The Midnight Sun Lofoten

What is the Midnight Sun

The Midnight Sun Lofoten is the time during which the sun doesn’t go down at night. The Lofoten Islands are located beyond the Arctic Circle and this is an amazing place to watch this beautiful natural phenomenon. Lofoten located only 200 km north of the Arctic Circle and the sun is above the horizon for almost two months.

Midnight Sun like the Northern Lights is an exotic sight for residents of the middle and southern latitudes.

The Midnight sun in Norway

Location	Dates
The Arctic Circle	12 June–1 July
Bodø	4 June–8 July
Svolvær	28 May–14 July
Harstad	25 May–18 July
Bardufoss	23 May–19 July
Andenes	22 May–21 July
Tromsø	20 May–22 July
Bossekopp	19 May–24 July
Vardø	17 May–26 July
Hammerfest	16 May–27 July
Berlevåg	15 May–28 July
The North Cape	14 May–29 July
Longyearbyen	20 April–22 August

Lofoten Islands are land of the Midnight sun.

I, like thousands of other travelers force myself to go to bed with difficulty cause of strong daylight during the night. But like many people, I break the regime of the day.

I tried to arrive at the Lofoten Islands avoiding the Midnight Sun. I am a landscape photographer and I need a special time of day: sunset, dawn, dusk, darkness, and etc. Once I persuaded my wife to visit Lofoten. She loves the warmth, the sea, and the sun.

A week later I convinced her that Lofoten has beautiful beaches, the sea, and the sun doesn’t go down at night in July. I presented my best photos in hope that it can prove my words so she finally agreed to go. The day before the trip I had advised her to take all the warm clothes just in case. My wife was a little puzzled but it was too late to change our plans so we went to Lofoten on July 7th.

I knew that I would see the Midnight Sun and it might interfere with my landscape photography. Everything turned out pretty good for everybody and we both liked this extraordinary experience.

During the one of our amazing day together on Lofoten, we decided to spend the night in an orange tent alongside the beach. To my surprise, I couldn’t fall asleep despite the late hour and the pain in my legs after all day walking among the mountains.

Sometime later I started to write my travel notes counted it could help me sleep more quickly but it didn’t work. Two hours later I left the tent with my camera and the tripod just in case and walked heading to the beach and suddenly noticed a lot of travelers also walking and observing the amazing Lofoten’s sunset. The time was 1 a.m.

While I was shooting, I noticed that the sun starting to rise over the horizon so it meant that a new day has begun.

It’s very difficult to fall asleep during the Midnight Sun. It looks like the sun is charging you with energy so you can see more beautiful places and forget about time limits. 

When can you see the Midnight Sun in the Lofoten Islands?

The Midnight Sun is coming to the Lofoten Islands from May 26 to July 17.

Despite that since May and the first half of June are not the best time to visit the Loften Islands cause you have limited time to see the Midnight Sun.

After July 17th  the sun begins to drop over the horizon, but the daylight will last till the mid of August, it would be helpful to mention that at night you will see no darkness – twilight will stand there.

If you want to get really good pictures of Lofoton nature you should go to the mountains after 10 p.m. and return back even the next day in the morning. The Midnight Sun will be a wonderful addition to your journey.

TOP 10 the best place to see the midnight sun in Lofoten.

I’m often asked – Where to watch the midnight sun? I made a TOP list of the best places.

Eggum.

Eggum is a popular location for watching the Midnight Sun. It truly is. The sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean. But for landscape photography, it is not the best place to visit.

Unstad beach.

You can observe the Midnight Sun here or by walk to Eggum along the shore.

Uttakleiv beach.

The Utakliv beach is the famous beach on the Lofoten Islands, and it’s one of the best beaches for observation of the Midnight Sun Lofoten too.

Read my article: The 5 best beaches of Lofoten Islands

Mannen mountain.

If you want to enjoy an amazing view from mountain Mannen mountain you should start moving from Haukland beach and after about 30-40 minutes of a hiking up to the top, you will be there. The view of the whole of the Lofoten Islands opens from Mannen. You will receive great pleasure if you make a hiking to the mountain at night.

Holandsmelen mountain.

The Holandsmelen mountain is also located next to the Haukland beach. The best option to get to the Holandsmelen is moving from Haukland Beach to the beginning of Holandsmelen by car. Parking is nearby.

The hiking to the Holandsmelen mountain is not difficult, but more time spent than on Mannen mountain. From the Holandsmelen you also have a magical view of The Midnight Sun and the Lofoten Islands into all parts of the world.

Mirland.

It is a small fishing village. There is a very small but beautiful beach with expressive boulders on the shore near to this village. This is a very good viewpoint for photographing and observing The Midnight Sun too.

Storsandnes beach.

This is also a very beautiful place located near the road leading to Mirland. You can make a wild camping here. I highly recommend this beach.

Skagsanden beach.

If you go down from the parking lot to the beach and turn the right, you can find a good foreground for your photos. The Midnight Sun is here.

Fredvang Strand.

This is one of the best beaches to see The Midnight Sun. Nothing is blocking the view of the horizon and the mountain peaks framing the beach. In my personal opinion, you should not make camping at this place because of the very used equipment, high prices and not friendly staff.

If you do not plan to stay here, then it is the better option is to go to the beach along the coast, cause the host of the camping site attacks and yells at everyone who traveled without paying for camping.

Ryten mountain.

This is a real adventure.

Kvalvika beach and Mt. Ryten are must-have places to visit on the Lofoten Islands. You can observe The Midnight Sun from the Kvalvika Beach until the middle of July. If you want to see the vast Atlantic Ocean and The Midnight Sun you should go up to top of Ryten mountain.

The Midnight Sun Lofoten is an amazing natural phenomenon and you will be truly impressed by it.

Tips for photographing the Midnight Sun

1. Shoot when the sun is near the horizon. It will be interesting.

2. Avoid a glare. When you shoot into the sun a glare has often appeared. Look at the pictures.

 

  

3. Place any objects into the foreground and background and show beautiful sunlight and long shadows.

4. Make a time-lapse if your camera has this feature. Start shooting when the sun goes to the horizon and finish when it starts to rise. It will be a very interesting video.

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The Lofoten Islands are my main photographic topic. If you want to find out the best points of view on Lofoten Islands and extend your personal knowledge about the taking photos on Lofoten – you should read my book “Lofoten Islands Travel and Photo Guide”.