Being an ultimate Norway fan, Tromso was my obvious city of choice to chase Northern lights or Aurora and I spent 3 days in Tromso in winter in January.  At the same time, I also wanted to explore the picturesque villages and fjords outside the city, as well as experience some of the arctic adventures like whale watching, dog sledding, and many more. during my visit. Keeping all this in mind, I planned a one-week road trip for my Arctic expedition with 3 days in Tromso. While venturing out on multiple Northern Lights chases in around Tromso, we experienced nothing short of epic Norwegian landscape on the neighbouring islands and fjords.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would appreciate the support.

Chasing Northern Lights in Tromso

If watching Northern Lights is big on your travel bucket list, DONT MISS our Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights Guide I have written from my first hand experience of a one week road trip around Arctic including Tromso. The guide shares top tips including top locations in a list of best places to see Northern lights in the Arctic and the smart phone applications to use for maximizing your chances of seeing the lights.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights

Best Time to Visit Tromso

The best time to visit Tromso/Arctic for seeing the Northern Lights is in winter- starting from mid-September until mid-April. I visited  Tromso during peak wintertime in January to also enjoy other winter adventures like whale watching, dog sledding, reindeer sledding etc. Personally, I would recommend aiming for the “Peak Winter” period, between November and February. But, if you hate brutal winter, try October/November or February/March.

Driving in Tromso in Winter

If you are visiting internationally flying into Tromso or other Arctic cities in Sweden, you could opt for rental car option if you would like to drive around and chase Auroras yourself. Remember that you drive on the right side of the road in Europe same as in the USA. Your international driving license is valid if you feel comfortable driving. Rental cars come fully equipped for a winter drive. If you are wondering if it is safe to drive in Tromso in winter, the answer is it is a bit tricky to drive in extreme winter here. We encountered icy roads many times and some of us who had prior experience driving in snow hard. So my suggestion is to only go for it if you have advanced driving experience- Safety First! 

Find Best Rental Car Deals Here

Where to to stay in Tromso?

Tromso and other Arctic cities around give you the opportunity to experience Scandinavian living. There are many Airbnbs and cottages that are worth a stay. I would particularly recommend staying in the colorful cabins of Tromso. We stayed in multiple Airbnbs, both modern Scandinavian as well as in remote cottages- they were all amazing diverse experiences. One top tip is to check accommodation reviews with the possibility to see Northern Lights from the stay itself. If you don’t have a car, just stay in the Tromso city itself, as it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I recommend the bridge view.

Waking up to Tromso was like waking up in a dream, the Airbnb where we stayed was just behind a lake with a great view. I really love the houses painted in teal, green, grey, etc.

What to Pack for Tromso in Winter

There are many different things to pack for your trip depending on what activities or events will best suit you during your stay. Your packing list must include:

• Snow boots
• Merino wool socks/underwear
• Thermal layers
• Fleeces
• Ski pants
• Waterproof jackets
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Beanies/Winter Hat

These are really important and remember it is not about having one thick jacket but many layers in cold climates. Another top tip is if you care to have good pictures get a coloured jacket, as it is just 1 or 2 hours of sunlight during this season.

Tromso Road Trip Planner

Planning a road trip in Tromso was one of the most exciting things ever. Our main goal for a road trip was to go on a northern light chasing trip all around the North Arctic countries covering Norway, Sweden, Finland. We made a list of things to do in winter in these regions and planned a route to cover the major destinations while planning winter outdoor activities during the dark day time.

Within Tromso, our route mainly involved the famous locations for Northern lights as listed below, apart from all the major attractions in the city itself.

• Kvaloya
• Ersfjordbon
• Tromvik
• Sommaroy and
• Camp Tamok

We visited Camp Tamok for the dog sledding tour and also went on a whale watching tour from the Tromso harbour. Arrival in Tromso was a magical experience as we landed while it was snowing heavily and our first moments there were already so fascinating and much of a contrast to what we’d left behind in UK.

Things to Do in Tromso in Winter

Best way to spend your Tromso days in winter is to visit some of the top landmarks and nearby villages and spend the night hunting for a longer Aurora experience. Here are the top activities to explore Tromso in Winter.

