


Aim for wide open spaces with no artificial lighting and hope for cloudless skies. Widely known as the best region for northern lights viewing in Finland, Lapland provides good viewing opportunities from just about anywhere within its bounds, thanks to its setting above the Arctic Circle. Outside Tromso, it’s considered one of the best spots in the world for northern lights viewing. Yes, Svalbard is known first and foremost for its polar bears, but don’t forego a trip to this remote archipelago halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, to view the merry dancing sky. The polar lights are particularly beautiful when set against this stark landscape (which also happens to be a mecca for birders). If it’s north you want, it’s north you’ll get in Nordkapp-the tip of mainland Norway (Svalbard is the only land mass left between you and the Arctic). The dancing lights flicker on the water as you watch from a boat or on the shoreline of the Lofotens-a serene archipelago known for its quaint fishing villages. Get a new perspective on the aurora borealis-from sea, not land.
#Finland northern lights plus#
You’ll get comfy accommodations, plus one of the best locations for viewing the stellar spectacle above you. The hotel is rebuilt entirely out of snow and ice each season, so your stay will never be the same as the year before. If you’re seeking a one-of-a-kind Norway northern lights hotel, stay the night in Kirkenes, near the Russian border.
#Finland northern lights free#
Many northern lights expeditions start from here, taking you out to spots completely free of light pollution. Due to its small size and charming character, it’s just as fun to poke around during the day as it is to stay into the evening to view the mesmerizing light show.

Known as the “Capital of the Arctic,” Tromso is widely considered one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights. If it’s prime viewing in these Nordic countries you seek, here’s where to go: Norway Tromso While Greenland, Iceland and Sweden also fall into this zone, for our purposes, we’ll focus on Norway and Finland. Technically speaking, these countries are in the “Aurora Zone,” also known as the “Northern Lights Belt,” at 65 to 72 degrees north in latitude, just inside the Arctic Circle. When it comes to the best places to see the northern lights, Norway and Finland top the list, thanks to their extreme northern location and lack of light pollution. Such a spectacular natural phenomenon has the power to stop one in their tracks, bringing them face to face with a raw and elemental sight-that epic and soul-stirring moment so many of us seek throughout our travels.Īnd yet… never has the idea of “being in the right place at the right time” mattered as much as when figuring out where and when to see the Aurora Borealis. Witnessing the dancing glow of the northern lights sits atop many adventure-minded travelers’ bucket lists.
