2025 was an exciting year. It was a year where dreams came true, where I traveled a bit less and where I took a total break from my travel blog. I also focused a lot on running: participating in my first half marathon ever.
My soft launch of a comeback continues. Here is my summary of my travel year 2025:
Winter
Here’s to new contacts and new beginnings
January kickstared in Oslo with TravelMatch, a social event where (as always) it was fun to meet up with fellow travel enthusiasts, as well as making connections in the industry.
Moving into a new home
The year had barely started before Thomas and I did our biggest purchase of the year (ever): we bought our own apartment. After renting together for 7 years it was finally time to get a place of our own.
We got the keys to our new apartment at the end of February, and after weeks of renovating we moved in at the end of March. It was a really fun (and exhausting) experience, and I was pleasantly surprised with how handy both Thomas and I turned out to be. This of course took out a huge chunk of both our money and time during the winter time – but it was all so very worth it in the end.
We absolutely adore our new home, which has more space and allows us to invite people over more. We also love being able to create our own space – and how handy we have proven ourselves to be.
A quick visit to Bergen
The only real travel I had during the first months of 2025 was to Bergen, for a job trip. It was nice: whereas Oslo was covered in snow, the weather in Bergen almost felt like it was spring. I went for a run, had a nice dinner, and enjoyed the beautiful city.
Spring
With spring comes hope, at least how that’s how I feel. Norwegian winters can be quite cold and dark, and as days are finally a bit brighter and less awfully cold, I feel like I am slowly getting back to life.
This year, it also meant we could crawl out from our renovating project in our home, and get social again.
Running
After finishing renovating our new home, it was time to brush up on running. Our new apartment lies very close to the forest (it takes 2,5 minutes of slow jogging from when I leave our apartment until I’m surrounded by forest), which means miles and miles of paths to be run
Thomas and I participated in several runs, but where he would get progress from gradually adding more kms weekly, I would still struggle breathing. How out of shape can one get just from not focusing on running for a month? It turns out it was more than just being out of shap, as I got diagnosed with asthma at the end of the year.
Fredrikstad – forever
I always return back to Fredrikstad. First of all, it’s due to a lot of my family living there, but it’s also just a really enjoyable city. For some ideas of what to do in Fredrikstad, you can read my guide here.
Easter in Valdres
During Easter, we spent some time in Valdres, enjoying the fresh air and gorgeous views, and reading.
Another place located in Valdres in Beitostølen, a destination I have visited several times. Here you can read more about things to do at Beitostølen without skis. If you’re more into skiing, don’t worry, I have a skiing edition guide as well.
Summer
I absolutely love summer! It’s warmer, brighter, birds are singing, flowers blooming and everything is so green and beautiful. It feels like everything has been hibernating through all of the months of winter, and they’re now awake and ALIVE.
Fall in love with the “oh so green” Faroe Islands
Back in 2022 I visited Iceland with my family, which was amazing (which reminds me, I have actually yet to blog about this – maybe it’s time soon?) As we were there, we spoke about how we should also visit the Faroe Islands one day.
And finally, in June 2025 it was time. Based out of the capital Tórshavn we had an amazing long weekend (Thursday to Monday), where we got to explore a lot of the country. Hot tip: definitely rent a car, which will allow you to explore so much on your own. The Faroe islands have good roads, and it feels safe to drive around.
The Faroe Islands has a lot to offer: you can visit small villages with a population of 9(!), go on a RIB boat tour and explore the archipelago and the wild birds, see puffins, go on hike and eat a lot of delicious food. A dedicated post to The Faroe islands (and Iceland) is on my neverending to do-list.
A weekend getaway to Gothenburg
Gothenburg is one of my favourite cities, and it’s very accessible from Oslo. I always jump on the train from Oslo, and 3,5 hours later I arrive – smack down in the middle of the city. Easy as!
In June 2025 Thomas and I did just that. We stayed at our favourite hotel (Avalon, because it has a swimming pool at the rooftop), had some good food and got some shopping done. We even had time for a morning jog around in the area we stayed.
A biblical concert with Oasis in London
In July Thomas and I went back to another all time favourite city of mine: London. And this time it was not only to go shopping, bar hunting and take lovely photos (which we of couse also did): the main event was to see Oasis play at the Wembley stadium.