1- Stay at a cozy wooden cabin in Tromso Mountains or Coast

One of the best ways to experience Tromso magic is to stay in a cozy cabin surrounded by the snowy landscape of the season. The Airbnb we stayed at offered a stunning view of the city and sea and if the skies were clear, would have been a great location to see the Northern lights from but we weren’t so lucky.

2- Explore the Snowy Fjords and the Sea by taking a walk

Norwegian snowy landscape is a visual treat in this season and taking a walk around the coast is highly recommended for stunning views. When we went for a walk, I fondly recall how everyone walked in different directions to explore this calm and silent world as opposed tothe usual city trips where we are all constantly chatting along with the usual hustle and bustle.

3- Visit the Arctic Cathedral

The Arctic Cathedral (Tromsdalen Church) in Tromso has a unique triangle shape with colourful stained glass windows, and is a popular landmark to visit in this area. You will see it often when you drive across the Tromso bridge, a stunning white architecture standing tall. While the exterior is super pretty (check out Google for some stunning aerial shots.) the interior leaves something to be desired. I would not recommend going in unless you love to visit churches or want to support the locals by paying for the entry fee.

4- Ride the Tromso Funicular/Cable Car

Tromso also has a cabel car or funicular service to take you up the snowy mountains. If you go up the funicular you land on the snowy mountain to get one of the best views of this city, which easily ranks as my most favourite city view so far. There is a glorious shape to the city from the top, showcasing the islands, bridges, and mountains. It was a lot to digest how pretty a city and parts of the planet can be sometimes. We did not manage to capture stunning shots really as it was always a battle between getting the light settings just right and still being able to feel your fingers, but trust me this was breath taking.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights

Note that this is a prime location to see the Auroras on a clear sky day. As you can see there were clouds for us and although we waited as long as we could, we did not see the lights here. either (: bad luck:) The sky did get slightly clearer at some point so that we could see this oval shape of light surrounding the moon. This is a very common view in the Arctic sky and is a treat to the eyes, while we pondered about the magnificent universe and galaxy we are revolving in for every moment we spend on the planet.

5- Go on a Northern Lights Tour

As we didn’t manage to see lights from our own attempts of chasing Northern lights driving around Tromso, we decided to seek expert help. We booked our trip with the company Tromso Safari (Read details in my Aurora hunting blog, why we chose the company etc.). We boarded their bus from the city hoping to see the lights that night and praying to the weather god to bless us.

The snow mountain camp we were taken to was amazing with little huts organized to welcome the guests. You get all essential gear here including ski jackets, tripods, etc. We were also served some delicious Norwegian cheese dessert and tea as we sat waiting for the sky to get clearer. The fireplace really added extra warmth to this whole experience.

Click here for an Aurora Chasing Tour in Tromso

While we waited for the Auroras, we had some fun there playing with some photography tricks. I tried to showcase my handwriting skills with the torch on my phone while the fellow photographers clicked. I am super jealous of these folks now as I don’t have this Norway-printed picture. Gotta do this againnnnnn.

6- Aurora Hunting in Tromso Island: Kvaloya

Road tripping around Tromso at night chasing Northern lights is one of the unique experiences here, which was the primary goal of this trip. We drove around Kvaloya, Tromvik, and Ersfjordbotn but were not successful to see the lights, but some of our friends who visited after a week did see the lights in this area. Having favourable weather is such an important factor in seeing Auroras.

7- Go on a Whale Watching Tour

Tromso is one of the best places for whale watching in Europe, with lot of whale watching tours organized during the season. The cruise takes almost 4-5 hours as they take you to the ocean where the whales live, but the tour is incredibly worth it for the fjord views throughout which is dramatic and breath-taking.

If you get sea sick, don’t forget to grab the sea sickness tablets which do work like a charm. Most of the tours provide appropriate clothing and refreshments. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the wildlife very close.

8- Go on a Dog Sledding Tour or Reindeer Sledding Tour

Another great Arctic winter experience is to go on a dog sledding tour or a reindeer sledding tour in the fjords. This is a fun family friendly activity that lets you discover the mountains while sledding with some cute huskies or reindeers. There are many organized tours for this both during the day time or night time. The night time sledding can be combined as a northern light tour, as the sledding company takes you through locations where you can watch Aurora Borealis on a clear night sky.

