5 Places to Admire the Northern Lights

“I followed my heart, and it led me to the Northern Lights.”

Referred to as the most incredible show on Earth, the Northern Lights is the place to catch a glimpse of Nature’s spectacular beauty. There is no beauty except watching the sky move and dance in a different vision of colors that is one of the world’s most extraordinary sights. The Aurora Borealis appears in a ring around the Arctic, commonly known as the Auroral Oval, as the areas under this oval include Lapland, Iceland, Northern Canada, and Alaska. The best times to see the Northern Lights are between September and April, where the nights are the longest and skies are darkest. If you are fortunate enough, you can get to see the swirls of pink, red, and purple with more green lights.

If you want to get the best places to watch or admire the Northern Lights, here is my list!

Abisko, Arctic Sweden

The mountain resort of Abisko is located about 100 kilometers into the Arctic Circle, the best place in Sweden to see more than just a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Abisko is the driest place in the country, making it possible to observe the Northern Lights without clouds – some even consider it the best place in the world to watch this incredible natural phenomenon.
Thanks to the sky’s clarity, the Northern Lights can often be seen clearly from Abisko’s observation platform at the top of the mountain. Abisko is also close to the famous Ice Hotel, where you can curl up in a suit made entirely of hand-carved ice.
During the day, put on your skis to tackle Abisko’s cross-country trails and challenging off-piste areas. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are also popular. If it seems too energetic, sit back and let a husky musher guide you through the white wilderness, or try leading your dog team.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

The Lofoten Islands in northern Norway are one of the best places in the world to see the lights, which dance in the sky like a conductor’s baton. Wild and isolated, the archipelago is located 170 km north of the Arctic Circle. Increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights by staying for a week and booking a photographic trip with Lofoten Tours.

Lofoten is also home to the world’s northernmost surfing resort, Unstad – as you probably know from watching the TV series Twin. But if arctic surfing (brrr) under the lights doesn’t appeal to you, you can spend your days kayaking among the otters, whale watching, or fishing for mackerel or hake.

Stay at the Nusfjord Arctic Resort and soak in its outdoor spa overlooking Nusjford Harbour as the lights swirl above you.

Lake Laberge, Yukon Territory, Canada

In the Yukon Territory, Lake Laberge is a pristine wilderness area of pure beauty in northwestern Canada. Cathers Wilderness Adventures is a family-owned and operated business that offers tours with a few log cabins on the lake’s east side. Off-grid, once night falls, the houses are lit by candles, making them the perfect place to see first-hand the Northern Lights reflected in the glassy lake.

During the day, you can explore the surrounding forest on a sled pulled by dogs, which you can learn to steer yourself. You can also swim in Whitehorse’s mineral-rich hot springs, Yukon’s capital, and its only city, a 40-minute drive away. With approximately 30,000, Whitehorse has fascinating museums and offers a glimpse into the Yukon Gold Rush era.

Rovaniemi, Finland

Capital of northern Finland and gateway to Lapland, Rovaniemi boasts some 200 nights of the world’s most famous light show. Residents of the town say that the Northern Lights appear every three clear nights, which means that observation is very likely. The airport, which is the northernmost in Finland, is also known as Santa Claus’ airport, where he is said to park his sleigh.

On a reindeer safari at the nearby Salla Reindeer Park, you can feed calves and help guide a herd to a campfire under the stars. Meanwhile, the Arctic Snow Hotel organizes snow sculpting workshops and excursions to Lake Lehtojarvi, where you can fish in holes in the ice. You can also bake flatbread at a local house, go snowshoeing and ride electric snowmobiles through the forest.

You can sleep in one of the hotel’s glass igloos for a 360-degree view of the lights in a comfortable setting. You can also watch them from an outdoor Jacuzzi before relaxing in an ice-walled sauna.

Iceland

As long as you are far from the lights of Reykjavik, Iceland is one of the best places on the planet to see the aurora.

Head north to Akureyri and take a boat tour of the Eyjafjörður fjord, 100 km from the Arctic Circle. Even if you are not lucky enough to see the aurora borealis, you may see whales with a little luck. During limited daylight hours, dive in the natural baths of Myvatn, an outdoor geothermal lagoon located between Lake Myvatn and Dettifoss waterfall. Stay at the Kjarnalundur Hotel near Akureyri and enjoy the lights of the outdoor hot baths.

You can also book a stay at Hotel Ranga, in the rural south of the island, which has a rooftop observatory. Northern Lights experts run it – and the staff will wake you up in the middle of the night if the display is good.