Where to See the Northern Lights: Best Places and Times in Europe, the UK and North America

The best time to see the northern lights is from late September to late March, when nights are long and dark. Top places include Tromsø in Norway, Finnish and Swedish Lapland, Iceland, Fairbanks in Alaska and Yellowknife in Canada. In the UK, the north of Scotland, including Shetland, Orkney and Caithness, gives the best chance. Clear skies, darkness away from city lights and strong solar activity are all needed. The sun is still very active after its recent peak, so strong displays remain possible this winter.

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Few sights on Earth are as magical as the northern lights. Ribbons of green, pink and purple light dance across the night sky, sometimes moving so fast it looks as if the sky is alive.

Seeing the aurora borealis is on the bucket list of millions of travelers. In the past two years, strong solar storms even brought the lights far south, with people seeing them across the UK, much of Europe and even parts of the southern United States.

Here is where to see the northern lights, the best months and times to go, and how to give yourself the best chance of catching them this winter.

What Are the Northern Lights?

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, happen when charged particles from the sun hit gases in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The Earth’s magnetic field guides these particles toward the poles, where they make the sky glow.

• Green, the most common color, comes from oxygen about 60 to 150 miles up.
• Red comes from oxygen at higher altitudes.
• Blue and purple come from nitrogen.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the same effect is called the aurora australis, or southern lights.

When Is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights?

Best months: Late September to late March. The lights happen all year, but you need dark skies to see them. In summer, the far north has almost no darkness.

Many experts say September, October, February and March can be especially good, as activity often rises around the spring and autumn equinoxes.

Best time of night: Usually between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., though displays can happen any time it is dark.

Weather: Clear skies are essential. Even a strong aurora will be hidden by thick cloud.

Is This a Good Year to See the Northern Lights?

Yes. The sun goes through an 11 year cycle of activity. Scientists said it reached the peak of its current cycle, known as solar maximum, around late 2024.

Activity is now slowly declining, but the years just after the peak often bring some of the strongest solar storms. That means the 2026 to 2027 winter is still a very good time to plan a trip.

You can check space weather alerts and aurora forecasts from the US government’s NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

Where to See the Northern Lights: Best Places in Europe

Europe has some of the most accessible aurora destinations in the world, many just a short flight from the UK.

Tromsø, Norway

Often called the “capital of the northern lights,” Tromsø sits about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, right under the band where auroras are most common. It has a lively city center, good flights from across Europe and many tours that chase clear skies.

Norwegian Lofoten Islands and North Cape

The dramatic mountains and beaches of the Lofoten Islands make for stunning photos. Farther north, the North Cape area offers dark, remote skies.

Abisko, Sweden

Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland is famous for its clear skies, thanks to a local weather pattern often called the “blue hole.” The Aurora Sky Station is a popular viewing spot.

Finnish Lapland

Rovaniemi, home of the famous Santa Claus Village, is a family favorite. Farther north, places such as Saariselkä, Inari and Levi offer glass roofed cabins and igloos where you can watch the lights from bed.

Iceland

Iceland is one of the easiest places to see the northern lights from the US or UK, with short flights and plenty of tours. You can sometimes see them near Reykjavík, but driving out into the countryside to places like Þingvellir National Park gives you darker skies.

Faroe Islands and Greenland

For something more remote, the Faroe Islands and Greenland offer wild landscapes and very dark skies, though weather can be unpredictable.

Where to See the Northern Lights in the UK

If you are wondering where to see the northern lights without a long trip, you do not always have to leave Britain. The best places to see the northern lights in the UK are in the far north:

• Shetland, where the lights are known locally as the “Mirrie Dancers”
• Orkney
• Caithness and Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands
• The Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides
• Northumberland Dark Sky Park in northern England, during strong displays

During very strong solar storms, the lights can be seen much farther south. In May 2024 and October 2024, people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland saw bright auroras.

In the UK, Lancaster University’s AuroraWatch UK service sends free alerts when the lights may be visible.

