11 Best Places to See the Northern Lights

Northern Lights viewing is starting now in Lapland, from one of our favorite wilderness guides in Finnish Lapland; “September is the best time to see the Lights in Finland.” So grab your winter coat and get ready to do your bucket list trip! Here is our list of the top places to see the Lights:

1. Muonio, Finland – Muonio is situated straight under the aurora oval which circulates the magnetic poles. We are approx 69 deg Northern latitude. This means that we have auroral activity every second night without any special events in the sun.
2. Kakslauttanen, Finland – Kakslauttanen is one of the best places in the world to see the magical glow of the Northern Lights. The season lasts from late August to late April. We provide the perfect opportunity for observing Aurora Borealis as the season is long, there is virtually no light pollution and very few trees obscuring the sky nearby.
3. Rovaniemi, Finland – Also known as Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights are visible on around 150 nights a year in Finnish Lapland. In Rovaniemi, the spellbinding astral show can be witnessed in and around the city from mid-August until early April.
4. Reykjavik, Iceland – You can see the Northern lights in Iceland as early as August, as soon as the night skies get dark enough and weather conditions are favourable. It helps if it’s cool and crisp outside, and a small moon helps make them easier to spot. You can see them as late as April, and from any corner of Iceland, anytime between dusk and dawn.
5. Svalbard, Norway – From early spring until autumn the midnight sun makes for an eternal day, but during the polar night from November to February, there is no daylight in Longyearbyen. This attracts people from all over the world to experience the northern lights dancing across the sky.
6. Tromso, Norway – Tromsø is the largest city in Northern Norway. With a location at nearly 70° north, and between fjords, mountain peaks, and islands, it is a prime starting point for your Arctic adventure. The city is situated in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the northern lights.
7. Jukkasjärvi, Sweden – Northern Sweden is possibly the best place to see the northern lights, because it lies under the auroral oval and enjoys clear skies more often than many coastal regions. Icehotel is a prime location for experiencing the aurora borealis, or northern lights.
8. The Faroe Islands – Northern lights – or aurora borealis occur mostly during the winter, and the best period is from September to April. The Faroe Islands are north enough to see northern lights, so with a little bit of luck you can experience this amazing phenomenon.
9. Northern Canada – Those same mesmerizing skies arrive each fall as darkness returns to Yukon nights. You might first see a hint of neon colour, then a jagged burst of green, and soon you’re transfixed by shimmering aurora borealis. Dependent on auroral activity and clear skies, every appearance of the northern lights is special and unique. Experience the exceptional beauty and wonder of the northern lights for yourself.
10. Greenland – The dancing northern lights in the night sky are a sight for the gods which winter holidaymakers in Greenland will in all likelihood come to experience. From early autumn the night sky is regularly illuminated by the northern lights’ green glow. It is a natural phenomenon that always causes excitement and wonder among those who have never seen it before.
11. Fairbanks, Alaska – The most reliable spot in Alaska is Fairbanks. Up and inland, Fairbanks is geographically under the “aurora oval,” where auroras are seen most frequently. You can even take excursions several hours north from there.