Wondering the best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe? Trying to find that PERFECT European location where you can open your door and see the Aurora Borealis twinkling overhead each night? We’ve got you covered- here are the most beautiful places in Europe to visit to increase your chances of seeing the Northern lights!
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Best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see the Northern lights, either in Europe or elsewhere, you’ll know that they are BREATHTAKING.
Seriously, seriously spectacular.
Which I’m guessing you already know, or want to know, if you’re trying to find the best places to see the majestic Aurora Borealis.
In this post, we’re going to share the best places in Europe to see the Northern Lights, plus do our best to help you see them, by sharing the four main rules that the experts say to follow if you want to see the Northern Lights in Europe (more on those below)
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Where is the best place to see Northern Lights in Europe?
I hate to start this post off with some frustrating news, but if you’re wondering where in Europe can you see the Northern Lights, you need to know one thing first: there is NO one best place to see the Northern Lights.
They are a moving natural phenomenon and only occur in the high latitudes in both hemispheres. Their appearance is based on many factors of the Earth’s atmosphere (most of which I don’t pretend to understand!) but the important thing to know is that they are NOT there all the time and where they appear can change each night, or even throughout the night.
Therefore, the ‘best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe’ is impossible to pinpoint. This is exactly the same as the Aurora Australis in the Southern Hemisphere for the southern lights in New Zealand and Australia.
That said, there are some places where your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Europe increase dramatically and they are consistently the best places to visit. These are mostly inside the Arctic circle (although not often immediately above the poles.)
Of course, you can also see the Northern Lights in other places in the high latitudes of the Northern hemisphere, like Alaska, Greenland or Fairbanks in Canada, but we’re focussing on Europe for this post.
Pro Tips to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Europe
There are four main rules that the experts follow if you want to increase the possibilities of seeing the Northern Lights in Europe:
- Get North of the Arctic Circle (between October and March)
- Get inland, away from the sea. National Parks and mountains are good because they help keep the sky clear
- Be flexible. I know this is not easy, if you are booking a holiday, but if you do have the option to be flexible and travel where the forecast has the best prediction or where the skies will be clearer, you’ll increase your chances of success a lot!
- Be PATIENT– and accept that it’s a gamble. There is NEVER any guarantee of seeing the Aurora in any place, no matter how hard you try. Patience is key.
Where can you see the Northern Lights in Europe?
Having said all the above, don’t stick to the rules too rigidly.
We’ve been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on 7 separate nights. In fact, out of the 8 nights we’ve spent Aurora hunting, only one was unsuccessful. We’ve been very lucky- and we’ve broken rule number 2 pretty much all the time.
Our first trip was a Hurtigruten cruise from Tromsø up the Norwegian coast, past Nordkapp and to the Russian border. It was a fantastic adventure and ticked so many things off my bucket list!
It was a great trip since this is easily one of the best European cities to visit in winter and we spent every night sitting on deck in FREEZING temperatures, watching the Aurora swirl overhead and reflect on the sea. It was utterly magical.
The second time was in Iceland. We flew in to Reykjavik and stayed in a small hotel on the South Coast, and saw the Aurora 3 out of 4 nights while we explored some of the best waterfalls in Europe.
We rented a car in Iceland, so drove miles into the wilderness to enjoy the show without any light pollution at all! It was pretty awesome.
Both times, we chose our trip based on a possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, but with other attractions which allowed us to have a good holiday regardless. Personally, I think that is the best plan.
Going to any of these places is expensive- and you don’t want to leave disappointed. So pick somewhere where there is something else awesome to do (like motorhome skiing in the Alps!) as you chase the Northern Lights in Europe.
RELATED: Bizarre Customs and traditions in Europe that you’ve never heard of!
What’s the best month to see the Northern Lights in Europe?
The best time to see the Northern Lights in Europe and the best Northern Lights months are October- March, when north of the Arctic Circle. The sun sets very early up here, which allows plenty of darkness to give the lights a chance to show up.
Many people say Autumn or Spring are the best times– winter is almost TOO cold.
Both times we’ve been has been March, but we know many people who’ve seen them in other months- it really is luck of the draw and why the best month for the Northern Lights can sometimes vary.
Practical tips for Photographing Aurora and seeing the Northern Lights in Europe
- Check the weather forecast- you’re looking for clear skies. There are also some websites which share reports of solar activity and the likelihood of you seeing the Aurora each night.
