After I moved to Tromsø in Northern Norway my inbox started flooding with messages from people wanting to plan northern lights trips to Norway and asking for local advice.
And that’s for good reason too – I can’t think of many experiences I’ve had that have been more magical than watching the northern lights dance above me. They’re definitely worth the time, expense, and cold to see them at least once in a lifetime. And if you want to see the aurora Norway is the place to go!
That said, I know there can be a bit of confusion surrounding the northern lights and how to set off in search of them. I’ve spent a lot of time watching the northern lights, so I’m here to help you avoid some of the most common mistakes I see people make when trying to see the northern lights in Norway.
You can find my complete guide to how to see the northern lights from Tromsø, as well as my top suggestions for places to visit to see the northern lights here.
I’ve also gathered even more tips for your northern lights trip into an in depth ebook here. This covers all the necessities for planning a northern lights trip, going into much more detail than my blog posts.
Staying too far south
I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve gotten from people telling me they’ve planned a trip to Oslo and/or Bergen this winter to see the fjords and northern lights.
I think because Norway has a small population people can forget that the country is actually huge! Or rather, really, really long. So all the gorgeous northern lights photos you see from Norway do not mean that you can see those views from anywhere in the country – you’re going to need to at least head north of the Arctic Circle for a good chance of seeing them.
And no, Trondheim is not far enough north. I feel like that misconception is partially my fault, as I wrote about seeing an amazing display of northern lights shortly after moving to Trondheim, but it’s actually quite rare to get to see the northern lights in Trondheim.
And I’m not the only one who’s excitedly shared northern lights photos from places that rarely get glimpses of them – you’ll see plenty of photos out there of the northern lights dancing over famous locations in southern Norway, but know that that is not the norm.
Even the local tourism board in my old town in the south loved to run an Instagram advert of a photo of the northern lights over Rauland, but the truth is I never saw them once in the three years I lived there. But now that I live in Tromsø in Northern Norway I usually see the northern lights a couple times a week in the winter.
So head north! Because yes, if you want to see the northern lights, Norway is a good place to visit, but only if you’re far enough North. If you want a good chance of seeing the northern lights, you’ll want to go at least as far north as Bodø, and heading all the way up to Tromsø or Alta would give you even better chances.
Also, be aware that the Arctic Circle is quite a long journey from Oslo or Bergen – Bodø is a 16+ hour drive from Oslo or a 19-hour train ride. So if you’re on a tight schedule but have your heart set on seeing the aurora borealis in Norway it might be best to fly!
Visiting for too short a time
As I already mentioned, the Arctic Circle is really far from Oslo and Bergen, so make sure to factor time in your trip to actually get up there. There are plenty of cheap flights north, or you could take the train to Bodø (or through Sweden to Narvik), but the train line doesn’t go all the way up to Tromsø.
And you’ll also want to stay as long as possible in the north so that you actually get a chance to see the northern lights! The lights themselves are unpredictable, but the biggest challenge you’ll face when trying to see them is probably the weather.
Ideally, you’ll want to have time to either wait out bad weather or get away from it. I would try to at least have 4 days in the north (though I spent 7 days in Lofoten and never saw them).
Not packing the right clothing
Hanging out outside on a dark winter’s night is not always the most pleasant experience, but you just know that as soon as you go inside to warm up the aurora will make a quick appearance!
So it’s best to be prepared to wait out in the cold. I’ve written a guide to what to pack for winter in Norway, but basically, I would say the most important thing of all is to have warm footwear (I personally love my Sorel boots).
A lot of northern lights tours will provide you with snow suits and sometimes even boots and mittens for your night of northern lights chasing.
Not choosing the best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway
First of all, you should know that it is impossible to see the northern lights in Norway between April and early August, because the sky doesn’t get dark enough at night. In the north the sun stays up all night long during the Midnight Sun period (May – July/August), and even in southern Norway where the sun still sets in the summer, the sky never gets fully dark.
We begin to see the northern lights again in late August, but personally I would wait until at least September to visit Norway for the northern lights.
