The northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, are famous world wide as one of the most spectacular natural phenomenon on the planet. This fame causes thousands of people to try and get a glimpse of the lights every year; there is one question that’s often asked though, where to see the northern lights? This article takes a look at a few of the best northern lights destinations.

Finland

Set well within the border of Finnish Lapland is the town of Saariselka, well known for being an Aurora Borealis hotspot. The town benefits from a number of factors, being set far enough north to be within the “northern lights zone” and low levels of light pollution being the main two. The lights appear in the skies above the town on a regular basis, enthralling locals and tourists alike, making it a great destination to head to for the best chance to witness them. Finnish Lapland also offers up a number of other activities to enjoy while waiting on the lights, such as reindeer sledging, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and husky rides. The best time to visit is between November and March when the lights are at their most active

Iceland

Located in the northern Atlantic is the remote island of Iceland, famed for its stunning landscape and friendly people. The island is also another location that’s far enough to the north to see the lights. The city of Reykjavik is Iceland’s only large population centre, meaning it’s only a short trip to get out into the wilderness and away from any light pollution. The blend between open Iceland landscape and Northern Lights is a sublime experience, making this one of the top destinations to head too. The best months to visit are between September and March, when more settled weather patterns mean clearer nights skies.

Norway

Another Scandinavian destination; like Finnish Lapland, Norway extends far enough to the north to see the Aurora Borealis on a regular basis. There are several towns and cities in Norway that get to enjoy the lights but the town of Tromso is often seen as the best. Tromso holds the annual ‘goddess of the dawn’ festival, to honour the Aurora Borealis, and with the lights appearing in the sky every few days it’s easy to understand why this is. January tends to be the best month to visit, as the town is far enough north to be one of the Scandinavian locations that gets 24 hour darkness during the winter months.