The Midnight Sun

Every summer in Norway’s Arctic, a phenomenon occurs where the sun never sets below the horizon, even at midnight. Learn more about the Arctic summer daylight that can last up to four months.

After a long day, the sun approaches the horizon at around midnight. Still full of energy, you settle down to watch another day’s sunset. The evening light filters across the sea and bathes the deck in an otherworldly glow that you’ve seen many times before. You wait for the sun to dip out of sight, but it doesn’t. Once you’ve realised you’ve crossed the Arctic Circle, the sunset is interrupted by the dawn, and the sun begins to rise again.

Norway is well-known for its long summer days, but above the Arctic Circle, the days aren’t just long, they’re unending. As night falls over the rest of Norway, the sun lingers in Northern Norway, and it can be seen crossing the sky throughout the night. This atmospheric phenomenon has many names – “Polar Day”, “White Night”, “Nightless Night” – but the most common is “Midnight Sun”.

Where can you see the midnight sun?

In summer, you’ll see the midnight sun anywhere north of the Arctic Circle. This is the abstract, geographic line that runs through Sweden, Finland, Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland*, and of course, the land of the midnight sun, Norway.

This celestial event lasts longer the further north you go. In the Svalbard archipelago, Norway’s crown of islands in the High Arctic, the sun can be seen for 24 hours a day from late April to late August every year. This means that the locals enjoy just over four months of constant sunlight in the summer! Most parts of Norway that experience the midnight sun do so from May until the end of July.

*The Arctic Circle does not intersect Iceland’s mainland, but it crosses through Grimsey, located 41 kilometers north of the mainland.

See the Midnight Sun:

Svalbard: 20th April - 22nd August
North Cape: 13th May - 31st July
Hammerfest: 16th May - 28th July
Vardø: 16th May - 28th July
Tromsø: 20th May - 25th July
Harstad: 24th May - 20th July
Svolvær: 28th May - 17th July
Bodø: 3rd June - 11th July

Did you know?

You can see the midnight sun with us in quite a few places. In summer, our expedition cruises sail to Greenland and Norway, and we even attempt to cross the fabled Northwest Passage. We also travel to Iceland to experience white nights, but not the complete midnight sun, during six weeks of summer. The Antarctic Circle also gets its fair share of 24-hour sunlight. On a thrilling expedition to the bottom of the world, you can spend some time in Antarctica under the midnight sun. Read more

Why does the Midnight Sun occur?

As the Earth travels around the sun, we experience different seasons. Because the Earth also rotates on its own axis, we experience day and night. However, the Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.4 degrees, meaning that one hemisphere is always closer to the sun than the other. This is why we have opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres.

During summer in the northern hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted towards the sun. As the Earth turns, the Polar region stays facing the sun, and the North Pole itself doesn’t experience darkness for six whole months. Arctic areas just south of the pole also experience the Midnight Sun, but for shorter lengths of time. The effect is diluted further south, and instead of the golden nights of the Arctic summer, places south of the Arctic Circle simply see longer days. Areas close to the equator experience very little change in daylight hours between the seasons.

Once summer is over, the sun sets over the Polar region for the first time in months. This sunset will send the North Pole into six months of darkness, while other parts of the Arctic will experience both day and night for some months, before entering Polar Night during the winter.

What effect does the Midnight Sun have on people?

Like most living things, we’re strongly affected by the light from the sun. You’ve likely heard of circadian rhythms, which describe the various changes our bodies experience throughout the day. These rhythms are regulated by our body’s internal biological clock, which is influenced mainly by our genetics, but also by the light conditions around us. This is why we tend to feel alert during the day when it’s light, and sleepy at night when it’s dark. So what happens when it doesn’t get dark?

Many local Norwegians relish the endless sunlight and the energy boost they get from the Midnight Sun. In the spirit of friluftsliv (the quintessentially Norwegian love of the outdoors), they fill their days with outdoor activities, using the season to deepen their connection to nature. You might find these locals kayaking in the early hours of the morning, or hiking through the mountains late into the night, knowing the sun will always be there to light the way home.

