Everything you need to know about Norway's other natural phenomenon
When you can't get enough of those long summer days, there's only one thing to do – head north. Far, far north. The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon which only occurs above the Arctic Circle and below the Antarctic Circle during the summer months – and Norway is an excellent destination to experience the phenomenon.
Casting an ethereal pink and yellow glow across a stark Arctic landscape, you can swim or kayak through the fjords, go fishing at midnight or hike through a dusky landscape – summers in Norway take on a whole new dimension.
Like the Northern Lights, which is possibly Norway's most famous natural phenomenon, the midnight sun is another major event in the country's calendar, attracting nature-lovers from far and wide.
One of the best places to experience this midnight sun in Norway is Svalbard, an archipelago some 500 miles north of mainland Norway which is best reached via an Arctic cruise from Bergen.
In Spitsbergen, the largest of Svalbard's islands, when the sun rises in April it doesn't set again until the end of August. Here's everything you need to know about the midnight sun in Norway. Just don't forget your shades!
Why is it called the midnight sun?
In science terms, the midnight sun occurs when the Earth's axis is tilted so far towards the sun that it stays above the horizon for 24 hours a day. As a result, although you can see the sun moving in the sky, it can feel like perpetual daylight, even at midnight.
Depending on how far north you travel, this never-ending daylight can last from a day or two to nearly five months. Of course, you can have too much of a good thing. Living with endless daylight can cause our circadian rhythm to fall out of sync, resulting in a kind of jet lag.
To balance it out – the ying to midnight sun's yang – polar nights are when the sun fails to rise above the horizon during winter resulting in weeks or months of darkness. In Svalbard, this can last from mid-November to the end of January.
Where in Norway can you see the midnight sun?
North Norway and the Arctic Circle is particularly susceptible to the earth's wobbly axis. Known as the 'Land of the Midnight Sun,' you can enjoy endless days in Tromsø, the Lofoten Islands and Nordkapp (North Cape).
SEE THE MIDNIGHT SUN IN NORWAY WITH GH
In Tromsø, the locals truly embrace the long days of summer, which lasts between May and August. It hosts summer festivals like Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival, which features Norwegian and international artists, and the Midnight Sun Marathon, which attracts runners from all over the world.
You'll also want to see the famous Arctic Cathedral bathed in sunlight, go hiking in the mountains or enjoy a late-night picnic on the beach. Tromsø is a great place to experience the midnight sun.
Over in the Lofoten Islands, the sun refuses to set between May and July, making it the perfect spot for kayaking through the fjords or riding Icelandic horses on the beach at dusk. However, to see the midnight sun in all her ethereal glory head to Svalbard, where polar bears outnumber people and it stays light for five whole months.
When does the midnight sun occur?
Depending on how far north you go, you can experience this phenomenon anytime from April through to August. It peaks during summer solstice, which in the northern hemisphere falls around 21st June, when you can experience longer days and light nights as far south as Oslo.
However, you need to cross the Arctic Circle to see the midnight sun at its brightest. In Svalbard, the sun rarely dips below the horizon between late April and the end of August, making it one of the lightest places on the planet for a good third of the year.
An Arctic cruise is the best way to get there. Departing from Bergen, Good Housekeeping's two-week cruise, for instance, takes in the Lofoten Islands, Tromsø and Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in mainland Norway, before bouncing between the three largest of Svalbard's islands – Bjørnøya, Longyearbyen and Spitsbergen.
As you explore the polar wilderness, keep your eyes peeled for walrus, seals, reindeer and arctic fox, while seabirds like guillemots and puffins, and, of course, whales, are frequently spotted from the ship.
How many months of the year is Norway dark?
A country of extremes, Norway also experiences long periods of darkness. Known as Polar Nights, its northerly position means the sun struggles to rise above the horizon for more than 24 hours during the winter months.
Particularly above the Arctic Circle and in northerly towns like Tromsø and Svalbard, the sun doesn’t rise at all between November and January. And while the nights seem to last forever, it's still a popular time to visit, not least to catch those elusive Northern Lights which are most prolific between September and February.
How can I see the midnight sun in Norway in 2025?
Experts in nature and wildlife holidays with the experts you love, Good Housekeeping Holidays has an exclusive cruise around Norway during to see the midnight sun, departing on 28th July 2025. To ensure you experience the best of the phenomenon, we asked TV's Adam Frost to join part of the trip, which takes you to Bergen, Tromsø, Longyearbyen and more of the country's highlights.
Gardeners' World presenter Adam will join you on a hike and host a Q&A session exclusive to Good Housekeeping readers. The 16-day holiday is set to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, with a cruise from Hurtigruten, the experts in expedition cruises. You can look forward to interesting excursions and learn about Norway's history and geology in onboard lectures.
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