Anyone seen the Northern Lights in Norway?

[Fireandfury1]

I am thinking of booking a short break to see the Northern Lights just after New Year. Has anyone done this? Where did you stay, and who did you book it with?

Anyone??

My partner and I have been looking at seeing the northern lights. We found a great deal with tours included, to Iceland. The thing with trying to see the lights, is you're not guaranteed to see them. Only when the particles are highly charged and the weather conditions are perfect, plus no full moon, are they visible. Also, the colourful lights are not what you actually see. I think they are more green and grey and the colours you see, are only seen through a camera as your eyes cannot see the full spectrum. We have an aurora app downloaded and will be travelling to Scotland when the app indicates a high chance of seeing the lights.

My cousin did in March
They were on the hurtigruten, the Nord Norge from Bergen to kirkenes and yes saw them around tromso
Maybe a bit before
They didn’t bother to do the excursion...it was very expensive and had a fabulous view from the boat...but beware apparently that coastline can be quite foggy, so sightings not always guaranteeed

Yes, on a cruise with Hurtigruten to the North Cape. We saw them most nights, and at sea, so no light pollution. It was a February. Unforgettable but as a pp said, not guaranteed so you have to go there with a view to doing and seeing other things as well.

This is great! Thank you, everyone!
NobodysChild Yes, big problem, not being guaranteed to see them. It seems that Tromso is a good place to start...I know about green and grey and not in full moon, so trying to plan around that. Aurora app sounds brilliant, thank you!
Flaffable I read that there was more of a chance in Tromso. Great to hear it's a good town to stay in, regardless! Ok. I will look for hotel, or was wondering about AirBnB. Looking up your travel co, too.
Dowser Glad your cousin was able to see them... Will make a note about foggy coastline...
Thank you Greenteandchives Yes sadly not guaranteed... would be a shame to go that way and not see the, even if the other activities look fun! Hmmm....

Am I Being Unreasonable?
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Norway is gorgeous. It’s worth going whether or not you see the aurora.

I’ve been to the Bergen area in February, northern Finland in December, and Iceland in December and didn’t see them on any of those occasions.

I did however see them looking out of aeroplane windows en route to the U.S. for work though, in winter, on several occasions. Very impressive.

I’d be very wary of making them the focus of a holiday.

We didn't manage to see them in Tromso (clouds and rain) but then saw them in Iceland.

I've been three times & not seen them other than the faintest green tinge, so I'd definitely plan other things to do too.

I've seen them in Tromso (a few weeks ago at the start of November) and my boyfriend has seen them in Iceland in April

Ooh lots have been to Tromso. Agree Norway is beautiful... problem with not making it the focus is that it IS the focus IYSWIM... would prob not go, otherwise... Ah well, bit of a gamble...Hmm will have a think.

They do coach trips from Reykjavik into the wilderness at night for Northern Lights spotting & you get the city break too. Tromso is lovely & maybe you could combine with Bergen?

We saw them in Lapland in February three years ago. It was a brilliant holiday. The northern lights were the icing on a very good cake.

You could try Greenland if you fancy something a bit different?

All great suggestions but has to be Norway - long story and too outing!

We went to Tromso one year in mid-December. It was cloudy and rainy and we didn't see them. There was almost no snow either.