Northern lights

Myths and legends speak for themselves: the northern lights are not for the faint of heart. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that most often occurs in the northern hemisphere. It is an extremely spectacular sight that is an experience of a lifetime! The Northern Lights can be seen in several places in the Nordic countries, but Greenland is one of the places where you have the best opportunities to experience magnificent nature, while the beautiful northern lights light up the evening.

Watch the Northern Lights in Greenland - the world's largest lightshow

Arsarnerit means ball games, and the myths say that the northern lights appear in the sky when the deceased souls play ball with walrus skulls. The celestial phenomenon, like the northern lights in Greenland, has a natural explanation, which you completely forget when you look at nature's colossal stage light show from the first floor. When the northern lights really unfold, it is Kkaskader of light that tones the sky in greenish and purple shades, and it is a sight with the highest x-factor.

The scientific explanation for the Northern Lights is that the sun's electrically charged particles meet with molecules and atoms in the Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 100 kilometers. It results in a meeting that can best be described as fluttering curtains in yellow, green and sometimes in red.

See the northern lights on dark evenings

The characteristic and mystical northern lights can best be seen on dark, clear evenings and nights throughout Greenland. You may think that you have to travel a long way north to experience this spectacular phenomenon, but this is actually not the case. In Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq climatic conditions mean that there’s rarely any cloud cover. World of Greenland offers excursions during the winter months to places where the northern lights in Greenland provide a particularly celestial experience

Book a flight to Sisimiut here

When can you see the northern lights in Greenland?

You can see the northern lights all year round in several places in the world.
Though not possible in Greenland during summer, because of the midnight sun, it is best to see the northern lights between September and the beginning of April. In Greenland you will often see the northern lights at midnight, you can have the best experience seeing the northern lights from a dark and clear night sky.

World of Greenland offers excursions during the winter months to places where the northern lights in Greenland give a particularly supernatural experience.

World of Greenland tilbyder udflugter i vintermånederne til steder, hvor nordlyset i Grønland i særlig grad giver en overjordisk oplevelse.

Where can you see the Northern Light – Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is one the best places where you can experience the northern light in Greenland. Kangerlussuaq is the traffic hub of Greenland, and you can make a stop in Kangerlussuaq to see the northern light before traveling further inland. If you are interested in staying in Kangerlussuaq for a couple of days, there are other exciting activities other than the Northern Light. You can go dogsledding, or take a hike on the ice cap.

Book flights to Kangerlussuaq here

Where can you see the Northern Light – Nuuk
The best of both worlds you can have is by seeing the northern light in Nuuk, here you can drive a few kilometers from the city center and see an amazing nature/light phenomenon: The Northern Light. Nuuk is a modern city, that has a lot of exciting experiences to offer. If you are not into small towns and hiking but still want to experience seeing the northern light in Greenland, then you can fly to Nuuk through Kangerlussuaq, and experience the northern lights in Nuuk from September to April.

Book a flight to Nuuk here

VIDSTE DU AT

The sagas also tell us that the northern lights in Greenland come closer if you whistle. But be careful, the northern lights will take the whistler with them. If you act like a dog, however, this may push the light back.

After a trip to see the northern lights, a cup of Greenlandic coffee tastes particularly good. Recipe for one cup of Greenlandic coffee: 2 cl whisky, 2 cl Kahlua, 2 cl Grand Marnier, 1 dl hot coffee. Top off with whipped cream. Ignite the Grand Marnier as it is poured over the top, and you’ll have the image of the flickering northern lights.