Northern Lights in Lofoten ✦ How to See the Aurora Borealis
If you’re visiting Lofoten in winter, I’m sure seeing the elusive northern lights (also called aurora borealis) is already on your list of things to do. If that’s the case, knowing where, when and how to see the Aurora Borealis in the Lofoten Islands is super important if you want to have the best chance of success.
I lived in Lofoten for an entire year and was fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights in Lofoten too many times to count. So I decided to put together this complete guide to help you experience this magical phenomenon too. I’ve included the best months, locations, and northern light tours along with some of my insider tips to help you out.
So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the Northern Lights in Lofoten.
Bags Always Packed is a reader-supported site which means some of the links on this page may be affiliates. I spend a lot of time researching these hotels, tours and products and only recommend those which I would use myself. Booking your trip through my links is a great way for you to support my work for free, as I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. ♡
Contents
Quick Summary
When planning a trip to see northern lights in Norway, most people head straight to Tromsø. And while Tromsø is a great place to see the lights, contrary to popular belief it’s not the sole best place to see them. In fact, the only reason most people go to Tromsø is because it’s so straightforward to reach (plus they’ve done a great job of marketing themselves as the Aurora Borealis capital of Norway).
You have a pretty equal probability of seeing the Northern Lights anywhere inside the auroral oval. The aurora oval circles the geomagnetic poles above the Lofoten Islands and is where you will have the best chance of seeing the northern lights anywhere in the world.
TOP TIP: When planning a trip to Northern Norway to see the aurora borealis, I don’t recommend basing your entire trip around waiting for them to appear. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sometimes you may not get to see them, no matter how hard you try. It’s best to consider what other interests you have when deciding on where to go in Northern Norway.
This is why Lofoten is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Norway. Lofoten’s dramatic scenery, cultural villages, and incredible hiking and skiing make it well worth the extra effort to get here. Even if you are unlucky in the northern lights department, you’re still guaranteed to have an amazing time here.
| 📅 Best Time: | March |
| 📍Best Location: | Gimsøy Beaches |
| 📷Best Tour: | Aurora Hunt with Warranty |
| 🛏️Best Accommodation: | Lofoten Links Lodges |
1. Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Lofoten
The best time to see the northern lights in Lofoten is March. This is when the conditions needed are most likely to align with strong solar activity and clear and dark skies.
The reason that March is the best month to see the northern lights in the Lofoten Islands is that it’s typically the month with the highest amounts of solar activity. Plus by this time, the winter storms have usually calmed down quite a lot which means you have the most nights with clear skies. We saw some of the most incredibly vivid shows in March where the whole sky lit up with swirls of green and pink.
That being said, it’s possible to see the northern lights in Lofoten anytime between September and mid-April. The first time we saw the aurora borealis with our naked eyes in the year we lived here was September 14th and it was nothing short of spectacular.
In terms of what time of night the lights appear, this can change wildly depending on when you visit, I’ve even seen northern lights at 2 pm during the polar nights. However, if you’re looking to get an idea of how late you’ll need to stay up, generally 9 pm – 1 am is the best time to see the northern lights in Lofoten.
2. How to See Northern Lights in the Lofoten Islands
There are 4 factors that need to align for you to be able to see the northern lights:
- Northern latitude
- Dark skies – little light pollution
- No clouds
- High solar activity
Only two of the four factors are within your control so we might as well as luck to the list.
Travelling to Lofoten ticks off the northern latitude box as it is located beneath the auroral oval, so next is to hunt down some unpolluted dark skies. Thankfully due to its low population, there isn’t too much light pollution in the Lofoten Islands and you can often see the northern lights from just outside your hotel room.
However, we’re here to get the BEST view with the highest chance of success, so you’re going to want to hunt down a dark location, preferably with an unobstructed view to the north. Strong solar conditions can produce northern lights to the north, south, east or west of the sky when you’re this far north in latitude, so looking north isn’t essential but it can be helpful to see when they are starting.