The weather in November and December can be brutal, so a lot of people say that the best months to see the northern lights in Norway are late September, October, January, February, and March. Of course, that’s just a suggestion, as the weather here will always be unpredictable, but if you want to optimize your chances I’d say that’s the best time to visit Norway for northern lights.
Also, with the way the aurora oval is positioned, generally you’ll have the highest chance of seeing the northern lights at night. I usually always see them after at least 6 pm. So visiting Norway during the polar night period (November – January) when the sun never rises won’t necessarily increase your chances, as it’s not that likely you’ll see the northern lights at 3 in the afternoon anyway.
Personally, my top recommendation would be to visit Norway in February or March, because there’s lots of snow on the ground, which is pretty, and there’s sun again during the day. This means you can enjoy snowy landscapes during the day and the northern lights at night.
September and October are also excellent times to visit if you really hate the cold, because the nights don’t get quite as cold.
I don’t love November and December because it’s really dark and often rainy instead of snowy, which isn’t very beautiful.
I do love January, but it can be really, really cold.
Not booking a northern lights tour
Oh my goodness, I’ve heard so much confusion over whether or not to book a northern lights tour!
Do you need to take a tour to see the northern lights?
Should you book a tour for every night you’re in the north?
What kind of Norway aurora tour should you book?
And the questions go on.
First of all, if the aurora is dancing brightly you’ll be able to see it even from a city center (plus you’ll always be able to get away from bright lights in Norwegian cities by heading to the parks). So if the weather and aurora forecast are good, you might not need to take a tour to see the northern lights.
But it’s still a very good idea to sign up for a northern lights tour.
Look for a northern lights tour where the guides will do everything in their ability to help you get a glimpse of the aurora. You’ll want a tour where if the weather isn’t cooperating, they’ll drive you somewhere where it is. For example, I always recommend northern lights tours from Tromsø that will drive you all the way to Finland if necessary.
Some tours will also teach you how to photograph the lights (some will even lend you fancy camera equipment!), and usually, guides will do their best to entertain you, so the tour will be a fun experience even if you’re really unlucky and don’t see the northern lights. I’ve also written a guide to how to photograph northern lights here.
Northern lights tours also usually provide thermal winter suits for you to wear, which is super helpful when you’ll be outside in the cold. And of course it’s so helpful to have a guide watching for the lights, so that you can warm up inside a tent or tour bus when you get cold, without missing the aurora if it does appear. Sometimes the northern lights only appear for a couple of minutes, so having someone constantly keeping an eye on the sky is key.
If you want some guidance with choosing a northern lights tour or figuring out how to chase the northern lights on your own, I discuss all of this in great detail in my northern lights ebook.
I’ve also shared my top northern lights tour recommendations for Tromsø here. And I have a guide for Tromsø in winter here.
And if you want to know the best northern lights tours in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, I’ve included my recommendations in my northern lights ebook. And I’ve also laid out a guide for how to chase the northern lights independently, including my favorite weather app and my two favorite northern lights forecast apps, as well as exactly how I use them. You can buy the book here, and since you’re coming from my blog you can also get a 20% discount with the code 20below, which brings the total down to $5.
Not planning other activities and excursions
If you don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment, please, please don’t make your trip solely about seeing the northern lights!
Instead try to fill your days with other fun activities so that even if you have terrible luck with the northern lights you’ll still have had an amazing time.
The Arctic has so much more to offer than the Aurora, so take advantage of being up there! Personally I love dogsledding, reindeer excursions, and whale watching.
Again, Viator and GetYourGuide both have tons of fun options for things to do in the Arctic. I’ve also written a huge guide for things to do in Tromsø, my home city, here.
I’ve written an article on fun things to do on a northern lights trip besides seeing the northern lights here and a guide on how to plan an amazing Lofoten trip here.
Staying in Norway
Norway is an excellent place to see the northern lights. Living in Tromsø I often saw them a couple of times a week in the winter. You can read my guide to the best northern lights hotels in Norway here.
However don’t forget that you can also see the northern lights in Sweden and Finland, which are also really fun winter destinations!
In Sweden I always recommend Abisko or Kiruna for the northern lights. Abisko is particularly great because due to its location between a lake and mountains, the clouds have a tendency of pulling apart, if perhaps just briefly, even during the worst of weather.
