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What it’s like to experience the midnight sun

June 20, 2020
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3 min read
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What it’s like to experience the midnight sun
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Editor's Note

This post was originally published in June of 2018. It has been updated and republished with additional information.

June 20, 2020, may be the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, but you probably wouldn't notice if you lived above the Arctic Circle, where travelers and locals alike have experienced 24 hours of daylight for several weeks now.

I've been eager to witness the so-called "midnight sun" for ages — and long ago, I picked Tromsø, Norway (TOS) as the destination where I would experience the phenomenon, since it's very easy to reach with points and miles, thanks to frequent flights by Star Alliance member Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

Tromsø is best known for its Northern Lights spotting (it's arguably one of the greatest cities on Earth for viewing the Aurora Borealis) but the home to Norway's northernmost university, botanical garden and planetarium is also a great place to visit in summer.


After connections in Shanghai (PVG), Dubai (DXB), Belgrade (BEG) and Oslo (OSL), I decided to head to Tromsø following my final flight in United's Polaris first class. We had a great stay at the Radisson Blu, enjoyed an incredible fjord tour and I enjoyed what was probably the best dinner of my life. But the highlight was absolutely getting to experience daylight in the middle of the night.

On the first evening, we headed up to the top of the mountain on Fjellheisen, where I captured some aerial shots with my DJI Spark drone. That late-night adventure wasn't cheap for such a short cable car ride ($23 round-trip), but it did land me a feature on the popular @earthpix Instagram account

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BjfkmHJF4ln/

While you couldn't see the sun itself in the middle of the night during my visit, you surely can now, on the longest day of the year. (We did have 24 hours of daylight in early June, though some of the overnight hours were more of a twilight — what you'd normally experience just after sunset.)

Given its location in northern Norway, Tromsø experiences 24 hours of golden light between May 20 and July 22. And farther north, in Svalbard, the sun refuses to set as early in the season as April 20, and darkness doesn't return until August 22.

Norway is incredible, but you can also experience the midnight sun in other destinations north of the Arctic Circle. That includes parts of Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Sweden and even Russia. Closer to home, northern Canada and Arctic Alaska also experience endless summer days.

And though most people travel north to visit the region known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, the phenomenon also occurs south of the Antarctic Circle. While some cities in the Southern Hemisphere have incredibly long days during our winter, you'll need to be on the continent of Antarctica to experience 24 hours of sunlight. Here, the longest day of summer takes place in late-December — in the dead of winter up north.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.