Here are the 9 best places where you can see the Northern Lights!

So, it’s the start of Northern Lights season. You’d like to see them (or see them again!) but you don’t know where to go. It’s true that there are quite a few possibilities, especially in Europe, with Iceland, various places in Norway, Swedish Lapland or Finnish Lapland .

Each place has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. As I know these places well, I’ll be able to explain to you what makes each one strong, and what bothers me. In short, I’ll be able to tell you which are my favourite places to see the aurora.

And if you can’t decide between the two, here’s my comparison of Tromso and Rovaniemi!

Let’s go!

In the infographic, I show you in a single view all the criteria to know whether or not this destination is made for you when it comes to northern lights:

• Location
  • Is this location correctly situated in relation to the auroral oval, i.e. in case of normal activity? You need to be in the north, but not too far: Svalbard, for example, is much too far north, while Bergen is too far south.
• Weather
  • Is the weather generally favourable for viewing the Northern Lights, i.e. can you regularly get clear skies here or in the immediate vicinity, or is the weather rotten?
• Landscapes
  • Are the landscapes varied, beautiful, mountainous or flatter and less varied?
• Escape possibilities
  • Is it easy to go to another region with better weather and escape the clouds?
• Light pollution
  • Is it easy to find quiet spots with no city or car lights, in short, to be alone with the aurora?
• Tourism
  • is the area touristy?
• Tranquillity
  • Is it easy to find a place to be by yourself in pleasant surroundings?
• Budget
  • Is a stay in this region expensive?
• Infrastructure
  • Is it easy to find accommodation and travel without a car, with a network of buses and agencies?
• Guides
  • Are there good guides for northern lights and activities?

TROMSO and its region

I’m not going to lie to you, I love Tromso and the surrounding area. I’m not saying this because I live there part of the year, but I think it’s a great region, especially for the northern lights.

Tromso is superbly situated under the auroral oval, so when there are auroras with normal activity, you can see them very well here. And above all, you can see the northern lights in excellent conditions, i.e. without light pollution, with unobstructed views, in superb settings.

Then again, there’s the price of fame. It becomes quite touristy, especially in December, February and mid-March. And prices rise accordingly. But on the other hand, in low season it’s much cheaper! In the following article I explain why seeing the northern lights in autumn is a good idea.

In short, for me, it’s the best destination, because even when the weather’s bad, you can drive for hours to escape the clouds, heading to Finland or into remote valleys. There are many possibilities.

Advantages:

• the capital of the Northern Lights
• the region is large and you can easily get away from the clouds
• the weather is generally good
• superb scenery
• it’s all about the aurora
• plenty of quiet spots with no light pollution
• inexpensive in low tourist season (e.g. September, October)

Disadvantages:

• it gets really touristy
• you have to book a lot of things well in advance in high season (November, December, February)
• prices are quite high in very high season

Resources and blog posts:

• All about Tromso
• The best things to do in Tromso in winter
• Finding accommodation in Tromso
• The best northern lights guides in Tromso
• The best places to see the Northern Lights around Tromso
• Tromso without a car
• Map of Tromso

Find your dream accommodationin Tromsø!

SENJA Island

Senja is my favourite place in Norway, nothing more, nothing less. Fjords, mountains, exceptional landscapes and few tourists. Senja is a true Norway in miniature. In the following article, I show you all the best places in Senja on a map.

For the Northern Lights, it’s also an excellent choice, both easier and less easy than Tromso. Let me explain. Senja is not very touristy, with little infrastructure, hardly any buses and few hotels. So, let’s say that without a car, it’s very complicated to get around and find yourself in places without light.

But on the other hand, with a car, it’s extremely easy to find yourself alone in top spots for the aurora.

Senja’s weather is a bit teasing, especially in the fjords, but drier and less cloudy in the centre. If there’s no chance at all on the island, then you can easily leave the island to go further inland, where the weather is often better.

In short, it’s isolated, there aren’t many people around, and it’s really great! What’s more, it’s easy to get to Senja.

Advantages:

• one of the most beautiful places in Norway (my favourite)
• superb scenery
• very little light pollution
• few tourists
• different weather between the fjords and the centre, so you can escape the clouds
• little infrastructure

Disadvantages:

• very little infrastructure
• no aurora agency
• almost impossible to get around without a car
• few accommodations (but they’re great) and prices rise quickly

Resources and blog posts:

• All about Senja
• Senja’s best hotels
• the most beautiful places to see the northern lights in Senja
• the essential Senja map
• How to get to Senja
• Itinerary between Senja, Tromso and Lofoten

4 recommended accommodations in Senja

ALTA and Finnmark

This covers the entire northern coast of Norway, east of Tromso, as far as Kirkenes (but that’s a bit far). We’ll be concentrating on the Alta region, where we’re told the best weather is to be found. Drier, colder, more “Lappish”. There’s the coast, but you can also very easily head inland, among forests and rivers.

