Best Places in Europe to See the Northern Lights

The elusive Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis) have made it onto many a traveler’s bucket list due to the exclusivity and stunning display. Hopeful sightseers know they have to attempt a sighting at specific times of the year when the weather conditions are just right and only in locations void of any artificial light (i.e., far away from cities). Thus, catching the Northern Lights in person can be a difficult feat. When in Europe, here are the best spots to try to spy the natural phenomenon.

Akureyri, Iceland

The southern coastal capital of Reykjavik, Iceland, may seem like an obvious place to start a search for the Northern Lights, but escaping the city’s lights ups your chances of a sighting. Head north to smaller towns like Akureyri where local tour companies take you out to remote locations for the best visible opportunities.

Svalbard, Norway

This Norwegian archipelago located between Norway’s northern coast and the North Pole puts you on the border of the Arctic Ocean, making it difficult to get much farther north anywhere else on the planet. Visit during the dark winters when sunlight is scarce and reindeer roam the landscape.

Lapland, Finland

Hire a dogsled and roam the empty tundra of Lapland, Finland’s northernmost region where the Northern Lights are visible nearly 200 days each year.

Caithness Coast, Scotland

While most consider Scandinavia to be the best choice to catch Aurora Borealis, the northern coast of Scotland should not be ruled out. Its latitude and landscape are similar to its neighbors, but civilized towns are not as far away.