The Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Norway

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The Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Norway
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The Northern Lights are a huge bucket list item
for travellers across the world. But there are
only a few places where you can see this
spectacular light show. The Aurora Borealis is
best viewed as far north as you can. One of the
top countries for Northern Lights seekers to
visit is Norway. But to see this natural light
show at its best, you need to be not only in the
right place but you need to be there at the right
time. When exactly is the best time to see the
Northern Lights in Norway?
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When Is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights
in Norway?
Given Norways northern location in Europe, this
is one of the best places to see the amazing
scenery of the Northern Lights on a weekend
break. But you still need to get your timing
right. Luckily, theres a lot of room for error
in Norway. Across much of the country, you can
see the Northern Lights from autumn all the way
through to spring.
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Autumn
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Autumn is the start of the Northern Lights season
in Norway. This is the season when they start
weaving their magic across the night skies. The
season can start as early as September, when the
days start to shorten and the nights begin to
lengthen. You wont see the lights from the city
or town. But head out into the countryside away
from light pollution, and youve got a good
chance of catching a glimpse of them. September
to November is shoulder season in Norway when it
comes to travel, and youll find that things are
quieter here in autumn than they are in summer or
winter. Its nowhere near as cold or snowy as
later months in the year of course, but the
weather is certainly turning.
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Winter
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Winter is peak season for Northern Lights viewing
in Norway, and thats because this is your best
chance to see them. Conditions are great and,
with clear skies, youll be able to see the
Aurora Borealis almost every night of your stay.
You wont even need to go too far from
civilisation either, given the long nights. But
winter can be a harsh time to be in Norway. Aside
from seeing the Northern Lights, your options are
limited to snow activities and youll need good,
warm gear. Bad weather can make travel difficult,
and it can prevent you from seeing the Northern
Lights too. Its a fascinating time to be in
Norway, but you need to be prepared for endless
nights and almost no sunshine, especially in the
Arctic. The winter season usually lasts from
November through to February in Norway, with
January and February having the best conditions
for chasing Northern Lights.
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Spring
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Spring can be a great time to see the Northern
Lights in Norway too. In fact, March is one of
the most popular times to visit. The skies are
incredibly clear in spring and, although the
nights are getting shorter, between March and the
start of April you still have enough darkness to
spot the Aurora Borealis. Youll need to get out
into the countryside to see them at their best.
Spring is also a great time for other activities,
as the snow starts to melt and youll be able to
enjoy hiking and camping when you might spot the
Northern Lights too.
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Summer
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Of course, summer is not the time to be in Norway
if youre looking to see the Northern Lights.
While the natural phenomenon does actually
continue through summer, you dont have the dark
skies required to see them. The earliest youll
ever spot them is when the days shorten towards
the end of August, although dont count on it.
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The Best Places to See the Northern Lights in
Norway
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Norway is one of the best countries in the
Northern Hemisphere to see the Northern Lights in
all their glory. Thats because Norway reaches
up to the far north. Conditions in some parts of
the country are so perfect that there are certain
times of the year that youll be almost
guaranteed to see the Aurora Borealis. While you
might see the Northern Lights in southern parts
of the country in the dead of winter, even as far
south as Oslo or Bergen, you instantly raise your
chances by heading towards the Arctic. Tromso is
often noted as one of the best places to spot the
Aurora Borealis. Tromso is one of the most
northerly cities in Norway, and the largest city
in Norways Arctic Circle. Tromso is often called
the Gateway to the Arctic. From autumn through to
spring youre likely to see the Northern Lights
here. Of course, you can head even further north
and into the Arctic Circle itself.
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What to Expect on a Northern Lights Chase in
Norway
While you might get lucky and see the Northern
Lights from the comfort of your hotel room or
while youre walking through the streets
especially in the dead of winter, if youre
staying somewhere remote youll also find that
theres likely to be a lot of light pollution,
unless you travel out into the countryside. That
s why one of the best ways to see the Northern
Lights at their best is to get far away from the
cities, towns and villages of Norway
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The best way to do this is on a Northern Lights
Chase, which will have you deep in the Norwegian
wilderness on the hunt for this spectacular
natural phenomenon. If youre in Tromso, the
gateway to the Arctic, youll start in the
evening and you wont return to your hotel until
the early hours of the morning, by which time
youll hopefully have seen the Aurora
Borealis. Local guides who know the area will
drive you out to remote areas of the Norwegian
tundra, far away from any light pollution, where
the skies are at their darkest. Its an epic
adventure. With the right guide and the right
timing, youll be able to see the worlds
greatest light show in Norway!
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Choosing the Best Time to See Northern Lights in
Norway
The Northern Lights are one of the top
bucket-list items for avid travellers, nature
lovers, photographers, and those fascinated by
this incredible display of nature but finding
them isnt always easy! Although the Northern
Lights (also called Aurora Borealis) are always
there, they are invisible when the midnight sun
is shining. During the long dark nights, which
start around late September, travellers to
Northern Norway have the best chance of enjoying
the magic of the Northern Lights, whether taking
a Northern Lights cruise far away from the light
pollution of the cities or enjoying a wintery
adventure across the Arctic Circle. Peak
Northern Lights season runs from November to
February, but you can view the lights between the
Autumn Equinox in September and the Spring
Equinox in March.
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How to Ensure Your Northern Lights Hunt is
Successful

• There are several reasons visitors to see the
  Northern Lights in Norway miss out our travel
  advisers ensure you are equipped with everything
  you need to pick the perfect time, including
  recommendations for the best Aurora app to check
  when conditions are ideal

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• Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid
• Looking for the Northern Lights in Norway too far
  south. The further to Northern Norway you are,
  the more visible the Northern Lights will be, so
  we recommend taking a day trip if you are staying
  in Mainland Norway to a better viewing position.
• Venturing out when there is dense cloud cover or
  too much light pollution that obscures
  visibility. An organised snowmobile safari is
  ideal, with an accurate weather forecast to
  ensure you dont head out on the wrong day.
• Trying to see the Northern Lights in the early
  afternoon. The best time to see the Northern
  Lights dancing is after dusk, so wed suggest
  keeping an eye out from nightfall when there are
  clear skies.
• The best Northern Lights tours are run by
  experienced local guides, who will ensure you are
  in the ideal spot within the Aurora zone and
  wont need to keep your fingers crossed!

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What Time of Year Are the Northern Lights Most
Visible?
Northern Lights trips can be organised at any
point over the winter months, and the more solar
activity, the brighter and more enchanting the
lights will be. Visitors hoping to see the
Northern Lights often opt for a snow hotel at the
northernmost point, where there are plenty of
opportunities to experience the splendour of the
polar night sky away from light
pollution. Travellers can also combine a
Northern Lights tour with other amazing winter
activities, whether a photo tour to glimpse
wildlife, enjoying local food, trying dog
sledding, cross-country skiing or ice fishing.
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