sweden november northern lights

The actual lights take many forms. 4 nights. While you may think you can hold still for 2 seconds, trust me your hands shake naturally (and will do so even more in the snow!) The city also offers the opportunity to visit the planetarium at the Science Center of Northern Norway to find out more about the science behind the northern lights. The good news is that huge tracts of northern Sweden fall within the sweet spot where the northern lights appear fairly regularly. Similarly, while the end of April will still be quite cold and there will be a lot of snow on the ground still, the days are getting longer about 18 hours long at this point which gives you precious few hours of actual dark night to see the lights. If you dont mind getting a very early start, or staying up all night, theres also a chance that you could see something in the hours before dawn. Most people lucky enough to see the aurora witness a display of green lights but if you are really lucky then that display might be yellow and red, or even multi-coloured. If its cloudy overhead, you wont see anything, no matter how bright the lights are shining. The space weather forecast gives a great indication of upcoming solar storms, which trigger the best aurora displays. The colour of the aurora depends on which chemicals are present and the altitude of the meeting of atoms and particles. It encompasses latitudes between60 and 75 degreesand takes in Iceland, northern parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, Canada and Alaska as well as southern Greenland. The northern lights are best seen from Alaska Courtesy of Torfhus Retreat These cabins are located near Selfoss on Iceland's 'Golden Circle' of tourist sites (which includes the ingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the Great Geysir With lakes, mountains and empty wilderness on its doorstep its not only one of Swedens top ski resorts for both downhill and off-piste tracks, but theres a good chance of seeing the northern lights here too in winter. There are a couple of things you can do to avoid standing around in the snow with frozen fingers, waiting for something to happen. And even if it is completely clear, theres no guarantee that there will be any solar activity. Theres even aSky Stationhere for viewing the aurora, with an outdoor terrace, full-length windows, look-out tower and expert guides and equipment on site. a traditional Lapland dinner of reindeer souvas and cloudberry dessert, Arctic Colours Northern Lights Apartments, All you need to know about cycling in Sweden, A quick guide to Swedish holidays and traditions, Guided Snowmobile Tour and Swedish Fika Experience, Traditional Icelandic sweaters: what to know before you buy, Iceland packing list: what to bring with you, The best places to visit Santa in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The comfortable Arctic River Lodge sits right at the rivers edge, with its own private beach. Start with a good thermal base layer on the top and bottom halvesof your body. You may decide its worth buying a spare camera battery, just in case the first one loses juice as the aurora starts picking up. The best places to spot the Northern Lights are away from the lights of the city centres where the nights are darker. To get a bit geeky on you, heres roughly how it works. The sun hardly sets between May and August, making those months a very It includes a northern lights safari and gives you the chance to spot wild reindeer and moose, go dog-sledging and sleep under the stars in a traditional Smi tent. I recommend buying a sturdy tripod for traveling in Sweden. Budget: The best option for where to stay in Abisko if you are traveling on a budget is hands down Abisko Guesthouse. Ideally, the best time to view the northern lights is between September and late March, although we have viewed them as early as late-August. You wont be staying in Abisko National Park itself (my preference) but it is a great location nonetheless, easily walkable to town where you can buy groceries and other necessities. Poised along Lake Tornetrsk and entrenched within the U-shaped Lapporten Valley, Abisko is one of the best spots in the world to see the Northern Lights. Camp Ripan, Kiruna: The best place to see the Northern Lights in Sweden from a spa. You will need to go way more north than Stockholm to see the Northern lights, Abisko has the best chance of seeing the Northern lights in Sweden, The Northern lights in Sweden can be seen from roughly September to April, But if theres no solar activity, you wont see the lights, The best time of year to see the Northern lights depends on what activities you want to do, Youre more likely to see the Northern lights in Sweden than in Norway or Iceland, The Northern Lights are not as bright as they look, You will need a proper camera to photograph the lights, Get comfortable with manualsettings before your trip, You dont need to go on a Northern lights tour, but they can be helpful, The Aurora Sky Station is a bit of a rip-off, but their tracker is awesome, Stay as long as you can even if youre on a budget, Where to Stay to See the Northern