Aurora Viewing Locations
Discover the world's best destinations for seeing the northern and southern lights. Each location offers unique aurora experiences with detailed viewing guides.
Norway(4)
Tromsø
69.6°N, 19.0°E
The Arctic capital of Norway, world-renowned for aurora tours and the iconic Fjellheisen cable car views.
Lofoten
68.2°N, 14.6°E
Dramatic fjords and fishing villages create one of the most photogenic aurora backdrops in the world.
Alta
70.0°N, 23.3°E
Self-proclaimed Northern Lights Capital with aurora observatory and rich Sami heritage.
Svalbard
78.2°N, 15.6°E
The High Arctic at 78°N offers unique polar night aurora viewing alongside polar bears and glaciers.
Finland(4)
Rovaniemi
66.5°N, 25.7°E
Home of Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle, famous for glass igloos and aurora experiences.
Levi
67.8°N, 24.8°E
Finland's most popular ski resort with an aurora gondola for elevated northern lights viewing.
Saariselkä
68.4°N, 27.4°E
Gateway to Urho Kekkonen National Park with wilderness aurora experiences and glass igloos.
Kilpisjärvi
69.0°N, 20.8°E
Remote wilderness at the three-country border with Saana Mountain as a stunning aurora backdrop.
Sweden(2)
Abisko
68.3°N, 18.8°E
The famous Blue Hole microclimate makes this one of Earth's clearest aurora viewing spots.
Kiruna
67.9°N, 20.2°E
Sweden's northernmost city, home to the famous Icehotel and Esrange Space Center.
Iceland(2)
Reykjavík
64.1°N, 21.9°W
Iceland's capital offers easy aurora access combined with Golden Circle and hot springs.
Akureyri
65.7°N, 18.1°W
North Iceland's largest town with geothermal areas and less tourist crowds than Reykjavik.
United States(2)
Fairbanks
64.8°N, 147.7°W
Under the auroral oval with 240+ aurora nights yearly, America's top northern lights destination.
Anchorage
61.2°N, 149.9°W
Alaska's largest city serves as a gateway to aurora viewing and wilderness adventures.
Canada(3)
Yellowknife
62.5°N, 114.4°W
Canada's aurora capital with 240+ clear nights and frozen Great Slave Lake reflections.
Whitehorse
60.7°N, 135.1°W
Yukon's capital combines aurora viewing with hot springs and gold rush history.
Churchill
58.8°N, 94.2°W
The Polar Bear Capital combines arctic wildlife with aurora viewing on Hudson Bay.
United Kingdom(1)
New Zealand(2)
Queenstown
45.0°S, 168.7°E
Adventure capital of New Zealand with southern lights views over mountains and lakes.
Lake Tekapo
44.0°S, 170.5°E
Dark Sky Reserve with the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd as an aurora australis backdrop.
Choosing Your Aurora Destination
The best aurora viewing locations are found within the auroral oval, typically between 65-72° latitude for northern lights. Norway's Tromsø, Swedish Lapland, Finnish Rovaniemi, Icelandic wilderness, Alaskan Fairbanks, and Canadian Yellowknife offer the highest success rates. For southern lights, New Zealand's South Island provides accessible viewing during strong geomagnetic storms. Each destination offers unique advantages: coastal locations have milder weather, inland spots have clearer skies, and some areas feature additional attractions like hot springs, indigenous culture, or midnight sun.
Dati da NOAA SWPC e Open-Meteo