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Nordlys over reine i Lofoten
Nordlys over reine i Lofoten
Nordlys over Reine i Lofoten.
Photo: Alex Conu / Visitnorway.com
Nordlys over Reine i Lofoten.
Photo: Alex Conu / Visitnorway.com

Northern lights in Norway

To experience the starry, limitless sky, and the unbelievable colours that move across the Arctic sky, few places on earth offer more ways to witness the northern lights than Norway.

Where can you see the northern lights?

Between late September and late March, Northern Norway is dark from early afternoon until late morning, and 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 worlds most beautiful and interesting places 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 a lively night scene and great museums to small fishing villages and vast, tranquil spaces without light pollution.

This means that in addition to hunting for the northern lights, you can go winter fishing, hiking, skiing, and dog sledding, experience the Sami culture, or join a whale or wildlife safari. Afterwards, you can relax in top-notch hotels and eat incredible local food. Or maybe you’ve joined a northern lights safari and get to eat your meal in a traditional lavvo?

A person snowshoeing under the northern lights in Tromsø, Northern Norway
Snowshoeing in Tromsø.
Photo: Kari Schibevaag / Visit Tromso

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. 

But even though you can’t take the lights for granted – it is, after all, 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 starry, limitless 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 you see the auroras? 

The aurora borealis can be seen when the sky is clear and dark, and the optimal conditions are usually when the weather is cold and dry. Then, you just have to cross your fingers for a sun storm, sending out some magical particles in your direction... 

If you will have to wait a bit for The Green Diva to show up, don´t worry. There are plenty of other unforgettable things to do in Northern Norway 

NorwayLights

Install the NorwayLights app – and get access to a 3 day northern light forecast that helps you find the best time and place to see the northern lights. 

iPhone: NorwayLights for iOS 
Android: NorwayLights for Android

Northern lights forecast

More about the northern lights

Meet the people under the northern lights

Watch these cool activities 

Take advantage of top offers

See our selection of offers from companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.

  • A snowhotel room in Alta
    Credits
    A snowhotel room in Alta
    Photo: Visit Norway
    Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
    Experience Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Alta

    3-day winter break to Alta in Northern Norway, including an overnight stay at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel and a reindeer sledding experience. Additional winter activities can be added. | Authentic Scandinavia

  • Kirkenes Snowhotel from the outside at nighttime
    Credits
    Kirkenes Snowhotel from the outside at nighttime
    Photo: Visit Norway
    Arctic Winter Adventure
    Snowhotel Kirkenes, Hurtigruten & Tromsø.

    6-day winter adventure tour including an overnight stay at Kirkenes Snow Hotel, a cruise with Hurtigruten to Tromsø, and a wide selection of optional winter activities. | Authentic Scandinavia

  • Looking out from a glass dome in northern Norway
    Credits
    Camping in northern Norway
    Photo: Glød Explorer
    Aurora Canvas Dome
    Save 10% by joining our Adventure Club

    Spend a night in a glass dome under the northern lights. Wake up inside the remote pine forest of Alta overlooking majestic snow-covered mountains. Private bathroom and sauna facilities available. | Book Nordics

  • Man standing on deck looking at the northern lights
    Credits
    Man standing on cruiseship - northern lights
    Photo: Visit Norway
    Short Winter Cruise
    Experience Tromsø and a Hurtigruten Cruise

    4-day tour including a cruise with Hurtigruten. Choose from a wide selection of winter activities, including dog sledding and northern lights excursions. | Authentic Scandinavia

  • A large bed in a snowhotel
    Credits
    A large bed in a snowhotel
    Photo: Visit Norway
    Kirkenes Snow Hotel
    Experience a snow hotel & winter fun

    3-day Norway winter break including an overnight stay at the Kirkenes Snow Hotel. Go on a dog sledding excursion, sample giant king crab, and more. | Authentic Scandinavia

  • Hurtigruten and northern lights
    Credits
    Hurtigruten and the northern lights
    Photo: Visit Norway
    Northern Lights Cruise
    Visit Tromsø, the North Cape and Kirkenes

    6-day tour, including a return cruise from Tromsø to Kirkenes with Hurtigruten. Visit the North Cape and try winter activities including dog sledding and snowmobiling. | Authentic Scandinavia

More things to do in Northern Norway

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