We also got to spend a few days in London with our German friends Romy and Mike, as they were also attending the concert (although on another day). We had an absolutely amazing dinner at Fallow (seriously, you have to try that mushroom parfait and the pink drink – I’d go to London just for them), had a stroll in the Little Venice area, and of course tried some British pubs.
I admit I was a bit nervous about how the show would be, but as the guys started their tour in Manchester, and I read how much people loved it, I got super excited.
So, how was it? In the words of Liam Gallagher himself: it was biblical! I laughed! I sang. I danced. And I cried. Twice. Yes! If you ever get the chance to see Oasis perform live: do it!
Jumping on the train from London to Paris
After several great and hot days in London, we were finally doing something we had been speaking about doing for years: we jumped on the train between London and Paris. And I dunno why I had expected it to be special, like in some sort of glass tunnel or what (it runs below sea level – at sea!), but of course it was like running a normal train. Except you start in London and end up in Paris, which of course I thought was super.
I had only visited Paris once before, back when I was 15, with my mum. On my “to do list” was of course drinking French wine, as I was too young last time I visited. I also wanted to try all the gluten free things – particularly searching for the best croissant in Paris.
We arrived in Paris on the day the Tour de France ended. It also happened to be Thomas’ birthday. I had imagined us enjoying the riders passing by with loads of people on Champ’s d’Elysée, but reality turned out different: It was pouring down, and all streets were closed off, making it a real struggle to eventually get to see anything.
Also, due to the heavy rain, the last part of the race had been cancelled, meaning we ended up seeing people slowly bike past as they were chatting. Not really the action filled experience I had envisioned, but a fun thing to have seen nevertheless.
Paris is definitely getting its own post later.
A German wedding in Freiburg
Back in 2019 Thomas and I went to Freiburg to visit Romy and Mike. In 2025 we finally returned, to attend the wedding of Romy and Mike.
Freiburg is a really beautiful city. I love the old architecture, the small river running through the city and of course: the frozen wine. The weather was fantastic, and so was the wedding, making this trip an unforgettable memory with our dear friends.
My post which I wrote about Freiburg after visiting earlier can be found here.
Autumn
A few days in Copenhagen, and running my first half marathon
When I look back on 2025, one of the things I think of the most is running. And most of my running events ended up pretty badly – although I had never ever ran as much as I did in 2025, the results kept lacking. It turns out I have asthma, and I started on medications for this at the end of the year. Hopefully this will allow me to increase my results as I move on with running.
But in September, I did not know this yet. Thomas and I had secured our spots for the first half marathon in our lives. We both love Copenhagen, which is a flat, beautiful city, and therefore sounded as a good spot for doing our first half.
Again, we were struck by terrible weather: it was absolutely pouring down, and my shoes were completely soaked before we even started. Nevertheless, I had heaps of fun during the run. The audience were incredible: despite the terrible weather, the streets were filled with people singing, cheering and playing music, and it was definitely one of my most fond running memories. (Also, as I had never before ran a half marathon before, I got a new PB – my only one for the entire season).
Nature, fishing and Aurora borealis
Later on during autumn, I went on a few fishing trips, as well as enjoyed the northern lights (found in Rauland, Telemark) and just the forest near our home.
Winter
Christmas in our new apartment
Is it time for a comeback?
I never intended to take such a long time from blogging. I think my blog started to “suffer” due to me spending my days creating travel related also at work for years. Spending the days in front of screens at work means I want to do anything else besides that once I’m home. And at some point, I just did it.
However, I have recently started missing blogging. I miss creating guides, I miss sharing my content, and I miss talking to my followers. This has made me rethink if maybe I should do a comeback? I’ve finally done the yearly summaries for both 2024 and 2025. Let’s see how we go from here, shall we?
I’d love some feedback from you if there’s something specific you’d love to see. I have heaps of places I could write about, I could create videos, pictured based entries, anything really. No promises, although I’m feeling inspired and hopeful.
2025 in numbers:
- Countries visited: 4 (Sweden, Denmark, England and France)
- New countries visited: 0
- Books read: 102
What’s up next? 2026!
- Philippines in March
- Sorting out my health and running
- Maybe do another solo travel?
- Adventures in Norway?
- Maybe a Christmas market outside of Norway
- Who knows?
On an end note
As always, I thank you all for following, for commenting, sharing my blog posts and sharing my passion for travels. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail: desireeskalle@gmail.com
Thank you 🙂
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