READ: Dog Sledding in Tromso, Norway

Final Thoughts: 3 Days in Tromso

Tromso is a great place to visit in winter. There are many things you can do here to keep yourself entertained, including visiting museums and taking tours of the city. If you’re looking for a winter vacation destination that’s completely different than the rest, Tromso is worth considering. With its snowy mountains and Scandinavian charm, this Norwegian town has something to offer every traveller in one way or another.

• Book a Dog Sledding Experience
• Book whale watching in the fjords

Pin This Post for Future Reference

Norway is a great location to try Dog Sledding. I got a chance to visit Northern Norway during which I experience this adventure when I visited Tromso as part of a ten day Arctic Road Trip in winter with Arctic adventures in mind. I can easily say that Dog Sledding in Tromso Norway was one of the major highlights of the trip. We thoroughly enjoyed the drive to the dog sledding camp the country side, the ultimate husky ride experience in the snow wilderness and the camp site experience with Norwegian dishes to finish the day off. 

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. I would  appreciate the support.

Budget Friendly Dog Sledding Tours from Tromso

There are so many winter tour companies offering day trips to reindeer/ dog sledding adventures and snowmobiling in remote camp sites from Tromso. Almost all of them will pick you up from the city center. Make sure you check whether they provide the required clothing for the experience. We went with Lyngsford Adventure, a famous winter tours company that organizes dog sledding trips, who drove us to the beautiful Camp Site Tamok along a breath taking route. 

Most of these winter tours are usually fully booked and we struggled to find a spot at the last moment and had to get help from our Airbnb host, so I recommend BOOKING IN ADVANCE. You could choose Get Your Guide Tours for getting a full refund if you can’t make it. I have added a few links from Get Your Guide below that I think are the best value for money. 

• Husky Sledding in Tromso
• Husky Sledding with LunchTromso
• Husky Sledding + Aurora Chase, Tromso

Dog Sledding Tour in Camp Tamok

Camp Tamok is an hour and a half southward drive from Tromso near to the Swedish border and also very close to Lyngen Alps, where we spent a day during our road trip on our way back from Sweden to Norway. The Lyngsford Adventures tour bus picked us up from the Tromso city centre early in morning and this scenic bus ride reminded me of my childhood journeys to visit my grand parents at the Wayanad hill station in Kerala. The scenery contrast was a stark contrast from the green rain forest view to white frozen snow view.

The scenic bus ride was spectacular and no matter how hard we tried to take pictures from the moving bus they didn’t do it justice so we settled for just admiring the view as we went. This was one of the most beautiful bus rides I have ever taken. Our first encounter with Camp Tamok was the barking of the sled dogs (huskies)  in small sheds in a snow filled forest. The camp is absolutely stunning consisting of amazing snow huts and a backdrop of Norwegian fjords.

Camp Tamok Experience

Upon arrival, we were greeted by welcoming staff and were taken to a changing room where the team explained  about the activity and the gear they provide (they had a wide selection of sizes). All of us were kitted up in a snow suite, boots, gloves and the classic viking leather hats. Once we were fully equipped to go out in the snow, we were divided into groups and introduced to our sled guide  who took us on a dog tour introducing us to the huskies that were going to take us forward in the snow. Our guide was a husky trainer from Poland who spends the winter in Norway. He is a winter adventure fan who loves country skiing and dog sledding. My friends and I and formed our own team and I got to ride with the guide.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Chasing Northern Lights

Dog Sledding Adventure: Preparation and Logistics

The sledding is done in pairs with one person sitting and the other one controlling the movements. The driver is responsible for activating the snow break on the sledge, essentially an anchor that you could stand on, to maintain the correct speed and give the dogs a helping hand on steep inclines. 

Once we were all comfortable, we began our sledding journey through the trails in the snow forest in the Norwegian fjords. With no prior experience around huskies or skiing, I decided to sit back and be sledded I know so lame, but my friends loved it so don’t be like me. Go for it!

We started off the 12 km trail with plenty of stops at first while we got use to it however once everyone got a hang of things learning the basic techniques, , we started moving ahead fast and it felt thrilling just like being a roller coaster. Sometimes when we encountered a narrow section steering presented more of a challenge, however overall the pace was good and made for a very enjoyable ride.

After a while we got to the open snow field with majestic mountains all around us making for a splendid view. Folks also go on a dog sledding northern lights tour in the evening to try chasing northern lights and I could imagine how that would have been a rewarding experience. 

