Northern Lights in Norway – The Best Times and Places

Taking a trip to observe the Northern Lights in Norway is an experience that will remain unforgettable.

Over numerous years, I’ve been traveling to several different regions to view and photograph the Northern Lights in Norway, and the stunning scenery and relatively mild temperatures compared to other areas are difficult to surpass.

In this article, I’ll demonstrate the best time and locations to see the Northern Lights in Norway so you can have a memorable trip seeing the majestic Aurora Borealis over the spectacular Norwegian landscapes!

Ready to discover how to see the Northern Lights in Norway? Let’s get started!

• Best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway
• Prime locations to witness the Northern Lights in Norway
• Highest rated excursions to view the Northern Lights in Norway

Table of Contents

When to see the Northern Lights in Norway

The prime months to view the Northern Lights in Norway are from late September to early April when there are more hours of darkness during the polar night. However, in this time period September and March are statistically the best since the solar exercise that causes the Aurora Borealis is higher during that interval.

If planning your Aurora expedition to Norway amid summer, the brightness in the sky will be too intense to behold the illuminations even at decreased latitudes, so always contemplate the hours of light when scheduling your journey to view the Northern Lights in Norway.

In terms of climate and clouds, the most auspicious period during the Northern Lights season in Norway is typically either in the early stages of autumn or the later stages of winter. Note that most of the prime areas to behold the Aurora in Norway surpass the Arctic circle and the climate at that latitude is perpetually unpredictable.

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BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN NORWAY

In short, the prime time to see the Aurora in Norway is:

• September and October: There are less daylight hours but during this period there is increased solar activity and fewer clouds.

• November, December, January, and February: This time period during the winter Northern Lights season in Norway is most popular. Months such as November usually have a higher percentage of overcast skies.

• March and April: The spring equinox regularly brings peaks in solar movement which generally result in impressive displays of Northern Lights.

Additionally, I suggest, regardless of the time of travel, utilizing a Northern Lights prediction system for Norway with notifications, so you can be aware of any abrupt growth in solar action and the KP index. (Check out how to interpret the Northern Lights Forecast)

Below contains a graphic presenting data about the Northern Lights seen in Norway during 2021, with Tromso as a point of reference. This information allows for comparison of days with KP≥3 occurrence (although in Tromso the Aurora can be seen from KP 1’8) against days where nightfall extends over 4 hours.

	Nights with KP ≥ 3	Dark nights ≥ 4 hrs	Nights to see Aurora
Northern Lights Norway January	22	31	22
Northern Lights Norway February	19	28	19
Northern Lights Norway March	22	19	14
Northern Lights Norway April	21	0	0
Northern Lights Norway May	19	0	0
Northern Lights Norway June	10	0	0
Northern Lights Norway July	17	0	0
Northern Lights Norway August	17	0	0
Northern Lights Norway September	27	6	5
Northern Lights Norway October	18	31	18
Northern Lights Norway November	17	30	17
Northern Aurora Norway December	16	31	16
Data from 2021 on Frequency of Spotting the Northern Lights in Norway by Month

In addition to this chart, you will need to consider cloud cover. If the sky is obscured, seeing the Northern Lights in Norway will be impossible. I‘ll explain this in the next section .

Where to see the Northern Lights in Norway

The Northern Norwegian Coast and the Lapland regions are the best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway and even with relatively low solar activity, you’ll be able to see the Aurora.

In a nutshell, these are the best places to see the Aurora Borealis in Norway:

When exploring the best opportunities to witness the aurora borealis over Norway, many conditions need assessing but generally, sightings are most probable between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. For additional insight, checking this article on observing the Northern Lights is advised.

1. Lofoten Islands: The ideal place to see the Northern Lights over the best Norwegian landscapes. This scenic area is perfect for photographers.”
2. Senja: In recent years it has gained popularity as a destination to view the Aurora dancing over the Norwegian fjords.
3. Alta: One of the northernmost and accessible places to view the Aurora in Norway. It has a wide range of resorts dedicated to enjoying this phenomenon.
4. Svalbard: The northernmost point of Norway lies in an exceptional latitude ideal for observing the Northern Lights. This island is also renowned for its polar bear population.
5. North Cape: One of the remotest yet authentic places to see the Northern Lights in Norway.
6. Hammerfest: This city situated simply above the top of Finmark is an additional progressively popular location to observe the Aurora in Norway.

