Tromsø, Norway's Northern Delights

Ice fishing in Tromso feels less like a sport and more like a quiet ritual with the Arctic. My adult son and I went fishing on a catamaran in the frigid waters and ice fishing on a fjord lake. We dropped a line into the dark water below, and settled into a stillness broken only by the wind and my scream of joy that I had landed a very large cod!

No arctic journey is complete until you chase the Northern Lights. This is a mix of adventure, patience, and awe. Real feel temperatures hit in the negative digits, while you often times will leave Norway and enter the top of Finland to see these majestic lights dancing in the sky. When you finally see the lights, the cold suddenly—almost—disappears and time seems to stop, leaving you with the sense that you have just witnessed something ancient and alive.

The list of activities in Tromso are endless, from dog sledding to whale watching to riding the Fjelheisen cable car up Mount Storsteinen to the cold plunge. We went with the locals to Pust Sauna, a floating sauna in the city’s historic harbor where you can alternate between a steaming heat sauna followed by an icy Arctic seawater dip. This is a classic Nordic wellness culture: intense, invigorating, and surprisingly refreshing.

Restaurant Smak AS: A high-end favorite known for its seasonally driven tasting menus highlighting Arctic fish and game.

Bardus Bistro: A local bistro blending traditional Norwegian flavors with contemporary twists.

Fiskekompaniet: An excellent seafood restaurant in the harbor with fresh catch and classic Norwegian seafood preparations. You can catch your own cod and bring it to the local Grillhytte, a small wooden hexagonal hut with a fire pit in the center used for year-round cooking and gathering, embracing Norwegian idea of cozy outdoor living!