Break time during the dog sledding adventure

We were out for 1.5 hours sledding but we did stop for a quarter of an hour break in the middle of the mountains. Here you can switch the roles as driver and sitter as well as the opportunity to chat with the guide as well as getting to to know the dogs better.

Is Dog Sledding Cruel?

 I know what you are thinking, is it easy for the dogs to carry you? You can see they do struggle a little bit on steep uphill stretches, but they are well trained for this and the number of dogs chosen is based upon the weight they have to carry. All of us enjoyed spending some time with the huskies, and learning their names which I have now forgetton. Kishore on the left particularly enjoyed playing with the dogs. And of course we clicked lot of pictures as usual.

This was the first time I actually decided to be close to a dog, as I’d had a bad childhood experience being chased by a dog and I am still scared of them. I really loved seeing the energy and excitement of these huskies and tried to hug them, with a little hidden fear of course. I guess the padded winter suit helped elevate my confidence :).

Camping Experience at the Camp Tamok

After the 1.5-hour dog sledding adventure we were back at the camp which was beautifully lit up welcoming us for a hot drink in one of the Lavvos (tent like structures).

The Lavvo entrance reminded me of  the Vikings and their boats from outside. This camp tent was very intriguing and a traditional Norwegian experience was waiting for us inside.

Inside was a complete contrast to the outside, with an amazing campfire and seating making this cosy experience just perfect after our freezing adventure. We were all seated on chairs with reindeer skin and were served some reindeer soup. The soup was unlimited and my friends manged 8 or so rounds as they had worked up quite an appetite sledding.  What is even better? Gluten free bread was available for Marc who often has to skip  these delicious food items, now you know who had the 8 rounds. At the same time, poor Kishore, being a vegan, found this experience a bit daunting with the animal skin and soup. So if you are sensitive to this you may want to skip this part. I personally found this heart and body warming and it was perfect moment to think a bit about the Vikings history.

Want to book dog sledding in Tromso Norway?

Here are some top options from Get Your Guide, which is a great safe booking option as they fully refund you if you don’t make it.

1. Husky Sledding in Tromso
2. Husky Sledding with Lunch in Tromso Norway
3. Husky Sledding + Aurora or Northern Lights Chasing in Tromso Norway

What to Wear/Carry during Arctic Adventures?

1. Warm woolen underwear or thermals – Merino wools
2. Cap or bands to keep your ears warm
3. Fleece
4. Circle Neck Scarf
5. Winter boots
6. Ski pants- if you have not tried these before, skiing pants make your arctic adventure much more comfortable
7. Action Camera
8. Water bottle

My circular faux fur scarf from Accessorize was a life saver for me during my trip to the Arctic. It helped a lot with keeping my head, neck and face warm when needed and I found it just perfect. I lent the scarf to another friend when she visited Tromso and she  thought the scarf was a life saver too. I fully recommend it as it is one of my most important winter possessions, suiting any cold environment which I later tested out in Toronto Canada during winter as well.

Final Thoughts on the Dog Sledding Experience in Tromso Norway

I thought dog sledding was a very memorable adventure and fully worth the money we paid for it. It was a perfect Arctic day to remember, getting to experience the huskies and to sled in the ultimate cold weather. The whole team in Campo Tamok made this dog sledding experience very welcoming, comfortable and enjoyable.

It was such a fantastic memory, I bought myself a husky soft toy to act as my  virtual guard dog, complete with a motion sensor attached to him. 

Other Things to do in Tromso in Winter

This dog sledding adventure was done as part of my road trip to Arctic for ten days, including three days in Tromso in winter.

We mostly spent our nights Aurora chasing and exploring Tromso during the day time as we were on a road trip and rented car. If you don’t have a car I would advise going on an Aurora chase tour to try and maximise your chances. Also I think it is well worth taking the Funicular for a top view of Tromso and going for a  whale watching experience as I mention in my guide.

READ: 3 Days in Tromso in Winter

Pin This Post for Planning Your Dog Sledding Adventure

Guide To Chasing Northern Lights: Key Information

I spent a week road tripping in the north of Norway, Sweden and Finland, in January 2019, and had my first Aurora Borealis experience in Abisko National Park, Sweden. I will also share the Aurora experience from a group of my friends who visited Tromso one week after my trip, as well as tips and tricks to see them in Alaska, Finland and Scotland shared by other travellers. 

