You might have heard of the “Arctic or Polar Nights” | “Polar Days” and the Northern lights

Where is the best place to experience these unique acts of nature, and what is it all about?

The Polar or Arctic Circle destinations are wonderful holiday destinations offering very unique experiences. This is where you’ll have fun chasing the northern lights in beautiful places like Lofoten and many more.

What is a polar night (during winter)

Imagine the anticipation of waiting for the sun to rise, yet it doesn’t... During a polar night, such as in the far reaches of the Arctic or Antarctic, the sun never makes its grand return. Instead, what awaits you is an unending night where the sky maintains its inky cloak day after day. The stillness of these perpetual twilight hours is profound, almost haunting, as nature challenges your sense of time and light.

A Polar night is when the night lasts for more than 24 hours. This only happens within the polar circles (the northernmost and southernmost areas of the earth).

(When you hear of the Polar Night, this does not mean it is totally dark everywhere. Only places located within about 5.5° of the poles experience this, and only when the moon is well below the horizon.)

Remember the closer you move to the North Pole, the longer the period of the polar night will last.

For example, in Tromsø, Norway the Polar Night lasts from November to January, but in Svalbard, it lasts from October to February.

What is a polar day (during summer)

A Polar day is when the sun shines (or stays above the horizon) for more than 24 hours. This only happens within the polar circles (the northernmost and southernmost areas of the earth.) It is also called the “midnight sun”.

For example in Norway the Polar Day takes place from May to July.

Where is the Polar circle / Arctic Circle

The Arctic Circle passes through Greenland, Northern America, the Arctic Ocean, the Scandinavian Peninsula and Northern Asia.

The 8 countries that contain the Arctic Circle is:

Sweden
Norway
Finland
Russia
Alaska
Canada (Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories)
Demark (Greenland)
Iceland (Grimsey)

But remember that “containing the Arctic Circle” does not mean they will experience a Polar Night. The closer you move to the North Pole, the longer the period of the polar night will last.

Should you whish to experience “stepping in and out of the Arctic Circle”, Rovaniemi during Christmas time, is the best travel destination. You must read more about this magical destination.

Where to search for the Polar Nights

Experiencing a Polar Night greatly depends on how far north you are.

In the beautiful Norway you can visit Longyearbyen (Svalbard), where you will have this experience for a couple of weeks during Christmas time. The area is famous for its breathtaking views of the Northern Lights (a display of moving lights in the darkness of the night sky). Other options are Tromsø, Hammerfest as well as North Cape (not to be confused with the Northern Cape in South Africa). And then there is the jaw-droppingly beautiful Lofoten islands. My first choice, always.

Lofoten is definitely one of the most beautiful places you can visit on earth. A fabulous travel destination. Read more…

Travel Tip(s)

Scan for seasonal deals before booking your stay.

If you have a bar fridge in your hotel room, check with reception whether the content is on the house, or pay as you use.

The Beautiful Tromsø in Norway

Tromsø, also known as the Arctic Capital is a Certified Sustainable Destination. This is where you can enjoy midnight sun concerts in the summer and stay out all night, because the sun is still shining right through the night. Or attend a northern lights concert in winter.

Travel Tip(s)

Layer up with insulating and waterproof outerwear to stay warm and protected in extreme cold.

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Where to stay in and near Tromsø

On a picturesque waterside location in Tromsø, which is often referred to as the Paris of the North, is Scandic Ishavshotel, offering stunning views of the harbour and city.

Almost all rooms at the Scandic Ishavshotel are located at the very end of the quay and provide panoramic views of the surroundings.

Marytun Cabins is located in Mortenhals, 47 km from University of Tromsø and 47 km from Tromsø City Hall, in an area where fishing can be enjoyed. Set on the beachfront, this property features a restaurant, a garden and ski-to-door access.

Glass roof private loft in Tromsø – Boasting a patio with lake views, a garden and a terrace, glass roof private loft.

Booking.com has a lot of amazing places with fantastic views which you can book via the link right here.

Travel Trivia

Some interesting facts about Polar Nights

The Different types of Polar Nights

Let’s explore the different types of Polar Nights that you get, through the descriptions given by Wikipedia. Wikipedia states the following:

Polar twilight

“Polar twilight occurs in areas that are located at the inner border of the polar circles, where the Sun will be on or below the horizon all day on the winter solstice. There is then no true daylight at the solar culmination, only civil twilight. This means that the Sun is below the horizon, but by less than 6°. During civil twilight, there may still be enough light for most normal outdoor activities because of light scattering by the upper atmosphere and refraction.

