Best Places to See the Northern Lights Around the World (2024)

You'll never forget the first time you see the Northern Lights, a stunning natural phenomenon caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with atoms in Earth's atmosphere. The lights form an "auroral oval" over the geomagnetic North Pole, so they occur most frequently in any area within approximately 1,550 miles of it. You'll have the best chance of viewing them when the skies are clear and dark, free from light pollution from cities and the moon. That makes the place on our list, many of which have long nights and ideal auroral latitudes throughout the year, safe bets for viewing.

From Churchill, Canada, to Finnish Lapland and a few unexpected U.S. destinations, here are the best places to see the northern lights.

• Best tourist destination: Iceland
• Underrated hidden gem: The Yukon Territory, Canada
• Best for families: Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
• Best for couples: Finland
• Best for solo travelers: Sweden
  

Fairbanks, Alaska

The bitter cold that often comes with chasing the aurora can be a real deterrent, but what if you could see the lights while soaking in a natural hot tub? Enter Fairbanks' Chena Hot Springs Resort, whose boulder-enclosed lake offers the opportunity to enjoy a warm soak while you take in the light show. Fairbanks lies directly beneath a band of auroral activity, meaning from late August to the end of April the town regularly experiences a celestial display of green, yellow, and purple. The phenomenon is most frequently seen between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., but the early-to-bed crowd need not worry. Chena Hot Springs Resort guests can request a wake-up call when the aurora is spotted in the sky.

Norway

Norway has no shortage of prime vantage points. First and foremost is Svalbard, a string of Arctic islands midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. Because the archipelago experiences polar night, or perpetual darkness, from mid-November to February, it offers visitors double the opportunity to see the lights and is the only inhabited place in the world where you can experience the phenomenon during the day. Join a two-hour snowcat safari or brave the cold on a three-hour snowmobile tour with a stop for warm drinks and biscuits.

Tromsø is northern Norway's largest city and just so happens to be in the middle of the auroral oval. Visitors can choose from several tours during its dark season, from September through mid-April. One fun way to see them is to ride a cable car up Mount Storsteinen, which provides one of the best views of the northern lights in the whole city. Or, if you prefer to experience the magic while sipping Akvavit, slide into a table at the Skybar at Clarion Hotel The Edge.

Finland

North of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, surrounded by towering pines, is a surreally beautiful place to experience the aurora. We recommend dozing off while watching the dancing display from within a glass igloo at the romantic Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort from late August through April. In addition to rooms made of glass, there's a traditional log house as well as huts carved out of snow and ice. The resort organizes aurora hunting expeditions for those who wish to watch the lights while skiing down a slope, riding a reindeer-drawn sleigh, snowmobiling, or sleigh riding.

Accommodations for enjoying the northern lights abound throughout Finland, ranging from seaside glass villas and lakeside domes to cabins with large windows and glass roofs. The lights appear over Finland about 200 nights per year so you couldn't pick a better destination for an auroral vacation.

Greenland

With minimal light pollution and near-perfect visibility in some places, Greenland provides exceptional odds for viewing the milky-green lights. A three- or four-night stay during the aurora season (late September to early April) offers the best chance of spotting them. Settle into the Hotel Arctic on the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord, where most of the rooms feature stunning views of the fjord and its impressive icebergs.

If roughing it is more your style, plan a trip to Kangerlussuaq, which gets about 300 clear nights a year, providing prime conditions for aurora viewing. The local guide company Albatros Arctic Circle specializes in northern lights tours, including one that involves camping on the Greenland Ice Sheet, an experience typically reserved for researchers and expeditioners.

The Yukon Territory, Canada

From late August to mid-April, the northern lights swirl across the sky above Canada's Yukon Territory. Depending on cloud conditions, light pollution, and the night's auroral activity, you could spend hours watching the neon shades of green and yellow. Learn about the science and folklore surrounding the colors at the Northern Lights Space and Science Centre in Watson Lake. Book one of the glass chalets at the Northern Lights Resort and Spa in Whitehorse, then follow your night out in the cold with a day of pampering at the spa. The hotel's all-inclusive winter aurora and activity packageoffers nightly guided aurora viewing and photography opportunities.