Why am I writing this guide?

Before we jump into the practical tips, let us first look into what causes the Northern Lights as a phenomenon we all die to experience and which are the top countries to see them in based on their location. If you know all this feel free to jump to the practical tips section.

What Causes Northern Lights or Aurora?

The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, is a renowned magical light show in the night sky caused by solar particles/wind entering the Earth’s atmosphere in the north/south poles. When interacting with the magnetic field of earth, they get ionized creating shades of dancing light in the night sky- the usual color is green, but sometimes you can also see shades of purple, pink, orange and blue. I do not want to talk about the science of Aurora, which is fascinating by the way and can be watched shortly here. The focus of this blog is on identifying the best places to see the northern lights phenomenon in real life.  Let us get started (:waves:) 

There are four major questions to find answers for when planning a trip to see the Auroras- where to see the Northern Lights, the best time to see the Northern lights, how long to go for and how to increase your chances of seeing the Northern lights. Keep in mind that Aurora Borealis is a very unpredictable natural phenomenon and it is a good idea to be prepared as best you can to maximise your chance of seeing them, especially if you are travelling a long distance to fulfil this dream.

• You can see the Aurora only near the poles, so either the Antarctic Circle in the South or the Arctic Circle in the North. This is due to the earth’s magnetic field interaction in these places. The lights in the Arctic Circle are called the Northern Lights and the lights in the Antarctic Circle are called the Southern Lights.
• A clear night sky is must to see the Northern or Southern Lights with your naked eyes. If the sun is still up or there is cloud coverage then they won’t be visible. Additionally rural areas are best compared to cities as they don’t suffer from light pollution as much.
• The intensity of the lights you observe depends on the solar activity in the area, which is the acceleration of solar particles hitting earth’s atmosphere. This means, it is not guaranteed that you will see the dancing lights we ll love to see in all those cool videos. There will always be an element of luck to see them on any particular day.

Where to See Northern Lights?

Now that we know we can only see the Lights only near the poles, let us look at the  major countries on the planet which are close to the poles and gives you that best chance to see the lights. Let’s take a quick look at the countries that are closest to the poles: 

National Geographic lists the countries close to the poles as the top destinations for Aurora viewing, which matches the geography details above. Please don’t plan a trip aiming to see the Northern Lights by seeing pictures of Switzerland or other places with the lights photoshopped in.  So if you are chasing Auroras, countries in the Arctic circle are your best bet.

Top Countries to see Northern Lights

• Iceland
• North Sweden (Abisko, Kiruna)
• North Finland
• Northern Canada
• Alaska, USA
• Greenland
• Scotland, UK

Top Countries to see Southern Lights

• Antartica
• New Zealand
• Tasmania, Australia

Arctic Scandinavia Road Trip Planner

Doing the above studies, I planned a one week road trip to the north of Scandinavia to see the Northern lights aiming to cover Norway, Sweden and Finland, staying in their major cities, Tromso, Abisko and Lyngen. I chose some of the best places to see the Northern lights in Scandinavia,  not just to chase the auroras, but also to explore other Arctic adventures like dog sledding and whale watching during this time. We were so lucky to see the Northern Lights in Abisko National Park, Sweden. It was pretty cool to drive around in the twilight watching the stunning snow scenery throughout.  Here is the road trip route I took during my trip.

READ: Dog Sledding in Tromso Norway

In the world, there are only few places where you can really enjoy the northern lights. To see them, you have to be in a country or region that is near Arctic Circle- Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Scotland, Alaska and some parts of Canada. In this section we have a comprehensive list of all the top locations to plan a Northern lights viewing trip across major countries along with a overview of the highlights for that location.

For every top countries to visit to see Northern Lights I will cover best places to see Northern lights within Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska and Scotland. If you are going to Iceland, best time to see the Northern lights in Iceland is very similar to the locations covered below.

Best places to see Northern Lights in Norway

Norway is one of the top countries to see the Northern lights and below are the top locations situated in the North of Norway.