On the other hand, it’s a beautiful region, but not as beautiful, not as wow-factor as the other Norwegian regions covered here (Senja, Tromso, Lofoten…). It’s flatter, less mountainous. By the way, I’d advise you to head 100km west, to the big peninsula with Jokelfjord in particular, it’s superb! And the weather there is very good.

The region isn’t really developed for northern lights and tourist activities. So yes, there are a few agencies, opportunities and guides. But that’s also because it’s not as touristy as Tromso. So it’s easy to find yourself alone to watch the aurora, and that’s not bad!

Advantages:

• the best weather in Norway for viewing the northern lights
• a large region, from the coast to Lapland, easy to escape the clouds
• little light pollution
• low tourism

Disadvantages:

• little infrastructure for northern lights viewing
• a few big towns to stay away from because of light pollution
• less stunning scenery than the coast further west (Lofoten, Senja, Tromso), but nice nonetheless

Resources:

• Find accommodation in Finnmark with Booking
• Find all the things to do in Alta with Viator
• You can rent a car to get around with Discover Cars

LOFOTEN Islands

We’re talking about some of the most beautiful landscapes in Norway, and some of the most beautiful in the world. Honestly, even though I go there regularly, it’s always an enchantment, and I always get an eyeful.

But there’s a catch. Although there are plenty of things to do in Lofoten, for the Northern Lights, it’s not so easy. First of all, the weather is really teasing. Generally speaking, it’s very cloudy all over the archipelago. Lots of rain and wind. Occasionally, the weather clears, the skies are clear and you can see the Northern Lights. In Norway, weather is not an exact science, and this is even truer in Lofoten.

And the archipelago is very large! So if you want to get out and try to escape the clouds (because the weather is generally the same everywhere, and I’d say it’s even worse in the south towards Reine), you’ll have to drive for a long, long time. Don’t forget that it easily takes 4 hours to get to Narvik, where the weather can be different.

What’s more, the geography of the Lofoten Islands is quite special. There are lots of mountains and a very built-up coastline. So it’s not as easy as in other regions to find places where you can watch the northern lights in peace and quiet, unless you go hiking in the mountains. There’s a lot of light pollution, or everyone ends up in the same places (like the beaches). Fortunately, there are a few other spots, and in the following article I tell you where the best places to see the Northern Lights in the Lofoten Islands are, but let’s just say you’ll have to rack your brains a bit more!

Advantages:

• some of Norway’s most beautiful scenery
• superb beaches
• few crowds in autumn and winter

Disadvantages:

• heavy light pollution
• few places with unobstructed views
• few guides
• complicated weather
• difficult to escape the weather by road, as it’s a very long archipelago

Resources:

• The most beautiful places to see in the Lofoten Islands
• What to do in the Lofoten Islands
• Where to stay in the Lofoten Islands
• Lofoten Islands map
• The most beautiful places to see the Northern Lights in the Lofoten Islands
• Ferry from Bodo to Moskenes
• Find all the things to do in Lofoten with Viator
• You can rent a car to get around with Discover Cars

4 recommended accommodations in Lofoten

Swedish Lapland – Kiruna & Abisko

It’s hardly ever talked about, even though the Finnish part of Lapland is a leading destination for auroras (we’ll talk about it right after). However, Swedish Lapland is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, especially in the north towards Kiruna and Abisko.

From Tromso, we usually head to the Swedish and Finnish sides when the weather is rotten up there. And it’s true that on the Swedish side, there’s a sort of micro-climate, and the weather is often better. Mind you, it’s properly cold!

But as it’s less touristy, there’s less infrastructure, fewer people and less light pollution. Which is not bad. That said, you won’t have any trouble finding guides.

Kiruna is a big town, but it’s very easy to get away from it. Whereas Abisko, not far from Narvik, is a mini-town on the edge of a huge lake in a superb setting.

So frankly, if you want something different, in nature, a bit away from people, this could be a great option!

