02/03/2025
Our guests most popular asks this time of the year are in the ballpark of: “will there be aurora tonight?”, or “where is the best location to spot the Northern lights?”. These questions have probably frequented most travellers’ minds when visiting the Lofoten islands in the winter time. So here is our little guide to use as an aid in spotting the glorious Aurora Borealis.
What are the northern lights?
According to this article from Space.com, the aurora borealis (or northern lights) is a stunning natural light show that lights up the night sky in high-latitude regions near the Arctic. It happens when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field and collide with gases in the atmosphere, creating glowing waves of color. While green is the most common shade, you might also spot purple, red, or even blue hues dancing across the sky. How bright and visible the lights are depends on solar activity—during strong solar storms, they can sometimes be seen much farther south than usual!
The Northern lights can show up at any time, but in our experience, they are most common to see at evenings/nights. A crazy thing to think about is that during the summertime, when we have daylight 24/7, the northern lights are still dancing above us, we just can’t see them.
Tips and tricks
A smart trick to spot the northern lights during your trip to our wonderful islands is to simply download a northern lights watch-app. "Aurora" is to recommend as it is pretty reliable in its predictions.
It can be tricky to know the dos and don’ts of how to see this natural wonder of the world. First you need to know the basic conditions that optimises your chances. The sky needs to be clear, the Northern lights are dancing above the atmosphere, and the clouds reside below, meaning if it is cloudy out, chances are slim you get to see the lights.
Another thing to take into consideration is light pollution. Are you finding yourself searching the sky in a well-lit area? Get out of there, and go somewhere darker! The light pollution fades the magnificent colours of the Aurora, you will be more likely to experience the Aurora to its full extent somewhere dark. Which brings us to the next section; Where can you find these optimal dark locations in Lofoten?
Recommended northern lights locations in Lofoten
To get to these locations it is recommended to have a car accessible. A general tip for your Lofoten journey is to rent a car, as public transportation is not the most effective way of travel here. Just be careful on the icy winter-roads, and be mindful towards other drivers. Now, let’s get to our location recommendations!
Rørvika
The first location to recommend is due westward. About a 20-minute drive from Lofoten Rorbuer, you find “Rørvikstranda” (the Rørvik Beach). The beach itself is a wonderful location come summertime, but in these dark winter nights it’s a good place to catch a nice view of the northern lights. I recommended some guests of ours this spot recently, and while I was writing this, they stopped by our reception to show me the beautiful pictures they got of the northern lights yesterday!
Gimsøya
A short 30-minute drive from our hotel, we find the island Gimsøya. The famous Hov Beach is, again, beautiful in the summer, but more relevant for this guide, dark in the winter. The Island only has a few local inhabitants, which brings down the light pollution plenty. You can also book a sauna at Hov Gård (Hov Farm) as an added bonus.
Laukvika
If you’ve already been west in Lofoten, might I recommend this wonderful place further east from Svolvær? Laukvika is a hidden treasure in the Lofoten Islands, and have not gained as much attention from tourists just yet. It is a bit of a drive (about 40 minutes from Lofoten Rorbuer). You will find Laukvika itself, a cozy coastal village. If you drive through the Laukvika village, and continue towards Grunnfør, you fill find a perfect dark place to see the lights.
Lastly,
In all the locations mentioned, it should be easy to find a parking spot, so you won’t have to waste time looking for somewhere to park when all you really want is to get outside to see the show!
Now, with these tips we hope you are more oriented in the wild west of northern lights hunting. Keep in mind these are general tips, and sometimes you might experience the Northern lights in their full glory right above Svolvær as well!Just yesterday, the sky was clear, and we were a whole group of people enjoying the Aurora light show just above our hotel roof. Just check out the image I captured here yesterday (front image of this article).
We at Lofoten Rorbuer wish you the best of luck in spotting the Northern lights!
-Camilla
Source
Space (2024) Northern lights (aurora borealis): what they are and how to see them, Retrieved from: https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html
