The aurora season runs from late September to late March — and yes, it is worth planning your trip around them.
If you're serious about seeing the northern lights this year, come to Northern Norway between late September and late March. My personal favorite month to see them is early March - the skies are often clear, there's still snow everywhere (which is great for taking that perfect shot), and the days are finally getting longer, so you're not in total darkness 24/7 anymore meaning you can make the most of the day time to explore around.
💡My Pro Tip: Avoid travelling to Tromsø around full moon nights as the lunar light makes it more difficult to spot the auroras. You can check when's the next full moon online.
📸 Use apps like "Aurora" or "My Aurora Forecast" and check the KP index (aim for 3+ for better chances of seeing them). For the best chance of seeing the auroras, look out for an area with a clear sky and low light pollution and wait.
Visit between November and February (darker skies, longer nights)
Stay at least 3–4 nights to increase your odds
Head away from city lights (even 10–20 minutes out helps)
Watch the cloud cover forecast — clear skies are more important than solar activity
Apps like Aurora, My Aurora Forecast, or NorwayLights are helpful — but nothing beats just looking up.
Go check out my guide for the best free things to do as well as itineraries and travel tips to make your trip unforgettable.