Traveling in Norway without a car, we could still see the iconic sights like the fjords and mountains, and including one iconic day hike-Preikestolen.

We used a combination of trains, buses, ferries, and planes to get around. By using the national public transport planner Enturto help us planned most of our trips from one place to another. We also use flights to plan for our longer distance travels to save time. We also downloaded a few apps for the local transportation:

(Entur, Svipper, Reis, Na, Vy, Nor-way bus, and Skyss.)

All the above Apps proved to be very useful and easy to use.

It is also good to be 67 and above, for most of the public transportation, we only paid half of the fares, thus saving us some money. The best thing is we were stress free from driving, enjoying the scenery with leisure. I took quite good scenic pictures while traveling on the bus, and enjoyed the leisure travel with simple happiness of the nature provided on the journey.

We flew into Tromso on Good Friday, arriving at 9:00pm with a clear sky and got a glimpse of the beautiful sunset on flight. We took the public bus 40 from the Tromso airport to our hotel, very easy and economical. It cost 48kr for two senior tickets. The Svipper App is very convenient and easy to use. Our hotel is right by the harbor and is centrally located. Breakfast and dinner is provided which is a plus for us.


Sunset on flight


Fjords view from flight

Tromso harbor

Looking forward to your TR, want to return to Norway for a longer trip soon.

Northern Norway is very beautiful and scenic. Traffic is very slow and sparse, very peaceful in traveling through. We enjoyed the journey very much.

We had only one full day in Tromso with the two night stays. It was on Easter weekend, so it was very quiet and most of the stores were closed for the weekend including Monday. We went to the visitor center which opened on Saturday. We were advised to visit The Arctic Universty Museum of Norwaywhich could be reached by walking through the residential area slightly above the Bay Area. We took the advice and started our walk through the city, then slightly up to the residential area which has a view of the Bay Area below. It snowed overnight, so it was wet and slushy with a cloudy sky.

Tromso city center


Tromso residential area

Tromso bay view from residential area




The clouds cleared for a blue sky!

The Arctic Universty Museum of Norway

The Arctic Universty Museum of Norway



It was a very pleasant walk as promised, and we arrived just a few minutes before the museum opened. We waited just a few minutes and were the first two visitors of the day. It cost around $8 per person, and it sure was worth the money. We really enjoyed the museum as it has 3 distinct displays, the Sami culture history, geology, and natural history. The depiction of the natural occurrence of the auroras was very interesting and educational.

Aurora displayed


Sami tribe

Sami tent




video explaining the formation of aurora

Aurora video



After visiting the museum, we followed a walkway behind the museum which directed towards the Bay Area. It led us to the waterfront which I found out later known as the Telegrafbukta. There were snow capped mountains surrounding the bay. There were families sitting by fire pits, chitchatting and relaxing. It is a Norwegian way of spending the Easter weekend with family. We took a bus back to the city center later.



Telegrafbukta





Family by the fire pit chitchatting

Beautiful Telegrafbukta

The sun came out and the harbor area was very beautiful with the mountains backdrop. I went to the city center to look around. With the clear blue sky, everything looked so beautiful. Families were out and about on the streets, and children were playing in the playground right by the Tromso Cathedral. Most shops were closed because of Easter. I liked the peaceful and family oriented atmosphere in Tromso without a lot of tourists.




“ Roald Amundsen's major discoveries include being the first person to reach the South Pole (December 14, 1911), the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage by ship (1903-1906), and the first to fly over the North Pole (1926). He also explored Antarctica, including the first exploration of King Edward VII Land. ”


Playground in Tromso city center



Tromso cathedral



Artic Cathedral




After a simple healthful dinner provided by the hotel, we decided to walk across the Tromso bridge towards the Artic Church. It started with pretty good weather but windy. As we were crossing the Tromso Bridge, the weather turned gray, and windy. It was very cold and freezing rain came down. We had to abandon the walk and turned around. Snow was coming down pretty hard, everything was blurred and gray. We had to call it for the day.

Light dinner included with the hotel stay

Tasty and good

Street art

Tromso bridge

View from the Tromso bridge

All gray and heavy clouds rowed in

Thanks, interesting to see your photos of this part of the world. It looks so cold. I guess a visitor needs the right sort of clothing and footwear, or to visit in their summer.

After a hearty breakfast from the hotel, we started our journey to the bus terminal which was only 6 minutes away from our hotel. Using the Svipper app, we bought our tickets for bus100 from Tromso Prostneset to Narvik Bromsgard. The journey will take 3 hours 48 minutes. The cost for two senior was kr590. We were apprehensive at first for this bus to Narvik, but were completely relieved and relaxed once we were on the bus. It was a very comfortable bus, and the whole journey just went past so fast, and the scenery was beautiful . It was also very punctual for all the stops. We left at 10:30am and arrived Narvik at 2:18pm.

Leaving Tromso. On the Tromso Bridge again.

Artic Cathedral viewed from the bus.

It was still winter in northern Norway in April

Passing a number of lakes and some of them were totally covered with snow.

Snowy mountain

Norway roads are very good but narrow and windy.




Family snowshoeing to somewhere


Crossing the bridge to Narvik


Arrived in Narvik with a cloudy sky



After checked in the hotel, we ventured out to the town center. Since it was Easter weekend, most of the shops were closed. We wandered along the main street towards the cruise ship docking port. We turned around before reaching the port and started looking for a place for dinner. We found a pizza restaurant and its pizza was good. Narvik is a skiing town, but the season was over, and the lift to the mountain was closed. We retired earlier as we were leaving for Svolvær tomorrow morning at 9:47am, arriving at 1:50pm by bus300. Tickets were sold on the Reis app, cost: kr306. The bus 300 line goes all the way to A I Lofoten.


