Skiing and northern lights in one evening
In Tromsø you can ski under floodlights and look for the northern lights on the same evening. It comes down to picking the right night, looking up when the sky clears and having a plan for the rest of the evening.
Updated
What the northern lights are
The aurora appears when particles from the sun hit the atmosphere high above us and make it glow. It is usually green, sometimes with pink and purple edges, and it can hang still as an arc or dance across the whole sky in a few minutes.
When the aurora appears
Tromsø lies beneath the auroral oval, and the northern lights can be seen from late August to early April. They can appear at any time when it is dark, but activity is often strongest between 20:00 and 02:00. The ski season sits in the middle of aurora season, and during the polar night it is dark enough from early afternoon.
A clear sky is everything
The aurora is far above the clouds, so you need a gap in the cloud cover to see it. Look at the cloud forecast before you leave, and check the weather at the resort and the webcam. The weather changes fast in Tromsø, and an evening that starts cloudy can clear.
How to plan the evening
- Pick a weekday with a clear forecast, when the slopes are open into the evening.
- Arrive in the afternoon, ski until closing at 20:30 and look up from the top between runs.
- Have something hot to eat at Parken before you move on.
- Continue the hunt somewhere darker afterwards, or take the bus back to the city centre.
Look up from the top
From the top of the slope you look out over the sound and the mountains around the city. The floodlights and the city lights brighten the sky, so the aurora has to be strong to show well from here. When it does, you will not forget it: green ribbons over the mountain while you ski beneath them.
After closing time
When the slopes close, the aurora evening is only getting started. Bus 24 runs back to the city centre every half hour in the evening, and by car you are quickly on your way to darker places. See how to get to and from the resort.
Photos with your phone
Night mode on a recent phone captures more of the aurora than your eyes can see. Hold the phone completely still, ideally against a railing or a ski pole, and let it work for a few seconds. The cold drains batteries fast, so keep the phone in an inside pocket between shots.
Dress for a long evening
An evening that starts on the slopes and ends out under the aurora can be long and cold. Bring an extra layer to pull over your ski clothes, dry mittens and something hot to drink. See our guide to what to wear skiing in Tromsø.
Learn to ski before the aurora
Never skied? An evening in the polar night is a great time to learn. On weekdays the last lesson starts at 19:00, so you can fit in an hour on the slopes before the aurora hunt. Book a private lesson.
Ready for the slopes?
Book a private ski or snowboard lesson online and choose the time that suits you. One to eight people, one or two hours.
