When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?

To see the Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis is certainly something that is on my bucket list. This stunning visual phenomenon goes through 11 year cycles and this winter will be one of the best times to  see the spectacular sight. Then it will be another 11 years until the next solar flip and the Northern Lights will be at their strongest.

The best time to witness the Northern Lights is on a clear, cloudless night between the hours of 5pm and 2am. They don’t usually exhibit for long. It’s usually just a few minutes of the sky being illuminated in various bright colours, so you have to be vigilant and have your camera at the ready. The best months to catch the phenomenon are said to be March and September, however the lights can be seen throughout the dark winter nights in the Arctic. 

Aurora Borealis is still active throughout the Summer months, however due  to the dark nights the visual spectacle can not be seen.

Iceland, Norway and Finland are amongst some of the most popular places to visit to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights and several cruise lines offer sailings specifically to see this natural occurrence.

Hurtigruten are a Norwegian cruise company and they have been a sailing around the Norwegian coast since 1893 (although you will be pleased to know that they have updated their fleet since then). Their ships offer you the chance to see the Northern Lights whilst sipping a glass of fizz in the jacuzzi on deck which would certainly be an experience you couldn’t put a price tag to.

Fred Olsen Cruise Line, also Norwegian place great importance on the Northern Lights, offering dedicated cruises in the winter months. You can cruise from Liverpool in November for as little as £1199 per person for a 16 night itinerary, taking in the stunning Norwegian Fjords with a 2 night stay in Tromso to maximise your chances of seeing this breathtaking sight. And for all nature fans out there they are also offering 2 cruises in March next year where you can witness the solar eclipse.

These are just some of the offerings from the cruise industry and almost all cruise lines offer sailings around Norway and its stunning coastline, but if seeing the Northern Lights is something that you would like to see, then now is the time to do it for your greatest chance to see this magical display at its best. It’s a scary thought thinking how old I’ll be in 2025 when it’s time for the next solar flip, so I had better get my skates on!