On pleasant summer days in Norway, the eternal daylight stretches one day into another. It’s easy to forget what time it actually is. Here we explore the best places to experience the midnight sun in Norway.
In wintertime visitors flock to Northern Norway hunting for the Northern lights. In summertime, people are enjoying the soft golden midnight sun. Northern Norway is often referred to as ‘the land of the midnight sun’.
Locals are accustomed to this excess of light, while visitors often say they’re jetlagged and experience sleep disturbances. Artists from all over the world, and in particular Norwegian artists, are fascinated by these long days.
“I struggled to find the words to name the feelings that flooded through me, but I had no words strong enough to hold them. For a long moment, I drowned in them. When I surfaced, I was not the same man I had been. My life was an unending, unchanging midnight. It must, by necessity, always be midnight for me. So how was it possible that the sun was rising now, in the middle of my midnight?” wrote Stephenie Meyer.
Helgeland
Helgeland is south of the Arctic Circle, so the time of the year you can experience the midnight sun here varies depending on where in Helgeland you are, but overall the area enjoy the midnight sun from 12 June through 10 July. However, during the weeks before this, from mid-May until mid-August, even when the sun does sink below the horizon, it is still bright all night!
Bodø
The beautiful coastal town Bodø is the first European Capital of Culture north of the Arctic Circle. “It is hard to explain. It’s light all day and all night, but the sounds and atmosphere tell us when it’s nighttime. The animals and birds know it too. We call it “The infinite Nordland nights”. You simply have to experience it to understand!” (from Visit Bodo’s website).
Lofoten – Trollfjord
To be taken by boat around the Lofoten Islands, to places where you may see seals or whales, eagles and sea-birds, is a special experience. You will venture between the narrow, steep walls of Trollfjord, with its white sand beaches and fishers’ villages.
In summer, when the sun doesn’t dip below the horizon, you will never forget the adventure. The reason this happens is because the northern hemisphere is tipped toward the sun, resulting in longer days and warmer weather. Destinations close to and north of the Arctic Circle get the midnight sun. The further north of the Arctic Circle you go, the longer is the period it lasts for.
Lofoten – Svolvær
Svolvær, at the heart of the scenic Lofoten archipelago, is sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, Svolvær is an iconic destination for those wanting to experience the midnight sun during the summer months.
Vesterålen
Experience the midnight sun from the sea. The beautiful landscape of Vesterålen, the sea, it´s creatures and the midnight sun will be a memory of a lifetime.
Honningsvåg
Honningsvåg is home to the North Cape, where a globe monument marks the top of continental Europe. Why not enjoy the midnight sun on a birdwatching safari, departing from the fishing village of Gjesvær? From there you can explore the nearby islands of Gjesværstappan.
Tromsø
Tromsø is within the Arctic Circle, so it’s the perfect spot for midnight sun seekers.
This energetic university town really comes alive during the summer months. You can dance your socks off at Bukta Festival, held during the height of midsummer, or consider running the Midnight Sun Marathon.
To see the midnight sun in all its glory, take the Fjellheisen cable car up to Storsteinen mountain ledge. You’ll look out onto a landscape of fjords and mountains bathed in golden light.
Sommarøy
Sommerøy translates to ‘Summer Island’. In 2019, the 300 inhabitants there made a publicity campaign on Facebook to become a time-free zone, due to the 70 days of midnight sun it experiences every year.
“If we want to cut the grass at midnight we will. If we want to take a swim at 4AM we will,” the campaign video stated.
Hammerfest
Hammerfest is the perfect city to visit if you want to experience the midnight sun! From 16 May to 29 July, you can experience the midnight sun, and it is light all day. In autumn it gradually gets darker and darker.
Cape Nordkinn
Cape Nordkinn,also known as Kinnarodden, is the northernmost point on the European mainland. It should not be confused with the North Cape, a spot often mislabeled as being Europe’s northernmost point, which is far more touristy. Cape Nordkinn, however, is a rugged, stony landscape with sweeping views of the Barents Sea.
Experienced hikers can take one of the hiking trails from Mehamn or Sandfjordvannene out to the Cape, where you’ll be rewarded with a view of the midnight sun suspended just above the horizon.
Alta – Finnmark
In the heart of Northen Norway, between the majestic mountains, the beautiful Altafjord, and the legendary Finnmarksvidda lies Alta, the city of Midnight Sun. An unspoiled, lush arctic environment within a short distance from the bustle of the city, just waiting to be discovered.
Svalbard
This remote Norwegian archipelago is located in between mainland Norway and the North Pole; its main town, Longyearbyen, is the world’s northernmost settlement. In these high latitudes, you’ll experience twenty four hour daylight for the entirety of the summer months.
There are plenty of wild adventures you can enjoy under the midnight sun on Svalbard. We’d recommend a glacier hike or a Svalbard kayak tour across fjords studded with icebergs. It’s a legal requirement to have a member of your party bearing arms, to guard against the threat of polar bears. For this reason, taking a guided Svalbard glacier tour is highly recommended!
Best Places to Experience the Midnight Sun in Norway – Conclusion
The Midnight Sun is not just beautiful to look at – it is also beautiful to feel. The warm feeling of the sun at midnight is something special, a feeling that will stay with you and serve as a warm memory for a long time.
Best Places to Experience the Midnight Sun in Norway, compiled by Tor KJolberg
Feature image (on top) © Visit Lofoten