In the next section, I will go through the best places in Lofoten to see the northern lights but for now, I just wanted to point out that Lofoten has a lot of mountains that can block your view, so getting the right location can be crucial.
Lastly, you’re going to need to cross your fingers and check the weather and solar forecasts for the final pieces of the puzzle. The exposed location of this island chain can make getting clear skies a little more challenging, so pay attention to the cloud cover and weather forecasts, you’re looking for a clear night.
TOP TIP: Faint auroras can easily be confused with clouds. If you’re not sure, take a picture of the cloud with a long exposure and low aperture. You can often see the green colours much more clearly in images than with your eyes. Once the storm gets stronger, you should be able to see the green colours without any assistance.
Lastly, you can use northern light forecasting apps to get an idea of when and how strong the next solar storm will be. These apps generally only give a forecast for the next week or so and are not 100% accurate, but they can give you a good idea of your chances.
Below I have a whole section explaining how to understand northern lights forecasts, but for a quick overview, you want to look a the KP index. You can see the northern lights in Lofoten with as little as KP1 and the higher the number, the further south the solar storm with spread. Generally, higher KP indexes mean stronger lights, but not always.
So if you have a strong KP but clouds are forecast, don’t give up yet as cloudy skies don’t always block out the northern lights. I’ve seen nights where the aurora Borealis is so strong that it shined through a thick layer of clouds and others where small clouds were lit up green as collateral.
NOTE: Northern lights can appear in a whole range of colours from greens to yellows, pinks and purples. If you are colourblind like my partner, you may not be able to see some of the pinks and yellows but you should still be able to see the strong greens with the naked eye.
3. Where to See Northern Lights in Lofoten
While most tours leave from Svolvaer, that doesn’t mean it is the best place to see the northern lights. The reason that all the northern lights tours depart from Svolvaer is simply because it’s the most populated area of Lofoten due to its easy access to the mainland. All of these tours leave Svolvaer and head to more isolated places where the conditions are more optimal for seeing the northern lights.
TOP TIP: To find a good spot to see the northern lights in Lofoten, choose somewhere with uninterrupted views of the skies (there are a lot of tall, close-up mountains in Lofoten). Alternatively, choose multiple locations with different views close to each other in case you need to move for a better view.
Here are my suggestions for the best locations where to see the northern lights in the Lofoten Islands:
- Gimsøy Beaches – There are a few small, north-facing beaches with uninterrupted views of the horizon on Gimsøy Island. This area is a little more quiet than some of the other beaches on this list which makes it good if you’re looking for solitude but as there aren’t many mountains, the pictures may not be as interesting.
- Skagsanden Beach (Flakstad) – One of the most popular places for northern light viewing as it has a clear view of the horizon to the north and quite wide mountains which means you can see almost all angles of the sky.
- Uttakleiv Beach, Haukland Beach & Vik Beach – These three beaches are very close to each other (you could actually walk to each of them), but all face slightly different angles. This is a good option for photographers who want the option of easily moving location to capture a different angle of the northern lights without missing too much of the show.
- Storsandnes Beach – Another north-facing beach not far from Leknes in central Lofoten.
- Reine – While the village does produce some light pollution, the mountains are far enough away that you can get some beautiful images from here if the lights appear anywhere other than to the west.
- Rambergstanda – This beach has quite a lot of houses on its outskirts which means the light pollution can cause issues if the solar storm is not very strong. However, for this reason, it is one of the best locations to stay if you want to see them from your doorstep since there are plenty of options.
- Unstad Beach – Unstad beach is beautiful but it does have tall mountains that curve around the beach itself. This means it’s quite possible that the lights may be blocked, however, when the show lines up, it can make for some epic photos.
