OT - Norway

I suspect the actual whale watching excursion may be quite expensive too or any northern lights tours (you'd likely need to be away from the bright city lights to see them best, but they are a very fickle thing!)

As as TM said, if you're looking for Christmas markets, I'd certainly look at central Europe. Germany and Austria know how to do them. The last one we did was Lubeck and Hamburg. Hamburg is quite industrial (though has the absolutely incredible model village which just has to be seen to be believed) but has so many Christmas markets while Lubeck is easy to get to from Hamburg but is much more quaint and pretty, and if you like marzipan, Niederegger is based there. we went with Wizz (i suspect from Luton) and we paid bugger all to get there.

Vienna is stunning city with markets galore and then you've the beautiful innsbruck where you fly down through the mountain valley to land. But anything Germanic, you can go wrong and I suspect value will be amongst the best you can get.

I loved Tallinn which is incredible value and had markets into Jan. A beautiful historic centre and some great museums too. so many amazing places out there.

 

Yeah I am sure the trips will cost a fortune. Need to price it all up and see if it is something that is going to be viable but hopefully it is.

 

Maybe worth having a look at flight costs into Tromso from places in Europe with good Christmas Markets. That way you can have more nights where costs are cheaper, than look at Tromso for just a night or two. Might help your money go further.

 

Thats a really good idea actually. Fly to Germany or something then onto Norway from there. Will take a look

 

I'm off to Bergen next month for 5 days. The flights are pretty reasonable with Norwegian Air from Edinburgh.

 

The wife really took one for the team there !!!

 

We have been to the Lofoten Islands whale watching. Was incredible (orcas and fin whales) but they are only there some times of the year. Also to Alta to go dog sledding and the Northern Lights (best around the spring and autumn equinoxes). Yes it is expensive but it is a fantastic place and some great experiences, so worth forgoing a few pints to go

 

From my search it says you can see them in the fjords near Tromso in December. Might not be true but who knows. I need to do a lot more research to make sure I go at a good time to spot them.

 

Bergen's brill.

 

Be mindful that so far north you'll have virtually zero daylight at certain times of year so your chances of seeing whales in December may be pretty low.

 

You could look at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society website as they used to list what to see when and where

 

thanks will do

 

I don't think that K nut posts here anymore. I hope that he does at least pop in every now and then though!

The only somewhat active Norwegian member that I can think of is @NorwegianRed but I haven't seen him for quite a while either.

 

He probably doesn't post here anymore because his name gets censored by the swear filter!

 

I went to Oslo for a week with work back in 2006 when my employer at the time was bought out by one with a Norweigan parent company. I recall alcohol being 8 quid a pint in the hotel back then, 16 years ago. Obviously hotel prices are going to be inflated anyway, but bloody hell.

It was late November when we went, I recall it being so strange that it didn't get light until around 11am and was dark again at 2pm. It snowed like chuff the whole week, but all the paths were permanently clear, the council staff were out all hours with what looked like a giant hand held hairdryer. It was so efficient.
A beautiful and spotless place. But sooo expensive.