Scotland

During the autumn and winter months, the aurora can be seen across the U.K., and as far south as Kent and East Anglia in England. But your best bet is to head for the northernmost parts of the Scottish Highlands or the Shetland Islands, where the northern lights are known as the "Mirrie Dancers." Book the Keeper's Cottage at Sumburgh Head, a restored Shetland lighthouse overlooking a puffin nesting area on the Atlantic, or venture to the Isle of Lewis to see the display above the Calanais Standing Stones, a circular formation of rocks erected thousands of years ago. Before you go, sign up for AuroraWatch UK alerts about viewing conditions so you never miss a sighting.

Churchill, Canada

In Churchill, Canada, you can watch the lights dance over a family of polar bears from the comfort of your sleeper car. The Manitoba town, which experiences auroral activity more than 300 nights a year, is a top destination for seeing the majestic animals in the wild. Operated by Natural Habitat Adventures, a conservation-focused travel partner of the World Wildlife Fund, the Tundra Lodge offers accommodations inspired by train cars in prime bear-spotting territory. If you want to deepen your understanding of the wildlife or the northern lights, book one of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre's multiday educational tours.

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

You don't necessarily have to go far north to glimpse the northern lights. Isolated from large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania is committed to preserving its exceptionally dark skies. The area is classified as a Gold Level Dark Sky Park, the highest designation given by DarkSky. Inside, you'll find special light fixtures that don't inhibit visibility and strict rules about flashlights and car headlights, all meant to prevent light pollution.

Even if you miss the aurora borealis, on a clear night you're all but guaranteed an exceptional view of the stars. Check the park's website for special events like astronomy programs and public viewing nights. You can also keep track of when and where the northern lights will appear via a forecast monitoring service, like this one from The University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Iceland

While Hotel Rangá in southern Iceland offers a range of cold-weather activities, ranging from whale watching and glacier tours to freshwater fishing, seeing the northern lights is a major highlight — there's even an on-site observatory with telescopes and talks led by local astronomers. Located in the countryside, the hotel experiences minimal light pollution, which makes for optimal viewing conditions from September to April.

Closer to Reykjavik in Nesjavellir, the Ion Adventure Hotel's Northern Lights Bar features dimmed lighting and wraparound windows so guests can watch the aurora from inside, with a drink in hand.

Sweden

At the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, guests can choose from traditional hotel rooms, chalets, or special ice rooms and suites, set in a separate structure that's rebuilt every winter. Temperatures within the ice structure range from about 23 degrees to 18 degrees Fahrenheit, but don't worry —they come equipped with thermal, expedition-style sleeping bags to keep you warm.

The Icehotel offers various excursions including a snowmobile safari in the wilderness and nightly photography tours so you can catch the phenomenon in a natural setting away from light pollution. Guests can also plan an excursion to the nearby Aurora Sky Stationin Abisko. Located about 3,000 feet above sea level, you'll experience little light pollution and optimal viewing conditions. The station gets aurora views on 70 percent of the nights it's open (from November to March).

Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan

In northern Michigan, Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a wonderful place to view the elusive northern lights —elusive because from here, predictions can only be made within a day or two of their appearance. According to the park's website, you'll have the best shot of seeing them around the spring and fall equinoxes each year. Check the Clear Sky Chart and the park's schedule of events before you head out, as there are several astronomy-related workshops and educational programs available year-round. That way, even if you miss the aurora, it's still worth a visit, especially if you're looking to learn more about our incredible solar system.

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Located about four hours north of Minneapolis, Voyageurs National Park offers visitors the chance to view the northern lights on dark, clear nights all year long, although your likelihood of seeing it increases during the winter months. Check the local weather forecast, and keep an eye on other important resources like the Alaska Geophysical Institute's Aurora Forecast website, which lets you see how active the aurora should be up to a month before your trip. Facing north, keep your eyes peeled for colorful streaks or cloud-like patches that fluctuate in brightness. The Milky Way, passing satellites, and shooting stars may also make an appearance, so there's never a dull moment during your visit.