Top 5: Places to See the Northern Lights in March

Travelers have been heading north more so in recent years for a chance to spot the stunning and often elusive natural phenomenon known as the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. This month, the earth will experience the vernal equinox on the 17th, during which the lights are expected to shine more strongly. This March, make a last-minute escape to one of the locations below for one of the best chances to see the Northern Lights until the fall.

Yellowknife, Canada

The capital of the Northwest Territories hosts an annual Snow King’s Winter Festival to celebrate everything involving snow, ice and the chilly winter season. When you’re not building your own snow castle as part of the event, take a ride out to the dark countryside to spy the Northern Lights.

Lapland, Finland

Where reindeer roam and Santa is rumored to live, it’s hard to get further north than the Finnish region of Lapland. Nightly tours take curious travelers to some of the best Lights-viewing locales in the region. Make a stop in Inari to catch the annual Reindeer Championship race, held through April 1.

Akureyi, Iceland

Iceland may be one of the first countries that comes to mind when picking where to go for a Northern Lights spotting, but staying in the bright city of Reykjavik isn’t the best way to catch them. Head to the northern coastal town of Akureyi, a town that also will host the Iceland Winter Games at the end of the month.

Greenland

The reputed clearest skies in the Arctic Circle can be found on the country’s west coast, near the town of Kangerlussuaq.

Abisko National Park, Sweden

Sign up for the last of the season’s Northern Lights hikes through this national park that culminates at a campfire with warm coffee and dried reindeer meat.