Norway · Aurora borealis
Is the aurora visible in Bergen tonight?
Right now
Maybe — stay ready.
Kp is 2.0. Bergen needs Kp 5+ for the oval overhead — right now it’s low on the northern horizon.
Tonight's peak is forecast around Kp 4.7 (Active). The forecast still depends on darkness, cloud and the moon at your exact spot.
Reliable about 30 minutes ahead — cloud decides the rest.
Bergen needs an active night or a minor geomagnetic storm — it needs roughly Kp 5+ for the northern lights to come into view. Here's tonight's live space weather and how to plan around it.
How to see the aurora from Bergen
Face north and find a clear, low horizon in that direction. Everything else — dark skies, adapted eyes, the camera trick — is the same anywhere on Earth, so it lives in the how to photograph the aurora guide.
When can you see the northern lights in Bergen?
Aurora season in Bergen runs roughly September – March. Here the months that pay off are September, March, and April — the table below shows why. See the full best time to see the aurora guide for the season in detail.
Bergen by the numbers
Between Sep 1, 2025 and Aug 31, 2026, Bergen had 340 nights dark enough for the aurora, and the planetary Kp reached the Kp 5+ this place needs on 61 of them. Averaged over 2015–2024 and this location's cloud cover, that works out to about 10 aurora-possible nights a year, most of them in September, March, and April.
| Month | Dark hours per night | Dark nights | Average cloud cover | Aurora-possible nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.5 h | 31 | 78% | <1 |
| February | 13.3 h | 28 | 77% | 1 |
| March | 10.5 h | 31 | 73% | 1 |
| April | 7.8 h | 30 | 64% | 1 |
| May | 4.3 h | 31 | 69% | 1 |
| June | 0 | 9 | 70% | <1 |
| July | 2.8 h | 28 | 73% | 1 |
| August | 6.5 h | 31 | 75% | 1 |
| September | 9.5 h | 30 | 74% | 2 |
| October | 12.3 h | 31 | 74% | 1 |
| November | 14.8 h | 30 | 76% | 1 |
| December | 16 h | 31 | 82% | <1 |
Sources: the sun's geometry (dark = at least 6° below the horizon), GFZ Potsdam's Kp index 2015–2024 (CC BY 4.0), ERA5 cloud cover via Open-Meteo (the table shows the monthly mean; the estimate counts days that were not overcast). An estimate for comparing places and months, not a forecast — how we estimate this.
Closer to the oval
Within 400 km, these places need a lower Kp than Bergen:
Where to watch near Bergen
Get out of the city lights and find a clear view to the north. These are places near Bergen that locals and aurora chasers use. Distances and drive times are from the city centre.
Nordnesparken
A park at the tip of the Nordnes peninsula, with open water to the north and west. Crowds gathered here to watch the pink aurora on 10 October 2024.
It is inside the city, so only strong displays show well. The streetlights along the paths spoil night vision.
MapLyderhorn
A 397 m peak on the western edge of Bergen, one of the city's seven mountains. The height lifts you above much of the city glow and gives a wide sky.
The last part is a hike on foot. Bring a headlamp and good grip for the descent in the dark.
MapKvamskogen
A mountain plateau inland from Bergen, well away from city light. A reader reported a clear sky and a strong display here on 10 October 2024.
It is a busy cabin and ski area on County Road 49. Winter driving conditions apply, and parking can fill up on ski days.
Map
Local tips
- Bergen usually needs a Kp index of at least 5 to see the aurora, according to physicist Veronica Danielsen. On weaker nights it is rarely worth going out.
- Face north and get some height. The aurora sits low here, so mountains around you can hide it.
- Cloud is often the real limit. During the big May 2024 storm, forecasters warned that Bergen would be fairly cloudy, while eastern Norway had better odds.
The last big one
: Pink and green aurora appeared over Bergen soon after 8 pm, with sightings in Loddefjord, Indre Arna, Askøy and from Nordnes.
Plan the trip
Aurora tours & stays near Bergen
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Aurora cabins & lodges
Cabins, lodges and aurora-view stays near Bergen — settle in and watch the lights.
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Rent a car to chase clear skies
Self-drive to dark-sky spots away from town glow. Compare every local supplier.
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Cover the trip
Travel medical cover for a trip to Bergen — remote, cold and weather-dependent — from a few dollars a day.
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