Advantages:

• beautiful rolling countryside
• not especially touristy
• generally good weather
• virtually no light pollution
• several aurora guides and activities

Disadvantages:

• it’s cold!
• not a huge variety of landscapes, but it’s beautiful
• very little infrastructure apart from Kiruna and Abisko

Resources and blog posts:

• Accommodation in Abisko and Kiruna with Booking
• Cheap car hire in Swedish Lapland
• All activities in Kiruna and Abisko

4 recommended accommodations in the area

Finnish Lapland – Levi, Kittila, Inari, Saariselkä

Finnish Lapland is too big to be covered in just one way, so here I’m going to tell you about the northern half, from Levi to Inari via Kittila, Muonio, Saariselkä and Ivalo.

Apart from Levi, which is one of the most touristy places in the country, one of the best places to see the Northern Lights and to ski for a good part of the year, this whole northern part of the country is not very touristy, but it’s the perfect place to discover Finnish Lapland, enjoy the joys of winter and its activities, and see the Northern Lights.

The weather here is generally favourable. As the region is so large, you can travel many kilometres to escape the clouds if need be. As for the landscape, let’s just say it’s Lapland. It’s flat, with forests, lakes and sometimes a hill on which they build a small ski resort (Levi, Yllasjarvi, for example). So we’re talking about something very different from Norway or Iceland, which have much more relief.

Advantages:

• better location for auroras than southern Lapland
• rather favourable weather
• lots of nice villages to stay in
• and plenty of activities and guides
• ski resorts

Disadvantages:

• in this region, it’s quite cold
• it’s flat, even if there are hills for skiing

Resources and blog posts:

• Where to go in Finnish Lapland
• What to do in Kilpisjärvi
• Rent a car in Finnish Lapland from €25
• The best accommodations with Booking
• See the Northern Lights with a guide
• All activities in Finnish Lapland

Finnish Lapland – Rovaniemi

The south of Finnish Lapland is really south. We’re at the Arctic Circle, yes, but below the auroral oval. We’re 800km from Tromso, so when the northern lights are overhead in Tromso, they’re on the horizon in Rovaniemi. So it’s not ideal. You can get them overhead there too, but it’s less frequent.

However, Rovaniemi is a great destination for winter activities, a bit like Tromso. In other words, in addition to the Northern Lights, you’ll have everything to enjoy: plenty of snow, a big chill, all kinds of activities like dog sledding, reindeer absolutely everywhere, lots of northern lights guides, endless possibilities for cross-country skiing or snowmobiling.

Rovaniemi communicates a lot about the Northern Lights, and fair enough, but it’s still located far south. It’s very good all the same, but not as good as the others mentioned above, which are really under the auroral oval. That said, you go there because everything is well organised and everything is easy.

Advantages:

• almost everything revolves around the Northern Lights
• lots of activities, especially in winter
• the weather is generally favourable
• little light pollution outside the city

Disadvantages:

• we’re pretty far south, below the auroral oval
• the city is quite touristy
• it’s flat!

Resources and blog posts:

• Rent a car in Rovaniemi from €30
• The best accommodation in Rovaniemi with Booking
• See the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi
• All activities in Rovaniemi

4 recommended accommodations in Rovaniemi

Iceland

Let’s change countries! Iceland is beautiful. But really. An island unlike anything you’ve ever seen, with unique landscapes. Fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, all at the same time. You can discover it very easily by driving the Ring Road.

What’s more, Iceland is well placed under the aurora borealis, and even though it’s a hair below the Arctic Circle, you can see the aurora very regularly. Well, you see them… or at least you try!

Because THE main difficulty in Iceland is its weather. Which can best be described as rotten. It changes very often, it’s cloudy a little too regularly, there are snowstorms even in summer, and storms full stop very often. In short, we’re not spoiled! And the weather isn’t localised like in Norway, where you can get something different a fjord away. Here, when it’s rotten, it’s rotten for quite a way around.

On the other hand, what’s great is that if the weather is clear, Iceland is an almost infinite playground! There’s no light pollution. Nada. There are very few people on the roads, and there are plenty of great places to watch them. The great classics like Jokulsarlon or Skogafoss are usually full of people. But you’ve got plenty of glaciers, roads and paths that lead past small waterfalls, canyons or ultra-clear views like in the centre. It all adds up to a multitude of possibilities! Well, you just have to keep your fingers crossed for the weather.

As far as infrastructure is concerned, there are quite a few guides around Reykjavik; they often go to Reykjanes, rarely to the south coast. And depending on the weather, tours can be cancelled.

So I’d say you go to Iceland for dozens of good reasons. But the Northern Lights should be a bonus, not a goal in itself.

