostly walk, though!) ended at the Arctic–Alpine Botanic Garden, an open 24/7 garden, the northernmost in the world, of course. But, since the period of the year, we just arrived there to tick it, as we didn’t really see nothing apart from huge piles of snow. We will return in the summer!

Now, after almost 10 days spent in Tromsø, in two vacations, I can say we covered most of the attractions, and everything reinforced the desire to come back there in the summer time, which we will do for sure. Because this part of Norway is one that baits you with its uniqueness, and things that have to offer for people who are curious, and are thirsty to learn new things, and experience the best places in the world.

Photo source: My Magic Lenses