Where in norway can you see the northern lights

But have no fear, as guides in Svalbard carry rifles to sound warning shots in case of close encounters. It would be silly to dedicate a whole article to seeing the northern lights without doing a little sum up of what exactly this natural phenomenon is. The phenomenon occurs near the magnetic poles, so along with the aurora borealis , there is also the southern aurora australis though you have to be in the much-harder-to-reach Antarctica in order to see it properly!

The Aurora can occur in any number of colours, though the most common is the pale ethereal greens and pinks. Check out these great aurora tours in Norway to make that happen. Greg Perkins is from Edinburgh but he adopted Iceland as his second country when Scotland typically managed not to qualify for football's Euro He loves nerding out over writing, SEO, board games and sci-fi. Find Greg on LinkedIn. We'd love to give you the same amazing travel experiences as you read about in our blog!

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Without further ado… Where is the best place to see the northern lights in Norway? As Norway stretches from the 55th to the 80th latitudes, there is quite an amount of variance between when seasons change in northern and southern Norway. Spring starts earlier and summer lasts longer in southern Norway; autumn is shorter and winter lasts longer in northern Norway. When it comes to seeing the northern lights, the further north you can go to try and view them, the longer window of the calendar each year where you can hope to see them!

Autumn is the earliest season each year where you might see the northern lights in Norway. Winter is the ideal season to see the northern lights in Norway similar to other northern lights destinations. Assuming clear skies, of course. As the northern hemisphere tips back toward the sun, spring returns to Norway each year — with longer days and shorter nights.

As you can imagine, daylight is a less-than-ideal condition for seeing the northern lights. From the months of June to August , it is basically impossible to see the northern lights in Norway.

There are some places you can see the aurora in the south, especially in the dark heart of winter. Read on to see the full list. Svalbard is a group of islands located between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole.

This position gives it uniquely exceptional conditions for viewing the Northern Lights. The city also offers tours that can take you to prime viewing spots. Its location on the auroral oval makes it an excellent spot to go hunting for the Northern Lights. The town of Narvik is a great place to go searching for the Northern Lights thanks to the many mountains and fjords surrounding it. It offers a number of different tours that can help you see the Aurora Borealis.

One of these will take you to the top of the Narvikfjellet mountain in a gondola. Lyngenfjord is a mile 80km long fjord that happens to be a great spot to find the Northern Lights. Southern Norway. The Svalbard Islands. Top 10 places in Norway. The Stavanger region. Sustainable destinations. The most famous fjords.

Top lists. Outdoor activities. Must-see nature attractions. Food and drink. Family fun. City break. Round trips. What's on. Hotels and more. Seasons and climate. Travel tips A-Z. Green travel. Getting here. Getting around. Travelling with disabilities. Typically Norwegian. Scandic Hotels — in all major cities from north to south. Nordic Choice Hotels — a different hotel company.

Thon Hotels — with fantastic breakfast. Radisson Blu Hotels — discover your favourite destinations. Citybox — modern and affordable hotels in a central location. AutoEurope — always a smooth car rental experience.

Vy express — travel with bus throughout Norway. Rent-A-Wreck — the smart car rental alternative. Vy — it should be easy to travel green. Cabin Campers — your cottage on four wheels.

Authentic Scandinavia — exciting Norway tours. Up Norway — tailored journeys. Discover Norway — skiing, biking and hiking tours in Norway. Norwegian Holidays — low-price package holidays with Norwegian.

Flight, hotel and rental car. Secret Atlas — Svalbard and Northern Norway. Small Ship with 12 guests. Stromma — sightseeing, excursions and experiences with bus, boat and train. DanCenter — your specialist in holiday homes in Norway.

Norgesbooking — book your perfect cabin stay 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.

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 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. Although intense solar storms are currently less common, they still do occur frequently, and the Northern Lights are a constant sight in the skies above the Arctic Circle.

The bigger concern is finding clear skies, which are never guaranteed in this part of the world. Norway's peak season for the Northern Lights is between September and March, though that's to do more with the long, dark nights at this time of year rather than an increase in solar activity. Forecasting the Northern Lights means predicting solar activity, which is virtually impossible with our current technology.

There are no guarantees, but stronger displays are therefore more likely around the spring equinox on March 20, and around the autumn equinox on Sept. Since there are full moons on March 21, and on Sept. The Northern lights are always happening, it's just that you don't see them during the day.