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Taking a trip to see the Northern Lights in Norway is an experience that you won’t forget.
Over the years, I’ve been traveling to many different areas to see and photograph the Northern Lights in Norway, and the beautiful landscapes and relatively mild temperatures compared to other regions are difficult to beat.
In this article, I’ll show you the best time and places 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
- Best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway
- Best Northern Lights tours in Norway
When to see the Northern Lights in Norway
The best months to see the Aurora Borealis in Norway are from late September to early April when there are more hours of darkness during the polar night. However, in this period September and March are statistically the best time since the solar activity that causes the Northern Lights is higher during that period.
If you plan your Aurora trip to Norway during the summer, the brightness in the sky will be too strong to see the lights even at lower latitudes, so always consider the hours of light when planning your trip to see the Northern Lights in Norway.
In terms of weather and clouds, the best period during the Northern Lights season in Norway is usually either in the early fall or the late winter. Bear in mind that most of the best areas to see the Aurora in Norway fall above the Arctic circle and the weather at that latitude is always unpredictable.
As for the best time of night to see the Aurora in Norway, it varies depending on many factors but usually, there’s a higher activity between 10:00 pm – 02:00 am. For more info, I recommend checking this article on when to see the Northern Lights.
BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN NORWAY
In short, the best time to see the Aurora in Norway is:
- September and October: There are not many hours of darkness but during this period there is an increase in solar activity and fewer clouds.
- November, December, January, and February: This is the most popular time during the winter Northern Lights season in Norway. Some months like November usually have a higher percentage of covered skies.
- March and April: The spring equinox always brings peaks in solar activity which usually result in impressive displays of Northern Lights.
Additionally, I recommend, regardless of the time when you travel, using a Northern Lights prediction system for Norway with notifications, so you can be aware of any sudden growth in the solar activity and the KP index. (Check out how to read the Northern Lights Forecast)
Below, you can find a graphic with information about the Northern Lights in Norway during 2021, with Tromso as a reference. Thanks to this data, we can compare the days with KP≥3 (although in Tromso we can see the Aurora from KP 1’8) with the days when the night lasts more than 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 Lights Norway December | 16 | 31 | 16 |
Historical Data of Northern Lights in Norway by Month in 2021 |
In addition to this chart, you will need to consider cloud coverage. If the sky is covered, it will be impossible to see the Northern Lights in Norway. 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:
- Tromso: The most famous place to see the Northern Lights in Norway. Aurora tourism is well-developed and it’s easy to find great tour offers.
- Lofoten Islands: The ideal place to see the Northern Lights over the best Norwegian landscapes. Ideal for photographers.
- Senja: In recent years it has gained popularity as a destination to see the Aurora dancing over the Norwegian fjords.
- Alta: One of the northernmost and accessible places to see the Aurora in Norway. It has a wide variety of resorts dedicated to enjoying this phenomenon.
- Svalbard: The northernmost point of Norway is located at an exceptional latitude to see the Northern Lights. This island is also famous for its polar bears.
- North Cape: One of the most inaccessible but, at the same time, original places to see the Aurora Borealis in Norway.
- Hammerfest: This city located just above the top of Finmark is another increasingly popular destination to see 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 Lights in winter. Relatively cheap flights over the last few years have made Tromso one of the most popular places to see the Northern Lights in Norway.
Keep in mind 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 seeing the Northern Lights.
In addition, it is a reasonably big city, so you can hire many Northern Light Tours in Tromso. Besides, there are many things to do in Tromso, like visiting a reindeer farm, ancient Sami settlements, or taking a dog sledding tour.
However, if you are interested in photographing the Northern Lights in Norway, you should join a specific tour.
NORTHERN LIGHTS PHOTO TOURS IN TROMSO
The one-day Northern Lights tours in Tromso are recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy this phenomenon and capture some memories with the camera. The guides usually take you to an area towards the interior where there are more chances of clear skies and less light pollution.
If you’re chasing the Aurora on your own, keep in mind that Tromso is a big city, so you may find there’s too much light pollution. If the solar activity is not too high to see the Aurora, I recommend going to the nearby (2 hours away) Senja Island to see the Northern Lights of Norway.
2. Lofoten
Lofoten is the perfect place to see the Northern Lights in Norway over incredible landscapes. Here you will find a lot of beaches facing north above the Arctic Circle at a latitude of 67º, with ideal conditions to see the Aurora.
I visit the Lofoten Islands every winter and, to me, it is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. In this guide to the best things to do in the Lofoten Islands, we cover the best locations to see the Northern Lights in the archipelago.
