See the northern lights a Tromso Norway: how to organize the trip, the best excursions and everything you need to know to admire this extraordinary natural phenomenon.
If dreams of see theaurora boreale in Norway You have to go to Tromso, which has the highest chance in the world to spot it.
This town 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle is one of the best places in the world for see the aurora boreale, as I was able to check during my recent trip as a sent from the newspaper L’Agenzia di Viaggi magazine.
A truly exciting experience, which I tell you in this article, also providing you with all the useful information (and answers to the most frequent doubts), to also live it in the best way.
Index of Article
See the northern aurora in Tromso Norway
Why Tromso is the best place to see the boreal aurora in Norway
It is said by experts of celestial things, in short, astronomers, meteorologists and beautiful company who flock to the Research Centre for Climate and Environment of the Arctic University of Tromso, which is the most northern University of the planet. We are in fact at 70° North latitude in a strategic position in the middle of the auroral oval, that is the area where the probability of spotting theaurora boreale in Norway.
Tromso Norway It is surrounded by high mountains, fjords and coastal islands that create different microclimates, so somewhere around the city there is almost always a place with clear sky, which together with absolute darkness and the absence of light pollution, is among the indispensable conditions for sighting.
If the sky is cloudy and snows, the sighting might be difficult, but the weather in Tromso is relatively stable, so if you are in the area for at least 3-4 days in winter, you should be able to see it.
Aurora boreal best time to see it in Tromso
In general, to see theaurora boreale the period ideal from mid-September to mid-April. If you are lucky, you may see aurore even at the end of August or mid-April, but if you want to increase your chances, you should go between October and March.
I went to the beginning of April and was very lucky.
As soon as we landed, we didn’t waste time and we immediately left for the boreal aurora hunting excursion along with the boys of Northern Shots Tours, one of the few that organize night photographic excursions also with Italian guide.
Based on the forecast weather Tromso and solar activity, the sophisticated onboard monitoring systems indicated that the "green fairy" could have spread to the north west, towards the sea. And that's where we went through a landscape of Nordic saga, among snowy hills, lakes and pine forests.
The evening was cold, but not cold, and of this we must thank the current of the Gulf that leaves the coast and makes sure that even in the middle of winter in this region the temperatures rarely go down under the -4°C.
We camped by a lake where we lit a bonfire to warm up and roast sausages and marshmellow waiting to see it. And she didn't wait! In the clear night the northern lights suddenly appeared to us in all its mysterious magic, illuminating the sky and dancing on our heads for a few minutes. An unforgettable emotion!
Aurora boreale excursion "do it yourself", straight and advice
According to our guide there are very few nights when you can’t see the northern lights in Tromso. However, you will not easily see it in the city, but you have to look for it. You can then participate in a aurora boreale tour Guided, as we did and which later I will give you all the information, or you can also go alone.
Of course it might be a bit complicated to find the best points and the best conditions if you don’t know the area well, but it’s definitely something you can do on your own.
If you prefer the "do it yourself", here are some tips that will be useful to you.
Where to see aurora boreale in Tromso
The best way to see the aurora bore in Tromso is getting away from the city and going to a place where there is no light pollution. If you have a car, make sure you check the weather forecast and look for a nice dark place out of town.
You can also move to different places, but if there are no clouds and you found a nice open place with good visibility in all directions, stop there and wait. If the aurora is visible that night, you will see it.
Sometimes, however, the aurores are really strong and you can see them in the city. If you are in Tromso in a cloudless evening, one of the best places to spot the aurora is the mountain that can be reached with the Fjellheisen cable car. If you are lucky, it will be an incredible show as the views from there are simply stunning.
Best time to spot aurora boreale
Usually the best chances to see the northern lights in Tromso and its surroundings are late at night and around midnight. But you never know: it can happen to see her at 18 or until 6 in the morning, or they can dance all night. So as long as it is dark, there is hope, and you keep looking.
The weather of Tromso
There are several websites where you can check in real time weather of Tromso and the predictions of the boreal aurora, but according to our guides are not so reliable and certainly not useful if you check several hours before.
Keep in mind that the boreal aurora in Tromso occurs practically every night without clouds, so it is more a matter of searching for a place without light pollution and without clouds, rather than following the weather forecast.
Best aurora boreale tours in Tromso
There are dozens of local operators offering aurora boreale tour in Tromso. They typically differ for the type of vehicle used: minibus tours for small groups (8 people max) and bus tours for large groups, each with its pros and cons. If we talk about the possibility to see (or not see) theaurora boreale in TromsoOne and the other are equal. The kind of experience, however, changes.
Small group: aurora boreale tour in Tromso in minivan
That’s what we did. This solution guarantees a truly special experience, the atmosphere is more intimate and collected. In our case, the minibus was reserved for our small group and one of the guides, expert photographer, also helped us set the camera to best portray the boreal aurora.
Once you reach the point of observation, they then lit a bonfire and offered hot food and drinks: sitting next to the fire is definitely a nice way to spend the long hours outdoors in the Arctic night.
Of course, these tours are more expensive than the others, but in case of failure you are usually recontaminated for another tour. They are also the most requested and given the limited places must be booked in advance.
Large group: Aurora boreale tour in Tromso in bus gran turismo
It is the most economic, although in this case everything is more standardized. Starting from a common meeting point (no pick-up in the hotel), you travel in groups of 30-40 people and is a less flexible formula than the minibus.
But do you want to put with the advantage of traveling comfortably and always have a covered place available, heated and equipped with toilets, in which to take refuge during the stops if there is nothing to see, or in case of bad weather? Also for these reasons it is to prefer if you travel with children.
