Booking choice: The minibus chase, from $257 per person. Check dates Tour details
Tromsø lies directly below the northern lights oval, and the University of Tromsø counts some kind of aurora over the town on every other night, statistically. Whether you see it depends on darkness, auroral activity and, above all, the clouds.
Here is what the official sources say about months, hours and the moon, and how to plan your nights.
The quick answer
Tours run from September to early April; from around mid-April to the beginning of September the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright. The aurora is often most active between about 20:00 and 02:00. No single month is a sure bet: clear sky decides, so plan more than one night and book a chase early in your stay.
When is the northern lights season in Tromsø?
Visit Tromsø says the lights can normally be seen from late August to early April, and that organised tours usually run from September to early April.
That is on the Visit Tromsø northern lights FAQ. Chasing Lights gives the same season for the minibus chase. The University of Tromsø explains why the rest of the year is out: from around mid-April until the beginning of September the midnight sun keeps the sky too light.
Travelling between September and early April? Check dates for the minibus chase.
Check dates for the minibus chaseWhat is the best month to see the northern lights in Tromsø?
No month is a sure bet: Visit Tromsø gives a season, not a best month, and the weather on your nights matters most.
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center names the seasons around the spring and autumn equinoxes as the best for aurora watching, which puts September and March in a good light. Darkness counts too. In September the nights are still getting longer, and the pickup on the minibus chase is an hour later.
What time of night is best?
Visit Tromsø says the aurora is often most active between about 20:00 and 02:00, and NOAA puts the best viewing within an hour or two of local midnight.
It can appear at any time of the night, says Visit Tromsø. That is why chase tours stay out for 5 to 9 hours and return between midnight and 03:00.
What is the Polar Night, and is it good for aurora?
The Polar Night is when the sun stays below the horizon, from late November to late January in Tromsø, according to Visit Tromsø.
The long darkness gives more hours in which the aurora could be visible, but clouds still decide. Visit Tromsø notes that the weather in the north changes quickly, and a hole can open in the cloud cover.
Does the moon matter?
Yes: NOAA says a full moon reduces the apparent brightness of the aurora.
The NOAA viewing tips add that the moon changes how bright the aurora looks, not how bright it really is. One minibus guest complained about a windy spot with bright moonlight. If you can choose your dates, nights around the new moon are darker.
Flexible on budget too? The big bus chase runs the same nights for half the price.
Explore the big bus chase Tour detailsHow likely are you to see the lights?
No one can give you a number for your night: the University of Tromsø counts some kind of aurora over Tromsø on every other night, statistically, but you also need a gap in the clouds.
That is the reason to chase rather than wait in town. Read what happens if you see no lights before you book.
How many nights should you plan?
More than one if you can, and book your first chase early in your stay.
The weather changes quickly in the north, and Visit Tromsø recommends booking your tour before you arrive, especially in the busiest winter months. A chase early in the trip leaves later nights free to try again.
Book your first night early: the minibus chase cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the minibus chaseCan you check the aurora forecast yourself?
Yes: the University of Tromsø points to the auroral forecast and to all-sky cameras online during the dark season.
Forecasts describe activity with the Kp index, which runs from 0 to 9 according to NOAA. Because Tromsø lies below the oval, clouds are often the bigger question, and they are what the chase guide is reading.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the northern lights in Tromsø in September?
Yes: Visit Tromsø says the season starts in late August, and the minibus chase runs from September, with a later 18:20 pickup in early September.
Can you see the northern lights in Tromsø in April?
In early April, yes; the minibus chase runs until early April. By mid-April the nights are too bright.
Are the northern lights visible in summer in Tromsø?
No. From around mid-April to the beginning of September the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright.
Ready to book
Choose your chase
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Northern Lights Minibus Chase
- Professional photographer guide and a dedicated driver
- Winter suit and boots, if you send your sizes after booking
- A warm meal, snacks and hot drinks
Northern Lights Big Bus Chase
- Photographer guides and a full photo gallery
- A hot drink and hot water
- Start and finish at Prostneset bus terminal
Northern Horizon Small-Group Chase
Thermal suit, campfire and a portrait for the lowest price here
