Booking choice: The northern lights cruise with a free second chance, from $127 per person. Check dates Tour details
Visit Norway makes a point that saves a lot of worry: one place in Northern Norway is often as good as another for the aurora. You see the same display in Lofoten as in Tromsø, 500 km further north, just from a different angle. The choice of base is about everything else.
Tromsø has the most ways to see the lights and the most flights. Alta has a reputation for steady, dry weather. Lofoten has the scenery. Narvik has a train into the mountains, and Trondheim is the city break further south. Here is how they compare.
The quick answer
For a first trip, base yourself in Tromsø: direct international flights, evening cruises like the cruise with a free second chance and a minibus chase as a backup. Choose Lofoten for peaks over the sea and the Svolvær cruise from $103. Choose Alta for its dry inland climate, and Narvik for the northern lights train.
What is the best place in Norway to see the northern lights?
Tromsø for most visitors, because it has the most tours and flights. Alta, Lofoten and Narvik are all excellent too, since the whole north lies under the auroral oval.
Northern Norway offers the best and most consistent chances in the country, Visit Norway says, because it lies below the auroral oval. Further south, in Trøndelag and Southern Norway, the lights appear from time to time when the sun is active.
Pick the place that fits how you want to spend your days. Then pick how you want to meet the lights: on a boat, by a fire or from a train.
| Place | Why go for the lights | How you see them | Listed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tromsø | The main hub, under the auroral oval, with direct international flights | Evening cruises, a minibus chase, fjords on every side | Cruises from $127 |
| Alta | A stable, dry climate and the world's first permanent aurora observatory | Inland plateau, river valley and fjord | No cruise listed yet |
| Lofoten | Sharp peaks over the sea, about 500 km south of Tromsø | An evening cruise from Svolvær | Cruise from $103 |
| Narvik | Mountains, fjords and the Ofoten Railway | A train to a station with no road | Train from $168 |
| Trondheim | South of the Arctic Circle, a city break with a chance | A small boat into the darker bays | Cruise from $194 |
Why is Tromsø so popular for the northern lights?
It sits right under the auroral oval, has direct international flights and offers the widest choice of aurora trips, from cruises to minibus chases.
Tromsø is a lively university town on an island, Tromsøya, ringed by fjords and mountains. A short sail takes you out of the town glow, and the minibus companies drive wherever the cloud breaks. When one plan fails, there is another.
The catch is popularity. December to February is peak season, so book early or come in autumn or March. Our best Tromsø cruise guide compares the boats.
Tromsø's quiet catamaran cruise, a warm lounge, a guide on deck and a free second cruise if the sky stays cloudy.
Explore the northern lights cruise with a free second chance Tour detailsIs Alta or Tromsø better for the northern lights?
Alta for steadier, drier weather; Tromsø for more tours and easier flights. Both lie under the auroral oval.
Northern Norway's tourist board describes Alta as having a very stable and dry climate, with coastal and inland weather zones close by, so a short drive can change the sky. Alta also calls itself the city of the northern lights. The world's first permanent aurora observatory was built here at the end of the 1800s, and the Northern Lights Cathedral, with its 47 m titanium spire, has an aurora exhibition in the basement.
Tromsø wins on choice. Alta is quieter and a good base for dog sledding and the Finnmark plateau. We do not list an Alta cruise yet, so for a boat night, Tromsø is the place.
Is Lofoten good for the northern lights?
Yes. Visit Norway says the lights show there from September to March, and the peaks and fishing villages make some of the best aurora photos in Norway.
Lofoten is milder than its latitude suggests, thanks to the Gulf Stream, and the weather changes fast. Svolvær is the main town and the base for winter boat trips. The polar night here is short, less than four weeks, so you get more daylight for exploring.
The Lofoten northern lights cruise sails M/S Jernøy from Svolvær away from the town lights, with indoor seating and refreshments to buy, from $103. It is a new listing. In February and March the skrei, the migrating cod, arrive to spawn, and Lofoten's famous stockfish is made from them.
The Lofoten peaks and a dark sky away from Svolvær, on a new evening cruise from $103.
Check dates for the Lofoten northern lights cruiseCan you see the northern lights in Narvik?
Yes. Narvik lies in the Arctic among fjords and mountains, and its northern lights train rides the Ofoten Railway to a station with no road.
The Ofoten Railway runs from Narvik's port to the Swedish border and still carries iron ore. On the northern lights train you ride it in the evening to Katterat, 373 m above sea level, where a campfire, a lavvu and hot drinks wait under a very dark sky. The trip takes 3 hours from Narvik station.
Narvik is also known for skiing under the auroras, Visit Norway says. The nearest big airport is Harstad/Narvik at Evenes.
An evening on the Ofoten Railway to Katterat, a campfire, a lavvu and hot drinks, with photo tips from your guide.
Explore the Narvik northern lights train Tour detailsCan you see the northern lights in Trondheim?
Sometimes. Trondheim lies south of the Arctic Circle, so the lights need a stronger night, but they do appear when the sun is active.
Visit Norway says the aurora shows up in Trøndelag from time to time, especially in periods of high solar activity. If you are in Trondheim anyway, a night on the fjord is a good way to try. The Trondheim northern lights fjord cruise leaves Brattørkaia with 8 guests at most, passes Munkholmen and heads for the darker bays towards Trolla and Fagervika.
A local skipper watches the weather and the aurora forecasts, hot drinks are included and the cabin is warm. If conditions cancel the trip, you get a full refund. It is a new listing from $194.
Eight guests at most in a warm cabin, heading for the darker bays of the Trondheimsfjord.
Check dates for the Trondheim northern lights fjord cruiseWhat about Bodø, Senja and the Lyngen Alps?
All good aurora country. Bodø is a lively city with an airport in the centre, Senja and the Lyngen Alps are quieter wild places near Tromsø.
Visit Norway names Bodø, the European capital of culture in 2024, as an up-and-coming aurora destination. It suggests Alta, Lyngen or Senja for anyone who finds Tromsø too busy in winter. The Lyngen Alps rise across the fjords east of Tromsø.
For a first trip, a Tromsø base with day trips and evening tours is the simplest way to see this whole region.
Frequently asked questions
Which city in Norway is best for the northern lights?
Tromsø, for the choice of tours and flights. Alta and Bodø are smaller cities in aurora country, and Svolvær is the base for Lofoten.
Is Lofoten or Tromsø better for the northern lights?
The lights are the same; the setting differs. Tromsø has more tours and flights. Lofoten has the peaks and fishing villages.
Can you see the northern lights in Oslo?
Rarely, on very strong nights. Visit Norway says Southern Norway sees them from time to time when the sun is active. For a real chance, go north.
How far is Lofoten from Tromsø?
About 500 km, by Visit Norway's reckoning. Most people fly or drive between them rather than do both on a short trip.
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Choose your cruise
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Northern Lights Cruise with a Free Second Chance
- English-speaking guide
- Free coffee or tea
- Warm lounge with panoramic windows
Lofoten Northern Lights Cruise from Svolvær
Sharp Lofoten peaks and dark skies away from the town, on a new cruise from Svolvær
Narvik Northern Lights Arctic Train
The Ofoten Railway to a mountain station with no road, a campfire and a lavvu
