Seeing the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is something that travelers, photographers, and dreamers all want to do. The greatest places to see this shimmering dance of lights in the night sky are far away from cities, where pure dark skies and intense solar activity come together to make stunning displays of green, purple, red, and blue.
These 2025 aurora hotspots promise more colorful and frequent observations, especially at lower latitudes, since solar maximum is expected to happen around mid-2025. Whether you want to stay in a glass igloo, an ice hotel, go on a sled dog adventure, or take a luxury aurora cruise, this list has it all.
1. Tromsø, Norway
- Tromsø is considerably above the Arctic Circle and is known as the “Gateway to the Arctic.”
- Aurora chasers love this place because it’s simple to get to, gives tours of the northern lights, and has a lively local culture.
2. Abisko, Swedish Lapland
- Abisko, which is known as the “Blue Hole,” has skies that are extremely clear, making it one of the best places in the Arctic Circle to see the aurora.
- Stay in a lovely cottage in the woods or go snowshoeing at night.
3. Rovaniemi, Finland
- Rovaniemi is magical all year long, but especially from September to March, when it is just below the Arctic Circle.
- It combines seeing the aurora with holiday charm by having things like glass igloos and Santa Claus Village.
4. Finnish Lapland (Levi, Saariselka, Harriniva)
The rest of Lapland, outside Rovaniemi, has exquisite igloo stays, a rich Sami culture, winter activities, and great dark skies for seeing the Northern Lights.
5. Reykjavik and the Golden Circle in Iceland
Iceland is easy to get to and has amazing geology, like basalt columns, glaciers, and hot springs. It also has aurora tours that take you away from the city lights.
6. Akureyri, Iceland
- Akureyri, Iceland’s second city, has cleaner evenings and more sun activity, especially around the equinoxes.
- Go on aurora hunts and then go to the beautiful Goðafoss waterfall.
7. Norway’s Lofoten and Senja Islands
- Both islands are located above the Arctic Circle and provide amazing views of the aurora from your cabin or beach.
- They also have dramatic coastline scenery, such as fjords, secluded beaches, and steep peaks.
8. Canada: Yellowknife and Yukon
- Canada’s North has extensive viewing seasons and pleasant lodges.
- The Northern Lights Resort & Spa in the Yukon, near Whitehorse, has a lot of possibilities to see the aurora and provides sledding and wildlife trips.
9. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Fairbanks is almost likely to have shows under the Aurora Oval, especially if you stay for more than one night.
- Alaska has sapphire skies and winter activities that are cold yet wonderful.
10. Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada
- Churchill is famous for its polar bears, but more and more people are coming to see the aurora.
- In the middle of boreal forests, small-group tours provide tipi sleepovers and help with photography.
11. Norway’s Svalbard
Svalbard is the best place to see the northern lights at night since it has vast seclusion, polar night skies, and rough landscapes.
12. Ilulissat, Greenland
This glacial fjord location combines the beauty of icebergs with aurora cruises, making it the perfect place to see the Northern Lights in a dramatic, surreal way.
13. The Scottish Isles (Orkney and Shetland)
The distant Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland have bright northern lights that are hard to see in the gloomy skies.
14. The Orkney Mainland and Beyond
Some of Scotland’s darkest places, when aurora forecasts come out, have ghostly green light above old monuments.
15. Siberia, Russia
- The Siberian sky, especially in the Russian Arctic, is great for seeing the aurora without any interruptions.
- However, getting there might be hard for even the most experienced visitors.
16. Nellim, Finland
This secluded village by the lake near the Russian border has a lot of beauty and strong claims about the aurora from locals. It’s a hidden gem for tranquil watching.
17. Cruise Routes in Greenland
Cruises in Greenland’s fjords, like Disko Bay at Ilulissat, provide vistas of icebergs and nighttime hunts for the aurora from the deck.
18. The Faroe Islands
- These North Atlantic islands are foggy, dark, and very far away.
- They make great settings for the aurora and don’t get many travelers.
19. Dark Spots in Orkney and Northern Scotland
When solar activity is at its highest, Northern Scotland has some surprise aurora potential. The best place to see them is away from city lights.
20. Bonus: Chile (not in the North)
The Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) is an unusual and very rare sight that can sometimes be seen from the southernmost parts of Chile or Antarctica.
Tips to Make Your Viewing Experience Better:
- The best time to see the aurora is from late September to March, especially around the equinoxes, when evenings are longer and geomagnetic activity is strong.
- Make the most of your stay: Aurora is hard to find. To improve your chances make plans for at least three nights in the best spots. If you stay in Fairbanks for more than one night, you have a 90% chance of viewing the lights.
- Stay away from light pollution by staying in secluded lodges, on islands or in the wilderness. These places have darker skies and better views.
- Use Aurora Forecast Apps to keep an eye on the KP-index and solar activity so you can plan expeditions when the sky is active.
- To get the best pictures of the dancing lights use tripods, set your camera to manual focus (set to infinity) and long exposures (5–20 seconds). Also, change your ISO settings to work in low light.
The Northern Lights are one of the most amazing things you may see while traveling. They can be seen in places like the rough fjords of Greenland, the wilds of Finland, the Scottish isles and the vastness of Siberia. These 20 places guarantee wonderful nights under the auroral glow when solar activity is at its highest. They’re great for adventurers, romantics, and photographers.
This season go on an adventure, pursue the dance of colorful curtains across the sky and let the Aurora Borealis light up your world and your blog stats.
Have fun looking for the aurora!