Can you see the Northern Lights in Bergen, Norway?

Are you visiting Norway and wondering if you can see the northern lights in Bergen? Then this guide is for you! I have lived in Bergen for years now, and am happy to share that you can see the northern lights here!

However, they are rarely seen this far south, so chances are slim. If you want to be guaranteed to see the northern lights during your trip to Norway, I recommend heading up north and booking a northern lights tour in Tromsø, Lofoten or Alta, for example.

Still, there are a few things that come into play if you hope to see the northern lights in western Norway and Bergen, especially. Keep reading to learn my best tips!

Can you see the Northern Lights in Bergen, Norway?

As mentioned, yes, you can. However, it is very rare. This is mainly because Bergen is quite far south, and below the Arctic circle. There are plenty of great things to do in the city year round, but seeing the northern lights is not on the list of why people visit.

Going on a fjord cruise or taking a day trip to the fjords, however, is more likely gonna be why you visit Bergen.

The reason for this is that it is very rare that the northern lights are visible this far south, and when they are, they are not as strong. This makes photographing them harder, especially with just a smartphone, but not impossible (read my best northern lights photography tips here).

The northern lights are an incredible sight to behold. I know this from personal experience as I have been lucky enough to see them several times in my life.

From the vast green-blue ribbons of light that streak across the night sky, to the shimmering curtains of movement that follow, no words can truly describe their beauty and grandeur.

I want to help visitors to Norway to get the most out of their time there and experience all that nature has to offer. That’s why I always try to fill my blog with guides to an unforgettable adventure in Norway. If you hope to see the northern lights in Norway, and especially Bergen, the tips below should be of help.

Seeing them is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime – they’re absolutely spectacular!

Which period of year can you potentially see northern lights in Bergen?

First things first. There are only certain times of year you can spot the northern lights this far south.

The darker months are your best bet for this. It can be as early as September, but chances increase from October onwards. From experience, the times when the northern lights have been visible in the western fjords area has usually been around January-February.

However, I took the photo below in early October. As you can see, light pollution from the city makes the lights less clear to the eye (and camera), but if you hike a little out of the city, you can get pretty decent photos!

To summarise, you can see the northern lights in Bergen and the surrounding area from October to March, with December-February being your best bet. This is mainly due to how dark it is during those months.

Read next (for a more in depth guide): The Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Norway

Northern Lights Bergen Tips

There are a few more things to keep in mind if you hope to see the Aurora Borealis dancing across the sky in Bergen.

Firstly, the Aurora forecast needs to be strong enough. As a general rule, you can see the northern lights in Bergen when the Aurora forecast is a 5 and above (the higher, the better).

The second one is weather. You need the forecast to be clear, otherwise it doesn’t matter how strong the northern lights are. A clear sky is your friend on nights where you hope to see the lights.

Finally, your location is extremely important. Yes, I am talking about Bergen, but really, you need to get out of the city to see them clearly. City lights are your enemy here.

In order to get away from the lights, I highly recommend heading up on one of the city mountains surrounding Bergen (there are some great hikes in the city). Fløyen is of course the easiest, but I also recommend Løvstakken or Ulriken (my favourite hike in the city).

On days when there are strong Northern Lights forecasted, you’ll meet lots of others on these mountain tops during night time!

Make sure you dress well, as seeing the lights is a game of patience, and the winter nights in Norway are cold. My packing list for Norway in winter should help!

Is there a Bergen Northern Lights tour I can join?

I get this question a lot, and I do get it. Joining a tour to see the lights is a super easy and hassle free way to chase them.

However, I am sad to report that there are no Northern Lights tours in Bergen. It is just too rare that we get the lights here, so those tour companies wouldn’t be able to run their tours most nights out of the year.