Everything You Need to Know to See the Northern Lights in Norway

From Svalbard to Troms?, here are the best places and times to see the Northern Lights in Norway.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennanFact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are electrically charged particles from the sun that smash into Earth's magnetic field. They're funneled down to the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres, creating a horseshoe shape of excited green (and occasionally brown and red) particles that swivel and shape-shift over the Arctic Circle, making the dark skies of Northern Norway a prime place to witness the aurora borealis.

The lights are more intense during solar maximum, the period when the sun is at its most active, but that doesn't mean you should postpone your Northern Lights hunt. The bigger concern is finding clear skies, which are never guaranteed in this part of the world. As with any weather event, it's all down to a little celestial luck. You can maximize your chances by going during the peak months:

• Full season: September to April

• Peak months: November to January

Here, we outline how to prepare for your best shot at seeing one of the most beautiful wonders of the world among the fjords, mountains, and villages of Norway.

What's the best month for the Northern Lights in Norway?

Though the Northern lights happen throughout most of the year, you can't see them during the daytime. The Arctic Circle's midnight sun also makes it impossible to see them during the summer, but the long dark nights of winter are perfect for Northern Lights viewing.

Norway's peak season for the Northern Lights is between late September and the beginning of April, 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 to predict.

Late November through January is the absolute peak season for Northern Lights viewing because the nights are the longest. Just make sure you're on the lookout throughout the night to maximize your chances. It makes sense to set your alarm to get up every hour or so after dusk to look out of your window. Better still, some Northern Lights hotels have an aurora wake-up service so you can sleep without worrying that you're missing out.

Best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway

Anyone planning a Northern Lights hunt in Norway needs to know their geography.

Oslo, the capital of this long and thin country, is too far south of the Arctic Circle to see the aurora borealis. Instead, head to northern Norway's towns, like Troms? and Svalbard, which are perfectly situated for aurora viewing.

Northern Lights near Troms?

The city of Troms? is a popular place for Europeans to take a weekend break in winter just hoping for a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Although you can sometimes see them from the town, it's better to get away from the light pollution. The Lyngen Alps is where many locals go to see the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights near Lofoten

Lofoten is another popular outpost for those hoping to glimpse the dancing lights. Because this town is so small, light pollution is not as much of an issue. Better yet, the mountains that surround this photogenic place provide some cloud break. This allows you to peek through sometimes overcast nights and see the lights from all directions.

Northern Lights near Svalbard

Between mainland Norway and the North Pole, this island realm of fjords, glaciers, mountains, and polar bears is as far as you would want to go to see the Northern Lights. Stay in Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town, and take organized dogsledding, snowmobile, or snowcat adventures into the wilderness.

You don't even need to do them by night to catch the Northern Lights; Svalbard's long Polar Night leaves it in darkness from November through January. However, Longyearbyen is rather light-polluted, which means you'll need to get away from the town and into polar bear territory, so it's best to take a tour.

Related: 12 Best Places to See the Northern Lights Around the World

Forecasting the Northern Lights in Norway

While it isn't possible to predict the Northern Lights, there are some resources and guidelines that are helpful tools. SolarHam gives a reliable three-day geomagnetic forecast used by aurora hunters, while the Aurora Forecast app shows you the position of the auroral oval around the Arctic Circle and also indicates the probability of seeing them where you are.

A great resource unique to this part of Scandinavia is Yr from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, which will help with finding a cloud-free corridor in this part of the world. Also useful is the Norway Lights app, which predicts using data on the Northern Lights' activity and cloud cover.

Displays of the Northern Lights do tend to intensify around the equinox months of September and March, because the magnetic fields of the Earth and the Sun's solar wind are more likely to be in sync. There are no guarantees, but stronger displays are therefore more likely around the spring equinox and autumn equinox.

Norway Northern Lights tours

There are many Northern Lights trips available from Troms?. Marianne's Heaven on Earth Aurora Chaser Tours organizes a five- to eight-hour Northern Lights photography trip from Troms?, lessons included. If you're on the ground, take warm clothing — and an extra layer — although you can usually warm up on the bus.

Brim Explorer offers an aurora dinner cruise from Troms? to view the Northern Lights from the fjords.

Although Bergen is too far south to see the Northern Lights, this is where Norwegian Coastal Ferries' 12-day Hurtigruten Coastal Express departs. It reaches Kirkenes via 34 ports of call (including Troms?), and it even has a 100-percent Northern Lights guarantee.

Related: Here's How To See the Northern Lights (Video)

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