Northern lights from Lilla Älva

One of the things that makes staying at Lilla Älva so special is that you can sometimes see the Northern Lights, right from the house.

It doesn’t happen every night, but when the sky is clear and dark, there’s a real chance you’ll spot it. At first, it looks like a pale glow behind the trees. Then it starts to move: soft green light slowly shifting across the sky. You don’t have to drive anywhere or wait outside in the cold. You can simply watch it from the window, with the fireplace on and a warm drink in your hand.

The Northern Lights aren’t just a winter thing, either. Here in Värmland, you might see them in February, March or even in late summer and early autumn, when the nights get darker again. We’ve seen it several times ourselves, sometimes bright and moving fast, sometimes just a soft green shimmer above the forest.

Tip: If you think you might be seeing the Northern Lights but it’s not very clear, try taking a photo with your phone. Phone cameras can often pick up the colors and movement much better than your eyes can.

It also helps to download the free Aurora app. It shows real-time forecasts and sends notifications when there’s a good chance of seeing the lights in your area.

So if you’ve always wanted to experience it, bring a warm sweater, check the sky every now and then, and who knows… you might just see the lights dance above Lilla Älva.