• By: NomadSam
• Sep 04, 2025

The Northern Lights are one of travel’s most mesmerizing natural shows—curtains of neon green, pink, and violet dancing across Arctic skies. With strong solar activity expected through 2025, this is a prime time to plan an aurora trip. This guide covers the best places worldwide.

Best time to see the Northern Lights

• Core season: Late August/September to March/April across the auroral belt, when nights are long and skies are dark.
• Equinox advantage: September and March often bring stronger geomagnetic activity, translating to more frequent, vivid displays.
• Trip length: Book at least 3 nights in one location to offset cloud cover and weather variability.
• Weather vs. latitude: Clear, dark skies matter more than simply being farther north—some microclimates out‑perform their neighbors consistently.

TOP DESTINATIONS

Tromsø and Northern Norway

Tromsø sits within the auroral oval and pairs city comforts with quick access to fjords and wilderness, making it one of the world’s most reliable and accessible bases for aurora chasing. Add Alta for drier skies, the Lofoten Islands for dramatic seascapes, and Svalbard for deep‑Arctic polar‑night conditions if seeking unique experiences

• Why go: Tromsø sits inside the auroral oval with excellent tour infrastructure, fjord backdrops, and multiple microclimates within driving distance (Alta, Lofoten, Senja, Svalbard).
• Best months: September–April; mid‑winter brings longest dark windows, while shoulders (Sep–Oct, Mar) offer milder weather and fewer crowds.
• Pro tip: Book an “aurora chase” minibus tour that follows live cloud and KP forecasts to clearer skies.

Iceland (Reykjavik + countryside)

Iceland offers urban convenience in Reykjavik with rapid escapes to dark‑sky areas and spectacular foregrounds from lava fields to Westfjords summits. Peak viewing spans late August to mid‑April, with Westfjords and north Iceland offering longer nights, less cloud cover, and low light pollution for stronger odds

• Why go: Urban comforts with quick escapes to dark‑sky sites like Þingvellir, Grotta Lighthouse, and along the South Coast or Snæfellsnes for dramatic foregrounds.
• Best months: Late August–mid‑April; avoid bright summer when nights are too short.
• Pro tip: Keep an eye on local cloud maps—conditions can flip within an hour with a short drive.

Swedish Lapland (Abisko, Kiruna)

Abisko is famed for its “Blue Hole” microclimate, which delivers more clear nights than surrounding regions and makes it a favorite among serious aurora photographers. Nearby Kiruna and the ICEHOTEL add bucket‑list winter experiences, with October–March offering long dark windows and stable cold.

• Why go: Abisko’s “Blue Hole” microclimate produces frequent clear skies; nearby Kiruna and the ICEHOTEL add unique winter experiences.
• Best months: October–March for the longest dark nights and stable cold.
• Pro tip: Consider an evening at Aurora Sky Station for guided viewing and photography help.

Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi, Saariselkä)

Rovaniemi and Saariselkä combine high aurora frequency with glass‑igloo stays and family‑friendly winter activities, ideal for first‑timers. The season typically runs late August to mid‑April, with the deepest winter months providing the most consistent viewing

• Why go: Reliable aurora odds, iconic glass‑igloo stays, and family‑friendly winter activities.
• Best months: Late August–mid‑April; deep winter offers the highest consistency of clear, dark nights.
• Pro tip: Mid‑week igloo bookings often balance price and availability during peak season.

Alaska, USA (Fairbanks)

Fairbanks lies under the auroral oval and reports frequent, vivid displays from late August to April, supported by robust local forecasting and easy access to dark skies. March often brings clearer conditions and longer viewing windows before spring daylight increases

• Why go: Fairbanks lies under the auroral oval and offers robust local forecasting and tours; a 3‑night stay yields a high viewing probability.
• Best months: September–March, with March favored for clearer skies before spring daylight expands.
• Pro tip: Pair a night shoot with hot springs for atmospheric steam‑and‑aurora compositions.

Canada (Yellowknife, Jasper/Wood Buffalo)

Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories is renowned for high aurora frequency and minimal light pollution, while Whitehorse, Jasper, and Wood Buffalo offer vast dark‑sky preserves and winter adventure pairings. Prime months are late August to mid‑April, with festival periods adding guided stargazing and photography programs.

• Why go: Yellowknife is famed for 200+ aurora nights a year and low light pollution; Jasper and Wood Buffalo are Dark Sky Preserves with pristine conditions.
• Best months: September–March across the Northwest Territories and Alberta’s dark‑sky corridor.
• Pro tip: Plan around dark‑sky festivals for guided astronomy and imaging workshops.

Greenland (Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq)

Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq offer huge, unpolluted skies, long seasons, and stark Arctic landscapes that deliver otherworldly aurora frames. Travel logistics are more remote, but rewards include low crowds and expansive horizons for clean compositions

• Why go: Remote Arctic landscapes and minimal light pollution create otherworldly scenes, with long seasons and low crowds.
• Best months: Roughly September–April.
• Pro tip: Bring extra batteries and keep them warm—extreme cold drains power quickly

What to pack

Apps and tools: Aurora/KP index, cloud cover maps, and clear‑sky alerts. Consider booking a guided “chase” on marginal nights.

Winter essentials: Layered thermal base + insulated mid‑layer + windproof outer shell; insulated boots, glove liners plus warm mitts, balaclava, and hand warmers.

Photography kit: Sturdy tripod, fast wide lens (14–28mm, f/1.4–f/2.8), spare batteries, headlamp with red mode, lens cloths for frost, remote shutter or 2‑sec timer.