Lights in Sweden, this guide to choosing settings for the Northern lights, click here to check rates, availability, and reviews well in advance of your trip. Heres some good news: Sweden is more affordable than its Nordic neighbors to the right and left, and luckily, it is one of the better places to see the Northern lights for a variety of reasons. Can Alternately, you can take the train from Stockholm to Kiruna or Abisko, which is a popular option but a little more expensive than flying though to be honest, I think if you consider the cost of getting to and from the airport in all directions, the train works out to be a better and more comfortable deal. When they reach the planet, they are conducted at the protective magnetic fields towards the magnetic North and South Poles.In a ring-shaped pattern around the magnetic poles, the particles encounter the upper layers of the atmosphere. However, the train does take about 17 hours, leaving Stockholm at 6 PM and arriving in Abisko around 11 AM. This occurs around the Polar Regions where those magnetic fields converge. While youre there, The Northern lights in Sweden can be seen from roughly September to April. And the truth is that they are unpredictable even with dark skies and no clouds they cant be guaranteed. We use cookies to provide the best experience on this website. Northern Lights is one of the top nature attractions in North Sweden, Northern Lights over Swedish Lapland in the winter, It is a captivating experience to see the amazing colours on the sky, It is an experience of lifetime to watch the dazzling colors. 30 Unique Things To Do In Kyiv, Ukraines Lovable Capital City, An Epic Week in Icelands West: An Itinerary for 7 Days in Iceland. Norway and Iceland are two of the most popular places to go searching for the Northern lights, but Sweden actually has a much better climate for seeing the Northern lights. Its very possible to spend a whole week in Lapland during winter and still not see anything (trust us on this one weve done it). The lunar light can also benefit photographic opportunities in helping to illuminate subjects on the ground. It is an excellent entry-level camera that gives professional results. We have been in the solar minimum part of the cycle (which means fewer sunspots), but from the end of 2020 onwards the activity started to gradually ramp up and should reach a peak in 2024/25 (the solar maximum). This is a BETA experience. Some places in Sweden are known for having clear skies, which always improves the likelihood of seeing something, but the Swedish weather is notoriously fickle and you should treat any claims of guaranteed clear skies with a big old pinch of salt. If youre looking for an organised tour to see the northern lights, this barbecue dinner and northern lights touris hard to beat. The northern lights are a natural occurrence that you should never have to pay to see (apart from the obvious cost of getting to Sweden in the first place). Then add a snow- and wind-proof layer: the easiest option is tograb a pair ofsnow pants and a decent ski jacket. The northern lights happen year-round. The perk of this is that there wont be a lot of light pollution in Abisko. Prior to the travel disruption of 2020-22, the numbers of international visitors coming to the region to see the northern lights had increased for several consecutive years. However, you should bear in mind that if you visit northern Sweden in late December or early January, youll be extremely limited in terms of the other activities you can enjoy. People travel from all across the world to Scandinavia to see the lights. Even a Kp index of 2 or 3 can produce beautiful auroras, but it gets exciting at 4 and above! Porjus. Approximately every 11 years or so, the suns magnetic field runs through a cycle of activity correlating to the number of sunspots on the surface. Take the time to read your camera manual and attempt some simple night photos at home before your trip. I had much better luck with my actual camera. Whichever type of camera youre using, bear in mind that batteries tend to run out faster in cold weather. Aaaand heres some bad news: No matter what, the Northern lights are unpredictable, and while visiting Sweden on a budget is possible, it is still not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. r/northernlights That was amazing to see! r/northernlights Typical Nunavut Grocery Store Parking Lot on a Clear November Night. long-lasting the aurora borealis will be. | Get information about COVID - 19 in Iceland & Canada. Most commonly the aurora seen will be green or whitish, but depending on the strength of the activity, pinks and reds are also visible to the naked eye. Sean Tevebaugh Glacier Bay National Surrounded by woods, lakes and grassland, its in the middle of nowhere, so theres no light pollution to dampen the spectacular light display. Outside these times, the lights are still there but daylight renders them invisible. Its a very good idea to get a headlamp with a red light (we use this one). are visible the more solar activity is taking place, so the brighter and more If thats the case, I recommend visiting in late