Best Places in Europe to See the Northern Lights

Before we dive into the destinations and experiences, let’s talk about the reality of the northern lights. If you’ve spent hours scrolling through aurora photos, it’s easy to think you’ll see vivid greens, purples, and reds blazing across the sky. The truth? Those colors often come alive thanks to long exposure photography.

To the naked eye, the aurora often appears as a soft glow or faint streaks of green and white. On particularly strong nights, you might see more intense colors and even some motion, but it’s usually subtler than what photos suggest.

If you get to know an Aurora guide who's candid about their profession, that's the hardest part of their job – it can be the most amazing night with the best northern lights of the season, and some guests are still disappointed since it didn't look like the photos.

That's why you want to go in with the right mindset. It doesn’t make the experience any less magical. Watching the aurora dance over a snowy landscape or a quiet fjord is unforgettable – just remember, it’s about the feeling, not just the visuals. Bring a good camera if you want to capture those super vibrant colours!

Tromsø is the northern lights capital of Europe, plain and simple. Nestled deep in the Arctic Circle, it’s got everything—reliable auroras, great local culture, and a tonne of wild winter activities to keep you busy. Tromsø is perfect if you want adventure, but with lots of urban comforts close-by.

In the far north of Sweden, you’ll find Abisko—a place so good for auroras it’s got its own weather phenomenon. The “blue hole” keeps the skies clear above this tiny village, making it one of the most dependable spots to see the lights in all of Europe.

Rovaniemi, the heart of Finnish Lapland, is a very popular base for Arctic winter adventures. Surrounded by snow-covered forests and frozen rivers, the magic of the north is very accessible.

Utsjoki is as far north as you can go in Finland, and it feels like it. A tiny village nestled on the banks of the Teno River, it’s a place where the Arctic quiet is almost overwhelming and the skies are some of the darkest you’ll ever see. If you’re looking for a slower, deeper connection to the north, this is where you’ll find it.

The Lofoten Islands feel like they belong in another world. Towering peaks, mirror-like fjords, and tiny fishing villages straight out of a postcard. And in the winter, the northern lights add a whole new level of awe.

For those who crave adventure and solitude, the Kola Peninsula is an aurora hunter’s dream. The tundra is wild, the nights are long, and the skies are as dark as they come. It’s not the easiest place to get to, but once you’re there, it feels like you’ve found the edge of the world.

If you want to go big, Svalbard is as big as it gets. Located halfway between Norway and the North Pole, this is Arctic territory at its most extreme. During the polar night, the sun doesn’t rise for months, leaving the aurora as the only light show in town.

Chasing the northern lights used to be the pursuit of the adventurous few – those willing to trek into the Arctic cold with nothing but balls, determination and a bit of luck. These days? It’s a global phenomenon, an industry all its own.

The aurora has become a bucket list item – luxury lodges, packaged tours, and carefully curated Instagram posts have made the northern lights more accessible than ever. The upside? Your aurora adventure is easy to plan. The downside? You won’t be the only one out there.

Destinations like Tromsø, Abisko, and Rovaniemi have become northern lights hotspots, drawing travelers from all corners of the globe. Visit during peak season, and you’ll find bustling streets, hotels booked solid, and even the occasional traffic jam on snowy roads leading to prime viewing locations.

At popular viewing spots, the scene can feel more like a festival than a wilderness experience. Dozens of tripods in the snow, eager tourists bundled in their Arctic gear, all hoping for the perfect shot. There’s a buzz of shared anticipation, a collective gasp when the lights appear. It’s exciting, no doubt. But it’s not exactly the serene moment you might have imagined.

It’s not all crowds and chaos. With a bit of planning, you can still find those quieter, more personal moments with the lights.

We think that the best way to see the northern lights is to not make them the main reason for your trip, but let the Aurora come to you. Hear us out. You’re already in a snowy paradise – mountains and forests blanketed in white, frozen lakes glistening in the moonlight, the kind of silence that only winter can bring. Why not let the aurora be a bonus, a surprise gift on an adventure packed with everything winter has to offer?

Instead of waiting around with crossed fingers for the northern lights, you’re immersed in the moment – skiing through untouched snow, building snow caves, or warming your hands by a wood-fired stove. And then, if the aurora does appear, it feels like it was meant just for you.

Our seven-day Nordic skiing trip in Dalarna is all about staying in a winter wilderness state of mind, through and through. Our off-grid base cabin by Lake Navar is surrounded by hills of towering snow-clad spruce. Candles, lanterns and wood-fired heaters light up and warm our rooms. A sauna and an ice plunge is the perfect end to our evenings.

By day, we glide over untouched snow, learning to ski Nordic-style and pull a sled like a seasoned explorer. The pace is calm, the scenery is stunning, and there’s absolutely no one else around.

Midweek, we trade the cabin’s comforts for something wilder: a two-night winter camping expedition in alpine conditions on the Fulufjället mountain plateau. We sculpt a campsite out of snow, digging pathways and crafting a cozy living room in a communal yurt. The landscape feels otherworldly – like skiing on the moon, with endless white stretching in every direction.

What about the northern lights? No, we don't always see them. We do on about a third of our trips. We view them as a cherry on top of an already fantastic adventure. Because this trip isn’t about waiting for the sky to light up – it’s about stepping into the heart of winter and letting it sweep you off your feet.