- Get far away from cities and other light pollution, including roads
- Allow about 30 minutes of darkness for your eye to adjust to the night – making it easier to do some personal aurora photography.
- Try and find a location with an open view towards the North- the Aurora tends to show over the North Pole
- Mountains and/ or lakes are perfect backdrops for AMAZING photos when photographing Aurora
- After Twilight or just before dawn are common times for the Aurora to show up and are usually the best time of day to see Northern Lights
- Wrap up warmly- you’re going to be outside for a while
- Learn how to use your camera and research settings beforehand so you can set it up quickly for Aurora photography
- Take a tripod for steady photos
Where to see the Northern Lights in Europe
The places below are the best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe and come highly recommended by hundreds of travellers. Of course, there are other places where you can see the Northern Lights in Europe- that’s part of the fun!
I’ve heard stories about them being visible as far south as Manchester, England on some (rare!) occasions!
Northern Lights Finland
Finland has recently become one of the most popular Northern Lights destinations in Europe. It’s also one of the first places in Europe that the Aurora tends to be visible- sometimes as early as mid-August!
Rovaniemi, Finland is the home of Santa (no, seriously) and is also one of the most popular places for Northern Light hunters.
While looking for the Rovaniemi Northern Lights, you can even stay in log or glass igloos/ cabins specially built in areas away from light pollution to allow you a better chance of seeing them from your doorstep!
Finland has a low population ratio, so has beautiful dark skies free from light pollution, plenty of stunning scenery including lakes to reflect the Aurora and a warmer temperature until November.
(Those lakes are also the perfect spot to try out ice fishing in Finland– you might even be able to do it while watching the Finland Northern Lights overhead!)
In general, the chance of seeing the Rovaniemi Northern Lights on clear nights as around 40%, which may not sound like much but is actually very good!
Best time to visit Finland and see the Finland Northern Lights
September- November (before the big snowfalls arrive. Snow= cloud= not much chance to see the sky! Spring (March/ April) can be good too- but the skies get lighter quicker so there is less time.
Seeing the Northern Lights in Finland – How to get there
There are direct flights to Rovaniemi airport (Santa’s airport!) from UK and Europe during the winter.
Northern Lights Sweden
Kiruna, Sweden
Sweden is the least populated country in Northern Europe. Which means less light pollution. Which means more chance to see the Aurora Borealis in all its glory.
Sweden also enjoys a fairly mild temperature until mid-November, which means clearer skies. Which means more chance to see the Aurora Borealis in all its glory.
Kiruna is famous for the amazing Ice Hotel which is built each year. You can stay in one of the rooms, or just visit for a tour. It’s also one of the best European cities to visit in Europe in winter.
Abisko, Sweden
But if you REALLY want to increase your chances of seeing the Sweden Northern Lights, then head north from Kiruna to the little town of Abisko and the Abisko National Park.
This pretty place is VERY remote, but is in the mountains, whose winds help to keep the skies clear but also to regulate the temperatures. And the total lack of light pollution means even weak Aurora displays can be seen here. That’s why Abisko is easily one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe.
Abisko also has the Aurora Sky Station , which is an open chair lift taking you up to an observation lounge and restaurant on a mountaintop, where you can watch the Aurora whilst enjoying a 4-course meal. Wrap up warmly, but the views of the Abisko Northern Lights are SPECTACULAR!
Best time to Visit Sweden and See the Sweden Northern Lights?
September to end of March
Other activities to enjoy
Husky sledding, tours photographing Aurora in the long polar night, Swedish Lapland tour, snowshoeing, skimobiles or relaxing in beautiful log chalets, far away from the world!
Getting there
There are daily flights to Stockholm from the UK and Europe and from there you can get a flight to Kiruna. You can also get a train from Stockholm, including the night train which just sounds like fun! Or, you could always road trip there use this post for some awesome road trip ideas in Europe.
To get to Abisko, you will need to use the train or bus from Kiruna.
Northern Lights Iceland- one of the cheapest places to see the Northern Lights in Europe
Iceland is a cool destination in its own right- the fact that you might see the Iceland Northern Lights as well is just an added bonus! It’s also one of the cheapest places to see the Northern Lights in Europe.
Don’t expect huge snowdrifts- but the lack of snow clouds is one of the reasons you get such high viewing stats in Iceland – making it one of the best places to see Northern Lights in Europe.
Again, the Gulf Stream works its magical magic (technical term) and somehow the temperatures are slightly warmer than they should be. All those volcanoes also help keep the temperatures warmer too!