October/early November or late January/early February. The sensitivity of a persons eyes will also be a factor. Northern Lights in Sweden. However, even if you go to Sweden during the aurora season, you are not guaranteed a Northern lights show. Northern Lights | When and where to see the Aurora Borealis With its location 200km north of the Arctic Circle, this wilderness area lies close to the Aurora Oval, the hub for the formation of the Aurora Borealis. A Northern Light experience is on the top of many travellers wishlist. Stunning photo shows lunar eclipse, northern lights and meteor shower at same time. Can you see the northern lights with the naked eye? It offers private rooms and is a great choice whether youre travelling with friends or taking a family holiday. Sometimes there are large openings where the suns magnetic field stretches into space and these corona holes are the key to the northern lights. Lunar phases therefore only matter according to personal preference. Where to see the northern lights in Sweden. On the outskirts of town, the Aurora Dome has two luxury domed tents with transparent roofs perfect for viewing the lights from the comfort of your bed! Alternatively, you could stay at the Abisko net Hostel and Huskies. If you are chasing the Northern lights in Sweden, you may be outside for several hours at a time, at temperatures below freezing. The northern lights happen year-round. Youll also miss the worst of the freezing temperatures. With an icyriver running right past it,Jukkasjrviis home to the famous originalIcehotel. You can still expect the weather to be very chilly though, especially at night, so make sure you dress in layers (theres more on that below). In general, the chance of seeing the Rovaniemi Northern Lights on clear nights as around 40%, which may not sound like much but is actually very good! The closer you get to the so-called auroral zone a band that stretches around the globe around 20003000km from the magnetic pole, which shifts over time the better your chances of seeing something amazing overhead. Best time to visit Finland and see the Finland Northern Lights. The types of aurora that appear in Sweden take many forms, and what you end up seeing (and hopefully photographing) will depend on a whole range of factors from the intensity of the solar activity overhead, to the place where you happen to be. Also, since its a large city, if the aurora does appear visibility tends to be poor due to light pollution. Still the Aurora Sky Station has an awesome live aurora cam! Nowyoure probably hoping for place names. Basically, no storms, no show. During a new moon the sky is darker, given the perception of more intense displays, but of course the true determining factor remains with aurora activity on any given night. However, even after the midnight sun ends, it still wont get dark enough at night until around the end of August. As the countrys biggest city in the north, Kiruna is a good option for hunting the northern lights in Sweden. Because of this, September-October and February-March are generally considered the high seasons among aurora chasers. As the countrys biggest city in the north, Kiruna is a good option for hunting the northern lights in Sweden. This lovely self-contained wooden cabin in the tiny hamlet of Bjrkliden, has views of the lake and mountains from its terrace and is a great spot for viewing the lights. You definitelydo notneed to pay to go to a special aurora camp or a purpose-built viewing facility (though you may think its worth it if you want to learn more about the phenomenon). Iceland is the one Nordic country from where its possible to see a display pretty much anywhere in the country on a fairly regular basis. The peak season runs throughout the winter, from the end of September until mid-spring. They actually happen all year-round, but of course to see them, you need darkness and clear skies. Adventure | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, The 8 Best Northern Lights Hotels in Sweden, Composition is the most important skill to develop, A star tracker is probably the best tool to improv, We are almost at the end of the Northern Lights se, We have just created a complete guide to photograp, A series of long exposure landscape images capture, The best time to photograph the Milky Way arch in, We are just about to start the first Capture the A, Where to Get a Quick COVID Test to Travel, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute website, Seeing the Northern Lights in Sweden Best Time and Places, The 10 best places to see the Northern Lights in 2022, Countries Open for Tourism Where You Can Travel to NOW, 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Tenerife in 2022, 10 Best 5-Star Hotels in Tenerife of 2022, 8 Best Boutique Hotels in Fuerteventura in 2022, 10 Best Cheap Hotels in Fuerteventura in 2022. The lights can come at any time when it is dark, but the best times seem to be between 9 pm and 2 am. On many cameras, that is somewhere between f.2 and f.4. One thing to considering when trying to photograph the Northern lights is that your camera batteries will drain faster than you ever