Travel bucket list idea:
Western Norway, Norway
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Lofoten, western Norway
The world’s greatest light show is Mother Nature’s own – the famous ‘Aurora Borealis’ – or more commonly known as the ‘Northern Lights’. It’s an extraordinary natural spectacle, caused by shifts of magnetic energy in the ionosphere, and it’s magical to watch them dance across the heavens, ethereal shapes in shimmering colours forming and dissolving. No wonder seeing them features on so many travel bucket lists.
Norway’s long, fjord-studded coastline not only offers breathtaking scenery, but is an ideal destination for seeing the Northern Lights – with dark skies, vast open spaces, and a prized location on the so-called ‘Aurora Belt’.
Still, there’s no specific one best place or time to see this notoriously fickle phenomenon, so we always recommend pairing it with another experience as part of a broader holiday adventure. Fortunately, Norway’s western coast is also a Mecca for outdoor adventure pursuits like whale watching, husky dog sledding and snowmobiling – meaning plenty of opportunities to pair with other bucket list experiences.
See below for our recommendations of great bucket list experiences on Norway’s western coastline, where you’re also likely to see the Northern Lights along the way.
Western Norway, Norway
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Sail Norway’s achingly beautiful and dramatic fjords, where hiking, wildlife, mountain railways and buzzing towns make for an invigorating adventure.
Adult price: £Varies
Best for ages 10+
Duration: 3-5 days
Norway
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This dramatic 2,400km coastline of astonishing landscapes also offers stops in vibrant towns, a wealth of outdoor bucket list adventures and the chance to see the Northern Lights.
Adult price: £Varies
Best for ages 8+
Duration: Min 5 days
Laukvika, Northern Norway, Norway
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This rural science centre provides both an excellent vantage point for viewing and informative lectures about the science of the lights. It’s run by a friendly Dutch couple who man a collection of astronomic instruments that determine exactly when the Aurora is about to strike.
Best for ages 4+
Theoretically, the Northern Lights are visible at any time of year, but due to the endless days of summer in the far north, the skies simply don’t get dark enough to see them.
That makes winter prime aurora spotting season, especially the period between November to February, when Norway’s skies are at their darkest, and the aurora activity is usually at its peak.
For the best chance of seeing them, you also need clear skies (clouds are an inconvenient hazard for aurora spotters, and unfortunately there’s no solution but to wait them out). You also need low or zero light pollution, so it’s always better to get as far away from any urban centres as you can.
Even so, the Northern Lights are notoriously fickle; they can appear anytime, anywhere. But if you’re in the right area at the right time of year, your chances of seeing them are excellent – as long as you’re prepared to be patient.
If you haven’t already, see our round-up of the best places and ways to see the Northern Lights that also explains in more detail why they happen, and thus when you’re most likely to see them.
Round-ups that include this experience
