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- TROMSO and its region
- SENJA Island
- ALTA and Finnmark
- LOFOTEN Islands
- Swedish Lapland – Kiruna & Abisko
- Finnish Lapland – Levi, Kittila, Inari, Saariselkä
- Finnish Lapland – Rovaniemi
- Iceland
- United States and Canada
- Is it possible to see the Northern Lights in other places?
- 5 tips for viewing the Northern Lights
- In conclusion
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 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 favorite places to see the aurora.
Let’s go!
In that 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. Svalbard, for example, is too far north, while Bergen is too far south.
- Weather
- Is the weather generally favorable 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. On the other hand, 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 short, for me, it’s the best destination, because even when the weather’s bad, you can drive for hours to escape the clouds, driving to Finland, going to remote valleys, and so on. 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, as you can see with the accommodations in Tromso
SENJA Island
Senja is my favorite 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’ll 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 center. If there’s no other possibility 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 favorite)
- superb scenery
- very little light pollution
- few tourists
- different weather between the fjords and the center, so you can escape the clouds
- few infrastructures
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:
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”.
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! 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:
- few infrastructures for aurora borealis viewing
- a few big cities to stay away from because of light pollution
- less stunning scenery than the west coast (Lofoten, Senja, Tromso), but nice nonetheless.
LOFOTEN Islands
We’re talking about some of the most beautiful landscapes in Norway, and some of the most beautiful in the world. In fact, even though I go there regularly, it’s always an enchantment, and I always get an eyeful.
But… 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 quite different.
What’s more, the geography of the Lofoten Islands is quite special. There are lots of mountains and a very urbanized 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’ll tell you where the best places to see the Northern Lights are in the Lofoten Islands, 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
Swedish Lapland – Kiruna & Abisko
It’s hardly ever talked about, even though the Finnish part of the country is a leading destination for auroras (we’ll talk about it next).
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 bad up there. And it’s true that on the Swedish side, there’s a sort of micro-climate, and the weather is often better. But as it’s less touristy, there’s less infrastructure, fewer people and less light pollution. Which is not bad.
Kiruna is a big city, but it’s 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
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 country’s most popular tourist destinations, and one of the best places to see the Northern Lights and to ski most 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 favorable. As the region is so large, you can travel many kilometers 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 on something very different from Norway or Iceland, which have much more relief. But that’s easily one of the best places to enjoy the northern lights.
Advantages:
- better location for auroras than southern Lapland
- rather favorable 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
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.
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, so yes, but it’s still located far south. It’s very good, but not as good as the others mentioned above, which are really under the auroral oval.
After that, we go there for the fact that everything is well organized, everything is easy. And the forecast is normally good.
Advantages :
- almost everything revolves around the Northern Lights
- lots of activities, especially in winter
- the weather is generally favorable
- little light pollution outside the city
Disadvantages:
- we’re pretty far south, below the auroral oval
- the city is quite touristy
- it’s flat!
4 recommended accommodations in Rovaniemi
Iceland
Let’s move and go to Iceland! Iceland is beautiful. But really. An island unlike anything you’ve ever seen, with unique landscapes. Fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, all at the same time.
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.
Iceland’s main difficulty 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 altogether very often. In short, we’re not spoiled! And the weather isn’t localized like in Norway, where you can get something different a fjord away.
On the other hand, 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 center. It all adds up to a multitude of possibilities!
As far as infrastructure is concerned, there are quite a few guides around Reykjavik, often in Reykjanes, rarely on the south coast.
So I’d say we’re going 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
- I’ve already mentioned the weather?
United States and Canada
In Canada, there are possibilities but it’s going to take a bit of time. Churchill, Manitoba, is the polar bear capital of Canada. And on top of that, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights – not bad!
However, you’ll have to contend with some really bitter cold, as will Yellowknife and Whitehorse in the Northwest Territories, 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 U.S. 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 a lot of money 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).
After all, 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. And if you move, Alaskan landscapes are incredibles! I would suggest to go there during autumn, less cold, landscapes, northern lights, lost in the wild. Perfect!
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 May 11, 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 of strong activity.
5 tips for viewing the Northern Lights
In the following article I’ll explain all about the Northern Lights, but here are 5 tips to optimize your chances of seeing them:
- 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.
- Be patient: we don’t know when the Northern Lights will appear. It could be at 7pm or midnight. So 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 French. So you need to move to where the sky is clearer. Sometimes that can be quite far. From Tromso it’s sometimes a 3-hour drive.
- anticipate: you need to know where to go depending on the weather, but also on light pollution, power cables, road traffic, and all the other things that can spoil an aurora evening. You need to know WHERE and WHEN the clouds will be, not just at the moment, but how they will move. For that, use the ventusky website and cloud coverage.
- 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, make sure you’re dressed for the cold! It’s better to have too much than too little. Take hot drinks.
In conclusion
There, I think I’ve said it all! 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. Funny weather.
- Finnmark: much less touristy, good weather, great scenery.
- Swedish Lapland: a very good option, few crowds, good weather, very cold!
- 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.