Where to See the Northern Lights in North America

For American travelers, the answer to where to see the northern lights may be closer than you think.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks sits under the auroral oval and is one of the best places in the world to see the lights, with many clear, cold nights. Nearby hot springs make for a memorable night out.

Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories is famous for its flat land and clear skies, with very frequent displays during the season.

Other Spots in Canada

Whitehorse in Yukon and Churchill in Manitoba are also excellent. Churchill is known for polar bears in the autumn as well.

Northern US States

During strong solar storms, the lights can be seen in states such as Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, Montana, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Washington. Dark spots away from cities give the best chance.

Best Places Compared

Here is a quick summary of where to see the northern lights, depending on what kind of trip you want.

Place	Country	Best for
Tromsø	Norway	City base with many tours
Abisko	Sweden	Clear skies
Rovaniemi and Lapland	Finland	Families and glass igloos
Reykjavík and countryside	Iceland	Short flights from US and UK
Shetland and Orkney	UK	No passport needed for UK travelers
Fairbanks	US	Frequent displays in the US
Yellowknife	Canada	Very clear skies

How to Improve Your Chances

Knowing where to see the northern lights is only half the story. These tips help on the night.

1. Stay at least three or four nights. The lights are never guaranteed, so more nights mean more chances.
2. Get away from city lights. Light pollution washes out fainter displays.
3. Check the aurora forecast and the Kp index, which measures geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 to 9. Higher numbers mean the lights may be seen farther south.
4. Check cloud forecasts and be ready to move to clearer skies.
5. Be patient. Displays can come and go. Wait outside for at least an hour.
6. Join a tour. Local guides know where the skies are clearest and can drive you there.
7. Look north. In the Northern Hemisphere, the lights usually appear toward the northern horizon first.

Northern Lights Holidays: What to Plan

Once you know where to see the northern lights, think about how to fill your days. Many destinations offer winter activities that make a trip worthwhile even if the lights do not appear:

• Husky sledding and reindeer safaris in Lapland and northern Norway
• Snowmobile tours across frozen lakes and forests
• Whale watching near Tromsø in winter
• Hot springs and geothermal lagoons in Iceland and Alaska
• Ice hotels in Sweden and Finland
• Christmas markets and Santa visits around Rovaniemi in December

Mistakes to Avoid on a Northern Lights Trip

1. Going in summer. Long, bright nights make it almost impossible to see the lights.
2. Booking only one night. Weather can ruin a single night, so allow several.
3. Staying in the city center. Streetlights make faint displays hard to see.
4. Giving up too early. Many displays start late at night.
5. Forgetting warm clothes. Standing outside for hours in the cold is tough without the right layers.

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

Modern smartphones can take amazing aurora photos. In fact, phone cameras often pick up colors that look fainter to the naked eye.

With a phone: – Use Night Mode and hold the phone steady, or use a small tripod. – Turn off the flash. – Tap to focus on a bright star or distant light.

With a camera: – Use a tripod. – Set manual focus to infinity. – Try a wide lens, an aperture of f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600 to 3200 and an exposure of 5 to 15 seconds.

What to Wear

Northern lights trips often mean standing outside at night in temperatures well below freezing. Wear:

• Thermal base layers
• A warm insulated jacket
• Waterproof boots with warm socks
• A hat, gloves and a scarf
• Hand warmers

How Much Does a Northern Lights Trip Cost?

Costs vary widely depending on where to see the northern lights you choose. Iceland and Norway are among the most expensive countries in Europe, while Finnish Lapland can be good value outside the Christmas period. Guided aurora tours usually cost about $100 to $200 or £80 to £150 per person per night. Booking flights and hotels early, especially around Christmas and February half term, can save money.

You can read more about the science of auroras on the aurora Wikipedia page.

More From ScoopsBuzz

• Christmas markets 2026: dates for Europe and the UK
• UK bank holidays 2027: full list of dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, NASA, Met Office, AuroraWatch UK, Visit Norway, Visit Finland