If you visit Reine and want to experience the magic of this region, I recommend you stay at the Eliassen Rorbuer, since there is nothing like seeing the Northern Lights from a traditional fishing wooden hut hotel. On our last trip, we were lucky to see the Aurora even from the window in our room.
In my opinion, Lofoten is the best place 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 show you 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 years, it has gained popularity as a Northern Lights photographic destination in Norway.
The landscapes are similar to those on the Lofoten islands, with rugged fjords and picturesque fishing villages, and not as crowded as the Lofoten Islands.
4. Alta
Seeing the Northern Lights in Alta is possible and accessible, which is why it’s known as the “City of Northern Lights” at 70º latitude.
Here you can even find some of the best Northern Lights hotels in Norway. One of the most popular is Sorrisniva, where you can see the Northern Lights from your igloo room. The prices aren’t low, but it is a unique experience. You can book your room here.
5. Svalbard
Svalbard is the most famous place in Europe for polar bear watching. This archipelago is the northernmost region of Norway and is located close to the North Pole, at 81º latitude.
Most of the islands are uninhabited, but people live in some areas like Longyearbyen.
As I said before, most of the tourism in Svalbard is focused on polar bears, but there are also snowmobile and Northern Lights tours. Keep in mind that traveling here is more expensive than in other areas like Tromso or Lofoten.
6. North Cape
If you want to go 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 getting here is more expensive and complicated.
7. Oslo
Seeing the Aurora Borealis in Oslo, the capital of Norway, is difficult since it is located at a latitude of 59º, significantly 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 see the Aurora Borealis in Oslo. In fact, between August and September 2015 there were very intense solar storms that made it possible to see the Northern Lights in Stavanger and Bergen.
In any case, you need to be very lucky to see the Northern Lights at this latitude, so I wouldn’t recommend visiting Oslo if you intend to see the Aurora in Norway. However, if you do visit Oslo, don’t forget to turn on the Aurora notifications from your app, just in case 😉
In case it helps, here is a map of the Aurora Borealis in Norway so you can identify which KP you need depending on the area of Norway you are in. The “KP” term sounds complex but it’s simply an index of the solar activity that causes the Northern Lights.
As you can see, the easiest place to see the Northern Lights in Norway is the Norwegian Lapland and the northern Norwegian coast, since that’s where you need the lowest KP.
In terms of the best places to see the Northern Lights, remember: you need darkness. Stay away from urban centers or light pollution will keep you from seeing the Aurora.
And last but not least, check the cloud forecast. If the sky is covered you will not see the Aurora Borealis. Use a weather forecast system and search for clear skies. For Norway, the best website is YR.no, where the cloud prediction is shown on an interactive map.
Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway
Although Norway has endless tourist attractions, there is no doubt that the Aurora Borealis is one of the main ones. This is why more and more tours are offered to see the Aurora in northern Norway.
Out of all the places we mentioned, Tromso is the best place in Norway to take a Northern Lights tour since there are many options. The most common are the northern lights vacation packages, although you can also take day tours (these are the best 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:
- Tromsø Ice Domes Hotel Overnight Stay
- Aurora Camp Overnight Stay
- Northern Lights 7-Hour Tour
- 3-Hour Northern Lights Sailing Excursion
In Lofoten, there are also some Northern Lights tours.
In addition to the one-night tours to see the Aurora offered in Tromso, there are specific guided tours to see the Northern Lights in Norway that are run for several days. These packages also include other cultural activities such as photography, visiting ancient Sami sites, experiencing the local gastronomy, or visiting Viking museums.
If you prefer to focus on Northern Lights photography, we would be happy to have you on our next Lofoten photography tour, where we will spend a week photographing the best landscapes of the Lofoten Islands and “hunting” the Northern Lights every night.
Our best Northern Lights images in Norway
Here you’ll find my best Aurora Borealis photos from Norway.
As a final tip, if you want to capture the best possible images in your Norway Northern Lights trip, check our guide to photographing Northern Lights!
Hello! We were thinking of doing a 10-14 days trip to Norway in Sep end. Currently I have finalised Tromso + Lofoten as options for northern lights. Which other places would you recommend strongly? Also which places near Tromso would you advise strongly for highest chances of a best possible northern lights viewing experience?
Hi Kaushal,
Fløya is close to Tromso and has great hiking as well as opportunities to see the Norway Northern Lights. You could also take the cable car up to Storsteinen. 🙂
Ascen
Hi, we’d like to spend our wedding anniversary in Norway and seeing the northern lights but I am not a great flyer and the thought of two flights to get to Tromso from the UK is not wonderful. Are there any places that would be good to see the northern lights from after a direct flight to Trondheim? We’d be up for a 4 hour (ish) train journey (it’s 21hours to Tromso I checked!)
