Wonderful 9 day winter trip to Norway
Norway | Dec 21 - Dec 29, 2025

D
Debbie T.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 31, 2025

We had a wonderful 9 day trip to Norway planned by Kimkim. We flew to Oslo, spent 2 days there and then flew to Tromso. We were super lucky and had an amazing night to see the Northern Lights from a boat. Bucket List item for sure! Unfortunately Tromso didn't have much snow so we were unable to go snowmobiling or sledding with huskies. However Kimkim was able to pivot and schedule a snowshoeing trip with Huskies instead. That turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip (in addition to the Northern Lights.) Also in Tromso, we did a cold plunge/spa experience aboard a small boat which was also a lot of fun. Then we flew to Bergen where we did Norway in a Nutshell trip and then took the train ride from Bergen back to Oslo.

Hotel Reviews
Scandic Byporten
Oslo

We had a beautiful suite here. The staff was very friendly and the breakfast was great. The location was perfect with lots of attractions and restaurants within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character
Wonderful gingersnaps and Groll in the lobby
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were too warm but the windows were able to be opened. Heated bathroom floors!
Quality Hotel Saga
Tromsø

Nice hotel with wonderful breakfast. Good location with lots to do within walking distance. The rooms were very small. We had 2 rooms and the one that was for our 3 teenagers was definitely too small for 3 people. The rooms were toward but the windows were able to be opened. Heated bathroom floors!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were too small for 3 people
Skostredet Hotel
Bergen

This is a new hotel and was beautiful. Again, the rooms were too hot but the windows could be opened. The bathroom was strange but functional. Ironically this was the nicest hotel that we stayed at but it was the only one without heated bathroom floors. The hotel is near many restaurants and attractions. The breakfast was amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Brand new. Clean.
Location
Can walk to many attractions and restaurants.
Staff
Super nice woman at the front desk
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were hot!!
Scandic Oslo Airport
Gardermoen

Very convenient if taking an early flight. Nice hotel with large rooms, heated bathroom floors, and an excellent breakfast. Dinner at the hotel was more than adequate.

Authenticity & Character
No atmosphere. Just a hotel near the airport
Location
Right near the airport. 10 min taxi ride. $43 USD one way for a taxi or $8 for the local bus. As we are a family of 5, we took a taxi.
Staff
Courteous. Booked us a taxi.
Cleanliness & Comfort
We had a large room with a sitting area. The bathroom was huge.
Activity Reviews
Self-Guided Oslo Exploration
Self-Guided Oslo Exploration
Oslo

Our plane was late and the taxi driver was also late which didn't give us much time. We walked to dinner which was nice- slippery!

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise
Oslofjord Dinner Cruise
Oslo

This one was ok. Nothing special about the food or the view. Seemed too long.

Quality of Experience
Food
We ordered a cheese tray on our own
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They weren't very attentive or friendly.
Private City Walk
Private City Walk
Oslo

Christina was an excellent guide. We saw a lot of sights and learned some history. She inquired about our interests before we set off so she could speak to those on our tour. It was a fun morning.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-Guided Tromsø Exploration
Self-Guided Tromsø Exploration
Norway

Our plane was late as was our taxi. We didn't have time to explore this day. We walked to dinner. Unfortunately all the stores were closed during our time in Tromso due to Christmas.

Quality of Experience
Northern Lights Hunt by Boat
Northern Lights Hunt by Boat
Tromsø

Amazing! We happened to be there for a strong night of Aurora. Eventhough we weren't given the right place to embark the ship. we made it to the ship in time for sailing. The Aurora was everything I hoped for. Amazing!!!

Quality of Experience
Kvaløya Husky Sledding Excursion
Kvaløya Husky Sledding Excursion
Tromsø

We didn't get to do this experience but w went snowshoeing with the huskies instead. It was so much fun! The guides were great and we had a lot of fun despite not having much snow. It was a little bit long- after the snowshoeing we went to a small hut for a piece of cake and a hot beverage. Being there for 15 min (instead of an hour) would have been plenty.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sauna Adventure Boat
Sauna Adventure Boat
Tromsø

This was a great experience. My daughter found it on TikTok and I asked Kimkim about it. They have a small outdoor hot tub, 2 indoor saunas and and indoor spa as well. There were only 7 of us booked at the time we attended and that's all I would recommend. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to move throughout the activities at your own will. We also did a cold plunge from the edge of the boat into the arctic water- invigorating!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-Guided Bergen Exploration
Self-Guided Bergen Exploration
Bergen

We went up to the top of the mountain to watch the sunset which was really neat. It was quite crowded to take the funicular back down the mountain. Unfortunately it was 12/26 and most of the shops were closed.

Quality of Experience
Shops should be open later
Fløibanen  Funicular Ticket
Fløibanen Funicular Ticket
Bergen

Beautiful views

Quality of Experience
Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip
Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip
Bergen

Beautiful to see the fjords from the water. The train ride from Flom was also quite scenic. It's a long day without much activity.

Quality of Experience
Depart Norway
Depart Norway
Norway

I would not recommend doing the Norway in a Nutshell trip on 12/27 and taking the train from Bergen to Oslo on 12/28. This is the one thing about the trip I'd change. We'd much rather have had a day to explore Bergen (12/27) and then on our last day (12/28), had our luggage transported to Oslo while we did the Norway in a Nutshell trip. We met some other people who had their luggage transported to Oslo while they did the day trip. I would NOT have wanted to drag my luggage all day in the Norway in a Nutshell trip. That would have ruined the day. Also, our nicest hotel was in Bergen and it would have been nice to actually eat breakfast there (it didn't open until 8 and we had to leave 1 morning at 8 and the other day at 7:45), or just enjoy time at the hotel.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Alex Mottler
Alex
Alex Mottler
Local specialist in kimkim HQ | Replied on Dec 31, 2025
Thank you so much for the kind, helpful review, Debbie! Nick, Maria, and I were so happy to work with you and your group, and we appreciate your understanding about weather causing issues with some of your reservations. Being able to see the Northern Lights was hopefully as amazing as we discussed, and snowshoeing with the huskies sounds amazing! I'll make sure to forewarm more folks about doing the Nutshell experience back-to-back with the ride from Bergen to Oslo during planning, along... Read more

Thank you so much for the kind, helpful review, Debbie! Nick, Maria, and I were so happy to work with you and your group, and we appreciate your understanding about weather causing issues with some of your reservations. Being able to see the Northern Lights was hopefully as amazing as we discussed, and snowshoeing with the huskies sounds amazing!

I'll make sure to forewarm more folks about doing the Nutshell experience back-to-back with the ride from Bergen to Oslo during planning, along with the experience you had on the Oslofjord Dinner Cruise to let folks be able to keep that in mind when deciding what to do while in Olso.

It was great working with you and kimkim would be happy to help with more adventures in the future!