I saw this lights display in the middle of a snowstorm in Abisko (which is why I wasn’t waiting somewhere more photogenic than the bus depot where my friend’s camper was parked):
Abisko is also a really good budget option for seeing the lights. You can get either a sleeping berth on a train or a flight from Stockholm for around $100 one-way, there are hostel options in Abisko, and there are so few lights in Abisko that you won’t need to take a tour to see the aurora. Plus Sweden is just generally cheaper than Norway.
I’ve written a complete post on how to plan a northern lights trip to Abisko on a budget here.
Or if you can’t find good accommodation in Abisko, I absolutely LOVED my stay at this husky lodge in Kiruna, where you can stay with huskies!
And then in Finland I recommend going to Saariselkä or Rovaniemi. The great thing about Finland is that they have so many glass igloo type resorts where you can sleep under a glass ceiling where you can spot the northern lights from the comfort of your bed!
at the Northern Lights Village in Saariselkä
Of course, the downside of planning a northern lights trip to Sweden or Finland instead of Norway is that they are simply not as lovely as Norway. Places like Tromsø and Lofoten are going to blow your mind regardless of whether you see the northern lights.
I recently spent four days on Senja and Dyrøy, which are near Tromsø, and it was seriously one of the best trips of my life, regardless of the northern lights. But I was lucky and actually ended up seeing the northern lights every night!
I can highly recommend both places for a northern lights trip, especially as they’re away from city lights like Tromsø, and generally have better weather than Lofoten. Read about Senja here, and read about Dyrøy here.
Svalbard is also a great place to see the northern lights. It’s the only place in the world that you can watch the daytime northern lights. These are weaker than nighttime northern lights because they’re coming directly from the sun, but you can see them during polar night on Svalbard because it’s completely dark even during midday. It’s very special! I’ve written more about planning a Svalbard northern lights trip here.
Or you could visit both Sweden and Norway! You can get the train from Abisko to Narvik in Norway, and then get a bus from Narvik to Senja, Dyrøy, Lofoten or Tromsø if you want!
I recently did a trip like this that included Abisko, Kiruna, Narvik, Vesterålen, and Lofoten. You can see my exact one week itinerary for arctic Norway and Sweden here.
I’ve gone into more detail about where to go to see the northern lights in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland in my northern lights ebook.
Nynke says
I’d also say that if seeing the lights is your dream, you should try to do it sooner rather than later: apparently there’ll be a decline in solar flares in the coming years, so if you put it off for a few years, you might end up with much less opportunity to see them.
Applying that to my own life, I guess I should revisit Tromsø next autumn/winter! I won’t make it this year, but my boyfriend was in Tromsø for the first time last week, and he was lucky enough to just see the lights from the city! I envy him…
Btw, ‘sleeping birth’ made me smile but does need an e instead of an i :).
Silvia says
Haha that is a funny typo – thanks for the catch! And your lucky boyfriend – next time you will need to go with him!
Taylor says
It’s interesting that you say that Oslo and Trondheim aren’t far north enough to see the northern lights! I live in a small town in Northern Alberta, Canada and I see them quite vibrantly a few times a week. I looked up the longitude and were quite a bit further south than the two Norwegian cities but because I work night shoft often about 30km out of town there might be less light pollution here? …or we’re just very lucky! Haha
I really love your posts about Norway, its one of my top must-see destinations!
Silvia says
I think it’s actually because the aurora oval isn’t centered on the North Pole, but is instead centered closer to Canada, which is why you can see the Northern Lights farther south in North America than in Europe. At least that’s what I’ve been told – I can’t promise it’s true, haha.
Soma says
So best time to visit is Oct for those who can’t take harsh cold to see the northern lights?And Tromso is a good place to stay to see the lights?
Brandon says
It’s crazy the difference between Europe and North America going the same distance north. I live in Minnesota and from what I hear it is a bit colder here in the winter than Oslo which is a good distance further north.
Tim says
I think you mean Latitude not Longitude – latitudes move north and south, longitudes move east and west!