Advantages:

• incredible scenery
• very easy to be alone in the world
• no light pollution
• waterfalls and glaciers in the background

Disadvantages:

• very difficult weather, it’s hard to escape the clouds without doing a lot of driving
• very expensive
• northern lights tours don’t go very far and don’t last very long
• have I already mentioned the weather?

Resources and blog posts:

• The best northern lights guides in Reykjavik
• Discover Iceland
• The most beautiful places to see in Iceland
• the most complete map of Iceland
• Discover Iceland’s Ring Road
• The most beautiful places on the south coast
• What to see in Myvatn
• The best time to go to Iceland

United States and Canada

In Canada, there are possibilities, but you’ll have to head a bit further north. Churchill, Manitoba, calls itself the polar bear capital. And on top of that, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights – not bad! However, you’ll have to contend with some really, really bitter cold.

The same goes for Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) and Whitehorse (Yukon), both of which are aurora paradises. But as in Churchill, the winters are very (very) harsh. And on top of that, the landscapes are pretty flat. It’s a far cry from the Norwegian mountains.

Finally, getting there is expensive, so even if you’re in North America, it’s often more cost-effective to come to Norway or Iceland.

Finally, you have Alaska on the US side. Yes, it’s on the other side of the world for us, so it’s not the easiest, but it’s a different experience. You’d be better off going to Fairbanks, which is much better located than Anchorage, for example.

There are quite a few disadvantages: it’s very expensive. It costs an arm and a leg to get there, and on the spot too. It’s very, very cold, much colder than in Europe. In this part of the country, the landscapes are rather flat, and you’re not near mountains like Denali (further south).

That said, as it’s not the easiest destination to get to, it’s not ultra-touristy, which is a big advantage. So it’s super easy to be alone in the world.

Is it possible to see the Northern Lights in other places?

Yes, especially now that the sun is very active. From time to time, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights in France, Spain, Italy and Germany. But what happened on 11 May 2024 was truly exceptional (the strongest in 20 years). Otherwise, they’ll be seen once or twice a year on the horizon (from the beaches of the north or from unobstructed views in the high mountains).

When there’s a lot of activity, a solar storm, you can see them from the middle of Norway, sometimes from the south, so sometimes from Oslo, Stockholm or Helsinki, for example. From the north of Denmark or England, I’d say it happens at least once a month.

But for that, you really need to follow the activity, follow sites like spaceweatherlive, the aurora borealis apps that will warn you of strong activity.

5 tips for viewing the Northern Lights

In the following article I also explain all my tips to maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights :

• choose the right season: you can see them from late August to mid-April (for the Nordic countries), but you need to have enough night to observe them. After that, you need to decide whether you prefer autumn or winter, snow or rain, dog sledding or hiking. There are times when the weather isn’t so easy. In the following article I tell you the best time to see the northern lights!
• be patient: because we don’t know when the Northern Lights will appear. It could be at 7pm or midnight. So it’s not on demand: you have to wait, watch the data and be patient.
• be mobile: the most important thing for seeing the northern lights is… the weather. No clear skies, no aurora. No arms, no chocolate, as we say in France. So you need to move to where the sky is clearer. Sometimes that can be quite far. From Tromso we sometimes drive for 3 hours.
  • in the following article I explain why you should rent a car to see the northern lights
• anticipate: you need to know where to go depending on the weather, but also on light pollution, power lines, road traffic, all the things that can spoil an aurora evening. You need to know WHERE and WHEN the clouds will be, not just right now, but how they will move. For that, use the ventusky website and its cloud cover map.
• be prepared: have your memory cards and batteries ready, and plenty of room on your phone. If you want to take photos, learn to focus manually, and use your phone’s night mode if it has one. And above all, get your clothes ready to fight the cold! It’s better to have too much than too little. Take hot drinks.

In conclusion

There, I think I’ve told you everything! There are plenty of destinations to choose from, but in Europe, to sum up, here’s what we can say:

• Tromso: the perfect mix of weather, scenery and flexibility. We go there for the Northern Lights, but not only that
• Senja: a fantastic place, a bit of a gamble with the weather, lots of auroras but very little in the way of infrastructure
• Lofoten Islands: the most beautiful landscapes. But seeing the aurora regularly is a stroke of luck or utopia, as you prefer. Seeing them once or twice during your stay is possible
• Iceland: we go there to take in the sights, and the northern lights are a bonus
• Finnmark: much less touristy, good weather, great scenery
• Swedish Lapland: a very good option, few crowds, good weather, it’s chilly!
• Finnish Lapland: much flatter, but very pretty. Good weather, very cold in winter. The north is closer to the auroral oval than the south, and less touristy