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When is the best time to visit Norway and Sweden on the same trip?

Summer for light nights and hiking, the dark season for the northern lights in both countries.

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Short answer

Summer, from June to August, is the easiest time to combine Norway and Sweden, with light nights in both countries and little snow left in the mountains. For the northern lights, go to the far north in the dark season: late August to late March according to Visit Norway, and August to April according to Visit Sweden.

Scandinavia: Travel a round calendar wheel with four seasons shown as a snowflake, a leaf, a sun and a raindrop around a small mountain

Why

  1. Visit Norway calls summer prime time for hiking, cycling and camping, as most of the snow in the mountains has melted.
  2. SMHI, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, says northern Sweden, above all the mountains, has snow cover for just over six months a year on average.
  3. In Swedish Lapland the midnight sun lasts from about 25 May to 18 July in Abisko and from 28 May to 14 July in Kiruna, according to Visit Sweden, citing SMHI.

Details

From late June to early August the nights never get really dark anywhere in Norway. In Arctic Sweden the northern lights give way to the midnight sun by May, so the two seasons do not overlap. In winter, much of Sweden's precipitation falls as snow, except along the coasts of southern Sweden, where rain dominates.

Tip

Decide first whether light nights or the northern lights matter more to you, since the two seasons do not overlap, and plan the route around that choice.

What may differ

Opening times and seasonal services on the Swedish side vary by region, so check Visit Sweden and local tourist offices for the places on your route.

People also ask

  • When should I visit Sweden and Norway?

Sources

Information checked on 15 October 2026.

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