Where can you see the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spectacles nature offers us. We strongly doubt that anyone has ever been disappointed after seeing an aurora.
But there’s one question that comes up every time we have to plan a trip to see them...
 

Where can you see the Northern Lights?

If, before reading about where to see the Northern Lights, you’d like a few clarifications on what this phenomenon really is, you’ll find a very quick article here.
Otherwise, keep reading.
No tricks, no catch. Because understanding where to see the aurora is simple! Here’s a list of countries:

• Sweden
• Norway
• Finland
• Alaska
• Greenland
• And of course Iceland, where the Northern Lights occur all year round, even in summer.

1. You need to go north

As you may have guessed from the list of countries above, to see the aurora you need to go north, ideally above the Arctic Circle. We can add a few more places where it is possible to see them: Canada, Swedish/Norwegian/Finnish Lapland, Russia, and the Svalbard Islands. But the North is not all the same, and for this reason some places are more “suitable” than others. This is due to the auroral oval, an elliptical band around the Earth’s magnetic poles that marks the latitudinal visibility limit of polar auroras.
 

2. The Northern Lights are seen in winter

Although they occur all year round, the aurora is only visible during the winter months, between September and April (depending on the season). In summer it is there, but it cannot be seen with the naked eye because at these latitudes it never gets completely dark and daylight lasts for twenty-four hours (the midnight sun phenomenon). The best months seem to be January, February, and March—basically the coldest ones. But September and October can also be a good alternative for those who can’t stand very low temperatures.
 

3. The darker, the better

To spot the aurora, it is advisable to be in complete darkness, far from any source of light pollution. Studies and statistics state that the best time for viewing is from 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., although nature ultimately does as it pleases. 
 

4. Zero clouds

The Northern Lights are visible only when the sky is clear and cloud-free. In winter, inland areas are certainly more suitable than coastal ones. The sea influences the climate by making it milder and more humid, which is less ideal for aurora hunting; the lights are more likely to appear in dry areas with clear skies.
 

5. Monitor the sky

By studying and monitoring solar activity, it is possible to make a basic short-term forecast (at most a couple of hours in advance) of when the aurora will appear.
To do this, you can use Aurora Service on the web or Aurora Forecast as an app. Geomagnetic activity is measured in kp, and this value is essential for studying and predicting the Northern Lights. The kp scale ranges from a minimum of zero to nine, and each value corresponds to a certain aurora intensity. With a value around 4/5, the outlook is good for a great night of aurora viewing. And if you’re going to see the Northern Lights, you have to take a photo, right? Here are all the instructions.

The easiest way to be sure of seeing the Northern Lights is to travel with people who know what they’re doing. So, with us! Take a look at our ICELAND TRIP and our NORWAY TRIP.