Northern Lights in Bergen

When people think of Norway and the northern regions, the spectacular northern lights — also known as the aurora borealis — often come to mind. But what about Bergen? Can you see the northern lights here?

The short answer is yes, it’s possible — but the long answer is a bit more complex. Bergen is much further south than Northern Norway, where aurora sightings are far more common. In Bergen, several factors need to align for you to catch a glimpse of this natural phenomenon.

• Clear skies: Bergen’s reputation as a rainy city works against aurora hunters, as cloud cover will block your view
• Time of year: From late spring to early autumn, daylight dominates the skies, making northern lights impossible to see. The best period for sightings is from September to March, when the nights are long and dark
• The time of day influences your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, as they are only visible after dark
• Solar activity: Even if the skies are clear, the northern lights only appear when there’s enough geomagnetic activity — meaning you need a bit of luck with solar storms too

If you’re hoping to spot the aurora during your visit, websites and apps dedicated to aurora forecasts can be extremely helpful. Sites like Space Weather Prediction Center and Norwegian Centre for Space Weather provide updates and forecasts for aurora activity, helping you know when to head outside. And remember to look north!

To maximize your chances, find a dark location with minimal light pollution. In and around Bergen, some of the best spots include:

• The mountain tops — any of Bergen’s seven mountains will give you a high vantage point and darker skies
• Parks and wooded areas — such as Nordnesparken, which offers decent darkness without having to leave the city center

While seeing the northern lights in Bergen requires a bit of luck and good timing, it’s not impossible — and with the right conditions, it can be a magical experience.

Auroras, often called the northern lights (aurora borealis) in the Northern Hemisphere and the southern lights (aurora australis) in the Southern Hemisphere, are stunning natural light shows that appear in the sky near the Earth’s polar regions. These glowing displays can stretch across the sky in the form of shimmering curtains, swirling spirals, bright rays, or flickering waves of color.

So, what causes this magical phenomenon? It all starts with the solar wind — a stream of charged particles constantly flowing from the Sun. When these particles collide with the Earth’s magnetosphere (the protective magnetic field surrounding our planet), they disturb it. Sometimes, strong bursts from the Sun, like coronal mass ejections or coronal holes, send even more particles our way, creating particularly bright and intense auroras.

Once these charged particles get funneled down into the Earth’s upper atmosphere near the poles, they interact with gases like oxygen and nitrogen. This interaction releases energy in the form of light — the beautiful colors we see dancing in the sky. The specific shape, brightness, and color of the aurora depend on factors like how fast the particles are moving and which gases they collide with.

For more information and tips on Bergen, check out our archive.