When visiting the land of the Midnight Sun, you might start to lose track of time as one day melts into the next. The days take on a dreamy quality, and even those normally early to bed might find themselves chatting with fellow shipmates in the lounge far past midnight. No longer having to organise their routines around short periods of daylight, the locals are able to relax a little, and many will stay up well into the night. In Norway, summer is for socialising, and Norwegians make great use of the bright nights with barbecues and late-night drinks outdoors.

Top tips for making the most of the Midnight Sun

When sailing with us during the summer, you might be tempted to stay up late every night to bask in the glow of the Midnight Sun. However, you’ll likely have plenty of daytime activities and excursions planned too. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the Midnight Sun, while also getting enough rest to keep you alert during the day.

Have a bedtime routine
Health experts recommend setting aside some time before going to bed, and using this time to wind down and prepare your mind and body for sleep. Have a warm shower and listen to relaxing music, or perhaps enjoy some light reading. Try to avoid electronics during this time, as they can make you feel more alert. With a consistent routine in place, you’ll have a much easier time falling asleep, even without the usual dark nights.
Block out the light
Even after carrying out your relaxing bedtime routine, you might still struggle to sleep if the sun is in your eyes. To help you drift off, our cabins have all been equipped with thick curtains that will block the light from outside. Still, you might want to pack a sleeping mask just in case.
Skip the nightcap
For a good night’s sleep, experts recommend avoiding alcohol before bed. Although it might help you fall asleep initially, many find that it reduces sleep quality overall. Caffeine is also a culprit of night-time wakefulness, as is eating too much or too little before bed.
Stay active
Our excursions on land are a great antidote to summer insomnia. After a long day hiking in the Norwegian wilderness or touring a coastal town, you’ll have little trouble getting to sleep. Our ship’s facilities can help you stay active too. If you’re having a hard time sleeping, hit the treadmill in our onboard gym to tire yourself out or spend some time steaming yourself in the sauna.
Learn from the locals
Norwegians tend to adapt their routines to the Midnight Sun. Rather than forcing themselves to sleep at night, many will simply go to bed at whatever time they start to feel tired. If you’re really struggling to sleep, instead of spending the night staring at the ceiling, go up on deck for some fresh air. You’ll likely find other night owls to share a drink with. Relax in the dappled sunlight, embrace the energy boost, and let yourself lose track of time.

Photo: Getty Images, Hurtigruten and Raymond Engmark

Three photography tips

The light from the Midnight Sun is similar to the “golden hour”. This is the time just after sunrise or just before sunset, when photographers rush out to make use of the perfect natural lighting. Like all shooting conditions, this kind of lighting has its own set of unique challenges, but if overcome or worked around, it can help you create some stunning shots.

Take your time, but plan ahead
The great thing about the Midnight Sun is that it stretches out the golden hour to last almost the entire night. This means that you don’t need to rush, but it’s still a good idea to plan ahead, watch the weather, and get an early start. Once the sun looks like it’s setting, it’s time to start shooting.
Use a filter
When taking photos under the Midnight Sun, it can be tricky to get a consistent exposure. The sky is still bright, while the colours of the land and sea are more muted, so either the sea will appear dark, or the sky will be overexposed. A helpful tool to achieve a more balanced image is a graduated neutral-density filter. This filter is darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, so it evens out the exposure. If your goal is lifelike, vibrant seascapes, it might be worth picking up a filter before your trip.

In a pinch, the lens of a pair of gradient sunglasses might also do the trick, but the results may be a little unpredictable.
Watch your white balance
If you normally have your white balance set to auto, now is the time to change that. On auto, your camera will balance out the excessive warmth in the photo by adding blue tones. But when shooting under the Midnight Sun, you likely don’t want to balance out the warm tones. If anything, you’ll want to enhance them! To make the most of the golden hues, use a manual setting, or use one of the presets “shade” or “cloudy”. This way, your photos will show the Midnight Sun as it truly is.

Of course, photography is art, and the Midnight Sun provides the perfect light for surreal and atmospheric shots. So play around with different settings and tools, and have fun seeing what you can create!

Photo: Shutterstock