The most fascinating places to see the northern lights

By Max Olivier / 25 November 2025 : 05:40

Max Olivier, editor-in-chief, is naturally curious. He loves exploring, understanding, and telling stories, always searching for the angle that reveals what’s hidden at first glance.

Silence. Then a ripple of color, like breath on glass, hinting at something bigger overhead. Tonight, maybe.

That first shimmer changes people. It sneaks across the horizon, grows into a curtain, and flicks away like a secret. The chase begins long before the glow, though, and the best places reward patience with a sky that moves.

Why the night glows

Solar wind throws charged particles at Earth. Our magnetic field funnels them toward the poles. Oxygen and nitrogen light up when those particles collide with the upper atmosphere. Green often rules, thanks to oxygen at about 100–150 km. Deep red comes from higher oxygen. Purples and blues tend to mean nitrogen at work.

The aurora loves darkness, cold, and clear sky. Add a strong solar wind, and the night can burst into motion.

Activity follows the Sun’s rhythm. Solar Cycle 25 has delivered lively nights, pushing the auroral oval farther south. When the Kp index rises to 4–6, people across Scotland, the northern U.S., and Canada often get a shot. Timing matters too. Prime months stretch from September to March, when long nights and crisp air stack the odds.

Scandinavia – the stage for the aurora

Norway: tromsø and the fjords

Tromsø sits under the auroral oval, so displays hit often from late autumn to early spring. City lights fade fast once you cross the bridge or follow the coast. Snowy peaks and water turn the sky into a mirror. Boat trips help dodge clouds that cling to valleys. Small-group “chases” jump between microclimates and pay off when the forecast looks shaky.

Sweden: abisko and the “blue hole”

Abisko draws photographers for a reason. A local wind pattern clears a patch of sky above Lake Torneträsk, even when the region sits under stubborn cloud. You wait by the shore, tracks crunching in the cold, and a subtle band springs to life. The village stays quiet, and light pollution rarely spoils the frame.

Finland: glass igloos and gentle forests

Lapland blends comfort and wilderness. Glass-roofed cabins around Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen let you watch the sky without leaving the duvet. Some lodges hand out alert devices that buzz when activity spikes. Step outside anyway; the best color shows up when your eyes adapt to the dark.

Iceland, alaska and canada – wild country under lights

Iceland: lava fields and big sky

Drive twenty minutes out of Reykjavík and the night opens. Thingvellir National Park offers horizon-to-horizon views over a rift valley, with ice and water catching the green. The island’s fierce weather shifts by the hour, so keep your plan flexible. A cloudless slot between showers can deliver a sudden burst.

Alaska: fairbanks to the arctic

Fairbanks hits the sweet spot of latitude, roads, and clear winter air. Displays range from slow veils to fast, bright arcs that whip overhead. Check local aurora nowcasts, then follow road networks to escape fog in the lowlands. Anchorage works too, but inland sites often beat the coast for clarity.

Canada: yukon, manitoba and the great lakes

Whitehorse and Dawson City sit under reliable action and deep cold. Churchill, Manitoba pairs aurora with wildlife in shoulder seasons. On moonless nights along Lake Superior’s north shore, weak ambient light lets even modest storms paint the water. The sheer scale of sky across the Prairies and tundra turns each show into theatre.

Greenland – quiet nights, loud sky

East Greenland, around Kulusuk and Tasiilaq, feels remote in the best way. Streetlights barely exist. Ice groans, wind snaps, and the aurora drifts like breath. Storms build without warning, then fade to a soft pulse. Many travelers describe a sense of smallness that lingers long after the flight home.

Greenland sits inside the auroral oval. Long, dark winters and minimal light make faint arcs visible that other places miss.

How to plan your chase

Good trips hinge on simple habits: watch the sky, keep moving, and cut light. Plan for comfort so you can wait longer than the next person.

• Dates: aim for September–March; peak chances near equinoxes.
• Moon: new moon helps; half moon adds drama to landscapes without killing color.
• Clouds: favor areas with multiple microclimates and road options.
• Forecasts: track Kp, solar wind speed, and Bz (southward tilts help).
• Gear: insulated boots, hand warmers, thermos, headlamp with red mode, spare batteries.
• Photography: manual focus at infinity; ISO 1600–3200; f/1.4–f/2.8; 1–8 s exposures.
• Etiquette: dim car lights near viewers; avoid flash; keep noise low.

Quick picks by region

Reading the sky in real time

Start with faint, pale arcs to the north. If they sharpen or ripple, activity climbs. Vertical pillars signal fast changes; shorten your exposure if you shoot. A sudden drop in wind or temperature sometimes precedes clearing. When green spreads overhead, look straight up for fast “coronas” that feel like the sky breathing.

Safety, weather and respect

Cold bites hard when you stop moving. Dress in layers: base to wick, mid to insulate, shell to block wind. Keep spare gloves in a pocket near your core. On icy roads, slow down and carry a shovel, traction mats, and a battery booster. Respect local guidance in reindeer, moose, or musk ox areas. Many Indigenous communities hold the aurora close; behave with care and keep gatherings quiet.

When the lights stay shy

Build backup plans that still feel like a trip well spent. In Lapland, try smoke saunas and snowshoe trails under starlight. In Iceland, night hot springs take the edge off waiting. In Yukon or Alaska, dog-sled runs and winter photography workshops sharpen your eye for the next clear window.

A few deeper tips that change the odds

Chase edges. Cloud breaks often form downwind of mountain ranges or over large lakes. Move 20–50 miles to trade overcast for holes. Watch for southward Bz with steady solar wind around 500 km/s; that combo tends to light mid-latitudes. If the forecast misses, treat the night as a rehearsal: scout dark pullouts, frame landmarks, and mark wind-sheltered spots for tomorrow.