تور شیراز says
wow, so nice
Rosa says
Visit Oslo posted some northern light photos last week and I was wondering that how often you can really see them in the capital. I live myself in Helsinki. I have seen them only once here. It was very strong that time. Anyway there was so much city lights that it was hard to see them.
Silvia says
Haha yeah, it’s incredibly rare to see them from Oslo – but I guess that’s a reason why people expect that they’ll be able to see them there.
Kate - Travel for Difference says
Before I visited Iceland in September 2016, we were told that there was a very slim chance of experiencing the Aurora. But out of the 5 nights we were there, we experienced the Northern Lights 4 times. It was absolutely incredible – I think the biggest mistake people make once they actually see the lights, is that they think they’re going to be able to capture it with an iPhone! You definitely need a reasonable DSLR to photograph it! You gave some great tips XX
Silvia says
Haha that’s true – even with a DSLR you have to know a lot to get good shots! Sounds like you guys were incredibly lucky!
Francis says
I believe there is an app now u can download specifically for aurora shooting
Vanessa Brune says
I’m incredible late to the game and only see this post right now, urgh!! Anyway, yes, yes, yes to all of this!! The amount of times I hear people say that they’ve booked a trip to see the lights at Christmas time and I’m just like, noooo – you couldn’t have chosen a worse time 😀
Anyway, thanks so much for the shout-out 🙂
Carolina Gutmann says
Hello Vanessa!
I´ve just started to plan a trip to northern norway – and of course, hopping to see the Northern Lights! – but unfortunately, I am only free to travel from mid December to mid January! I´ve just found your comment that Christmas time is not the best time to see the northern lights, why is that? Would you say that early January is a much better deal?
Thank you for your help! 🙂
Maria says
Great article. Norway is my favorite country from Scandinavian group. I like the nature there. My dream is to see the Northern Light and that is why I am so thankful that I read this article first. Now I know that I should travel to Sweden to see it 🙂
I’ve heard from friends of mine that West Norway is the most beautiful part of the country. Is it really so?
Silvia says
Western Norway is my favorite part of Norway, though I’ve heard some people say the Arctic is the most beautiful! And yes, definitely head to Abisko if you want to see the Northern Lights.
Zubair says
Nice
Northern lights best time says
This article is wonderful. and thank you for sharing Northern lights best time to go.
Elaine Corran says
Hi,
Thank you for all the fab information. My husband and I are playing in staying in Oslo for 4 nights in December. We have seen the northern lights in Iceland but hoped to catch them again. So can you just go to say Tromso for the day or is that not achievable?
Nxl says
Did you even read the article?
Alex says
Such a great post. I am a deep “all thins scandinavian” enthusiast and lover. I have been last year to the 5 scandinavian Capitals plus Bergen and Flam, and my prior love got even bigger. We are heading now in late october and early november to the Lapland. Our plan would be Rovaniemi, Kiruna, Tromso and Lofoten. Arriving to helsinki and returning from trondheim. Yes, of course we would like to see the Northern Lights, but you have to be prepared for something else. I was maybe now thinking og going to Abisko instead of Kiruna. That sounds good. Or staying in Kiruna and going to Abisko at nights its a good idea too? Whats prettier or have more things to do? Thanks for the help, and would appreciate your answer.
Silvia says
Hm there are more things to do in Kiruna, but your chances of seeing the lights are much higher in Abisko, and I find the surrounding countryside there prettier.
Ernesto Alejandro Alejandro Abraham says
Dont tell me that… I have just booked 3 nights in Kiruna instead of Abisko for November… Is there a way to go to Abisko for the aurora and get back to kiruna in the same nigh? Hope I have made a good choice….
Ernesto Alejandro Alejandro Abraham says
I will spend 10 days in early november between Rovaniemi, Kiruna, Tromso and the Lofoten Islands. Y should have chances of seeing Northern Lights I assume, right? Please, tell me that I will… 🙂
rhod tibbles says
Having read about Sweden being the best opportunity of seeing the Aurora, and November not being an ideal time weatherwise, my wife and I have booked a Hurtigruten cruise in mid November this year, which takes us well north of the Arctic Circle, beyond the Cape and up towards Kirkenes and brings in place such as Bodo , Tromso and The Lofoten Islands. Despite the comments about November weather, Hurtigruten are obviously confident in seeing the Aurora during the cruise as it offers a free cruise if they don’t appear…. obviously passengers get a wakeup call which they have to respond to, but the implication is the Aurora would be expected to appear. Any comments on that ??