Hi Jessica,
If you’re going to be in Trondheim, all of the best places to see the Norway Northern Lights are pretty far (a full day or more of driving). You could try Oslo, although it has a lower chance of auroras. Another alternative could be seeing the Northern Lights in Sweden, Iceland, or Finland. Hope that helps!
Ascen
Hi Dan,
Are the last 2 weeks of September (20.9-25.9) a good time to see the Northern Lights in Tromao ?
Thanks and Regards,
Hi Avner,
The last two weeks of September are great for seeing the Northern Lights in Tromso. There will be darker skies, so you have high chances of seeing the aurora! 🙂 Enjoy!
Ascen
hi ,
am planning to go to Norway in last week of feb 2024 or march first week 2024. i wanted to stay for 4-5 night and want to take good photo(am beginner) as well as igloo experience as well if possible, but dont want to go overboard with budget as well.
and yes north cape n lofetan and lapland i wanted to visit atlease these 3. can you suggest me how many minimum days i should do and which places i can do and which can skip.
Hi Jigna,
I would spend at least 3 days just in the Lofoten Islands. Both the Lofoten and Lapland regions are excellent places to see the Northern Lights in Norway. The North Cape is very remote, so organizing a visit there is trickier. If you want to stay there, consider a unique accommodation like the Nygård Apartments.
I hope this helps!
Can I see northern lights at this 25 November in laukvik senja can I get more information from you , thank you
Hi Mr. Lee,
Yes, late November will be a good time to see the Northern Lights, and the Laukvik Senja looks like a beautiful place to watch the show!
Hi Dan, Great information. Planning to do a trip to see the Northern Lights in either mid October this year or early February next year. I’m getting the impression October will be better. Planning to travel to Tromso but then was thinking of taking the Hurtigren cruise up to Kirkenes. What do you think of cruising to see the Aurora? Is it suitable for photography and viewing? Or would it be better to go to a resort in Lofoten or Senja instead. I kinda like the idea of travelling by ship up the coast. Thanks
Hi Judi,
I would skip the ship trip if you want to take nice photos of the Northern Lights since you can get the stability you need for the shoots. There are many nice Northern Lights resorts in Norway that will provide you with better conditions for this experience.
Let me know if you have any questions,
Ascen
Hi,
We are planning a business trip to Stavanger and Oslo around 10th December 2022 for 7 nights. May we have the chance to see an aurora?
I don’t think so. It’s too south, so your chances of seeing the aurora are very very low.
Ascen
Hi, i have plan to go to Norway early December 2022. Can you suggest which city is the best place to see nothern lights?
Thanks 🙂
No doubt, if you want to see the Northern Lights in Norway, I suggest visiting Tromso.
Let me know if you have questions,
Ascen
Hey there. First of all, great blog.
My question is, when you say that the North Cape is the least accessible, what so you mean by that?
Hey Ben,
Thanks for your comment and nice words.
To see the Northern Lights in Norway, North Cape is the remotest of all locations (besides Svalbard of course), which might make things more difficult to plan in terms of logistics than easier destinations like Tromso, where you can find plenty of accommodation, tours, etc.
Hope this helps!
Dan
Hi,
We friends are planning to fly from Frankfurt Germany to Norway to see northern lights in February 2020. Can you suggest which city in Norway is best in February? Keeping in view all the aspects of total cost and accessibility.
Thanks,
Hi Ali, I think Tromso is the best place to go to. There are a lot of Northern Lights Tours in Tromso and you can also find some of the best Northern Lights Hotels in Norway.
Let me know if you have any questions,
Ascen.
Hi, what airport do you recommend flying into? I am coming from the UK in December
You can check in Skyscanner but most of the flights make a connection at Oslo. Then, you should go to Tromso or Leknes, depending on where do you want to see the Northern Lights. If you go ahead with Tromso, here is the list of the best Northern Lights Tours in Tromso that I recommend.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Ascen.
Hi ,
We are planning to go to Norway for 4 days trip in November start from 14th-18th . Can i know are we have a chance to see northern light?
Hi Sharon,
It’s still very early to have mid-November accurate forecast. I’d recommend to download the Aurora app and check in about a week what’s the forecast for the days of your trip.
Wish you all the best in your Northern Lights chasing experience!
Dan
Hi,
I got ticket to paris this 24nov to 8 dec. Will go norway for northen light from paris. Can u suggest how can i plan my trip and how can i fit into some of ur tour?
i’m from Malaysia
Thanks
Hi Lim,
Your best bet is to book a flight to Tromso for a few days and try to see the Northern Lights from there.
We only offer Photo tours, but there are plenty of companies offering tours in Tromso and Norway.
