10 Famous Places to See Northern Lights

Some people plan a trip around a destination. With the Northern Lights, the destination is almost secondary, it's the sky that decides where you go and when. That's what makes these places to see Northern Lights worth comparing properly before booking anything.

The best time and place to see Northern Lights depends on what kind of trip you want. Norway offers easy access to the Arctic and plenty to do beyond Aurora hunting, while Finland is known for quieter wilderness stays and glass igloos. Iceland adds dramatic landscapes, while destinations in Sweden, Canada and Alaska offer darker skies and a more remote experience.

So, where should you actually go? We’ve rounded up 10 of the best places to see Northern Lights, along with the ideal months to visit, typical temperatures, Aurora reliability and what else you can do there. If you're planning your first Aurora trip, ourcomplete guide to the Northern Lights also covers the science, planning tips and what to expect once you get there; while Europe tour packages cover the ground logistics once a destination is picked.

Note: Temperature ranges are approximate across each destination's main Aurora-viewing season and can vary by month and weather conditions. Aurora sightings are never guaranteed.​

Sitting directly under the Northern Lights oval, Tromsø ranks among the top places to see Northern Lights anywhere in the Arctic. Easy access, a solid lineup of organized Aurora tours and no shortage of outdoor activities make it a natural pick for anyone chasing their first sighting. The best time to see Northern Lights in Norway falls between late August and early April, whenever the sky stays dark and clear.

Best For: First-timers who want Aurora viewing paired with a lively Arctic city and plenty to do outdoors.

Other Best Things to Do: Book a fjord cruise, try dog sledding or snowmobiling, or spend an evening learning about reindeer herding and Sami culture.

Sitting right on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi counts among the best places to see Northern Lights for travellers who want the Aurora bundled with a classic Lapland trip. The best time to see Northern Lights in Finland runs from late August to early April here too.

Best For: Families, first-timers, and anyone who wants a bit of Christmas magic thrown into their Northern Lights trip.

Other Best Things to Do: Drop by Santa Claus Village, go husky or reindeer sledding, try snowmobiling, or spend a night in a glass igloo watching the sky from bed.

Ivalo sits further north in Finnish territory, offering a quieter alternative to Rovaniemi for travellers who'd rather skip the city lights altogether. Its remote wilderness setting and Arctic-style stays make it one of the more beautiful Northern lights places in Finland.

Best For: Couples, luxury travellers, and anyone after a quieter northern escape.

Other Best Things to Do: Stay in a glass igloo, explore the wilderness around town, and try husky safaris, reindeer experiences or snowmobile trips.

Tucked into Swedish Lapland, Abisko is a small mountain town that draws travellers who build their entire trip around the Aurora. Its remote location, far from any major city, makes it one of the best places to see Northern Lights on this list, especially for photographers and serious Aurora hunters.

Best For: Aurora-focused travellers, photographers, & anyone who prefers a quieter, wilder setting.

Other Best Things to Do: Hike through Abisko National Park in winter, and take in the mountains and frozen landscapes surrounding the town.

Kiruna gives you another way into Swedish Aurora country, mixing Arctic wilderness with winter activities and solid access to everything around it. It suits travellers who'd rather do something than just stand outside waiting for the sky to light up.

Best For: Adventure travellers who want Northern Lights viewing alongside a proper Swedish Arctic experience.

Other Best Things to Do: Explore the surrounding wilderness, try dog sledding, and get a taste of other snow-based Arctic activities.

Reykjavík stands out as one of the more versatile places to see Northern Lights, since the Aurora is just one piece of a much bigger Iceland trip. Days here go toward glaciers, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and geothermal spots, with the lights waiting for after dark. Iceland's Aurora season runs from late August through to April.

Best For: Travellers who want Northern Lights viewing wrapped into a road trip full of sightseeing.

Other Best Things to Do: Drive the Golden Circle, visit waterfalls and glaciers, soak in geothermal pools, and take in Iceland's volcanic terrain.

For something genuinely different, head far north to Longyearbyen in Svalbard. The region's extended dark season and Polar Night create unusual viewing conditions.The sky can stay dark enough for sightings even during what would normally be daytime hours.

Best For: Experienced Arctic travellers after a remote, once-in-a-lifetime Northern Lights experience.

Other Best Things to Do: Go dog sledding, explore Longyearbyen itself, and take in the Svalbard archipelago's dramatic landscapes through the Polar Night.

Fairbanks ranks among the best places to see northern lights in North America, pairing strong Aurora viewing with classic Alaskan wilderness. Its inland location & long, dark winter nights make it a popular base for Northern Lights trips.