AND THESE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN Norway DIVIDED BY Area:

1. Tromso

Considered the Arctic Capital, Tromso is perfect for seeing the Northern Lightsin winter. Relatively inexpensive flights over the last few years have made Tromso one of the most popular places to see the Northern Lights in Norway.

Note that the Aurora season in Tromso is shorter than in other areas, as it is located in the most northern region, at a latitude of 69o, and there are fewer hours of darkness during the summer months. Travel from late September to early April to increase your chances of viewing the Northern Lights.

Additionally, it is a fairly major city, so you can hire many Northern Light Tours in Tromso. There are also numerous activities to partake in Tromso, like visiting a reindeer farm, ancient Sami settlements, or taking a sled dog tour.

4333″ “Northern Lights tours from Tromso

However, if you have interest in photographing the Northern Lights in Norway, you should join a specific excursion.

NORTHERN LIGHTS PHOTO TOURS IN TROMSO

The single-day Northern Lights tours in Tromso are recommended for anybody wanting to experience this phenomenon and capture some memories with their camera. Usually, the guides take groups to an area further inland where chances of clear night skies and less light contamination are greater.

Best Northern Lights hotels in Tromso

Tromsø Ice Domes Hotel

My best recommendation if you want to enjoy a splendid display of Northern Aurora is to avoid areas with light pollution. If you plan to stay in Tromso, a wise choice is to join an excursion outside the city for at least one night of your trip.

If you wish to experience an ultimate occurrence, you need to sleep in an Ice Dome hotel away from light contamination, with a dinner prepared in a bonfire and a snowshoe excursion to see the Aurora.

Radisson Blu Hotel

The Radisson Blu Hotel brings a top-notch Nordic style together with excellent quality and an enjoyable bonus: a glass bridge for witnessing the Northern lights from the accommodation.

SCANDIC GRAND TROMSO

Providing a superb breakfast, likely in among the top places in Tromso, Scandic Grand is one of the finest quality-cost hotels for travelers who wish to see Aurora in Tromso. Some of the best Northern Lights excursions departure from here.

Aurora Camp Tromso

Another unforgettable experience is to see the Northern lights in the Norwegian wilderness from an accommodation very close to Tromso known as an Aurora Camp. You’ll relax and stay warm in a traditional structure awaiting the Aurora show.

If venturing alone in pursuit of the Aurora above your head, remember that Tromso represents a sizable city, so there may be an excessive sum of artificial light that hinders perception. If solar exercises aren`t too substantial to glimpse the Northern Glow of Norway, I propose voyaging to the neighboring (2 hours away) Senja Island to witness the phenomenon.

2. Lofoten

Lofoten provides an excellent place to observe the Northern Lights in Norway against remarkable backdrops. Here you will find numerous beaches facing north past the Arctic Circle at a latitude of 67o, with suitable situations to witness the Aurora.

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If you visit Reine and want to have the magic of this region come alive, I suggest lodging at the Eliassen Rorbuer, since there isn`t anything like witnessing the Northern Lights from a traditional wooden fishing hut hotel. During our last trip, we were fortunate to see the Aurora even from the window in our room.

In my view, Lofoten is the ideal location to see the Northern Lights in Norway. If you are a photographer, I encourage you to join us on our Lofoten Islands photo Tour where I will demonstrate how to photograph the Northern Lights over majestic fjords, Arctic beaches, and mountains.

3. Senja

Although Senja has been in the shadow of Lofoten for many years and somehow gone unnoticed, in recent times, it has gained notoriety as a Northern Lights photographic destination in Norway.

The landscapes are comparable to those on the Lofoten islands, with rugged fjords and picturesque fishing villages, and not as crowded as the Lofoten Islands.