Silvia says
If they’re willing to offer you a refund it seems like a good deal!
rhod tibbles says
Hi. Hurtigrutem don’t offer a refund if The Aurora doesn’t appear , but will offer a free cruise ….. whatever, for that offer they must be pretty confident….. But the advice about not making it you trip priority is very sensible. To want to go all that way and spend a lot of money, common sense says you need to have other experiences in mind …. If people are that desperate, local airports offer a day trip to see them …. me, I’m looking forward to seeing places I’ve previously cruised to in summer, in the winter clothing….. and there will be numerous opportunities for tours ashore – I’ve 2 husky sled rides booked in Tromso and Kirkenes…. no trip is perfect, you have to make the trip the way you want it… .
glennys says
Planning a cruise in July 2018 from Bergen to Geiranger, Kristiansund, Tromso and Nord Kapp then to UK. Will we have any chance of witnessing the n/lights? And the best location and time. Enjoy reading your posts.
Silvia says
It will be light all night in July so no, you won’t be able to see the Northern Lights.
Eloy says
I have my trip planned out from the beginning; Tromso, Abisko, Jukkasjarvi, and maybe even Rovaniemi. Early February for 10 to 12 days. I still have Stockholm, and Gothenburg in there.
Eupa Basu says
Hi,
I am planning for a trip to Europe in November 1st week for 4-5 days, just to experience the Northern Lights. Which place do you suggest will give me the maximum chance to see the lights?
Silvia says
This would give you the best chance: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/blog/best-northern-lights-europe-abisko/
pooja says
Hi Silvia,
I am planning a trip from india to see northern lights. If i have to choose between tromso and abisko what will you suggest. As i am coming from this far i would like to include some other european countries as well..any suggestions ?
Phuong says
Could you please recommend me any place in Norway where could catch Northern Light on late November?
Julia says
Amazing tips, Silvia! Thank you for sharing!
So many friends and fellow travelers already told us how important it is to choose a destination that offers more activities than just the northern lights.
We are now a step closer to our decision where to head for our aurora borealis experience!
Lots of Love,
Julia & Berni from thebackpackway.com
JESSICA A GARCIA says
Do you think we’ll have a chance to catch the lights in mid April either in Tromso or Sweden? Looking into taking my children.
BTW your article was very informative thank you.
Fariha says
Hi Silvia,
I was browsing for my next year trip, for Northern lights which is probably for the first time and here I am, across your blog. I must say, you have absolutely and undeniably captured my attention and devotion to see Northern lights by any means necessary.
You have beautifully explained everything and so so thank you for the tour guide references and I just wanted to thank you, please keep posting. People out there need a travel guidelines and you just made it peanuts.
Much Love,
Fariha
Instagram ID: farihaayan
Anti says
You can’t plan for weather when booking a trip- but check the moon phases! A full moon is really bright and will seriously affect the visibility of the northern lights. And your photos… I saw the lights last night, but they were barely visible due to the full moon.
Janelle Jones says
Nice tips! Thanks for sharing.
Gareth Thomas says
Nice read. Planning a trip and good to read an honest account. Great tips. Thank you
Victoria says
Thanks for the tips. I’m planning a solo trip to Norway next year to see a concert, visit a friend, eat lots of lefse, and fulfil the #1 item on my bucket list… see the Northern Lights!
I’m sure I’ll be referring to this article and others you’ve written on Norway a lot between now and then.
Miguel says
Thanks for share your experience. It is the right information I need for my Northern light trip.
Kanika Bakshi says
Awesome! Your blog is just amazing I have never a detailed blog on Tips on Northern Lights Norway I read your blog thoroughly to understand what are mistakes made by people while watching Northern Lights in Norway. I will share your blog with my friends as I will travel with them.
