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/ Norway / 7 Mistakes People Make When Trying to See the Northern Lights in Norway

7 Mistakes People Make When Trying to See the Northern Lights in Norway

January 12, 2023 by Silvia 79 Comments

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Living in Tromsø in Northern Norway, I have a lot of experience with the northern lights. So it’s no surprise that my inbox is always flooding with messages from people wanting to plan northern lights trips to Norway.

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. As someone living in Tromsø 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. 

Everything you need to know to see the northern lights in Norway

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!

northern lights andøy vesterålen norway in winter

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).

travel tips winter norway

Not choosing the best time to see the Northern Lights in Norway

Okay, so most people know that they shouldn’t plan their northern lights trip for the middle of summer when the sun never sets, but believe it or not, the best time to see northern lights in Norway is not necessarily the darkest time of the year.

The weather in November, December and January can be brutal, so a lot of people say that the best months to see the northern lights in Norway are late September, October, late 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 in December when it’s dark all day won’t necessarily increase your chances, as it’s not that likely you’ll see the northern lights at 3 in the afternoon anyway.

northern lights in senja, norway

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. 

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.

northern lights svalbard camp barentz

on my Svalbard northern lights tour

Staying in Norway

Norway is an excellent place to see the northern lights. Living in Tromsø I often see 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):

pink and green northern lights in abisko sweden lapland photo

pink and green aurora in abisko sweden lapland photo

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! 

northern lights cabin saariselka finland inari
northern lights cabin saariselka finland inari

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.

best time to see the northern lights in norway

northern lights in senja, norway

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. 

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. 

icehotel kiruna abisko lapland

husky sledding on senja, norway in december

reindeer in Tromsø sami tour

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.

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Comments

  1. Nynke says

    September 29, 2017 at 2:47 pm

    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 :).

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      September 29, 2017 at 6:08 pm

      Haha that is a funny typo – thanks for the catch! And your lucky boyfriend – next time you will need to go with him!

      Reply
  2. Taylor says

    September 29, 2017 at 5:33 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      September 29, 2017 at 6:06 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Soma says

        August 9, 2018 at 9:33 pm

        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?

        Reply
    • Tim says

      January 5, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      I think you mean Latitude not Longitude – latitudes move north and south, longitudes move east and west!

      Reply
  3. تور شیراز says

    September 29, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    wow, so nice

    Reply
  4. Rosa says

    October 1, 2017 at 10:13 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      October 3, 2017 at 4:24 pm

      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.

      Reply
  5. Kate - Travel for Difference says

    October 2, 2017 at 1:50 am

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      October 3, 2017 at 4:23 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Francis says

        August 12, 2018 at 4:55 pm

        I believe there is an app now u can download specifically for aurora shooting

        Reply
  6. Vanessa Brune says

    October 17, 2017 at 11:40 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
    • Carolina Gutmann says

      November 1, 2017 at 11:57 am

      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! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Maria says

    October 19, 2017 at 11:36 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      October 29, 2017 at 7:19 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Zubair says

        April 8, 2018 at 1:18 pm

        Nice

        Reply
  8. Northern lights best time says

    November 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    This article is wonderful. and thank you for sharing Northern lights best time to go.

    Reply
  9. Elaine Corran says

    February 1, 2018 at 5:39 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Nxl says

      December 5, 2019 at 2:23 am

      Did you even read the article?

      Reply
  10. Alex says

    February 27, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      March 2, 2018 at 10:58 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Ernesto Alejandro Alejandro Abraham says

        March 2, 2018 at 3:48 pm

        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….

        Reply
        • Ernesto Alejandro Alejandro Abraham says

          March 2, 2018 at 3:51 pm

          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… 🙂

          Reply
  11. rhod tibbles says

    February 27, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    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 ??

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      March 2, 2018 at 10:58 am

      If they’re willing to offer you a refund it seems like a good deal!

      Reply
      • rhod tibbles says

        March 2, 2018 at 9:26 pm

        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… .

        Reply
  12. glennys says

    March 16, 2018 at 12:47 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      March 16, 2018 at 5:18 pm

      It will be light all night in July so no, you won’t be able to see the Northern Lights.

      Reply
  13. Eloy says

    June 17, 2018 at 12:21 am

    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.

    Reply
  14. Eupa Basu says

    July 1, 2018 at 10:38 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      July 2, 2018 at 10:43 am

      This would give you the best chance: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/blog/best-northern-lights-europe-abisko/

      Reply
  15. pooja says

    September 12, 2018 at 9:26 am

    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 ?

