To see the Northern Lights, you naturally head north. They occur when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere, forming an “auroral oval” over the geomagnetic North Pole. That’s why the Northern Lights most often occur within roughly 1,500 miles of the North Pole. They’re best seen when the skies are clear and dark, free of city and lunar light pollution. That’s why Alaska and parts of Canada, with their long nights and ideal latitudes for the Northern Lights, are great places to safely view the Northern Lights.
However, Americans living in the lower 48 states need not despair. Strong solar winds can cause the Northern Lights to appear further south, and they’ve been spotted as far south as Atlanta. This dazzling natural spectacle can be seen in many places around the world, with towns in Europe and North America promoting the Northern Lights as a tourist attraction, offering the experience to adventurers and luxury travelers.
From Churchill, Canada, to vast Finnish Lapland, to a rather unexpected American destination (spoiler: it’s in Pennsylvania), here are the best places to see the Northern Lights.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Courtesy of Sherman Hogue/Fairbanks Expedition
Chasing the Northern Lights often means bitterly cold weather, but what if you could watch them from the comfort of a natural hot spring? At Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, you can soak in the warm waters of a rock-fringed lake while watching the light show. Fairbanks sits directly under the aurora borealis, so the city regularly experiences a celestial show of green, yellow and purple lights from August through to the end of April.
The phenomenon is best seen between 11pm and 2am, but early sleepers needn’t worry: guests at Chena Hot Springs Resort can request a wake-up call when the Northern Lights appear in the sky.
Norway
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Norway has no shortage of spectacular sights. First and foremost is Svalbard, a group of Arctic islands halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The archipelago experiences polar night, or perpetual darkness, from mid-November to February, giving visitors twice the chance to see the Northern Lights. It’s also the only inhabited place in the world where you can experience the phenomenon during the day. Take a three-hour snowcat safari or brave the cold on a snowmobile tour, stopping for hot drinks and biscuits.
Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and sits in the middle of the Aurora Oval. During the dark season, which runs from late September to late March, the city has a variety of tours to choose from. One fun way to see the Northern Lights is to take a cable car up Mount Storsteinen, which is one of the best places in the city to see them. Or, for a magical experience while sipping an Akvavit, grab a table at the Sky Bar at Clarion Hotel The Edge.
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Finland
Hotel & Igloo Village provided by Kakslauttanen
North of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, surrounded by towering pine trees, is a surreal and beautiful place to experience the Northern Lights. Doze off in a glass igloo while watching the dancing lights at the romantic Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, which offers rooms made of wood and glass as well as traditional log cabins. The resort also organizes Northern Lights hunting expeditions for those who want to view the lights while skiing down the slopes, taking reindeer sleigh rides, and participating in other memorable activities.
Finland has plenty of Northern Lights viewing accommodation, from seaside glass villas and lakeside domes to cabins with large windows and glass roofs. With the Northern Lights appearing over Finland around 200 nights a year, there’s no better place for an Northern Lights viewing holiday.
Greenland
Mads Piru/Greenland Tourism Board
Greenland has minimal light pollution and near-perfect visibility in some places, so your chances of seeing the milky green lights are excellent. Staying for three or four nights during aurora season (September to early April) increases your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Stay at Hotel Arctic, on the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord, with most rooms offering stunning views of the fjord and breathtaking icebergs.
If you like to rough it, plan a trip to Kangerlussuaq. This former US military base enjoys around 300 days of sunshine per year, making it ideal for viewing the Northern Lights. Local guide company Albatross Arctic Circle offers aurora tours that include a camping experience on the Greenland Ice Sheet (an experience normally reserved for researchers and explorers).
Yukon, Canada
By Wolfgang Bublitz/Northern Lights Resort & Spa
From August to April, the Northern Lights swirl in the sky over Canada’s Yukon Territory. Depending on cloud conditions, light pollution and nighttime auroral activity, you could gaze upon the neon hues of green and yellow for hours. Learn about the science and folklore behind the colors at the Aurora Space Science Centre in Watson Lake.
Book a glass chalet at Whitehorse’s Northern Lights Resort and Spa for chilly nights followed by a pampering day at the spa, and the hotel’s all-inclusive Winter Aurora and Activities package includes guided aurora viewing and photography every night.
Scotland
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The Northern Lights can be seen throughout the UK in autumn and winter, from Kent in England to as far south as East Anglia, but the best way to see them is to go to the far north of the Highlands or to the Shetland Islands, where the Northern Lights are known as “Milly Dancer”.
Book a stay at Keeper’s Cottage at Sumburgh Head, a restored Shetland lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic puffin nests, or travel to the Isle of Lewis to catch the spectacle of the Northern Lights above the Callanais Standing Stones, a circular rock formation that was built thousands of years ago. Before you go, sign up for AuroraWatch UK alerts on aurora sightings to ensure you don’t miss the lights.
Churchill, Canada
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Watch the Northern Lights dance above a family of polar bears from the comfort of a sleeper car in Churchill, Canada. With the Northern Lights visible more than 300 nights a year, this Manitoba town is a great place to see the majestic wildlife. Tundra Lodge, run by Natural Habitat Adventures, the World Wildlife Fund’s conservation-focused travel partner, is a great place for bear watching and offers train-car-inspired accommodations. To learn more about wildlife and the Northern Lights, book a multi-day educational tour with Churchill Northern Studies Centre.
Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
Courtesy of Potter County Tourism Association
You don’t necessarily have to go far north to see the Northern Lights. Isolated from big cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Cherry Springs State Park is committed to protecting its extremely dark skies. The area is classified as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park (the highest ranking by DarkSky). The park uses special lighting fixtures that don’t obstruct visibility and has strict rules about flashlights and car headlights. Even if you miss the Northern Lights, on a clear night, you’re almost guaranteed a great view of the stars. Check the park’s website for special events, such as astronomy programs and open nights. You can use forecast services such as those from the University of Alaska Fairbanks to track when and where the Northern Lights will appear.
Iceland
Courtesy of Hotel Ranga
Hotel Ranga in southern Iceland offers a variety of cold-weather activities, from whale watching to glacier tours to freshwater fishing. But the highlight is the Northern Lights. The hotel’s countryside location keeps light pollution to a minimum, making it the perfect place to view the lights in season (September to April). The Northern Lights Bar at ION Adventure Hotel near Reykjavik has dimmed lights and wraparound windows so guests can watch the lights from inside with a drink in hand.
Sweden
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At the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, you can choose between traditional hotel rooms, chalets, or ice rooms and suites in a separate Icehotel building that is rebuilt each winter. Temperatures inside the ice buildings range from 23°F to 19°F, but don’t worry – you’ll be provided with thermal expedition sleeping bags to keep you warm.
The hotel offers a variety of tours, including snowmobile safaris in the wilderness and nighttime photography tours where you can view the Northern Lights phenomenon in a natural, light-pollution-free environment. You can also organize a trip to the Aurora Sky Station in nearby Abisko. Located about 3,000 feet above sea level, the station has little light pollution and provides optimal viewing conditions. The station claims that the Northern Lights are visible on 70 percent of its open nights (November through March).