Angela says
Hello Silvia!
It was very insteresting reading all your articles, I was wondering if December (26) to January (07) would be a good time to visit Tromso and the northen lights!
Thanks in advance, cheers!
Silvia says
Yes, Tromsø is lovely at that time! Just be aware that it’s high season for tourists so you will need to book well in advance, and a lot of places will be closed for Christmas/New Year’s.
Surya says
Hi Silvia, this is Surya all the way from INDIA.
I think your information is superbly informative.
Tusen takk Silvia. Du er den beste. I hope I got that Norwegian right.
Take care. Loved every bit of your writing.
Regards,
Surya
P.S: Your blog is highly SEO friendly. Well done.
Chandramouli says
Hi Silvia,
Greetings from India. I am planning to take a trip to Sweden & Norway for my wife’s birthday in the fist week of April. Is that a good time?
Thanks
Mouli
richard johnson says
amazing blog thank you very much. My wife and I would love to come to see the lights and get as close to the north pole as possible. Can you suggest where to go please?
My wife and I are Christian and I have recently come to believe that The northern lights are in the bible and they surround the throne of God the Father and Jesus Christ. This is not myth this is all in the bible. The Throne of God is above what we call the North Pole.
Saba says
Article is very helpful,☺️ i am planning a trip with my friends for northern lights, can u tell me is Norway a safe place for girls
Kasey says
So am I out of luck if I’m going to Northern Norway at the end of April? 🙁
Silvia says
It will be too light to see the Northern Lights then. But it’s still a lovely time of year!
May says
Hi Silvia,
Thanks for your tips. We’re taking a Viking cruise in late February to early March, 2020 from Bergen, Norway up the coast to Tromso and Alta. The weather forecast is for lots of snow and ice during that period. Does that mean it will be difficult to see the Northern Lights due to clouds? We will also be taking some shore excursions to “hunt” for the Northern Lights. Thanks!
Silvia says
It’s difficult enough to predict the weather in Norway a day in advance, much less months in advance. The weather can change in an instant, so hopefully you’ll have a chance for clear skies. The shore excursions to hunt for the lights are really to hunt for clear skies, so often you’ll be able to reach clear skies even if it’s really bad weather. Have fun!
Noah van Boven says
Hey Silvia,
I wanted to know when you finished Senja, a trip you mentioned earlier. If you were visiting in winter I was wondering if northern Norway would be a good place to visit in Winter other than for the northern lights, since the weather can get pretty extreme
Silvia says
I visited Senja in December. I really love the winter in northern Norway, but you want to be comfortable driving in snow and remember that it’s very dark here in the winter!
antonio says
Hi Silvia,
thanks for your blog. it is really helpful.
one quick question. do you know sorkjosen, there is an igloo hotel there called lyngen north, have you heard about it? we are planning to go there however its too far away and risky for a 3 night trip in first week of october… what are your taughts on it? please let me know, its difficult to find good advises as yours.
many thanks!
Silvia says
Yes, Lyngen North is beautiful and should be a great place to see the northern lights. You can read about my stay there here: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/glass-igloo-norway-lyngen/ For the best chances of seeing the lights you’ll want to rent a car or arrange a tour, so that you can get to clear skies in case there’s bad weather. But hopefully you will be lucky!
antonio says
hi silvia! thanks! very much appreciated. it looks amazing. if you only had 3 nights to see them and probably just one chance in your entire life to try, would you go to lyngen or to abisko? i know its a tricky question but i would love to hear what you think 😉 many many thanks! im planning to book this weekend already!
Lukas Petereit says
Wow, thanks for all the information about the Northern Lights. I have seen the Northern Lights only once, but I can agree with nearly all of your aspects. Especially warm clothes are a must have!
Thanks a lot for the insights!
Best regards
Lukas
fotografwdrodze.pl says
You have to watch out for roadsides, lots of cars drive into ditches in winter.