TOP TIP: To have the best chance of catching the northern lights during your trip to Lofoten, I recommend booking your accommodation in a more isolated location. The lights can truly appear at any time, so give yourself the best odds by already being somewhere that it’s possible to see them, rather than having to drive. I’ve listed all the best places to stay for northern lights in section #6.
4. Lofoten Northern Lights Tours
Unfortunately, there isn’t any reliable transport at night in the Lofoten Islands and the northern lights show can be fleeting, so I really recommend renting a car. This way you can hop in at any moment and drive yourself to a better location.
However, driving yourself does take some understanding of how the northern lights work. The best spot to see the northern lights really depends on the night as the lights can appear from any direction. So, if you drive to the wrong spot, you may waste your time waiting when the view is in fact blocked by a mountain.
Plus, driving at night in winter can be quite the experience. If you are not comfortable on the roads in Lofoten, I don’t recommend heading out at night.
So for some, the best option to see the Northern Lights is to take a tour. This takes all the guesswork out of seeing the lights as an experienced guide will decide where to go for the best view. You can sit back and enjoy the experience without having to worry about the road conditions or whether you’re making the right choice. The guides can also help adjust your camera settings so you can fully capture these magical sites.
I’ve gone through all the tours available and these are the ones I would recommend as being worth your money:
- Ultimate Aurora Hunt with Northern Lights Warranty – This group tour is guided by a professional photographer and has an Aurora guarantee. If you don’t see the northern lights, you can either get your money back or join another tour!
- The Aurora Jæger – Northern Lights Hunt with Local – If the above group tour is already booked out, this one is very similar but doesn’t have a guarantee.
- Private Tour – Experience the Magic of the Northern Lights – For those of you who don’t want to share your guide, this private tour is run by a photographer who will make sure your private group has the best experience possible.
- Snowshoeing Northern Lights Tour – For something a little more adventurous, snowshoe amongst the mountains for the ultimate view of the northern lights. When you arrive, you’ll be treated to hot drinks and a warm fire as you watch the skies.
- Northern Lights Full Steam Cruise with Tasting – This tour combines a nighttime cruise with a local food tasting and a trip to a historical fish factory. While searching for the northern lights isn’t the main focus of this tour, if you’re lucky enough to catch them from the water it will be quite the treat!
5. Northern Lights Forcast for the Lofoten Islands
As I mentioned earlier, it’s vital that you check the aurora forecast every day you are in northern Norway if you want a chance to see the northern lights as they can truly appear at any time. That being said, the first time you look at an aurora forecast it can be pretty confusing.
I like to use the app “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts” which can be found on Apple or Android. I find it gives the most accurate predictions and is also the most user-friendly. There are a lot of things to explore in this app such as live webcams, user sightings, and suggested live locations, but to be honest, I mostly look at the map and forecast tabs.
The aurora map (accessed from the home page) gives you an easy-to-understand overview of your location in relation to the current solar storm. If you see a band of colour above your location, you have a chance of seeing the northern lights where you are. Green is a small chance, orange is a moderate chance and red is going to be an amazing show. However, this map doesn’t take the clouds or light pollution into consideration, it’s strictly showing you the solar activity.
Go to the “Forecasts” tab at the bottom of the home screen to see the probability for your location. Here you will see the viewing probability for the next 30 minutes, the percentage of cloud coverage for the night plus hourly and daily KP predictions.
TOP TIP: Don’t pay too much attention to the probability. I’ve seen the northern lights when the probability says 0%, and there have also been times when it said 100% chance yet the lights never showed up. I found that when the percentage was around 25% it was actually the most accurate.
We’ve already talked about why cloud coverage (or lack thereof) is important, but again, take these details with a grain of salt. What we’re interested in here is the KP.
The KP index basically shows you how far south the northern lights will be visible (see image below). In Lofoten, you can see the northern lights as low as KP1 or 2, so the KP index isn’t as relevant here as it would be further south, but it can give you an idea of how strong the lights may be on a given night.