thought possible same with your phone if youre using that as a remote when shooting. The lights can come at any time when it is dark, but the best times seem to be between 9 pm and 2 am. The village also has a small downhill ski slope and plenty of Nordic skiing trails, if you want a little more activity. For a more detailed explanation, this breaks it down quite nicely. A vast and spectacular country, Canada has a truly staggering variety of landscapes and natural attractions. I personally saw the lights 3 nights in a row during my 3 nights in Abisko but I may have been exceptionally lucky. Im just an amateur photographer, so this is just what Ive found from my own experience, but this guide to choosing settings for the Northern lights will likely prove helpful. November 08, 2022 4:30 PM. It is rather expensive, of course, but if you are really aiming for an unforgettable Northern lights trip itd be a special thing to add to your itinerary. Like I said, dont expect cheap in Sweden, but at the same time, you can find a variety of accommodation options that are suitable for different budgets. The most common sort that youll spot is a pale green arc that appears to hang high in the air sometimes its tricky to know whether its really visible, or if youre just imagining it. You can also ski at nearbyBjrkliden or go into town to Kiruna for a day of sightseeing in this surprisingly charming mining town. Your Northern lights guides will also bring you to beautiful photography locations where you can have an interesting photo composition, so it may be worthwhile if you are really looking to get some killer photos. This hotel is offering an amazing opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Solar maximum is generally regarded as the better time for viewing the northern lights as there is more activity. Or opt for husky-sled northern lights tour, where youll be pulled by team of dogs into the wilderness in search of the lights. Porjus is a small town thats just north of Jokkmokk. Basically, your eyeball is taking in light at, well the speed of light. Ive written this guide to help answer some of the questions I get about seeing the Northern lights in Sweden, mostly from people who have found this post about traveling to Swedish Lapland on a budget. Ive actually met Swedes who have never seen the Northern lights in their own country! The northern lights most commonly occur within the geographic area beneath the auroral oval. These shoulder seasons late-September to early November, and March to April provide a good mix of light and dark. 3. Here are some of our favourite free places for seeing the lights in Sweden. For another, the Sky Station is just that a station. The Kungsleden trail is a massive 440 kilometers long and is one of the most famous trails in Sweden. Mid-Range: This is where I stayed when in Abisko we were initially planning on staying elsewhere in Abisko, but a last-minute problem at our guesthouse left us getting booked in here. Of course, it helps that large chunks of the nationare far enough north to make light shows a regular occurrence. In our 38 years experience of arranging holidays to see the northern lights weve discovered the best places to view this incredible phenomenon. Pin it to save for reference! Info and booking. And it lies 90km from the nearest city, surrounded by a protected nature reserve, so theres little light pollution. We certainly didnt complain as it was quite an upgrade! A good jacket (I love my North Face parka), thermal layers like these from 32 Degrees, a tight-fitting hat, a warm scarf, and sturdy waterproof gloves are absolute essentials for visiting Arctic Sweden. So, what does all of this science mean for you? The best time of year to see the Northern This way, youll still have a magical and memorable trip, even if the lights and weather dont cooperate. We can hardly claim that northern Sweden is warm but thanks to the effect of the Gulf Stream it does tend to be a little milder than lots of other places where the lights are visible (Siberia and Canada, for example). It has good-value accommodation in bunk-beds, family rooms and simple apartments, plus a sauna and sun terrace for admiring the views. The biggest difference-makers are to be far away from the artificial light of built-up areas and to find cloudless skies. In our experience the best displays have always occurred a little later (usually in the final hour before midnight) but your results may vary. I was visiting Sweden on a short weeklong break, and I gave myself 3 days in Abisko National Park in order to try to see the aurora. