Can you see the northern lights in Alta tonight?

Visit Alta states that the northern lights season runs from September to the end of March, with chances to see the aurora when conditions are right. Depending on the weather and aurora conditions, a tour may head to the coast or up onto the Finnmark plateau. Alta has flights to and from Oslo Airport Gardermoen and Tromsø Airport, and bus services connect the town across the region.

When to see the northern lights in Alta

Visit Alta says September marks the beginning of the northern lights season in Alta, and that from September to the end of March there are chances to see the aurora when conditions are right. Visit Alta also states that in some years the northern lights can already be seen at the end of August. According to Visit Alta, the town has two months of polar night, and locals stay active through it.

Visit Alta describes the local climate as having no distinct coastal climate, but rather a mix of coastal and inland climate. Visit Alta reports that winters are cold but often stable, with temperatures that can range from a few degrees below zero to well below -20 °C.

Visit Alta states that the world's first permanent northern lights observatory was built on Mount Halde in Alta by Kristian Birkeland in 1899, and that the research moved to Tromsø in 1926. Visit Alta notes that the observatory was built at Halde because Alta is one of the best places to study the northern lights. Today, the old observatory building is an unstaffed DNT cabin, reached on a hike that Visit Alta describes as relatively steep in some areas, taking about 6 hours from Kåfjord during summer and autumn. Visit Alta also records that the Northern Lights Cathedral, known as Alta Church, was consecrated in 2013, and that its waving lines were inspired by the northern lights. For comparisons across northern Scandinavia, see our guide to the best places to see the northern lights and our live aurora verdicts.

How to get to Alta

Visit Alta states that Alta is the largest and most populous town in Finnmark, Norway's northernmost county. Alta Airport is 5 kilometres from the city centre. Alta has flights to and from Oslo Airport Gardermoen and Tromsø Airport, with Oslo to Alta taking 2 hours and Tromsø to Alta taking 30 minutes.

The airport bus is run by Snelandia and takes about 10 minutes to the centre. Alta Taxi has a stop outside the arrivals hall.

The E6 and E45 roads meet in Alta. The E6 runs south to Trondheim and Oslo, and the E45 goes to Kautokeino and further into Finland and Sweden. Visit Alta states that travel time from Tromsø to Alta is 6 hours, and from Rovaniemi to Alta is 6 hours. A bus runs from Tromsø to Alta through North Troms on the E6, and there are buses from Karasjok, Kautokeino and Honningsvåg.

Where to stand to see the aurora

Visit Alta states that experienced aurora hunters in Alta head either to the Arctic coast or south to the open Finnmark plateau to improve their chances. Visit Alta notes that local guides follow the weather and the aurora conditions, and depending on them a tour may head to the coast or up onto the Finnmark plateau. Visit Alta notes that visitors do not have to wait for winter, as tours run from September.

Sorrisniva, a 20-minute drive from the centre of Alta, states that it runs northern lights tours from September to the end of March, with the guide choosing the route according to the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions.

Visit Alta reminds visitors to dress for the weather and season, and that the northern lights cannot be guaranteed. Visit Alta advises dressing in layers, using wool next to the skin rather than cotton, adding layers of wool or fleece, and finishing with a windproof and water-resistant outer layer. Visit Alta recommends wearing a hat that covers the ears, mittens rather than gloves, and shoes with good grip for icy surfaces. For visitors without suitable winter clothing, Visit Alta notes that renting clothing in Alta is an option.