Overview
One of the trendy destinations in recent years is, of course, "hunting" the Northern Lights.
Yes, hunting.
This means you should be prepared to endure a lot of cold, drive for hours and hours on dark roads, and return to your hotel with a stiff neck and no Lights in the sky—zero, nada de nada, nothing.
Yes, it can be frustrating, but that’s the nature of it.
Tips
The most important things to maximize your chances to consider are:
-The darker it is, the better your chances. So try to avoid full moon days (even though you can still see the Lights, they’ll be less intense).
-The further north you go, the higher your chances.
-Rely on local experts, especially if it's your first attempt at seeing the Northern Lights.
-Be patient.
Accommodation
It's easy to reach the city through the local airport; you land, and you’re ready to go.
Are you traveling on a budget? This might not be the best destination—nothing here is cheap, but you can save money by renting an apartment instead of staying in a hotel.
Tromsø also has also a wide range of hotels—none of them are cheap, but you have options.
My suggest is to choose a hotel that offers a light dinner. The tours for the Northern Lights can start before 6:30 PM and last 7-8 hours. If dinner isn’t included, you’ll need to eat enough to keep warm in the cold.
It won't be cheap, in any case
Food
Food in Tromsø, like everything else, is expensive! You must try the salmon—it's incredibly good. For the more curious, whale meat is also available, though personally, I didn't find it special. In many of the city's restaurants, you'll find reindeer and moose meat on the menu, even in the form of burgers. These are the kinds of things I believe you just have to try!
Here as well, it won't be cheap, in any case
Want to save money? buying food at the supermarket rather than dining at expensive restaurants.
Itinerary
DAY 1-2-3-4
For my first trip hunting the Lights, I chose Tromsø in Norway, and there are plenty of reasons for that.
Besides the Northern Lights, the city offers a variety of daily excursions, some of which are must-sees, like whale watching (choose the Zodiac tour if you’re brave), reindeer sledding, dog sledding, and skiing for a pleasant trip through the woods.
But you’re reading this article for the Northern Lights, right? So here are some tips, in no particular order:
Some say that March or September is the best time. The reality is you can't control solar activity, so in my opinion, winter is the best choice, with more activities to enjoy.
Plan at least 3 attempts—this is the minimum to maximize your chances (and sometimes it's still not enough). I got lucky on the 4th night, just when all my hopes were fading.
If you're not a photography enthusiast, choose a tour that takes photos for you. Just enjoy the show—when the Northern Lights start to dance, you’ll be completely mesmerized.
Bring very warm clothes. Many tours offer "technical gear"—take it! And keep your own layers as well, as temperatures of -20°C are tough to handle.
Choose a small-group tour. The roads and places you can reach with a small van are unbeatable.
My impressions
Tromsø gives the impression of a city nestled in wild nature.
You don’t feel the relaxed atmosphere of other small Norwegian towns.
But the highlight is not the city itself, but what the surrounding nature offers.
Here I saw my first northern lights, and I’m not ashamed to say that my eyes welled up with emotion—this is my memory.
Top Picks:
- Choose a small-group Northern Lights tour (around 8 people).
- Go whale watching. The Zodiac is the best way to see them up close.
- Plan at least 3 attempts.
I've been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights many times and from different perspectives… and countries.
But that’s a story for our next trip together.
Want to ask me something? Add a comment below
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