Best For: Travellers who want an Alaskan wilderness experience alongside their Aurora viewing.

Other Best Things to Do: Explore the wilderness, try winter activities, and stop by nearby hot springs for a proper Alaskan finish.

Yellowknife holds its own as a major contender, especially for anyone planning a trip purely built around the Aurora in North America. Low light pollution, a far-north location and wide-open landscapes come together to make for excellent viewing nights.

Best For: Travellers who want the Northern Lights front and centre of their Canada trip.

Other Best Things to Do: Explore the northern landscapes around the city, try winter activities, and get outdoors around the Northwest Territories.

Ilulissat brings one of the most dramatic backdrops among the best places to see northern lights. Rather than watching the Aurora over a forest or mountain range, you get it set against Greenland's massive icebergs and Arctic terrain. Dog sledding paired with Aurora viewing around the Ilulissat Icefjord makes for a combination you won't find elsewhere.

Best For: Adventure travellers, photographers, and anyone chasing a remote Arctic experience.

Other Best Things to Do: Explore the Ilulissat Icefjord, try dog sledding, or just take in the iceberg-filled scenery around town.

There's no single best country to see Northern Lights. Norway wins on accessibility, Canada and Alaska on isolation, and Iceland on the range of landscapes on offer.

Seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed, not even in the best viewing spots. Some planning still makes a real difference. Keep these in mind:

1. Travel in the right season: Aim for long, dark nights, roughly September through April, though exact timing shifts by destination.
2. Stay for several nights: Three or four nights gives clear skies and stronger aurora activity a real chance to line up, rather than betting everything on one shot.
3. Move away from city lights: faint auroras disappear fast under light pollution, so darker areas away from towns and tourist centres work best.
4. Watch the cloud cover: A strong aurora display means nothing under thick clouds. Check the local forecast before heading out for the night.
5. Track aurora forecasts: Use apps and forecast sites such as My Aurora Forecast, Aurora Alerts, or NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center to check aurora activity, cloud cover and the likelihood of a visible display before heading out.
6. Stay flexible on timing: Auroras often show up late at night or well past midnight, so it's worth staying up rather than locking into one window.
7. Book a guided aurora tour with WanderOn: Our Northern Lights tour package pairs trip captains already know the dark-sky spots worth chasing and can rework plans quickly if the weather turns.

Pro tip: Don't stay put in one location all night. Moving to clearer ground when clouds roll in can turn the whole trip around.

To get a decent aurora photo, you need a steady camera and the right exposure, not an expensive setup. Auroras show up in the dark, so shake and light matter more than gear.

• With a smartphone

Most modern phones handle this fine through Night Mode. Rest the phone on something solid, a tripod works, a rock or a car roof works too, and skip digital zoom entirely. If manual controls are available, push the exposure time up and pull the ISO down.

• With a camera

On a DSLR or mirrorless body, reach for a wide-angle lens at f/1.4 to f/2.8. A shutter speed of 2 to 10 seconds is a fair starting point, then adjust from there based on how fast the aurora's moving and how bright it looks through the viewfinder.

A tripod isn't optional here, and manual focus set near infinity keeps both the stars and the aurora sharp.

Pro tip: Batteries drain faster in extremely cold weather. Keep spare batteries or a power bank somewhere insulated and close to your body when possible.

1. Thermal base layers: Choose moisture-wicking thermal tops and bottoms to retain body heat.

Pro Packing Tip: Skip the one-thick-layer approach. Several thinner thermal layers let you adjust as you move between heated rooms and freezing air outside.

2. Insulated jacket: A warm, windproof and preferably waterproof outer layer is ideal.

3. Fleece or wool mid-layer: Adds insulation without restricting movement.

4. Warm trousers: Consider insulated or waterproof trousers if you'll be outdoors for extended periods.

5. Waterproof winter boots: Choose insulated boots with excellent grip, especially if you'll be walking on snow or ice.

6. Gloves: Go insulated and touchscreen-compatible if you're planning to use your phone out there.

7. Warm hat and neck warmer: Most of the heat loss during long aurora sessions happens through exposed skin, not the rest of the body.

8. Hand and foot warmers: Worth having once you've been standing still outside for a few hours.

9. Power bank: Cold drains phone and camera batteries far faster than usual.

10. Tripod: No steady tripod, no sharp Northern Lights shots.

11. Headlamp or torch: Pick one with a low-light or red-light setting so you're not wrecking your night vision every time you check the map.

12. Sunglasses: Daytime glare off snow gets sharper than most people expect.

13. Reusable water bottle: Easy to forget hydration matters in the cold too, but it does.