By Liam Isola Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena. To see it, you’re probably wondering: which countries can you see the Northern Lights in? It turns out there are only a few countries far enough north for regular sightings.
However, during periods of intense solar activity, they have been seen as far south as Honolulu, Hawaii, but that is an infrequent occurrence. You are most likely to see the Northern Lights in March and September due to the Equinoxes. The peak season runs from September to March, though.
So, right now is a great time to book a trip to one of the following countries:
Which Countries Can You See the Northern Lights in? – Norway
Svalbard is an archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, belonging to Norway. It is home to Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world with 1,000 or more inhabitants. With four months of total darkness at its highest latitudes, there are plenty of opportunities to view the Northern Lights.
On the Norwegian mainland, the countryside around Tromso is a great place to view the Aurora Borealis phenomenon. There are guided tours that take tourists to spots away from city lights to see the Northern Lights.
Tromso is one of the most accessible places to view the Northern Lights, as there are cheap direct flights to/from plenty of European cities.
Which Countries Can You See the Northern Lights in? – Sweden
The Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park claims it is the best place on earth to experience the Northern Lights. They aren’t too far off, as there is a distinct “blue hole” phenomenon, which allows for clear skies most of the time.
Kiruna is Sweden’s northernmost city, meaning there are plenty of tour operators for Northern Lights viewing experiences. The city is just 20 minutes away from the famous ICEHOTEL, constructed entirely of ice and snow. It’s also located in an area where it is possible to see the Northern Lights.
Which Countries Can You See the Northern Lights in? – Finland
The Finnish Lapland is the northernmost region in the country, and the best place to see the Northern Lights. Rovaniemi is the region’s capital city and the “official” home of Santa Claus. While it makes for a good visit, you’ll want to visit some smaller villages or remote places to see the Aurora Borealis.
Kilpisjärvi is a small village in the northwestern part of the country. From there, you have a 75 percent chance of seeing the Northern Lights on a clear night.
Saariselkä is three hours north of Rovaniemi and is a ski resort city. Kaunispää, a fell in the region, is an excellent viewing spot.
Iceland
All of Iceland is located within the auroral oval, where it is possible to see the Northern Lights. You’ll want to get away from the capital city Reykjavik, and into the country’s natural areas to see it, though.
Thingvellir National Park is under an hour away from Reykjavik. It’s also far enough away from the city lights to get in a good sighting.
At the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, in Iceland’s southeast, the Northern Lights reflect in the icy waters and make for stunning photo opportunities.
Reynisfjara Beach in Vik, on the south coast, is another top location to view the Northern Lights. The black sands from the beach make for a unique viewing experience.
USA
The only state in the USA where you can see the Northern Lights with any kind of consistency is Alaska. Fairbanks is directly under the auroral oval, making the area around it an ideal viewing location. About 20 miles north of the city, you can stay at the Aurora Borealis Lodge.
Denali National Park is one of the most remote places in the entire United States. That, combined with its location, makes it a good spot to catch the lights.
Nome is even farther north than Fairbanks and Denali. It also has fewer people and less light pollution than the former. There are regular flights to Nome from Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city.
You may also see the Northern Lights from Juneau, one of the most beautiful cities in the US. However, you’re more likely to see them in the aforementioned places.
Russia
It’s only natural that the largest country in the world has quite a few spots to see the Northern Lights. The most accessible place to do so is Murmansk, which is the world’s largest city located above the Arctic Circle. Murmansk, with flights to cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, has around 279k people.
It’s a good base for Aurora Borealis tours, as there are more remote locations elsewhere on the Kola Peninsula. Teriberka, on the Barents Sea coast, is one such place.
Arkhangelsk is another Russian city above the Arctic Circle with remote locations surrounding it.
The truly adventurous can head into Siberia, which is way more inaccessible and remote. There might be less potential for cloud cover on the Kola Peninsula, anyway.
Canada
As the USA’s northern neighbor, it’s no surprise that you can see the Northern Lights from Canada. In fact, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, is one of the best places in the entire world to see the lights.
You have a 95-98 percent chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis if you stay for three nights or more during the winter. With flights from Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver, it’s quite accessible.
Two other towns where there are frequent sightings are Whitehorse and Churchill. The former is in the Yukon Territory, while the latter, the Polar Bear capital of Canada, is in Manitoba.
Jasper National Park is another potential site to see the lights, as it is one of the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserves. You can also combine it with a visit to Banff National Park, which is also in Alberta.
Which Countries Can You See the Northern Lights in? – Greenland (Denmark)
While not technically a country, Greenland is a self-governing territory within Denmark. Still, it is one of the absolute best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, so it couldn’t be omitted from the list.
You can consistently see the Northern Lights from Kangerlussuaq, a town in Western Greenland. That’s because it has quite a stable climate and clear skies most of the time.
The entire Disko Bay area provides an awe-inspiring environment to witness the Northern Lights. Here, icebergs dot the bay and will be illuminated by the Aurora. Ilulissat, with its massive icefjord, is the best place in the area to see the phenomenon.
Nuuk is Greenland’s capital and the most accessible city in the country. You can also see the lights from here, especially if you venture a bit outside of the city.
Which Countries Can You See the Northern Lights in? – Scotland
The best places in the United Kingdom to view the Northern Lights are in Scotland. More specifically, in Scotland’s northern islands. The Shetland Islands, Scotland’s northernmost islands, are directly in the auroral oval.
You can also view the phenomenon on the Orkney Islands and the Outer Hebrides archipelago. On the mainland, Cairngorms National Park is one option.
Still, the lights aren’t as consistent in Scotland as the other places on this list. That means, you’ll need favorable solar conditions (high Kp index).
Which Countries Can You See the Northern Lights in? – Others
We’ve discussed the countries where you’re most likely to see the Northern Lights, but there are plenty of others where it’s possible to see them. However, it depends on how strong geomagnetic storms are.
You’ll need a Kp of 5-7 to see the Northern Lights from places like Ireland, Estonia, and Latvia. When the Kp is high enough you can also see it from as far south as Nashville, Tennessee!