You can check more information here 😉
Good luck chasing the Northern Lights!
Hi,
We are planning a trip to Tromso around 25th March 2020 for 3 nights. Can someone please guide us if there are some chances to catch these beautiful lights. Our biggest concern is that year 2020 is the lowest on the 11 year cycle for seeing these lights.
We will be traveling to Lofoten in Feb 2020 and if it is clear, I really think we will see them, maybe not so strong like the last time, but see them at least!
Dan
Hi!
I’m planning a roadtrip with a friend trough Denmark, norway and Sweden in October. We will be traveling all the way up in Norway. Which place will be the best to see the northern lights?
Because we are just students on what aspect could we be saving money? I heard that the food is quite expensive
Hi!!
You are right, Norway is very expensive. That is why we bring almost of the food from our hometown. Actually, we check in a suitcase full of fool ( 70€) and we saved a lot!
If you want to see Northern Lights go to Tromso. You will have a great chance and it is not so expensive like Lofoten Islands.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Ascen
Hi! Same story here ? bunch of broke students, same itinerary at the same time. Maybe we’ll meet on the road mate ?
Have fun guys! I am sure you’ll have an unforgettable trip! 😉
Good Day to you !!
We are planning for a 5 days trip to Tromso to watch the mesmerizing northern lights. Our travel date is between 21st to 25th of Nov, could you please suggest the best possibilities of seeing the northern lights and also any local tour operator contacts who can arrange for the northern lights tour.
Hi Sayed,
The best hotel to stay if you want to see the Northern Lights in Tromso is the Radisson Blu Hotel. From there, most of the Aurora tours departure but the one I like the most is this one. Great guides!
Let me know if you have any question.
Ascen.
Hi!
We’re planning a trip to Lofoten from the end of August to the first week of September. May we have the chance to see an aurora? If yes, do we need to go up to Tromso or is the chance is bigger on Lofoten?
Hi Ulrike,
At that time is very unlikely you can see Northern Lights in Norway, no matter if in Tromso or Lofoten since there is not completely night at any time.
Ascen.
Hello! I am planning a babymoon trip with my husband to Norway in mid-September 2019 for 7-10 days. We will spend a few days in Loften as well. Question – What area of Lofoten would be the best to stay in, and to try to see the Northern Lights? Also, since most lodging would be in a farm house or cabin does that mean we’d have to provide our own food, or are there hotel-like services common as well?
Hi S! I think the best option is stay at Eliassen Rorbuer, if there is still available a vacancy. Across the road from the reception office, you will find the Krambua Restaurant, a great place to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The restaurant is run separately from the hotel and uses the freshest ingredients sourced locally, hence the menu changes daily depending on what is available.
I hope you can still book a cabin. It was an incredible experience for us. If it is sold out for your date, please let me know and I will find a good option for you.
Have a nice day,
Ascen.
Hello there!
I and 4 of my friends are planning a trip to Lofoten this winter for about 7/8 days. One of our main goals is to catch the Northern Lights, and of course enjoy the Norwegian landscape!
We were thinking of November. Or October. And dividing our stay between Reine and Svolvaer.
What would you suggest is a better month in terms of accomplishing the experience we want to have?
We have been reading a lot of stuff online. We do keep on coming back to your series of blogs on Norway. Yet a little indecisive. ?
Any insights you can provide will be very helpful, in terms of time and places also, if that’s okay.
PS. We will fly+ use combination of ferry/train/bus to reach Lofoten.
Thanks so much!
Hi Julia,
It is a lottery. Each year is different. We went in November and the weather was great but most of the local people told us that normally November is a bad month so I would suggest going in October but maybe this year November is better than October again. You never know…
Anyway, Lofoten is amazing and you will enjoy its landscapes.
I hope the weather is also good and you can see the Northern Lights too.
Let us know if you have any other question.
Ascen.
Thanks for so much of information . We are planning a trip and would request for some help.
Thanks once again.
Regards
Rajnish Bali , New Delhi , India
Hi Rajnish,
Thanks for your message.
Please feel free to ask for any help you may need.
Best,
Dan
Great info and thank you for sharing!! Hopefully next Nov/Dec.
Thanks for your feedback Bill,
All the best in your next Aurora trip! 😉
A deja vu experience I remember Cape North me ago, skies were a present to my retin
Hi Weedjee. I am sure it was an amazing experience. I hope to see them there next time!
Best,
Ascen.
Ascen, it was wondrous, hails from Madrid . David
I am thinking about joinning your photo tour to see the Northern lights in Norway but I am just an amateur photographer. Please let me know if an skill level is required.
No skills are required. Just the will of learning and having fun. I have sent you an email. Hope to see you in our photo tour!
Dan.