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still cold in winter, but get away from the cities and you’ve got a great chance of seeing the Iceland Northern Lights.
Best time to visit Iceland and See the Iceland Northern Lights?
October to end of March. Autumn and Spring are considered the best times.
Other activities to enjoy
Rent a car and do your own tour- a 4×4 is a great idea! Otherwise, book onto several tours to visit Geysers, Volcanoes, Glaciers, Waterfalls, boat cruises and the Blue Lagoon (which we DIDN’T do when we went and we regret it. So now we have to go back!)
Getting to Iceland
There are frequent flights to Rekyjavik from the UK and Europe.
Northern Lights Norway
Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard is a group of islands north of the Northern coast of Norway. It’s the northernmost inhabited place in Europe and it’s famous for its polar bears.
Svalbard lies in the Arctic Ocean halfway between Norway and the North Pole. It’s remote, desolate and a perfect place to see Norway Northern Lights!
It’s covered in untouched glaciers, HUGE mountains and a wide range of wildlife (although in winter much of it will be hibernating or hiding!
During the summer, the sun never sets in Svalbard, and during the winter (November to February), there is NO daylight. None.
This is why you stand such a great chance of seeing the Svalbard Northern Lights – it could literally appear at any time of the day or night.
In October and February, you will experience a twilight and ‘dawn’ with blue light, which is also amazing to see. (Here are some other ideas for great places to see in Europe in October)
Other things to do in Svalbard besides see the Svalbard Northern Lights
Dog sledding; Snowmobiling; Glacial Ice caving; Snow-shoeing; photographing Aurora tours and general Aurora hunting tours
Getting to Svalbard
Svalbard has the world’s most northern airport accepting scheduled flights. The most common route is from Oslo which takes 3 hours- not many places in UK or Europe have scheduled flights to Longyearbyen.
NOTE: You WILL need a passport or other Government-issued ID to get to Svalbard.
Tromso, Norway
Tromso is the largest city in Northern Norway. It’s north of the Arctic circle and, although it’s on the sea, it’s surrounded by fjords and mountains which help keep the sky clear AND give an amazing backdrop for the Tromso Norway Northern Lights to show off on.
For best views, try to get out of the city for the evening- there are LOADS of Tromso Northern Lights tour options which allow you to do this! Alternatively, if you’re touring Norway in a motorhome or campervan, be sure to stay well away from built-up areas on clear nights.
Best time to visit Norway and see the Norway Northern Lights?
September- April
Other activities to enjoy in Tromso
Dog sledding; Snowmobile tours; Polar bear museum and in January there is the Northern Lights Festival– a music festival showcasing local and international artists ranging from classical to jazz!
Getting to Tromso
Plenty of direct flights to Tromso from UK and Europe. There’s also a train from Oslo, where you can enjoy some of these breathtaking places to see in southern Norway and you could extend your stay to visit the famous Lofoten Islands.
Northern Lights Scotland
Where can you see the Northern Lights in Europe? Shetland, Scotland
Can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland?
Absolutely! And the best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland is in the Shetlands.
The Shetlands are one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland. The Arctic Circle is just 650 miles north and winter is DARK.
The Shetland Islands are an archipelago of more than 100 islands, sitting between Norway and Scotland. They’re technically closer to Norway than Scotland, so they’re not exactly next to the Scotland Mainland, which you may be exploring as part of this unmissable Scotland itinerary!
15 of the Shetland Isles are inhabited and, although they are very remote, they have a unique culture and heritage, with lots of Viking museums and memorabilia to explore whilst you’re waiting for the Aurora to show up and doing some scenic drives in Scotland.
Best Place to See Northern Lights in Scotland and How to get to Shetland
There’s a ferry, but I really don’t fancy those stormy winter seas! The best way is by plane from either Bergen in Norway or several airports in Scotland.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Switzerland
The short (and somewhat surprising answer!) is that yes, you can see Switzerland Northern Lights. But not often.
Occasionally the Aurora Borealis is so strong that it will reach all the way south and you can see the Northern Lights in Switzerland. But there is no way to predict when this will happen and it happens very VERY rarely (every few years or so.)
So don’t book your trip to Switzerland based on that. (But do still go- Switzerland is AMAZING!)
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about road trips & campervanning in Switzerland
So, where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Europe?
Wherever you are and they are at the same time! Seeing them is breathtaking and unforgettable. I sincerely hope you get that chance!
Safe travels as you travel to the best places to see Northern Lights in Europe – and let me know how you get on!
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