The Best Way To See The Northern Lights In Person

Seeing the Northern Lights in person is one of those travel experiences that can change how you look at the world. They’re unpredictable, fleeting, and absolutely magical when everything comes together. The “best” way to see them isn’t just about finding the right country on a map; it’s about stacking the odds in your favor with timing, location, and strategy.

Step 1: Choose the right destination

You can see the aurora borealis anywhere under the northern “auroral oval,” but some places are much easier for travelers.

Great base options include:

• Iceland – Easy flights from North America and Europe, strong tourism infrastructure, and lots to do (waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs) if clouds block the lights.

• Northern Norway (Tromsø, Senja, Lofoten) – Coastal towns with relatively mild winter temperatures, dramatic scenery, and excellent aurora‑chasing tours.

• Finnish or Swedish Lapland – High chances of clear, cold nights, glass‑roofed cabins and igloo hotels, plus winter activities like dog sledding and snowmobiling.

• Northern Canada or Alaska – Fantastic aurora potential, especially around Fairbanks or Yellowknife, with a real “frontier” feel.

If you’re not sure where to start, think about what else you want besides the Northern Lights: hot springs, winter sports, Arctic villages, or road‑trip scenery. That will help narrow down the best destination.

Step 2: Go in the right season and stay long enough

You need two basic ingredients: dark nights and reasonably clear skies.

• Best months: roughly September through March (up to mid‑April in some regions).

• Strong “sweet spots”: around the equinox periods (late September–October and late February–March), when nights are dark but days are still long enough for sightseeing.

• Give yourself time: 4–7 nights in an aurora zone is far better than a quick weekend; you want multiple chances in case of clouds or low solar activity.

Think of it like whale watching or safari: the longer you’re there during the right season, the higher your odds.

Step 3: Maximize darkness and minimize light pollution

Even a strong aurora can be washed out by light pollution, so where you spend your nights matters as much as which city you fly into.

To stack the deck:

• Stay outside major cities if possible, or choose rural lodges just a short drive away.

• Turn off exterior cabin lights and step away from parking lots or bright hotel windows.

• Let your eyes adjust to the dark for 15–20 minutes before judging how “active” the sky is.

• Aim northward when you scan the sky, and be patient—auroras often build gradually.

If you need a city base (for example, Reykjavik or Tromsø), consider accommodations that offer aurora “wake‑up calls” and plan at least a couple of nights at darker, more remote locations.

Step 4: Time your nightly “hunt”

Most aurora displays peak in the darkest hours of night.

A practical game plan:

• Check a local aurora forecast and cloud cover map in the late afternoon.

• Plan to be outside between about 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., with a strong focus around local midnight.

• If the forecast looks good, head to a dark‑sky spot and commit to being patient—strong displays can flare up after an hour of nothing.

• Dress for standing still: think base layers, insulating mid‑layer, windproof shell, warm boots, hat, and mittens. Cold and discomfort are the main reasons people give up and miss a late‑night show.

You don’t need a “KP 7” storm to have a memorable experience; even moderate activity can create beautiful arcs and curtains when skies are clear.

Step 5: Consider a guided Northern Lights tour

For many travelers, especially on a first aurora trip, a guided outing is the single best way to turn “we tried” into “we saw them.”

A good tour typically:

• Uses local knowledge and real‑time forecasts to choose locations with the clearest skies.

• Handles driving on dark, icy roads so you can focus on watching the sky.

• Provides warm gear, hot drinks, and photography tips.

• Gives honest assessments—many reputable guides will reschedule or cancel if chances are extremely poor.

You can blend approaches: book one or two guided nights early in your trip, then use what you learned to chase on your own later.

Step 6: Capture the moment (without missing it)

You don’t need pro‑level gear, but a little preparation helps:

• Phones: Many newer smartphones have a “night” or “starry sky” mode that can pick up auroras surprisingly well if you hold still or use a mini‑tripod.

• Cameras: A mirrorless or DSLR with a wide, fast lens (for example, 14–24mm, f/2–f/2.8), set on a tripod, with manual focus at infinity and exposures of a few seconds.

• Don’t over‑fixate on photos: Take a few shots, then pocket the camera and actually watch. The real magic is seeing them move and ripple in real time.

Step 7: Treat the Lights as a bonus, not the only goal

Even with perfect planning, the Northern Lights never come with a guarantee. The best way to avoid disappointment is to choose a trip where you’d be thrilled even without a sighting.

Build your itinerary around:

• Hot springs, spas, or saunas.

• Glacier walks, dog sledding, snowmobiling, or ice caves.

• Local culture, food, and small‑town experiences.

• Scenic drives, waterfalls, fjords, or volcanic landscapes.

If the aurora shows up, it’s the unforgettable cherry on top—not the only reason your trip was worth it.

Putting it all together

The best way to see the Northern Lights in person is to think like a strategist, not a gambler: pick a good aurora destination, travel in the right season, allow several nights, prioritize dark skies, and lean on local expertise when you can. Do that, and you dramatically increase your chances of standing under a sky that suddenly erupts in green and purple light—one of those rare travel moments that really does live up to the hype.

Contact one of our expert travel advisors and let's cross the Northern Lights off your bucket list.