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World’s Best Places to View the Auroras

Watching a wondrous celestial ballet is a must on any adventurer’s travel wishlist. When polar lights dance across the sky, it seems magic. Scientists explain that this otherworldly show is due to solar wind—the charged particles of the sun cause disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field. It is best visible in latitudes above 55° and only in the darkest nights from fall to spring. We can't promise you'll spot the elusive Aurora, but we can direct you to the places with the highest chance of a display.

Europe

The Nordic countries are ideal for chasing the northern lights. Just north of the Arctic Circle, the aurora borealis consistently appears between September and April. You're most likely to get lucky in Ilulissat (Greenland), Tromsø (Norway), and Reykjavik (Iceland). Finnish and Swedish Lapland are also popular choices. The odds of catching the lights dramatically decrease south of the arctic circle, but can occasionally be seen in Denmark, Ireland, and Scotland from October to March.

Northern Lights in Iceland
Iceland, September–mid-April A
Northern Lights in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands, late September–early March B
Northern Lights
Sweden, September–MarchC
Northern or Polar Lights in Norway
Norway, late September–late MarchD
Northern Lights in Finland
Finland, September–MarchE
Northern Lights
Svalbard, September–late MarchF
Northern Lights
Scotland, October–MarchG
Northern Lights
The United Kingdom, late September–mid-MarchH
Northern Lights in Ireland
Ireland, September–March I
Northern Lights in Denmark
Denmark, September–early April J
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North America

Alaska, USA is the best place to enjoy the northern lights in North America. Aurora frequently lights up the sky in Fairbanks from September through mid-April. There’s a higher chance of seeing the natural phenomenon in the northern provinces of Canada, however, these areas are so remote that they are difficult to reach and have little to no infrastructure for travelers. Occasionally during the darkest period of winter season, northern lights can be seen in Quebec and Ontario. Even Banff and Vancouver can see the marvellous spectacle once in a blue moon.

Northern Lights in Greenland
Greenland, September–early AprilA
Northern Lights
Quebec, October–MarchB
Northern Lights in Alaska
Alaska, late August–late AprilC
Northern Lights
Banff & Jasper National Parks, September–AprilD
Northern Lights
Vancouver, December–MarchE
Northern Lights in Ontario
Ontario, September–March F
Northern Lights
Maine, December–February G
Northern Lights
Michigan, August–April (all year round)H
Northern Lights in Minnesota
Minnesota, September–FebruaryI
Northern Lights
Vermont, September–MarchJ
Northern Lights
Wisconsin, September–March K
Northern Lights in Glacier National Park
Montana, November–MarchL
Northern Lights in New Hampshire
New Hampshire, September–MarchM
Northern Lights in Idaho
Idaho, September–MarchN
Northern Lights
Oregon, late August–mid-AprilO
Northern Lights
Ottawa, October–MarchP
Northern Lights
British Columbia, August–AprilQ
Northern Lights in Yellowknife
Northwest Territories, mid-November–early AprilR
Northern Lights in Alberta
Alberta, September–MayS
Northern Lights in Calgary
Calgary, September–JulyT
Northern Lights in Edmonton
Edmonton, September–April U
Northern Lights
Yukon, November–MarchV
Northern Lights
Saskatchewan, October–late March W
Northern Lights
Nova Scotia, September–MarchX
Northern Lights
Manitoba, January–March Y
Northern Lights
Winnipeg, September–MarchZ
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Oceania

Aurora chasers in the southern hemisphere have fewer locations from which to enjoy the celestial lights. The two most popular destinations to see Aurora Australis are the southern tip of New Zealand and Tasmania. Rarely polar lights reach the south of Australia's mainland around Apollo Bay, Victoria. Southern lights boast a greater palette of hues with pink, yellow, purple, and gold, while northern lights are mostly green. Here, the polar lights are more likely to appear during the southern winter, between April and September. In Tasmania, however, the phenomenon can occur throughout the year.

Aurora Australis
New Zealand, March–SeptemberA
Aurora Australis or Southern Lights
Tasmania, May–August (all year round)B
Southern Lights or Aurora Australis
Australia, May–September C
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Aurora Australis
New Zealand, March–SeptemberA
Northern Lights in Greenland
Greenland, September–early AprilB
Northern Lights in Iceland
Iceland, September–mid-April C
Northern Lights in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands, late September–early March D
Northern Lights
Sweden, September–MarchE
Northern or Polar Lights in Norway
Norway, late September–late MarchF
Northern Lights in Finland
Finland, September–MarchG
Northern Lights
Quebec, October–MarchH
Northern Lights
Svalbard, September–late MarchI
Aurora Australis or Southern Lights
Tasmania, May–August (all year round)J
Northern Lights in Alaska
Alaska, late August–late AprilK
Northern Lights
Scotland, October–MarchL
Northern Lights
The United Kingdom, late September–mid-MarchM
Northern Lights in Ireland
Ireland, September–March N
Northern Lights
Banff & Jasper National Parks, September–AprilO
Northern Lights
Vancouver, December–MarchP
Northern Lights in Denmark
Denmark, September–early April Q
Southern Lights or Aurora Australis
Australia, May–September R
Northern Lights in Ontario
Ontario, September–March S
Northern Lights
Maine, December–February T
Northern Lights
Michigan, August–April (all year round)U
Northern Lights in Minnesota
Minnesota, September–FebruaryV
Northern Lights
Vermont, September–MarchW
Northern Lights
Wisconsin, September–March X
Northern Lights in Glacier National Park
Montana, November–MarchY
Northern Lights in New Hampshire
New Hampshire, September–MarchZ
Northern Lights in Idaho
Idaho, September–MarchAA
Northern Lights
Oregon, late August–mid-AprilAB
Northern Lights
Ottawa, October–MarchAC
Northern Lights
British Columbia, August–AprilAD
Northern Lights in Yellowknife
Northwest Territories, mid-November–early AprilAE
Northern Lights in Alberta
Alberta, September–MayAF
Northern Lights in Calgary
Calgary, September–JulyAG
Northern Lights in Edmonton
Edmonton, September–April AH
Northern Lights
Yukon, November–MarchAI
Northern Lights
Saskatchewan, October–late March AJ
Northern Lights
Nova Scotia, September–MarchAK
Northern Lights
Manitoba, January–March AL
Northern Lights
Winnipeg, September–MarchAM
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