Clint White says
Hello Silvia,
Thank you so much for all the information. I’m about to buy your ebook and was wondering if RV trips are included. We are flying into Helsinki Sept. 10th 2021 and departing from Helsinki 2 weeks later. We really have no plans yet but were thinking of renting an RV and going to the Baltics but have recently discovered that this would be a great time to see the lights up north which is certainly a bucket list. So now we are thinking no Baltics and heading north to chase the lights. (Maybe up to Lapland and over to Sweden, Norway and ferry back.) We have many questions if RVing is recommended (getting supplies, emptying tanks, etc.) If this is covered in your book then no need for details here. Thank you so much… Clint
Silvia says
I’ve actually never taken an RV trip, so I’m afraid there’s nothing about RVing in the ebook. Sounds like fun though!
Alex says
Hey Silvia, amazing blog! So much info & knowledge in one place. Thank to so much.
Do any of the places you’ve recommended above have hot springs? This would really be the cherry on top for us! <3
Alex
Silvia says
No, if you want hot springs you should go to Iceland instead.
Kevin says
Thanks so much for your blogs on all things northern lights. Fingers crossed we (my wife and I and our two sons (10 and 8)) are heading to Abisko end of February this year (2022) and will put your advice well and truly into action.
cliff says
hi
im cliff from Manchester England so what do you think of my plan
fly to Oslo then fly on to tromso stay for 5 nights
what do you think of my chances of seeing the lights
oh sorry forgot to say middle of march
cliff
Silvia says
You should have a pretty good chance of seeing them, especially if you book a northern lights tour!
Rhonda says
Hi, I’m planning a cruise to northern Norway and Iceland mid Aug to the end of August. Do I have a chance to see the Northern lights. Thanks.
Silvia says
We start seeing them again at the end of August!
Angela says
Thanks for your helpful blogs!! My husband and I will be in Norway in Mid October this year. We’re trying to fit too much in to our time there and so we have about 3 days up north. I was looking for a scenic/nature vibe but we’re trying to avoid renting a car. Any suggestion if better to do an easy flight to Tromso and then plan to do tours from there or a little longer flight to Kirkenes where we could stay more remote/scenic? Thinking easier flight and ability to take mobile tours is my best bet for maximum time and chance to see lights in the area but the cabin in the woods is the vibe I was looking for after days in Bergen and Oslo so having a hard time deciding!
Silvia says
I would definitely choose Tromsø instead of Kirkenes – the area around Tromsø is much more scenic and there are more things to do there!
Dee Dee says
Please let me know which airport is the closest to Tromso from UK to hopefully catch the Northern lights in April.
Silvia says
Tromsø Airport is the closest airport.
Fernando says
Hello
Can you tell me if is good idea go to nordland rail to bodo in 26.november? If i catch the morning train i cam see the views? Or is completely dark?
Thanks
Silvia says
It depends where you plan to start, but if you start in Mosjøen in the morning you should have incredible views all the way to Bodø!
Stephanie R. says
Hey,
Would you recommend a bus tour or a boat tour for the northern lights? I’ll be visiting the first week of October and wanted to know what you would recommend!
Thank you
Silvia says
You’ll have better chances with a bus tour, as the bus can go inland, where the skies are usually clearer!
Isabella says
I loooove your post! I’ve been looking for just this type of information. My husband and I are going to Lapland and Tromso this December with the hopes of seeing the lights so, this will be really useful for us as a reference. Can’t wait to experience it- hopefully!
Jessica says
Hi there! Is very late March (last week of March) still a decent time to see the lights)? It’s the only time I can go this winter. Or should I wait until next year when I can go in February? I’d be coming from far (California) so would love to go when I have the highest chance to see them. I understand it’s hard to predict the weather, but I don’t know if late March is typically turning into spring.
Thanks so much!
Jorge Ramírez says
Im planning a trip to see the Northen Lights in the second half of january 2025 (probably 15th to 29th).
Of course is a long time till it could be done.
But any recomendations will be amazing.
Also any recomendation on where to stop by would be apreciated.
The Basic Plan is Helsinki-Stockholm-Oslo-Tromso-Oslo.
Silvia says
The only place that you’ll likely see the northern lights out of those cities is Tromsø. I recommend reading this post: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/tromso-northern-lights-tour/
Phil James says
Hi Silvia, your blog posts and ebook on the Aurora are super useful, thank you so much!
