Norway: The Land of the Midnight Sun

It’s tempting to wonder about all the sights and experiences that have been made under the midnight sun through the ages – by people living off the sea at the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos, or the Sami reindeer herders of the far north.

The earth is rotating at a tilted axis relative to the sun, and during the summer months the North Pole is angled towards our star. That’s why, for several weeks, the sun never sets above the Arctic Circle.

Going there, you can live these moments yourself: Doing a whale safari, or exploring the wilderness inland, takes on a new dimension at night in the summer months, when you literally get to see the nature and wildlife in a different light. If you’re not afraid of the sometimes chilly summer nights in the north, you could try a midnight swim – or you can pitch your tent in the wild and stay up while the sun doesn’t go down. Many sights and activities are open at night during these weeks, so you can do midnight golfing, cycling, river paddling or sea kayaking, or maybe just find a quiet spot to fish.

If you travel to the arctic islands of Svalbard, the sun doesn’t set between April and late August. Here you can do a midnight walk on a glacier or look at the reddish sky from a moving dogsled, experiencing the unique climate and nature near the North Pole.

The phenomena of midnight sun has at least made a lasting impression on several Norwegian artists and writers. This excerpt is from Knut Hamsuns Pan (1894): “Night was coming on again; the sun just dipped into the sea and rose again, red, refreshed, as if it had been down to drink. I could feel more strangely on those nights than anyone would believe”

Approximate dates when you can see the midnight sun:-

Where	When
The Arctic Circle	12 June – 1 July
Bodø	4 June – 8 July
Svolvær	28 May – 14 July
Harstad	25 May – 18 July
Bardufoss	23 May – 19 July
Andendes	22 May – 21 July
Tromsø	20 May – 22 July
Bossekopp	19 May – 24 July
Vardø	17 May – 26 July
Hammerfest	16 May – 27 July
Berlevåg	15 May – 28 July
The North Cape	14 May – 29 July
Longyearbyen	20 April – 22 August