The 5 best places to see the Northern Lights
Where are the five best places to see the beautiful Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, also called polar lights or Aurora Polaris, mainly occur, as the name suggests, in the Arctic and Antarctic. These auroras are a meteorological phenomenon in which solar winds cause a disturbance in the magnetosphere. As a result, protons and electrons are blown away from the sun at a supersonic velocity of 300-1000 km/s. The slowed and heated plasma interacts with the magnetosphere and can result in these auroras. This curious occurrence then manifests itself in patterns of brilliant light rays or light curtains which flicker across the sky.
This all too magical event is not difficult to spot, but it is rather challenging to find a spot from where to witness it. You may not have seen it yourself, but maybe you have seen images like the one shown above. So, we will introduce you to the five best places to watch the red, blue, green, or purple lights in the sky.
Generally speaking, it is best to hunt after this impressive visual phenomenon in the wintertime. Below, we will tell you which specific month is your best shot for each location. Of course, auroras are not easy to predict, and as it is a visual phenomenon in the clouds, it depends on the weather, too. There are some places, though, where the chance is still high that the night sky might be turned into a magical show by these mysterious and colorful waves of light.
#1 Reykjavik, Iceland
Maybe you have already thought of this place when you clicked on the article. If so, you were right to do so. Iceland is definitely one of the top places to watch the Northern Lights. Even here, though, you best go to a specific spot to have your special experience of an aurora. There is a hill called Öskjuhlíð, which is right in the center of Reykjavik. With its 61 meters above sea level, it is not only slightly higher than its surrounding fields, but it is also secluded enough to be a place with very little light pollution.
You could watch this fantastic video about the northern lights in Iceland.
#2 Shetland, Scotland
The Shetland Islands are the most northern region of the United Kingdom and therefore belong to the best places on earth to watch the Northern Lights. But, again, it is mostly in autumn and winter that you have the chance to catch a glimpse of them. Your best bet is from the end of October to the beginning of March. We recommend Lerwick, a city with roughly 7,000 citizens. It is the most northerly town in Scotland. It has only a few hours of daylight in the winter and relatively little light pollution.
#3 Yellowknife, Canada
The only city in Canada’s Northwest Territories has about 19,000 inhabitants, and tourism is one of their primary industries. The Yellowknife Crest symbolically hints at the reason for this by including a depiction of the Northern Lights. The city’s official website even claims it “is the best place in the world to view the aurora borealis” and recommends “mid-November to the beginning of April” as an optimal period to visit and watch the Northern Lights. The website even refers you to an Aurora Forecast for Yellowknife. In addition, it informs about the Northern Lighthouses, which “alert visitors and residents when an active aurora is in the evening forecast”. That way you can be sure not to miss an aurora when traveling to Yellowknife.
#4 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
One of the easiest places to travel to, where you can see the Northern Lights, is Greenland. The biggest airport in Greenland is to be found in Kangerlussuaq. So, after your flight, you are immediately at a place where you can watch the “dawn of the north”. September and April are the best months to travel for a chance to view this shimmering spectacle.
#5 Lapland, Finland
Another top tip is the northernmost region of Finland: Lapland. The further north you travel through Lapland, the higher your chances of getting a view of the Northern Lights because the northern areas are less populated. These regions are close to the aurora oval as well, also called the aurora belt, where these lights originate. Regarding the time of year, we recommend September and October as well as February and March, because during these months the sun’s activity is the strongest. If you want to know more about this region, the Northern Lights, or the locals’ stories and beliefs regarding them, have a look at Backpackertrail’s article about the Northern Lights in Finland.
Final Thoughts
The Northern Lights are a visual phenomenon that takes only about half an hour at the most. However, it is still well worth the wait and your patience. You have to look for them at nightly hours and mainly in the colder months of the year because those are the only times the auroras are visible. The five places we mentioned are not only top destinations for the chance of an aurora sighting but also offer you a spectacular view of them. It matters a lot where you try to watch the Northern Lights because your position, the duration of the night, and the degree of light pollution can all influence your experience. We wish you good luck and hope you will get to see these magnificent dancing lights!