Iceland vs Tromso: Northern Lights

When it comes to witnessing the Northern Lights, Iceland is often mentioned as a first destination. It has become synonymous with this spectacular natural phenomenon.

However, I'd suggest - based on my personal experience that there’s another and better alternative that deserves its fair share of attention: Tromsø, Norway. Nothing beats Iceland though for its splendid geology.

TL;DR

I’d argue that Tromsø should be recognised as a better destination for Northern Lights enthusiasts.

When they are at full dance, filling the sky above - the Aurora Borealis really does feel magical, unbelievable even spiritual.

The Allure of the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a breathtaking natural light display seen mainly in high-latitude regions. They occur due to a complex interaction between solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. They aren’t just green - at their best they are a show of vibrant colours that on a good night swoop, jump and dance across the night sky. Truly engaging - and certain to give a sore neck.

While Iceland is widely associated with the lights, Tromsø has proven, to me anyway, as a much better bet - having successfully seen the lights in 2 of 4 visits, against a 1 of 5 visits to Iceland.

In addition the 2 shows in Tromsø were 10 times better than the fairly dull show that I experienced in Iceland.

Tromsø: A Hidden Gem

Tromsø's location above the Arctic Circle extends its Northern Lights season, typically running from late September to early April. A local told me that February was the best time - that said we were all drunk at the time, and not sure, beyond his experience, how qualified he was.

This longer viewing window increases the chances of seeing the aurora, but of course doesn’t give any guarantees. Statistically though - google tells me that Tromsø offers up to 80% of clear nights during this period, compared to Iceland's 60%.

I believe that it has something to do with being near the sea.

Accessibility and Convenience

Tromsø is easily reachable, with direct flights from major European cities like Oslo, London, and Frankfurt.

Once in Tromsø, it’s a small city, visitors can choose from various tour operators that offer Northern Lights excursions.

These range from guided tours to self-drive adventures.

Many of these tours include knowledgeable guides who share insights into the science and folklore surrounding the aurora, elevating the overall experience.

They will literally drive miles during the night - speaking to colleagues to find a good spot for viewing.

My Experience

I flew into Tromsø from London LHR. I've taken the bus from the airport to the city, a taxi, and on one occassion walked - it was a nice day, and I'd arrived well before check-in.

I've stayed in one of the cheaper chain hotels - Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromso. Small room, good value and well situated.

I've also stayed at one of the more expensive harbour hotels - Home Hotel With. Much larger room, great value when you take into account the included breakfast, fika, and evening meal.

We took a bus tour - it was a full coach of people, leaving early evening just after dark, stayed out to early morning, driving significant distances to get to areas where lights had either been spotted or were predicted.

Having successfully seen the lights we returned back to our hotel at around 02:00, having had a bit of a snooze on the bus.

Optimal Viewing Conditions

While both Iceland and Tromsø boast opportunities to see the Northern Lights, Tromsø's geographical advantages set it apart.

The coast of Norway appears to provide more variance in conditions that the wider open spaces in Iceland - that is how it was explained to us anyway.

The city is situated in a region known for relatively stable weather patterns, which leads to clearer skies—crucial for aurora viewing since clouds can obstruct the view.

Boat tours to see the Northern Lights are available - though I’m not clear whether these provide a significant advantage over a relatively fast moving bus.

Discover Tromsø's Wonders

Tromsø is the hidden gem for a number of other reasons. It’s a busy accessible compact city within the artic circle with good connectivity to the rest of Europe. There are a good number and range of hotel accommodation. It has fantastic scenery accessible during all seasons, offering different experiences throughout.

So have a look at the flights (google flights), hotels (booking.com), and experiences (Viator) available, book, visit, love it - and thank me later.

Happy travels!