1. Lofoten Islands
2. Svalbard
3. North Cape
4. Kirkenes
5. Tromso
6. Geirangerfjord
7. Longyearbyen
8. Nordkapp (North Cape)
9. Andalsnes

The Lofoten Islands is a famous fishing village with some amazing mountains and houses, it is a very famous touristic destination in Norway during all seasons. Svalbard is the Northern most city and the hardest to get to, but that is where the polar bear lives- so one can go there to see the lights and the bears together North Cape is great for a wildlife adventure, again in the North close to Svalbard. Kirkenes is a little town close to Russia which is famous for northern lights viewing. Tromso, also known as the Arctic Capital, is a charming city and is very accessible and cheap compared to the others, with so many flight options to the international airport located here.  I decided to go to Tromso since I saw some videos of this pretty town in some travel blogs and I can easily say that the three days I spent in Tromso during the winter is easily one of the most charming winter wonderlands city experiences ever. 

Best Time to see Northern Lights in Norway

The best time to see Northern Lights in Norway is between the months of September and March when it’s dark all day and night long. Northern lights can be seen in Norway as early as September and as late as April. There’s a good chance to see northern lights in the sky at night from October, November and December. 

Chasing Northern Light Tromso Norway

In Tromso city, if you climb up the funicular you will get a great view of the city (best city view I have ever seen in my life so far, don’t miss it if you go) and the Northern lights view from here on a clear sky is unbeatable. I was not lucky during my visit, but I have seen plenty of dreamy pictures taken from here. 

READ: Road Trip in Tromso in Winter

There are so many Northern Lights chasing tours from Tromso from various tour operators. If you have a car and would like to try chasing the northern lights yourself, here are some of the top locations around Tromso to drive into. 

• Tromso City
• Kvaloya
• Ersfjordbotn
• Lyngen

The Lyngen Alps area is located a bit out of Tromso and is a very nice location in the country side to hunt auroras. This area is filled with Fjords and there are many activities here including dog sledding and snowmobiling. There are multiple day excursions from Tromso for all of these if you don’t want to travel to Lyngen yourself. You could also take part in winter adventures like dog sledding and whale watching combined with Northern Lights viewing. I have done both of these activities separately and I can only imagine how awesome it must be to see the lights in the midst of the Norwegian fjords.

• Whale Watching Tours in the Fjords
• Dog Sledding Northern Lights Tour, Tromso

 I was not lucky to see the lights in Tromso, but my friends saw them during their trip with the company Tromso Safari. I am sharing some of their best shots. They saw the lights around the Fjords, how cool! 

We both went with the company Tromso Safari as their Facebook page shows lot of pictures everyday. I would recommend taking an orgainsed trip by an agency as they know exactly where to go and have agents everywhere to try and maximise your chance to see the lights and conveniently you can board the Tromso Safari bus directly from the Tromso city center which is great, especiallyif you don’t have your own transport.

Best places to see Northern Lights in Sweden

Northern Sweden has one of the most magical locations and centers for Aurora viewing with a dedicated Aurora Sky Station in Abisko. The top cities in Sweden to see the Aurora include:

1. Kiruna
2. Abisko
3. Jukkasjarvi
4. Laponia
5. Karesuando
6.  Pajala

I visited Abisko and Kiruna during my trip, staying in Abisko National Park for two days where I had my first Northern Lights viewing experience. This national park is just amazing in winter.

Best Time to see Northern Lights in Sweden

Best time to see Northern Lights in Sweden is between December and March. Northern lights appear best at North Sweden during the winter months, from December through March. In Kiruna, you can see it as early as September too.

Chasing Northern Lights in Abisko, Sweden

Abisko is a very worthwhile location to target for Northern Lights viewing with the opportunity to see the lights as well as explore a completely frozen national park and lakes in winter. We saw the lights from the Aurora View point in the Kappas Cabin Village, near Abisko National Park.

 My first Aurora experience was in Abisko, Sweden on the second day of our ten day long road trip. My friends and I waited for over 4 hours before we had this experience as it was very cloudy initially and took a while for the skies to clear. I had attempted to capture pictures from when the sky started to clear to when the lights appeared and created a short video out of it to try and give you a feeling of the experience.