4. Alta

Being located at 70o latitude, the settlement of Alta allows sightings of the splendid Aurora Borealis to often be clearly observable, contributing to its designation as the “Locale of Northern Light”.

This location even has some of the top Northern Lights hotels in Norway. One popular option is Sorrisniva, where visitors can view the Aurora Borealis from their igloo rooms. The prices aren`t low, but it provides a novel experience. You can book your accommodation here.

5. Svalbard

Svalbard is the most renowned place in Europe for viewing polar bears. This archipelago represents the northernmost region of Norway and is situated close to the North Pole, at 81o latitude.

Most of the islands are unoccupied, but people live in some regions like Longyearbyen.

As mentioned earlier, most tourism in Svalbard focuses on polar bears, but there are also snowmobile and Northern Aurora trips. Keep in mind that traveling here tends to be pricier than other locations like Tromso or Lofoten.

6. North Cape

If you want to head further north to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, North Cape is the northernmost point of the country in the Scandinavian peninsula, with a latitude of 71o.

However, keep in mind that accessing here is more expensive and complex.

7. Oslo

Viewing the Aurora Borealis in Oslo, the capital of Norway, is difficult since it is located at a latitude of 59o, notably lower than the previous locations, and it is also a big city, so there is a considerable amount of light pollution.

However, it is not impossible to view the Aurora Borealis in Oslo. In fact, during August and September 2015 there were very strong solar storms that made it possible to see the Northern Lights in Stavanger and Bergen.

In any circumstance, observing the Aurora Borealis at this latitude necessitates significant fortune, so I wouldn’t counsel visiting Oslo if witnessing the Phenomenon in Norway constitutes your intention. However, if you do tour Oslo, don’t neglect to activate the Northern Lights notifications from your app, just in case 😉

In case it provides useful information, here is a map of the Aurora Borealis occurring in Norway so you can identify the necessary KP level depending on the area of Norway you are in. The term “KP” sounds intricate but simply refers to the index of solar activity that causes the Northern Lights.

As you can discern, the most direct place to view the Northern Lights in Norway is the Norwegian Lapland and the northern Norwegian shore, since that’s where you require the lowest KP.

In terms of the top places to view the Northern Lights, remember: you need darkness. Stay away from urban centers where artificial light would inhibit seeing the Aurora.

One final tip when hoping to view the Aurora Borealis is to inspect the sky`s condition. If the clouds cloak the sky, the Northern Lights will not be visible. Employ a weather forecast service and hunt for clear skies. For Norway, the preferred site is YR.no, where the anticipated cloudiness is exhibited visually on an interactive map .

Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway

Although Norway has countless tourist attractions, there is no uncertainty that the Aurora Borealis is one of the primary ones. This is why additional and additional tours are offered to see the Aurora in northern Norway.

Of all the places we mentioned, Tromso is considered the best location in Norway for taking a Northern Lights tour since there are numerous options available. The most common are northern lights vacation packages, although you can also take day excursions (these are the highest rated Northern Lights tours from Tromso). If you want to have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, I would book one of these experiences:

• An Overnight Stay at the Tromsø Ice Domes Hotel
• Night Stay at Aurora Camp
• A Northern Lights Tour Lasting Close To Seven Hours
• 3-Hour Northern Lights Sailing Excursion

In Lofoten, there are also some Northern Lights trips.

…. 4334″ “Northern lights tour from Lofoten

Supplementary to the one-night excursions to behold the Aurora supplied in Tromso, there are precise journeys coordinated to behold the Northern Lights in Norway that persist for various days. These packages also include other cultural activities such as photography, touring ancient Sami sites, experiencing the local victuals, or touring Viking museums.

If you favor concentrating on Northern Lights photography, we would be glad to have you on our upcoming Lofoten photography tour, where we will spend a week recording the best landscapes of the Lofoten Islands and “hunting” the Northern Lights every night.

Our best Northern Lights images in Norway

This link provides access to my finest photographs of the Aurora Borealis from Norway.

As a concluding hint, if you want to capture the highest quality depictions in your Norway Northern Lights trip, check our guide to imaging the Northern Lights!

LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN NORWAY!