Civil polar night

“The civil polar night period produces only a faint glow of light visible at midday. It happens when there is no civil twilight and only nautical twilight occurs at the solar culmination. Civil twilight happens when the Sun is between 0 and 6° below the horizon, and civil night when it is lower than that. Therefore, the civil polar night is limited to latitudes above 72° 34′, which is exactly 6° inside the polar circle. Nowhere on mainland Europe, is this definition met. On the Norwegian territory of Svalbard, however, civil polar night lasts from about 11 November until 30 January. Dikson, in Russia, experiences civil polar night from December 6 to January 6. During dense cloud cover places like the coast of Finnmark (about 70°) in Norway will get a darker “day”. On the Canadian territory of Pond Inlet, Nunavut however civil polar night lasts from about 16 December until 26 December.”

Nautical polar night

“During the nautical polar night period, there is no trace of daylight, except around midday. It happens when there is no nautical twilight and only astronomical twilight occurs at the solar culmination. Nautical twilight happens when the Sun is between six and twelve degrees below the horizon. There is a location at the horizon around midday with more light than others because of refraction. During nautical night, the Sun is lower than 12° below the horizon, so nautical polar night is limited to latitudes above 78° 34′, which is exactly 12° within the polar circle, or 11.5° from the pole. Alert, Nunavut, the northernmost settlement in Canada and the world, experiences this from November 19 to January 22.

The northernmost point of land, at the end of Greenland at Oodap Qeqertaa, experiences this from November 15 to January 27. The antipode of that place (83°40’S, 150°07’E), experiences this from May 13 to July 31.

The Canadian territory of Eureka, Nunavut, experiences this from December 1 to January 10. The antipode of that place (79°58’S, 94°04’E), experiences this from June 1 to July 11.

The Norwegian territory of Svalbard Ny-Ålesund experiences this from December 12 to 30. The antipode of that place (78°55’S, 168°04’ W), experiences this from June 12 to July 1.

The Russian territory of Franz Josef Land experiences this from November 27 to January 15. The antipode of that place (81°S, 125° W), experiences this from May 25 to July 17.”

Astronomical polar night

“The astronomical polar night is a period of continuous night where no astronomical twilight occurs. Astronomical twilight happens when the Sun is between twelve and eighteen degrees below the horizon and astronomical night when it is lower than that. Thus, the astronomical polar night is limited to latitudes above 84° 34′, which is exactly 18° within the polar circle, or five and a half degrees from the pole. During the astronomical polar night stars of the sixth magnitude, which are the dimmest stars visible to the naked eye, will be visible throughout the entire day. This happens when the sun is between 18° and 23° 26’ below the horizon. These conditions last about 11 weeks at the poles in sark at class 3.

The North Pole experiences this from November 13 to January 29”

Photo below: Aurora Borealis in Alaska

Is the Polar Night experience depressing?

No not to everyone. When hearing about the polar nights and the ‘total darkness all day’, many people decide upfront that this must be very depressing. So they declare they will never be able to live through such an event…and inevitably they never book their holiday to one of the most beautiful places on earth.

In my opinion actually it is quite fun when you’re on holiday and it is not at all depressing. Yes, it is strange and it is a new and different experience to travelers, but isn’t that exactly what traveling the world is all about? Experiencing new things? Seeing how the rest of the world lives?

Things to do during Polar Night Time

While the locals go about their day as if nothing really changed, the tourists will love to explore as always.

Coffee Shops, Hot Chocolate and Cappuccinos

There is always a coffee shop somewhere, where you can find a Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate or something sweet to eat. Spending some time in a local shop or restaurant, gives you a great overview of what life in that town or city is all about.

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

Firstly this special time of the year, when the northern lights are dancing in the sky, is a huge tourist attraction. You can book adventures with guides and have fun camping out in search of the northern lights. This is a lot of fun and when you actually spot the northern lights it is sometimes with mixed feelings. You want to jump for joy, but you are too scared to move, in case you miss it. In my opinion, seeing the Northern Lights is a very special travel bucket list experience.

Go on a Sleigh Ride

This exhilarating experience will stay with you for the rest of your life. Book a snow dog or reindeer sledding experience. Dress warmly, and when you’re done, stop smiling for a few minutes while sipping on your hot chocolate. Yes, you will be smiling all the way to the sound of jingling bells.

Do some snowshoeing

This is quite fun and you can book with a group and a guide that helps you, if it is your first time trying this. It is the perfect outdoor adventure to go on. We would however definitely recommend going with a tour group if you’re not 100% familiar with the area. Never go alone.