Best Places to See Northern Lights in Finland

Some of the most popular locations for northern lights in Finland are:

1. Rovaniemi – where Santa Claus resides
2. Ruka
3. Levi
4. Sariselka
5. Ivalo
6. Kevo, Finnish Lapland
7. Sörnäinen, Helsinki
8. Inari, Finnish Lapland (Enontekiö)

Finland is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. Considering the country’s extent, your chances of seeing this natural phenomenon increases significantly if you head north to Lapland. Although the northern lights are visible on numerous nights even from the capital, Helsinki, if you have a couple of extra days to travel more, you won’t regret it. The Lappish landscape is magical, especially in winter. You can observe the sky surrounded by gorgeous snow-covered trees, hike to the fells or see reindeer passing by.

The more north, the better. In case you try your own luck, dress warm and preferably stay close to parking lots not to get lost in the wilderness. The best is to choose a southern edge of a lake, so the horizon is well visible towards the northern pole. Although most of these settlements are relatively small, go outside of them to reduce light pollution. Numerous companies offer northern lights tours, for example, by snowmobiles, so if you don’t fancy winter driving or are concerned with orientation, pick one with an experienced guide. The best months to observe the lights are early fall or late winter to spring when the sky is less likely to be covered with thick clouds.

Best Time to See Northern Lights in Finland

Best Time to See Northern Lights in Finland is from September to early March

Best Places to See Northern Lights in Scotland

Some of the top locations to see Northern lights in Scotland are:

1. John O’Groats
2. Orkney Islands
3. Shetland
4. Lerwick, Shetland Islands (Hollingsworth Bay)
5. Elgol, Isle of Skye

While Scotland isn’t an Arctic country it is far enough north that it is possible to see the northern lights from various locations.  In the south of Scotland the light pollution from Edinburgh, Glasgow and some of the larger towns can make seeing the lights difficult, but the further north you travel the more remote the landscape becomes and the more likely it is to have a proper dark sky.  

Unlike Norway, Sweden and Iceland, Scotland needs solar activity to be slightly higher for the northern lights to be visible.  A lot of the displays are lower intensity with low arcs and pillars being more common than the more intense displays.

One of the best places to see the northern lights is along the coast near to John O’Groats.  The low sea cliffs and views to the horizon across the sea maker for the perfect landscape. This gives a clear sky although Orkney can obscure lower intensity displays.  

Heading to Orkney or Shetland can provide the perfect conditions for hunting down the northern lights.  In Orkney the main island has a number of clear horizons that are perfect for viewing the northern lights safely.  Similarly, Shetland has some good viewing locations and given its latitude being similar to Bergen it needs a lower level of activity to see the northern lights.

Best Time to See Northern Lights in Scotland

Best Time to See Northern Lights in Scotland is from  October to March

Best Places to See Northern Lights in Alaska, North America

Best places to see Northern lights in Alaska include:

1. Fairbanks
2. Ester
3. Haystack Mountain
4. Murphy Domes
5. Wickersham.
6. Utqiagvik

Alaska is one of the major North American destinations to see Northern lights from and one of the places where the lights are visible for almost 7 months in a year.  

I witnessed Alaska’s outstanding northern lights display when visiting in late August on an Alaskan Cruise. While sailing the open seas off the western coast of Alaska, I stood in awe, staring up at the magnificent light show in the sky. In 2017 I returned to Alaska to the city of Fairbanks. While the northern lights I saw on the cruise were inspiring, nothing compared to what I saw in Fairbanks. The famous gold rush boomtown of Fairbanks is well-known as the best place for aurora viewing in Alaska. From here, I drove around 15 miles to Cleary Summit—an ideal spot offering a scenic view of the horizon. 

If you are planning on chasing the northern lights in Alaska, my top recommendation is Fairbanks. Countless tour companies in the area offer in-depth knowledge and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will increase your chances of seeing the northern lights. The city of  Utqiagvik, Alaska is also home to the Top of the World Hotel which hosts excellent aurora tours and outdoor adventures.

The best time to see northern lights is during winter when northern state experiences long nights. While you may be able to catch glimpses of this breath taking phenomenon throughout the state, sticking between 65° N and 70° N latitude will maximize your chances. 

Best Time to See Northern Lights in Alaska, North America

Best Time to See Northern Lights in Alaska is from mid September to late April.

Best time to see Northern Lights

The best time to see the Northern Lights in all the countries is during winter time which is usually between the months of September and March in the Arctic Circle North. Winter is when the night skies are darkest and for the longest duration which maximizes your chances. I personally picked to go in extreme winter, January, when the Arctic North region only had about one hour of sun light per day.

