If you want to experience the starry, limitless Arctic sky, and the unbelievable colours of the northern lights that dance across it, few places on earth are better than Norway.
Where can you see the northern lights?
Did you know that you can experience the northern lights as early as late September until late March? Northern Norway is dark from afternoon until late morning, when the northern lights frequently soar across the sky. Our bold claim is that this part of Norway, with its multiple islands, deep fjords and steep mountains, is among the world's most beautiful and interesting places in which to see the northern lights.
As hundreds of thousands of people live in this huge geographical area, the region of Northern Norway has everything from cities with lively night life and excellent museums to small fishing villages and vast, tranquil spaces without light pollution.
The best time to go is now!
Northern lights activity is peaking in 2024. From now until 2026, the aurora borealis activity is expected to reach its highest levels in 11 years.
Explore the North
The aurora can be a shy diva, but in addition to hunting for the northern lights, Northern Norway offers winter fishing, hiking, skiing, and dog sledding. You can also experience Sami culture or join a whale or wildlife safari. Afterwards, you can relax in unique hotels and eat incredible local food. Why not join a northern lights safari and get enjoy your meal in a traditional lavvo? A night in an ice hotel is also something you never will forget.
You can slo sometimes see the northern lights in other parts of Norway, such as Trøndelag and Southern Norway, particularly during periods of increased solar activity.
What are the northern lights?
On a very basic level, the phenomenon is quite simple to explain. It is created from a collision between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the atmosphere of the earth.
The lights, which are also called aurora borealis, show up at night when the sky is dark. It’s like a celestial ballet of light dancing across the night sky, with a colour palette of green, blue, and sometimes even pink and violet.
The unique winter light
Although there is not guarantee that the northern lights will appear – they are a natural phenomenon, just like the weather – you are still guaranteed to experience magical light in Northern Norway all through the polar night. On clear days, you can see beautiful sunset colours in the south while the sky to the north is a deep midnight blue. In the 'blue hour' at twilight, the snowy landscape is bathed in a glassy, deep blue colour.
And even if the Auroras don't dance, experiencing the infinite starry sky can make you reconnect with the universe.
Light pollution obscures the night sky in more than half of Europe. If you leave the lights of the city behind, you can see much more of our universe with the naked eye.
When can I see the auroras?
The northern lights can be seen when the sky is clear and dark. Peak time is between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Statistically, spring (March/April) and autumn (September/October) have the highest level of aurora activity. However, you they are also spotted in November, December, January, and February. You then just have to cross your fingers for a sun storm to send some magical particles in your direction...
Don't worry if you need to wait a while to see the green diva dance. There are plenty of other unforgettable things to experience in Northern Norway! Plan your trip with My Nordic Travel.
Northern lights forecast
The people under the Auroras
Meet a Sami reindeer herder and join an eager northern lights guide on an aurora hunt!
Take advantage of top offers
See our selection of offers from companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.
Aurora dinner cruise
3-4 hour boat tour in TromsøMagical northern lights
Dog sledding and reindeer sledding in AltaLofoten & northern lights
Lofoten archipelago experienceWildlife & northern lights
Tromsø city break with a wildlife cruiseTromsø winter break
Tromsø, northern lights, dog sleddingNorthern lights cruise
Tromsø, the North Cape and KirkenesArctic winter adventure
Snowhotel Kirkenes, Hurtigruten & TromsøFjords & northern lights
Oslo, Bergen, Flåm and TromsøNorthern lights dinner cruise
3-hour boat sightseeing in TromsøNorthern lights safari
Round trip from Oslo to TromsøShort winter cruise
Tromsø and a Hurtigruten CruiseNorthern lights & fjord tour
Oslo, Kirkenes, Flåm and BergenWinter cruise & northern lights
8-day trip from Kirkenes to BergenNorthern lights cruise trip
6-night cruise and train adventureAurora safari camp in Tromsø
Northern lights at a private campHavila astronomy sailing
Hunt the aurora on a Havila VoyageMore things to do in Northern Norway
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