Narvik central

Yes, it is cold but manageable in April weather. We had layers, the rain and wind proofing jacket is essential. We traveled pretty light. Northern Norway is very pretty with the snow.

The Arctic Train, from Stockholm to Narvik, the most northerly railway in Norway, also ends in Narvik station behind our hotel.

I forgot to mention one important factor when buying Norway public transportation:

“hit the ‘Start Ticket’ button only one hour prior to your bus departure time otherwise the ticket expires.” Or you can schedule your start time.

The Lofoten express bus300 follows the E10 highway and stops en route including Svolvær and Leknes, then onwards to A. The local public transportation network in Lofoten varies their schedules slightly between the winter and summer seasons. So be sure to check the dates if you use the timetables. The most effective tool to use however is the “Reis” app. Most of Lofoten is connected by tunnels and bridges.

Continuing my report:We had a beautiful day waking up, decided to check out a short trail outside our hotel. Unfortunately there were ice and snow on the trail, so we turned around and went back to the hotel for our breakfast. Our bus 300 came on time and we were on our way to Lofoten Islands. Again, the journey was absolutely delightful. I would say it was a simple joy in life for the bus journey.

Leaving Narvik

Snow covered landscape




Crossing one of the bridges, there were quite a few on the way


Another bridge

Snow mountain!

More snow capped mountains


One of the many tunnels, I think more than 9!

Beautiful!






Absolutely gorgeous!

We arrived Lofotgata station on time. The bus station is just beside the shopping mall of Svolvær. The weather was sunny and pleasant. We carried our rucksack backpacks and walked about 9 minutes to our Robur-Anker Brygge.

The Anker Brygge does live up to its fame. We enjoyed our stay, and actually came back to stay at the end of our visit for Lofoten island. The breakfast provided was very good.

We had a very nice day, and the weather was perfect to explore the village. Let the photos speak for its beauty.


Anker Brygge


Bed room upstairs

View from the Robur Anker Brygge




‘The goat mountain’-Svolværgeita



Stock fish drying rack




Outdoor saunas





View from Anker Brygge

We left the bulk of our luggage for storage at Arker Brugge, only carrying a backpack for our next 3 day traveling from Svolvær to Åby bus.

Lofoten public transportation follows a school/work schedule for locals. It runs sporadically on weekends and holidays. When planning to use the buses, you have to put into all these factors. We were traveling on weekdays when visiting the islands, so there were more frequent buses for us to connect the villages that we intended to stay for the night. We took bus741 from Lofotgata central bus stop to Sakrisøya, with a change of bus to 742 in Leknes. Tickets cost kr236 for 2. Scheduled from Reis as follows:

Our bus schedule



































This journey was the most remarkable and scenic for our whole trip in Lofoten. We started with cloudy sky, then cloudy blue sky, followed by cloudy sky with snow, cleared up with blue sky again in the evening. We enjoyed the journey with the comfort of not driving ourselves!

I am sorry that I loaded up too many pictures. It is just that I am so happy to relive my experience, hopefully it will bring joy to others who view them. Simple joy!

Continuing….,,,,Arriving in Sakrisoya with a cloudy sky. It took us about 6 minutes walking to our lodging house. It is located on top of a small hill, in a very well located area. It is a very beautiful restored old manor house. It is very well decorated, clean, and beautiful. Sakrisøy Gjestegård – former manor house dating back to 1880. The scenery around the house is stunning. Highly recommended!


Sakrisoya Manor House

View from the manor House

Bedroom with beautiful view

Bright and cheery!

Minor house history

Beautiful decor by the entrance

View from Manor house

Another view

Common living room

Very clean and homey


View from bedroom window

Old Manor house history pictures

The white building is the manor house



We walked around the beautiful area, visited the famed Anita House. The weather was cloudy at one time, then cleared up to a blue sky later, but the wind was gusting. We walked to the Hamnoy bridge for the postcard picture of Hamnoy with the mountain backdrop, and the red rorbuer houses, then turned back as the wind was getting gusty and it was cold, and snowing. It is a very beautiful place to behold.

Beautiful photos, especially the ones with the mountains reflected in the lake. Thank you!

Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed the photos. Those pictures with reflections are my favorite too. I took them from my bus traveling, just imagine those people that standing by the lake admiring the beauty. I was happy that I got a glimpse of it from the bus. Everything was meant to be the way it was, the nice weather and the right moment, just happy with what I got at that moment, we are all passersby in life.

Some of the pictures I took around Sakrisoya and Hamnoy.

Beautiful pics, brought back fond memories of Norway especially the Lofoten islands.

I am glad that it brings you some joy.

Continuing….

The weather took a sudden change to cold and snowy over the night. We woke up with a layer of snow covering everywhere. We had planned to leave for Åby bus at 9:27am. The journey only took 45 min. When we arrived, it was snowing in Å. It was another beautiful journey even though it was short.


Day break wit snow







Arriving A I Lofoten snowing




The village of Å is very small and it is known for its rich fishing heritage. The Norwegian Fishing Village Museum is located here but It was closed when we were there.



We were staying at the Å I Lofoten hostel.There are ten 100-year-old cabins which have been carefully restored to the traditional ‘rorbu’ style. It has a charming atmosphere and excellent setting overlooking the sea.The hostel is located in a museum area with old buildings - Hennumgården house on the top floor of Lofoten Stockfish Museum. Location Of the hostel is beautiful.



We walked around the village and found a trail leading to a coastal view point, absolutely beautiful even with a cloudy sky.


Rorbuer by the water


Unknown trail

Unknown trail



















The sun came out for a short while

A I Lofoten hostel