Guide to Chasing Northern Lights: Top 3 Practical Tips

We have shortlisted the countries to go for and know the best time to plan our trip, let us now look into what are the best tips to see the Northern lights including how to maximize our chances of seeing the lights and which are the target top locations in a country. 

Northern Lights are very unpredictable. You can hardly predict when and where they will appear. They usually appear in the winter but it still depends on weather conditions such as cloudiness, rain or snow storms causing darkness at night. The temperature should also be low below -25 C for them to shine brightly!

1- Monitoring the Weather

From points 2 and 3 in the section What Causes Northern Lights?, it is obvious that this is a natural and unpredictable phenomenon and the Weather is the key determining factor for your experience- it can really be your angel or devil. There are two major players:

Solar Activity: (Your turn to be an Astronomer)

You can only see the Northern lights when there is solar activity in your area, which means when the solar particles hit the atmosphere and cause the light effects. For tracking this, scientists create something called an Ovation Map using real time data about the solar winds and forecast it regularly (thanks to advancements in technology). With this map, you can monitor locations from where the Aurora may be visible during a time period. The model also tells us the strength of the predicted Aurora with a metric marked by Kp.  Kp> 2 means there is high solar activity in a given area and you will likely see Auroras if the sky is clear.

Cloud Cover: (Your turn to be a Weather Expert)

We need a clear sky, as non-cloudy as possible to see the lights with naked eye as lights are far above the clouds. Clouds will block your view even if there is high solar activity (Kp>2 :wink:) so you will also need some Cloud-God blessing

I hope I have not scared you away with all these details, but don’t worry about all the science and details about being an astronomer or a weather expert, there are apps for everything these days

2- Use an Aurora Forecast Application

Keep Calm and download the Aurora app which gives you all the weather information in one place. My favourite application that I found handy is the My Aurora Forecast. The interface is easy and shown below. You can choose your location and it shows you the cloud coverage and solar activity in selected area. It shows the Kp value, cloud coverage and even the viewing probability. 

3- Stay for a Week

Try to stay in these places for a week to maximize your chances and rule out bad-weather days. Typically a week is good with at least 3 days dedicated to see the lights themselves.

4- Practical Tips to Find Top Northern Lights Locations

We now know where to book our flights to and also have the application installed and learned how the weather chasing works.  You still need to know which parts of the city should you choose to watch the Auroras. This was the biggest part of my research as I already knew I would go to Arctic Scandinavia. I found the following method the best during my own research.

1- Chase Hashtags and Pictures from Reliable sources

I spent some time looking at the top Aurora pictures posted on Facebook by travel companies that offer Northern Lights viewing tours and traced the location of their pictures. You can also check the Instagram hashtags #aurora or #northernlights, but note that many times they only have the main city name. What worked for me the best to spot locations was by  tracking pictures uploaded by top photographers in 500pix.com. Believe it or not, this was an epic idea, as many photographers had tagged locations and I pinned them all to check out. In my case, I was going to drive around Tromso, Abisko and through Finland and by doing this activity, I created a list of all the locations that I would try driving through to chase the Auroras (shared below).

2- Trust the Travel Agencies

The best advice for someone who does want to go on road trip by yourself is really to pay for the agencies if you can afford to. These agencies have so many different aurora viewing camps in different regions around a city and they have their agents constantly watching the sky. This network makes it easy for them to communicate if the Northern Lights are seen in one location and they will quickly take you to the right places. It is a bit expensive, approximately €100 or so per person, so if you can’t afford it you can try chasing the northern lights yourself by going to right locations.

Having said that, northern Arctic cities are very famous for Aurora and if there is a clear sky you can see them anywhere. Weather is really the key player.

Guide to Chasing Northern Lights: Final Thoughts

Northern lights viewing is definitely a once in a lifetime experience for those who are not lucky enough to live in the above destinations. If you have this on your bucket list and want to plan your dream trip, I hope this guide helps.

Both of the weather elements are not in our control and hence you can only hope for the weather to be in your favour for your visit. Given this, you still can maximize your chances if you stay in these places for a longer period of time to try and find some good  weather days. I did my trip for a week and unfortunately/fortunately only saw Aurora on one day as it was cloudy almost every other day (:unlucky:). However when my friends visited just after a week we did, they saw the lights beautifully with high solar activity in Tromso. Keep exploring!

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