Myself and my girlfriend are planning a trip to Tromsø this winter as we have friends there. But we cannot settle on a specific month.
Is it realistic to say that peak whale watching time doesn’t conicide with the best months for the Aurora? As in it looks like the best whale watching time is Nov/Dec/Jan and the best Aurora time is Sept/Oct Feb/March? We would love to do both of course! Another factor we are hoping to include is snow which is steering us towards Feb/March.
Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Phil
Silvia says
If you want to go whale watching, January is a wonderful time to see the northern lights! And there should be plenty of snow as well. The exact time to see the whales does vary a bit each year, but hopefully January will still be good. Otherwise yes, if you want snow I would opt for January – March instead of September – December.
Manjari says
Hi Silvia,
I am planning to be in Tromso between 10-13 April 2023.
Do you think I have a good chance of seeing the aurora?
The aurora is the main reason I’ll travel all the way.
My travel dates cannot vary except by 2 days here and there.
Will my chances be best in Tromso or Finland or anywhere else?
Please advise 🙂 Thank you in advance.
Silvia says
Mid April is really too late too see the aurora, as it won’t get dark enough at night. Best to visit between September and March for dark enough skies!
Bianca says
Hi, do you think first week of April is still a bad time to see the lights? Thanks!
Silvia says
Yes by April the sky is too light at night to see the northern lights (as we’re approaching the Midnight Sun period when the sun never sets).
Kelly says
Hi, we are a family of 5 adults planning a trip to Iceland and Norway to see the Northern Lights in December. All your information is fabulous but I’m so confused of where the best place to see the Lights is and I want to experience as many winter activities as possible. Originally thought 5 days in Iceland, Bergen, then Tromso but your blog suggests Abisko is the best place to see the Lights. Should we bypass Tromso and go to Abisko and Kirkunes? We also want to dog sled, reindeer experience, stay in Ice Hotel, snow mobile, ice fishing and whale watch. So many wishes for around 18 days but it looks like we can do most of these activities at most of the destinations. Should we do tours or drive ourselves….. I’m overthinking it and trying to see so much in a short time. Would love your advice please Silvia.
Jenny says
What a great article. I was wanting to fly from Australia in October spend 3 weeks in Norway, Sweden and Finland. A few articles said that many places in Norway are closed in October. Originally I wanted to see the lights in Finland fly into Norway, then Sweden then Finland but then I saw all the things you can do in Norway and I wanted to spend 14+ days here. I’ve been wanting to go to Finland before Covid so I’m just a little torn! I think I may even spend all my time in Norway. Though slightly concerned about the Exchange rate and accommodation!
Viktor says
Would love to go Tromsø some day, but Norway is too expensive :p Thanks for an interesting article and great tips, the Igloos in Finland always amazes me, looks so cool, but need to be lucky with both earth- and space-weather 🙂
Cat says
Hi Silvia,
Firstly just wanting to say a BIG thank you for all your very insightful articles.
We will be in Tromso mid to late November, and we are thinking of driving to Senja / Abisko for the northern lights. However, we are from Australia and have next to no winter driving experiences, so just worried about the road conditions, and the one-way tunnels which sounds a little scary 😛
Or do you recommend just staying in Tromso for 5 nights and book the northern lights tour instead?
Thank you much!
Silvia says
I would recommend staying in Tromsø if you don’t have winter driving experience. We don’t remove ice from the roads in the winter, so it’s difficult driving if you’re not used to it. But there are so many great tours from Tromsø so you can still have a great time from there – https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/tromso-northern-lights-tour/
Nigel says
I was only in Norway once, a wonderful, beautiful country. This post probably isn’t relevant – apart from the unpredictability of seeing the Lights. I spent a week in Iceland and rented an apartment in Reiykjavik. At about midnight I walked onto the balcony to look over the town, feeling disappointed that I’d come in August when the chances of seeing the Northern Lights were v poor. After a while I was walking back and looking at the sky behind the building and – there they were!! Next day I heard a local lady asking tourists if they happened to look into the sky during the night, because the aurora was out! I guess sometimes you just hit lucky.