Norway · Aurora borealis
Is the aurora visible in Tromsø tonight?
Right now
Go look up.
Kp is 2.0. Tromsø needs Kp 1+ for the oval overhead — right now it’s overhead.
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.
Tromsø sits right under the auroral oval — it needs roughly Kp 1+ 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 Tromsø
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 Tromsø?
Aurora season in Tromsø runs roughly September – March. Here the months that pay off are September, March, and October — the table below shows why. See the full best time to see the aurora guide for the season in detail.
Tromsø by the numbers
Between Sep 1, 2025 and Aug 31, 2026, Tromsø had 253 nights dark enough for the aurora, and the planetary Kp reached the Kp 1+ this place needs on 252 of them. Averaged over 2015–2024 and this location's cloud cover, that works out to about 58 aurora-possible nights a year, most of them in September, March, and October.
| Month | Dark hours per night | Dark nights | Average cloud cover | Aurora-possible nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18 h | 31 | 80% | 7 |
| February | 14 h | 28 | 84% | 5 |
| March | 10 h | 31 | 80% | 8 |
| April | 4.8 h | 27 | 71% | 11 |
| May | 0 | 0 | 77% | 0 |
| June | 0 | 0 | 78% | 0 |
| July | 0 | 0 | 75% | 0 |
| August | 0.5 h | 17 | 78% | 5 |
| September | 8.5 h | 30 | 79% | 8 |
| October | 12.8 h | 31 | 80% | 7 |
| November | 16.8 h | 30 | 86% | 4 |
| December | 19.3 h | 31 | 88% | 4 |
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.
Where to watch near Tromsø
Get out of the city lights and find a clear view to the north. These are places near Tromsø that locals and aurora chasers use. Distances and drive times are from the city centre.
Telegrafbukta
A beach and park on the southern tip of Tromsøya. It has low to moderate light pollution and views to the east, south and west.
The city lies to the north, so weak displays can disappear into the glow. Bus 33 goes there and 34 comes back, or it is about a 35-minute walk.
MapPrestvannet
The only large lake on top of the island, and a common place for locals to watch the lights. Surrounding woods screen out some of the city light.
Nearby homes still add a purple haze in photos. A ski track circles the lake, so keep off it. Buses 28 and 40 stop nearby.
MapFjellheisen (Storsteinen)
A cable car climbs in four minutes to Storsteinen at 421 m. The view looks out over the city and the sky above it.
The gondola runs 09:00 to midnight. There is no parking at the lower station during the rebuild; temporary free parking is at Solstrandvegen 30. Bus 26 also goes there. Road routing via the tunnel gives about 12 km; Fjellheisen says a taxi from the centre takes about 10 minutes.
MapTromsdalen valley
A wide valley behind the mainland suburb, with low light pollution. Further in, the hillside blocks the view of the city altogether.
In winter the main path is an official ski track, so use skis or snowshoes. The drive figure is to the end of the road. Wear reflective gear and a headlamp.
Map
Local tips
- Tromsø has midnight sun from 20 May to 22 July, so there is no aurora viewing in early summer. The season runs from September to April, most often between 18:00 and 02:00.
- On Telegrafbukta and the south of the island, the city glow is to the north. Weak displays are easier to see from the darker mainland side.
- Rooftop webcams on the Vervet buildings stream live around the clock on YouTube. People around the world use them to check for aurora over the city.
The last big one
: An unusually red aurora over Romssa Arena, the city's football stadium, was photographed on a phone and the picture went viral worldwide.
Plan the trip
Aurora tours & stays near Tromsø
Some links below are paid affiliate links. If you book a tour, reserve a stay or buy gear through them, we may earn a commission — it never costs you anything extra and helps keep the forecast free.
- GetYourGuide
Aurora chasing tours
Guided minibus & boat tours that drive you to the clearest skies around Tromsø.
See Tromsø toursDates pre-filled for tonight
- Booking.com
Aurora cabins & lodges
Cabins, lodges and aurora-view stays near Tromsø — settle in and watch the lights.
Find stays - Discover Cars
Rent a car to chase clear skies
Self-drive to dark-sky spots away from town glow. Compare every local supplier.
Compare cars - SafetyWing
Cover the trip
Travel medical cover for a trip to Tromsø — remote, cold and weather-dependent — from a few dollars a day.
Get covered
In depth
Read the Tromsø destination guide
Best months, where exactly to go, and the tours worth booking — the full guide to seeing the aurora in Tromsø.