Known for their otherworldly, multicoloured dance of pinks, blues and greens through the starry night sky, the Northern Lights are a bucket list sight for many. The Aurora Borealis is a magical experience, and if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing them, this year might be your best chance in a decade.
Increased solar activity means that the lights are even more prominent and abundant than ever, and this will last until the end of 2025. There’s never been a better time to go on a Northern Lights quest, and we’re here to help you plan the perfect adventure. Whether you’re keen to stay up all night to see the lights dance or if you’re looking to ‘mush’ with sled dogs during the day and light hunt when the sun goes down, we’ve got you covered with this ultimate Northern Lights guide.
The best destinations for seeing the Northern Lights in 2025
Trømso, Norway
Best time to go: From late August to mid-April
The Northern Lights over the city of Trømso
Nestled in the Arctic Circle, Trømso is a small, charming city where the Northern Lights often dance across the starry sky. Surrounded by beautiful fjords and high mountain peaks, Trømso offers a good mix of city fun and Arctic adventures. With new direct flights from London and Manchester through British Airways, it’s never been easier to get to the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’.
During the day, explore the city and its museums – The Polar Museum can take you through the history of Arctic exploration and the Troll Museum can, well, tell you all about trolls. If you’re looking to get into nature a little more, embark on an Arctic safari to check out the local wildlife before getting back to your light hunt when the sun sets.
The city centre itself caters to Northern Lights explorers with a plethora of epic rooftop bars for prime Aurora viewing high above the city streets. What better way to view the beauty of the Northern Lights than with a glass of aquavit or glogg? Or, if you’ve got your sea legs, you can hire a boat to take you down the fjord on a nighttime light-hunting cruise where you’ll enjoy some traditional Norwegian snacks whilst onboard.
Where to stay
Kirker Holidays offers stays at the Malangen Resort as part of their Trømso holiday packages; kirkerholidays.com
The Golden Circle, Iceland
Best time to go: From September to late March
The Northern Lights in a starry Iceland sky
Chris West
The land of fire and ice is one of the best places for a Northern Lights fanatic – its vast wilderness and low light pollution bring some pretty spectacular viewing opportunities. With only four to six hours of daylight during the winter months, there’s plenty of time to catch a gorgeous light show.
With mountains, glaciers, tectonic plates, volcanoes, geothermal spots and waterfalls aplenty, there are a myriad of ways to get your fill of adventure during the day.
When night falls, there are many great ways to see the lights both out in the wilderness and from the comfort of your lodging. Thingvellir National Park is known for its unobstructed viewing opportunities, and you can set out on a light tour if you’re looking for a seasoned guide to help you get the best view.
Where to stay
Torfhús Retreat; torfhus.is
Rovaniemi, Finland
Best time to go: From late August to early April
A reindeer friend in Rovaniemi
The official hometown of Santa Claus is also home to the Northern Lights. The regional capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, is a small city in the Arctic Circle that boasts great light viewing as well as a huge selection of holiday fun for the whole family.
During the day, a trip to Santa Claus village is a must-see, where you can shop, eat, meet Mrs Claus, and make some reindeer friends. Once you’ve gotten your fill of the Christmas spirit, try your hand at dogsledding or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, brave the chill and go for an Arctic ice float.
With low light pollution, your chances of looking up and seeing the lights are pretty good. But, if you’re looking for a guided tour, there are plenty of Northern Lights journeys around the area to give you the best chance of seeing them. Or, if you’re a confident explorer, just download an Aurora alert app and become an expert light-hunter with the click of a button.
Where to stay
Arctic Treehouse Hotel; arctictreehouse.com
Svalbard, Norway
Best time to go: From late September to mid-March
A snowy desert in Svalbard
Marcela Cardenas
The truly adventurous traveller will love Svalbard, which offers breathtaking views of the Northern Lights. Set between Norway and the North Pole, it’s the northernmost settlement in the world. In fact, it’s so far north that it experiences a true polar night – the sun goes down in late October and then isn’t seen again until mid-February. Not once, not even for a moment.