The size and shape of the auroral oval are dynamic which is why the KP index changes each night. This means that the strength of the KP index may match the strength of the storm (higher number = more vivid northern lights), but sometimes it doesn’t. As long as you have a high enough KP for your location (in this case KP2), you have every chance of seeing an amazing northern lights show.
Lastly, make sure you turn on the alert feature of the app with push notifications (in the app’s settings). The app will track your location and let you know when the probability of seeing the northern lights is higher than a chosen KP. This is super helpful so you don’t have to check the app every 10 mins.
6. Best Places to Stay for Northern Lights in Lofoten
You can see the northern lights from pretty much anywhere in Lofoten if they are strong, but if you want to have the best chance and most magical experience, I recommend renting a place right on the beach around Flakstad or Ramburg. This area is known for its lights as it has uninterrupted views of the sky facing north and very little light pollution.
You may want to consider staying in a traditional rorbu since most of these are located right on the waterfront with incredible views. But I’ve listed my absolute top choices of where to stay for northern lights in Lofoten below.
Alternatively, I have more suggestions in my other articles on where to stay in Lofoten & the best hotels in Lofoten, I would just avoid Svolvaer and downtown Leknes as there is too much light pollution there.
Lofoten Links Lodges – Best hotel for northern lights in Lofoten
Location: Gimsøy
Price: $
Sleeps: 2-8 People
Right at the top of the list, Lofoten Links Lodge offers an incredible view to the north. In fact, it’s probably the only hotel with a direct view towards the northern horizon (which offers the best chance of seeing the northern lights). Plus, it’s in quite an isolated location so you don’t have to worry too much about light pollution here.
Ramberg Beach House – An incredible glass beach house
Location: Ramberg
Price: $$
Sleeps: 2-10 People
If you’re looking to book a whole house, Ramberg Beach House would be my absolute top choice. I used to drive past it all the time and it looks incredible. It’s right on the beach facing the North, with plenty of glass windows so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your couch to see the northern lights.
Olstind – Famous yellow house near Reine
Location: Moskenesveien
Price: $$
Sleeps: 2-4 People
You’ve probably seen hundreds of pictures of the famous yellow house that perfectly lines up with the peak of Olstinden mountain. Well, you may not have known you could stay there! Not only would it be cool to get pictures of the northern lights dancing above your famous accommodation, but it’s very close to both Reine and Hamnoy, some other great photo stops.
Eliassen Rorbuer – The best place to stay for photographers
Location: Hamnøy
Price: $
Sleeps: 2-4 People
Another famous photo of Lofoten is of the Eliassen Rorber from the Hamnoy bridge. While the mountains of southern Lofoten can pose some challenges when seeing the northern lights, it’s definitely the place to stay for photographers if you’re looking to capture interesting pictures.
Furu – Affordable accommodation with a great central location
Location: Bøstad
Price: $
Sleeps: 1-4 People
This is where we lived during the winter and we got to see the lights too many times to count. The hostel is located right on a lake with very few neighbours so we barely needed to take any steps for an incredible display of the northern lights.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Lights in Lofoten
How do you take photos of the northern lights?
Turn off your flash and autofocus, and set your camera to a long exposure and low aperture. You will also need a tripod or stand as you will need to keep your camera super still for at least 10 seconds while it takes the photos.
Do I need a car to see the Northern Lights in Lofoten?
No, you don’t need a car to see the Northern Lights in Lofoten if you take a tour.
How many days do I need to see the northern lights in Lofoten?
Book at least 5 nights if you want a realistic chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Lofoten. You need a combination of solar activity and clear skies which sometimes don’t appear for over a week straight.
What month is best for the Northern Lights in Lofoten?
The best month to see the northern lights in Lofoten is March. This is when the conditions needed are most likely to align with strong solar activity and clear and dark skies.
Is Tromsø or Lofoten better for the Northern Lights?