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area where she grew up, she has also lived in Prague, Sofia, and New York City. As in Troms, Kiruna offers a diverse range of guided northern lights tours including the option to join skiing, dogsled or snowmobile tours. So For the greatest possible likelihood of seeing the northern lights, in addition to being far north on a winter Iceland is also not necessarily in the Arctic Circle with the highest amount of solar activity. from 1,995 pp. Arrive in northern Sweden in the depths of winter, when the sky barely brightens at all and the sun is down around the clock, and the chances for seeing the lights are greatly improved. Why would you need a head torch if youre not going potholing? The first is to find a window with a clear view of the sky, and wait for the lights to appear. The Kp-index doesnt describe how the aurora will appear, but it gives a good idea of the activity forecast for the location youre interested in and especially when you are actually in that location. Some 30 miles north of Jokkmokk in the Arctic Circle, the small town of Porjus lies on the banks of the river Lule surrounded by woods and between two national parks, Muddus and Stora Sjofallet. The longer you stay, the better your chances of seeing the Northern lights, so if you can stay for 5 days or better yet a week in the North, then all the better. However hard you try, there isnt much chance of seeing the northern lights any time between May and August, when the sun barely sets at all in northern Sweden. The best time to see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland is between September and March although we have seen them as early as late-August. Similar to what I wrote above about Northern lights tours, the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko is not really worth the money if you are on a budget. For those who want to maximise their chances of a display, the incredible glass igloos at northern Finland's Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort allow visitors to wait in comfort. But that does add an element of suspense, and there are a few things you can do to improve your chances not least picking the right time of year to visit. If there is bad weather at that spot, you are kind of stuck there, and you dont have the freedom of jumping in a car and driving around looking for better conditions. The regional hub of Northern Sweden is Kiruna, and there is both a train station and a small airport there. Basically, you want to use an ISO that allows you to get a 3+ second exposure without degrading the image quality too much. Visitors of today have however a broader access to information about the aurora borealis which opens more and new questions than before. You can improve your comfort levels a lotby taking time to dress properly. Ive since upgraded my camera gear from my trip to Sweden in 2015, and now I recommend the Sony A6000. The Peace & Quiet Hotel in Jokkmokk has fabulous self-contained glass cabins perched on the waterfront, with a wooden deck and panoramic views of the lake and the skies. I see the northern lights in Stockholm? By Brooke Baitinger. You can use this aurora tracker to predict how the aurora will be over the next 3 days. It is often suggested that a full moon should be avoided due to higher light concentration, however witnessing the moon against a sky of dancing aurora can be a magical experience. enjoy the spectacle. The spaat Camp Ripan in Kiruna has a large outdoor hot tub, so you can stay warm and see the lights at the same time. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Sweden depends on how dark it is at night. Even with a good alert service, you should expect to wait a while to see the lights. Most Northern Lights displays take place at the height of around 100 km above the Earths surface. If you are planning a trip to chase the Northern lights in Sweden, you likely have a lot of questions: How much will it cost? Exactly where youre able to see the lights depends on a whole range of conditions, including everything from the amount of solar activity to the weather overhead. At the other end of the scale, youll see intense curtains of multi-coloured light dancing from one side of the night sky to the other, with wispy trails of green and red light spinning off towards the horizon. If it is cloudy at sea level, it is likely to be cloudy at the Sky Station. So where should you go? On the outskirts of Porjus, theArctic Colours Northern Lights Apartmentshas four apartments in a great location right by the waterfront. Their Latin name, aurora borealis, came into use back in the 17th century. You will want to use the largest aperture (which, confusingly, is the smallest possible f number your lens is capable of). Unfortunately, these are only available with any great accuracy for 48-72 hours in advance. This extends the possible viewing hours, but it's also the time of the year with a good chance of cloudy skies. Regardless of the colours you end up seeing (green is the most common, but deep reds and blues are not unheard of), nothing quite prepares you for your first glimpse of an intense aurora. Many hotels and guesthouses offer free or low-cost snowshoes and cross-country skis during your stay, which is a great way to keep your costs down on a longer stay. It is important to be away from any sources of artificial light, such as street lighting, whereas you do want to be near open spaces offering big sky viewing. Taking crystal-clear pictures of the northern lights requires more than a steady hand; no matter how carefully you press that shutter button, there will still be a bit of shake.

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