For a Northern Lights savant, there’s no better spot than this archipelago of endless starry skies. 60% of the land here is made up of snow fields and glaciers, and there’s a plethora of beautiful wildlife from Arctic foxes to walruses to be found playing in the snow. These creatures are best viewed from a distance, though, especially those big white bears wandering around…
The northernmost city in the world, Longyearbyen (“The Long Year Town”) offers a mix of tourist-friendly attractions and great Northern Lights viewing spots. It’s probably best to view the lights from the safety of your accommodation or travel with an experienced guide here in Svalbard, though, due to the high polar bear population.
Where to stay
Funken Lodge; funkenlodge.com
Kiruna, Sweden
Best time to go: From September to April
The Northern Lights in Abisko National Park
Martin Str
Located in the heart of the Arctic Circle and Sweden’s northernmost city, Kiruna is a great place to try and see the Northern Lights. The lights can be seen from the city itself, and in the surrounding area, Norrbotten County, which has excellent viewing stations and endless sky for the Aurora-seeking traveller.
With only one to two hours of daylight during the peak winter months, there’s plenty of opportunity to see the lights. During the short days, you can go on a snowmobile adventure (with a fika stop, of course), learn to ‘mush’ with husky dogsledding – the word became common in the sport when Canadian sledders misheard the French term Marche – or try to catch your dinner with some ice fishing.
When the sun dips below the horizon, The Aurora Sky Station on Mt Njullá offers one of the best viewing opportunities in the world. Thanks to a unique climate and low light pollution, the area is known for dark, clear skies – the perfect conditions for seeing the Northern Lights.
Where to stay
ICEHOTEL; icehotel.com
Ilulissat, Greenland
Best time to go: From September to mid-April
Iceberg on the Ilulissat Icefjord
Alexander Hafeman
Located on the west coast of Greenland, Ilulissat is known for its beautiful ice fjord, its dogsledding industry and its Northern Lights. Great weather conditions make this an ideal spot for the Aurora-seeking traveller.
During the day, make sure to visit the Ilulissat Icefjord – whether you wander around the trails on foot or see it from the sky on a helicopter tour, it’s a natural wonder that can’t be missed. It’s also a great place for traditional winter sports like snowshoeing and skiing, if you’re looking to make the most of the two to four hours of sunlight. Or, if you’re interested in getting to know the locals, try dog sledding with the famous Greenlandic sled dogs – there are almost as many sled dogs as there are people here, after all.
For Northern Lights viewing, there are so many great spots to get your fill. Hire a boat in Disko Bay for a tour on the water, take your sledding trip at night for an adrenaline-filled Aurora tour, catch the view from the bridge over the harbour or just look out the window of your accommodation. Ilulissat’s dark, clear skies are sure to bring a spot of colour to your night.
Where to stay
Hotel Arctic; hotelarctic.com
Fairbanks, Alaska
Best time to go: From late August to late April
The Northern Lights over Fairbanks, Alaska
Situated in the Aurora Oval, Fairbanks is not only one of the best cities for the Northern Lights in the US, but in the whole world.
Fairbanks has plenty of museums to keep you busy during the five and a half hours of daylight. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, you can go on an expedition that will take you to see the wondrous wildlife just above the city in the Arctic Circle – companies offer single-day and multi-day trips depending on how much you want to see. Or, if you’re itching to hit the open road, drive up the Dalton Highway and explore it at your own pace.
For the lights, Aurora Point, just a fifteen-minute drive from the city centre, is one of the best viewing stations around. Here, you can enjoy a warm drink inside the station while you wait for the lights to appear. Murphy Dome is another great spot due to its high elevation. Or, if you’re looking for something a bit more laid-back, head to the Chena Hot Springs for a nighttime soak and Aurora spotting.
Where to stay
Aurora Villa; akauroravilla.com
