Picking the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Norway Outside of the Festive Rush

Thousands of travellers flock to the Arctic Circle every winter, keen to get an up-close look at the incredible beauty of the Northern Lights, and spend the festive period enjoying outdoor winter sports, from husky rides to snowmobiling in the deep snow and crisp air.

Although the peak period to see the Northern Lights falls between November and January, the actual season runs from late September until April. This opens up opportunities to travel either during the early winter or late winter/early spring when resorts, lodges, and hotels tend to be quieter.

Many guests who travel to northern Norway from further south or visit this part of the world from southern Finland and Sweden prefer the spring for their Northern Lights breaks, taking advantage of warmer temperatures, longer hours of daylight, and clearer skies—making this time of year a well-kept secret among Nordic locals.

Understanding the Northern Lights Season in Norway

Picking the right time to travel is essential. Although the Northern Lights are easiest to see during times when solar activity spikes, the Aurora is visible for several months of the year, and viewing conditions depend on the weather, cloud cover, and light pollution.

As we’ve mentioned, the Aurora can be seen dancing across the night sky for almost all of the autumn and winter periods until early spring. The only reason you cannot see the lights the rest of the year is because the midnight sun season in the Arctic means there is 24-hour daylight, obscuring the magical light show.

The opposite occurs in the winter when the nights are dark and long, with minimal daylight, if any at all, during the depths of winter. This means the lights stand out against an inky black canvas, while the amount of solar activity often remains consistent year-round.

November to January tends to be the most in-demand period when the nights stretch on for longer, although visitors still depend on an Aurora alarm or forecast to maximise their chances. As a natural phenomenon, the lights are tricky to predict but often appear after dusk and are clearer further from light pollution.

Late winter and early spring provide a perfect balance, where the nights remain dark but before the longer daylight reduces the times when the lights are visible, with superb snow coverage towards the end of the winter season that is ideal for sporting activities.

The Best Locations in Norway to See the Aurora

Just as the weather and daylight hours influence our ability to see the lights, your location is also important. For example, if you head to the capital city of Oslo or another area further south, you’ll be fortunate to see a glimpse of the lights, as they are considerably brighter to the north.

Likewise, if you’re travelling to northern Norway but are staying in a town or city, the light pollution might make it impossible to see the Aurora. We often recommend one of the following destinations, with varied packages ranging from short breaks to extended stays, family-friendly holidays to luxury couples escapes:

• Tromso is enormously popular and a fantastic destination for a weekend winter break or a Northern Lights tour. Heading out of town and towards the Lyngen Alps ensures an unspoiled view.
• The Lofoten Islands are another good option if you’d love to see the lights. The surrounding mountain ranges make the area exceptionally photogenic and help break up cloud cover.
• Svalbard is perhaps the most iconic Northern Lights destination. It is found between the North Pole and Norway and has an astonishing backdrop of mountains, glaciers, and fjords. Visitors can stay in the world’s most northerly town, Longyearbyen, although taking a guided tour into the wilderness ensures the lights are clear-and you’ll often spot polar bears on your travels.

Because Svalbard has a longer Polar Night than other Norwegian areas, it remains blanketed in darkness from November to January. This means the Aurora can sometimes even be seen during the day, with various Aurora chase activities available, such as snowmobiling, snowcat safaris, and dog sledding.

Benefits of a Norwegian Northern Lights Holiday After the Christmas Break

Crowds and demand are common themes in travel, and we recognise that for many guests, timings are less important than the experience, especially for couples or adults travelling without school-age children who can book their holidays at any time and would rather avoid busier weeks.

Much may depend on your plans and whether you would like to see the Northern Lights as part of a Christmas getaway or would love to spend New Year’s in Norway, but if you have flexibility, the lights are often as stunning on either side of the peak travel months.

Particularly over Christmas, the influx of visitors can mean that some flights, guided tours, and popular accommodation options like ice hotels, wilderness lodges, and Aurora igloos become fully booked several months in advance, which is why travellers often book early to guarantee their reservations or head to Norway before or after the rush.

Aurora Viewing and Winter Sports Conditions During Arctic Spring

Late winter into early spring is a remarkable time to visit the Arctic. Ice-blue skies during the day provide flawless lighting for photography and tours over the snow-capped forests and lakes, while many of the unique and rare wildlife species that call the region home are more active.

Temperatures remain cold, but the weather becomes slightly warmer in February and March, which helps to banish cloud cover and creates some of the clearest skies at any time of the year.

Another excellent reason to consider a springtime Northern Lights holiday is that solar activity proliferates during the spring equinox—which falls on 20th March next year—which means the Aurora is brighter and appears more frequently.

Finally, if you’re hoping to enjoy some wintery Arctic excursions and activities during your trip, travelling at the end of the Nordic winter is optimal, where the snowfall over the previous months results in thick, rich snow cover that is great for a huge range of sports, from cross-country skiing to snowmobiling and dog sledding.

If you’d like to learn more about visiting northern Norway’s winter wonderland on either side of the festive holidays or enquire about booking an unforgettable trip for next winter, please get in touch with the Baltic Travel Company or browse our latest packages to compare itineraries.