Top 10 Best Places to See the Northern Lights

A star-studded sky embraced with beautiful colours and patterns dancing across the sky is a moment that is present on every traveller’s celestial bucket list. The vibrant colours and astonishing patterns that adorn the skies of the Northern Hemisphere in the Northern Light countries have fascinated many people for centuries. It’s a sight that many visitors wish to experience, and that is why people from all across the world travel to the Northern Hemisphere to catch a glimpse of the spectacular light show.

The phenomenon of the Northern Lights did not have a proper name until it was discovered by the Italian astronomer and philosopher Galileo Galilei in 1619. Although Galileo Galilei was the first person to name the phenomenon, he was not the first to take note of the magical light. He gave the Northern Lights the name Aurora Borealis, which means the sunrise colours from the north. The name Aurora Borealis comes from the amalgamation of Roman and Greek terminologies which means northerly winds. Galileo gave this name to the phenomenon because he thought the phenomenon was sunlight being reflected in the atmosphere. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the charged particles from the sun come in contact with the Earth’s surface. When the solar storm from the sun reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, a magnetic field gets formed around the Earth that drags the gases and particles from the solar storm towards the poles, which we know as the Northern Lights.

The further you move up the North, the more chances are that you will witness this stunning natural phenomenon. The reason people don’t see the natural lights in summer and during the daytime is that the light is far away and weak; it is more susceptible to light pollution. When the Northern Lights dance across the sky, it is a spectacular show. There are countless patterns and colours in the Northern Lights, which makes it a unique experience to watch.

Here are the top ten best places on earth to see the Northern Lights: -

1. Tromso, Norway

Tromso, northern Norway’s largest city is regarded as one of the best Northern Lights in the world. Situated in the heart of the Aurora zone, Tromso is noted for having the highest probability of watching the Northern Lights. One can even spot the Northern Lights from the town itself. Tromso is popularly referred to as “The Gateway to the Arctic”. The town has a milder coastline climate which makes it accessible to travel the place and witness the Northern Lights. Inclusions that you can enjoy on your trip to Tromso are snow sledging and the nightlife of the city.

2. Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife is one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights. The area of Yellowknife has the strongest geomagnetic activity which produces the brightest and most frequent displays of the Northern Lights. Yellowknife is also known as the “Aurora Capital of North America” for its excellent viewing conditions of the Northern Lights. If you are planning to visit Yellowknife, mid-August to late April is the best time to visit.

3. Lapland, Finland

In Finland, nights are typically dark which makes it feasible to see the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights in Finland are visible for roughly 200 nights a year which is a very fascinating thing about the place. People visiting Lapland, Finland go on a Northern Light spotting by ski, snowmobile or dog sledge. While some prefer to see the Northern Lights from the comfort of their indoors. If you are planning to go to Lapland, the time between late August to April is the best time to see the Northern Lights.

4. Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska is another one of the best places to spot the Northern Lights in the United States. Fairbanks is the largest inland city and the north’s most accessible place for the Northern Lights. Fairbanks is situated under the Aurora Oval where the Northern Lights are seen most frequently. If you visit Fairbanks, plan your visit between September and March, as you will have an 80 per cent chance to witness the spectacular view of the Northern Lights.

5. Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland is another place where you can spot the Aurora Borealis in Iceland, number five on our list. Reykjavik remains one of the favourite travel destinations for many travellers due to natural wonders like geothermal pools, volcano tours, quality culture etc. When in Reykjavik, you can choose to set up a tent or sit in your campervan to witness the sight of green and purple colours covering the sky. The best time to see the Northern Lights and plan a visit to Reykjavik, Iceland is between September and April.

6. The Upper Peninsula, Michigan

The farther north you go in Michigan, the more likely you will see the graceful and shimmering swirls of greens, purples, oranges and reds covering the sky. North Michigan sits at a great location latitude-wise and has relatively low light pollution, hence, the Upper Peninsula region is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. The Upper Peninsula region is also blessed with hundreds of miles of shoreline which makes it a pleasing sight to gaze at the colourful and shimmering skies. Plan your trip to Michigan between August and April to see the Northern Lights in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

7. Scotland, United Kingdom

When the time is right, the Northern Lights can be found at any location in Scotland. The best thing about spotting the Northern Lights in Scotland is that you don’t have to travel far to catch a sight of the Auroras. There are many places in the northern latitude of the United Kingdom where you can find dark skies and spot the Northern Lights when visited at the right time. Other places that you can discover on your trip to the United Kingdom are Aviemore, Caithness, Cairngorms National Park etc.

8. Siberia, Russia

Northern Russia is very less polluted, has long dark nights and the aurora belt where the solar gas collides with the Earth’s magnetic field also passes over the area. The three reasons combined make Siberia probably the best country to see the Northern Lights. If you are up for a chilly night spent under the stars to see the beautiful Northern Lights, then Siberia in Russia is your place to be. Other things that you can enjoy on your trip to Siberia are ice diving, ice go-karting, kayaking, paintball, rock climbing etc. Plan your visit between November and February to witness the beautiful view of the glistening nights dancing in the dark sky.

9. Kulusuk, Greenland

You can witness the spectacular view of the Northern Lights as soon as it gets dark in Kulusuk, Greenland. Also, did you know that Greenland sees the nights earlier than other parts of the world? Hence, you will be able to see the perfect Nothern Lights by travelling to Kulusuk in Greenland without having to hike far into the wilderness.

10. The Faroe Islands, Denmark

Denmark comprises a total of eighteen islands where you can see the Northern Lights. The Faroe Islands in Denmark is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights when the weather conditions are fine. The best months to book your tickets to the Faroe Islands are from late August to mid-April. You need to plan your trip and book your tickets way in advance to have higher chances of witnessing the most beautiful phenomenon of nature's wonders.

If said from the heart, then this beautiful and surreal phenomenon is more than enough incentive to pack your bags already to travel to some of the best places to watch the Northern Lights. Explore our international adventure tour packages and get ready to witness Aurora!