Tromsø is the easiest place to see the northern lights. However, Lofoten is better for seeing the Northern Lights if you want to enjoy the dramatic mountains and fjords of this beautiful region in addition to the northern lights.
Which part of Norway is best for the Northern Lights?
Northern Norway is the best part of Norway to see the northern lights as the chance to see them is much more frequent than in the south. You’ll also see much more vibrant shows in northern Norway. The Lofoten Islands and Tromsø are two of the best places in Northern Norway to see the northern lights.
Hopefully, that has helped you understand when, where and how to see northern lights in Lofoten.
By the end of my time living in Lofoten, I can honestly say that I was way too spoiled by the northern lights, but nevertheless, seeing the magical colours of the aurora borealis is an incredible experience that everyone should have on their bucket list.
Remember that accommodation and tours in Lofoten are limited in winter. So even in the low season, it pays to book well ahead. I always recommend booking your hotels at least 2 months in advance and around 1 month ahead for tours to ensure you get the best prices and availability.
And while you’re here, make sure to check out all my other guides to Lofoten and Norway, I’ve been working super hard to make sure you’re informed and can easily book the best trip possible!
Happy aurora hunting,
Kate
Save this post for later or share it with your friends!
Related Posts
➜ How to Get to Lofoten – Step-by-Step Guide for all Transport Options
➜ 13 Incredible Hikes in Lofoten – Don’t Miss #4!
Helpful Resources
Hotels.com - Another great place to find a hotel with specific requirements for your trip.
Agoda - Best for booking hotels in Asia. Has options worldwide however in Asia it seems to have the most options of all the booking sites.
Hostelworld - Perfect for backpackers, Hostelworld is my go-to to find dorm rooms and cheap, social accommodation options.
Rental Cars - Another option to compare rental car companies and providers worldwide.
Sixt - Previously “Thrifty” car rentals.
Europcar - Offers car and van hire around the world.
AutoEurope - Best place to find RV’s to rent for your trip.
Paul Camper - Rent campervans directly from their owners at reduced prices.
Viator - Preferred by US providers so sometimes has a bigger range of activities in select locations.
Klook - Most popular in Asia, you will find a bigger range of attractions and tours in the region of Asia on Klook.
Civitatis - Specializing in European Cities. Although it provides tours worldwide, always check here for additional options if visiting Europe.
HeadOut - Best place to find discounted attraction tickets.
Tiqets - Offers a lot of combo tickets. Make sure to visit if you are planning on visiting a few iconic attractions within a city.
Tripaneer - Where to go if you want to book retreats of any kind (yoga, cycling, outdoors etc).
Guru Walks - Book your spot on a free walking tour.
G Adventure - Lets you compare multi day tours around the world to pick the right itinerary for you.
Cruise Critic - Check out the different cruise options for long or short trips world wide.
Cruise Direct - Another option for comparing and booking cruises for your trip.
Helly Hanson - Norwegian based clothing brand which produces durable outdoor clothing, particularly ski gear.
The North Face - High quality clothing for all your outdoor adventure needs.
Decathlon - Has a great range of cheap equipment and clothing for a huge range of sports and outdoor activities.
Sport Chek - Everything you need for general sports and outdoor adventures under one roof (or website).
Kiwi - Best platform for comparing different routes and dates.
Flixbus - Cheapest bus service mostly serving Europe but available in a few other destinations.
Greyhound - US long distance bus transport service.
Busbud - Compare and find all the bus times and providers for your chosen route.
Trainline - Find train times and tickets for long distance travel around the world.
Save a train - Another place to get train tickets and compare services for your destination.
Welcome Pickups - Pre book your airport transfer to your hotel.
Get Transfer - Another option to find airport transfers within your destination city.
Kiwi Taxi - Find and pre-book a taxi service in your location (including airport transfers).
SafetyWing - Best for digital nomads, offers ongoing monthly travel insurance plans.
Bonzah - Rental car insurance. Cheaper plans than those offered by the rental car companies themselves.
