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One of the world’s most famous natural sites, the Northern Lights Attract people to areas around the Arctic in hopes of seeing the rare display.
Caused by the redirection of particles from the Sun that hit Earth’s atmosphere, the stunning atmospheric phenomenon is seen as the Holy Grail of skywatching and occurs mostly in areas around norway, finland, sweden And greenland,
The lights can be seen in other parts of the world; There have been sightings in Britain too In scotland, whitley bayAnd Tyne and Wear in March this year, when we experience the Sun at its solar maximum phase.
Unfortunately, such scenes are rare and most people want to see it Aurora Borealis (the scientific name for the phenomenon, given by Galileo Galilei) would have to travel further north.
To help you in your quest to see the spectacular light show, we’ve put together a list of the best places to see it Northern Lights And when to go to maximize your chances.
Best places to see the northern lights around the world
1. Tromsø, Norway
tomso Sits in the center of the oval of the Northern Lights, meaning the lights can be visible even when activity is low. According to the tourism website, Tromsø is “one of the most likely places in the world to see the lights”, and between September and April there is “always a good chance of seeing them”.
Temperatures are moderated by the Norwegian Sea and westerly winds, meaning they are much milder than normal for the latitude, averaging between 2C and -1C during peak viewing times (compared to Svalbard, where the January average is a high of -13C).
when to go to tromso
Your best chance of seeing the lights in Tromsø is between September and April, when the sky is dark enough to see them.
Read more: 7 of the best northern lights holidays in Norway
2. Svalbard, Norway
it norwegian archipelago It is home to more polar bears than people and has harsh winters, with the sun barely rising over the horizon between mid-November and mid-January.
While the islands do not experience complete darkness (and therefore you are not guaranteed to see the lights), the main island, Spitsbergen, hosts several different types of expeditions to give you the best chance of catching this phenomenon. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some polar wildlife like reindeer, arctic foxes and walruses.
when to go to svalbard
The lighting season here is slightly shorter than in Tromsø, lasting from September to mid-March. The best time to see and observe the lights is between 6 pm and midnight.
Read more: 8 best ski resorts in Norway for your 2025 skiing holiday
3. Rovaniemi, Finland
Located in Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi It promotes itself as the ‘Official Home of Santa Claus’ and includes Santa Claus Village and Santa Park. The northern lights are visible here “about 150 nights a year” from August onwards, and the tourism website provides ideas about nearby places to see them.
Recommendations include the Arctic Garden (a 10-minute walk) and the top of Unasvaara Falls (a 45-minute walk from town). Other snow-based activities – like sledding – include snowmobile tours and ice floe tours as special ways to enjoy the lights.
When to visit Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a destination where the northern lights season is exceptionally long, lasting from late August to early April. However, the best time to visit is during the Polar Night period, from mid-November to mid-January.
Read more: What it’s really like to live in the ‘happiest country in the world’
4. Reykjavik, Iceland
iceland Located approximately 65 degrees north, making the country an excellent choice for those trying to see the northern lights. They can be seen in many places, such as Thingvellir National Park or Kirkjufell Mountains, but the best place to stay during the visit is Reykjavik. Iceland’s capital is a typical Nordic city in style and serves as an excellent base for seeing the country’s natural scenery during the day before going on a guided tour to see the lights at night.
When to go to Reykjavik
Iceland has a fairly typical lighting season, lasting from September to April.
Read more: How Reykjavik is making its name as a culinary destination
5. Abisko, Sweden
Located in Swedish Lapland, right in the middle of the Aurora Oval, Abisko National Park experiences no light pollution and has one of the lowest rainfall climates in the Nordic region. With several nearby mountains to provide clear skies, Abisko also offers the chance to try a range of activities such as snowmobiling, fishing and hiking.
The Aurora Sky Station promotes itself as “the best place on Earth to experience the northern lights”, but it seems that belief is not unfounded: if you stay three nights in Abisko, you’ll have an 88 percent chance of seeing the lights, while the government website also claims that the area sometimes has “nights with northern lights more than two weeks in a row.”
When to go to Abisko?
Maximize your chances of catching the lights by visiting between mid-September and early March.
Read more: I left my phone and went on a 110km hike in the Swedish forest
6. Yukon, Canada
With a land area of 483,450 km², the Yukon is a vast region almost as big as all of Spain. About 80 percent of the area is forest; It is home to the longest river Canadais the second highest peak in North America (Mount Logan, 5,959 meters high), the world’s smallest desert (Carcross, at 1.6 square km) and dozens of animal species from moose to brown bears.
With this in mind, it can be tempting to explore alone, but when it comes to seeing the lights you’ll be best off booking a tour. It’s a good idea to stay in Whitehorse (the capital, with a population of over 28,000), where guided tours will take you to nearby locations to give you the best chance of seeing the light show.
when to go to yukon
Another place with a lights season lasting nearly eight months, the most active time for light displays in the Yukon is between October and mid-November.
Read more: Inside the crazy world of Canada’s hair-raising competition
7. Ilulissat, Greenland
The world’s least populous country, greenland Offers a chance to view the lights with uninterrupted peace and tranquility. With a population of less than 5,000 people, Ilulissat is “rich in Inuit history” and home to “millions of icebergs”. Low levels of light pollution and many clear nights will provide a good chance of seeing the lights during your stay.
With a population of over 500, places like Kangerlussuaq also offer good opportunities to see the lights but may be too far for some. but with this a new international airportAccess is easier than ever.
When to go to Ilulissat
As with the rest of Greenland, Ilulissat has a fairly typical season, lasting from September to March.
Read more: Why is Greenland worth getting excited about?
8. Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Home to “some of the UK’s darkest skies”, some islands outer hebrides Norway and parts of Alaska are located at similar latitudes. Auroras have been seen as far south as edinburghBut your best chance of seeing the lights is in the islands of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra. UK,
More accessible than most other locations on this list, the islands are generally an excellent place to view a variety of celestial views such as the Orion Nebula, the Milky Way, and the Andromeda Galaxy.
When to visit the Outer Hebrides
The lights season in these islands runs from September to April, although the best time to see the lights is during the equinoxes and solstices, i.e. between March and April and September and October respectively.
Read more: Swap the North Coast 500 for this under-the-radar Scottish road trip
9. Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
The second largest city (by population) in Alaska, Fairbanks is located near the center of the state and is home to over 32,000 people. Located at the same latitude as Iceland, the conditions here are perfect for seeing the lights: dark skies, dry conditions and a lack of light pollution.
One of the main advantages of Fairbanks (compared to some of the other places on the list) is the fact that you don’t have to leave the city to see the lights, and as a major settlement, there are many tours on offer as well as all the necessary amenities.
When to go to Fairbanks
The season here lasts a little longer than usual, lasting from late August to April.
Read more: 8 Best Northern Lights Cruises from UK, Norway, Iceland and Canada
10. Finnish Lapland
While Rovaniemi has already been mentioned on this list, there are so many worthy destinations in Finnish Lapland that the entire region deserves to be recommended. levi is the biggest ski resort in Finland, but less crowded than other European resorts, and there’s a chance to see the lights on snowmobiles or reindeer-pulled sleds. Hariniva is another resort offering similar activities, with the Muonio River adding another scenic touch. Saariselka offers an isolated, rural setting with excellent spots to view the lights just half a kilometer away.
When to go to Finnish Lapland
The official Finnish tourism website states that the best time to see the lights is in autumn and spring, at the beginning and end of the season, with the season running from mid-August to early April.
Read more: How to visit Father Christmas in Lapland on a low budget