    Reply
  16. Phuong says

    October 30, 2018 at 1:01 pm

    Could you please recommend me any place in Norway where could catch Northern Light on late November?

    Reply
  17. Julia says

    November 16, 2018 at 1:13 pm

    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

    Reply
  18. JESSICA A GARCIA says

    November 30, 2018 at 4:46 am

    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.

    Reply
  19. Fariha says

    December 20, 2018 at 9:11 am

    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

    Reply
  20. Anti says

    December 23, 2018 at 12:53 am

    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.

    Reply
  21. Janelle Jones says

    February 25, 2019 at 11:02 am

    Nice tips! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  22. Gareth Thomas says

    May 2, 2019 at 8:55 am

    Nice read. Planning a trip and good to read an honest account. Great tips. Thank you

    Reply
  23. Victoria says

    June 1, 2019 at 8:52 am

    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.

    Reply
  24. Miguel says

    July 9, 2019 at 1:28 am

    Thanks for share your experience. It is the right information I need for my Northern light trip.

    Reply
  25. Kanika Bakshi says

    August 7, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    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.

    Reply
  26. Angela says

    September 1, 2019 at 6:34 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      September 2, 2019 at 3:52 pm

      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.

      Reply
  27. Surya says

    September 2, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    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.

    Reply
  28. Chandramouli says

    September 11, 2019 at 10:13 am

    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

    Reply
  29. richard johnson says

    October 2, 2019 at 11:28 am

    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.

    Reply
  30. Saba says

    November 21, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    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

    Reply
  31. Kasey says

    January 5, 2020 at 12:48 am

    So am I out of luck if I’m going to Northern Norway at the end of April? 🙁

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      January 6, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      It will be too light to see the Northern Lights then. But it’s still a lovely time of year!

      Reply
  32. May says

    January 5, 2020 at 11:52 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      January 6, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      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!

      Reply
  33. Noah van Boven says

    August 26, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      August 27, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      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!

      Reply
  34. antonio says

    September 22, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      September 24, 2020 at 10:51 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • antonio says

        September 25, 2020 at 7:24 am

        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!

        Reply
  35. Lukas Petereit says

    January 17, 2021 at 10:54 pm

    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

    Reply
  36. fotografwdrodze.pl says

    April 16, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    You have to watch out for roadsides, lots of cars drive into ditches in winter.

    Reply
  37. Clint White says

    May 23, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      May 25, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      I’ve actually never taken an RV trip, so I’m afraid there’s nothing about RVing in the ebook. Sounds like fun though!

      Reply
  38. Alex says

    December 16, 2021 at 7:15 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      December 17, 2021 at 11:26 am

      No, if you want hot springs you should go to Iceland instead.

      Reply
  39. Kevin says

    January 10, 2022 at 4:10 pm

    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.

    Reply
  40. cliff says

    January 28, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      January 30, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      You should have a pretty good chance of seeing them, especially if you book a northern lights tour!

      Reply
  41. Rhonda says

    June 26, 2022 at 7:19 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      July 6, 2022 at 3:20 pm

      We start seeing them again at the end of August!

      Reply
  42. Angela says

    July 21, 2022 at 3:14 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      July 24, 2022 at 2:58 pm

      I would definitely choose Tromsø instead of Kirkenes – the area around Tromsø is much more scenic and there are more things to do there!

      Reply
  43. Dee Dee says

    August 15, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    Please let me know which airport is the closest to Tromso from UK to hopefully catch the Northern lights in April.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      August 21, 2022 at 5:15 pm

      Tromsø Airport is the closest airport.

      Reply
  44. Fernando says

    August 27, 2022 at 12:42 am

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      August 31, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      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!

      Reply
  45. Stephanie R. says

    September 12, 2022 at 1:58 am

    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

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      September 13, 2022 at 1:20 pm

      You’ll have better chances with a bus tour, as the bus can go inland, where the skies are usually clearer!

      Reply
  46. Isabella says

    October 30, 2022 at 11:40 am

    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!

    Reply
  47. Jessica says

    November 29, 2022 at 2:47 am

    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!

    Reply

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Once a full-time nomad, I'm now trying to find a balance between continuing to explore off the beaten path places around the world while also building a home in Norway. Want to know more? Head to my About page!

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