One of the world’s most dazzling natural phenomenons, few vistas can top the Northern Lights, officially known as the Aurora Borealis (signifying the meeting of Aurora, Roman goddess of the dawn, and Borealis, the Greek god of the North Wind). Created by solar winds interacting with charged particles in the earth’s magnetic field, the lights appear as otherworldly streaks of green, red, yellow and purple dancing across the arctic skies. Visible throughout the so-called Northern Lights Oval, countries lying in the far-northern latitudes, optimally between 10 and 20 degrees from the magnetic North Pole, are most likely to catch the spectacle, which occurs predominantly between late September and late March, often close to midnight.

While travelers flock to the world’s northernmost countries for a glimpse of the Northern Lights, seeing them is no exact science and there’s no guarantee. From the snow-enveloped wilderness of Siberia to the northernmost tip of Canada, here are some of the best places to see the Northern Lights. So wrap up warm, pick a clear night and cross your fingers.

1. Iceland

With its stark beauty, starry skylines and magnificent frosted landscapes, Iceland’s unique backdrop makes it a favorite place for photographers to capture the Northern Lights. Auroral activity is greatest during the mid-winter months, and the lights are visible from locations all over the country (on clear nights, you might even catch a few glimmers in Reykjavik). Two of the most popular watching areas are the Golden Circle — encompassing Thingvellir National Park and the Haukadalur geothermic valley — and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, home to the famous Snaefellsjokull glacier, both easy trips from Reykjavik. For some of the clearest views away from the crowds, head to the northern coast on the brink of the Arctic Circle — the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula and northern city of Akureyri are both great choices.

Browse Northern Lights Tours from Reykjavik and read more about things to do in Iceland in winter.

2. Alaska

In the far north of the United States, Alaska’s vast snowy wilderness casts an eerie shadow beneath the glow of the Northern Lights, and the further you venture out of the cities, the brighter the lights seem to shine. Fairbanks and Denali National Park are popular locations for watching the lights (the Fairbanks visitor bureau claims an 80 percent chance of seeing them if you stay there for three nights), or hire a knowledgeable guide and head north.

Alaska also offers some of the most unique ways to see the lights, meaning you’re guaranteed a memorable experience with or without the lightshow. Take an arctic cruise from Fairbanks, Anchorage or Ketchikan and view the lights from the water; go “flightseeing” for a chance to get up close to the lights as you fly over the Arctic Circle; take an overnight train over the snow-covered Alaska Range; or stave off the frostbite by soaking in the Chena Hot Springs while you wait.

Explore Northern Lights Tours in Alaska.

3. Lapland

Those looking for a dose of wintertime magic will find plenty to fuel their imagination in Lapland, Finland’s northernmost region and Santa Claus’ official European base. Along with visiting the home of Mr. Claus and whizzing over the snow on a husky-driven sled, viewing the Northern Lights is a right of passage for visitors to Lapland. In Finland the lights are known as Revontulet, meaning “foxfire,” named after the local fairytale featuring a fox and its swishing tail, which sent sparks flying across the sky.

Northern Lights tours are everywhere in Lapland, with in-season viewings occurring an average of two out of three nights, and there are a plethora of options. Take a reindeer safari, climb to popular lookout points on a snowmobile, stay overnight in an igloo or visit the world’s first Northern Lights observatory atop the 904-meter Haldde Mountain.

Learn more about Northern Lights tours in Finland.

4. Russia

The Northern Lights still hold special significance for the Russian Saami tribes, who gather to watch the lights from the shores of the vast Lake Lovozero and read their fortunes in the colored streaks. Perhaps one of the lesser-visited Northern Lights regions, Russia is the go-to place if you want the wilderness to yourself, with a mammoth stretch of the country lying close to the Arctic Circle and almost all of the northern regions offering great views.

The Kola Peninsula, snaking toward Scandinavia in Northwestern Russia, is one of the principal viewing areas thanks to its prime location on the Northern Lights’ belt, with a number of guided excursions departing from the Arctic city of Murmansk. Get there in December or January and you’ll be gifted with pitch-black days and nights, as the sun disappears from view for around six weeks. Alternatively, Severodvinsk is renowned for having some of the brightest lights in Russia, with red and green glows even visible from inside the city, and Salekhard is the world’s only city located on the Arctic Circle, putting it firmly inside the superior viewing zone.

5. Denmark: Greenland and the Faroe Islands

The most southern country in Scandinavia might be a bit far away from the Arctic Circle, but there are still opportunities to see the lights on Danish shores. Greenland’s Inuit population has been enjoying some of the clearest views of the Northern Lights for centuries, and believe the eerie illuminations are the lost souls of the dead. Today, Greenland retains one of the highest rates of Aurora sightings. Head to the popular town of Kangerlussuaq, or take a cruise along the sparsely populated east coast for a backdrop of towering icebergs. Alternatively, Denmark’s Faroe Islands, a remote archipelago stranded halfway between Iceland and Norway, present a unique locale to experience the lights, accessible via regular flights from Copenhagen.

6. Sweden

Each Scandinavian country has its own stake in Northern Lights tourism, but Sweden boasts a unique claim to fame. Jukkasjarvi was home to the world’s first ice hotel and bar, fashioned entirely out of the cold stuff, inspiring dozens of imitations around the globe, and remains one of the most atmospheric places to base your Northern Lights excursion. The Abisko National Park is another highlight, where you can head to Torneträsk lake, renowned for its unique microclimate which affords mostly clear skies, or visit the legendary Aurora Sky Station and take a chair-lift up to the summit, explore the special Northern Lights exhibition and watch the night sky from the open-air observation deck.

There are plenty of other prime spots, too — the Tornedalen region, UNESCO World Heritage Site of Laponia and far northern town of Luleå are all popular choices. Time your visit for the darkest part of the year, between November and February, and if you’re lucky enough to catch the sky ablaze make sure to keep quiet — local Sámi mythology says it’s bad luck to make a noise during the Aurora Borealis.

7. Norway

With its wild landscapes blanketed in snow and ice-capped fjords glistening beneath the stars, Norway offers some of the most otherworldly backdrops for watching the Northern Lights. With the northern half of the country stretching into the Arctic Circle and more viewing locations than anywhere in Scandinavia, Norway has some of the brightest and most frequent sightings in the world. The Lofoten Islands, Alta, Svalbard and Finnmark all have high rates of lights sightings, but Tromsø remains one of the most popular destinations, so much so that Hurtigruten ships even run Northern Lights cruises along the rugged Norwegian coastline. And there’s plenty to pass the time while you’re waiting for the midnight lightshow — Norway is one of Europe’s premier winter sports destinations, with skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledding and snowmobiling all popular ways to enjoy the snow.

Read more about Seeing the Northern Lights in Norway.

8. Canada

With the north of the country lying within the North Magnetic Pole, and the western Yukon Territory crowned one of the world’s best viewing spots, there are plenty of good reasons to take your aurora quest to Canada. Make the most of snow while you’re there by learning the popular local sport of dog mushing (riding husky-driven sleds) and exploring some of the most stunning winter landscapes in the Northern Hemisphere.

Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador offer plenty of opportunities to see the Northern Lights, in addition to being a snowmobiling hotspot home to over 1,500 kilometers of trails. Yellowknife, a mining town in the remote Northwest Territories, is another part of Canada renowned for visibility of the Northern Lights.

Spot two winter wonders in one trip with a visit to Manitoba, on the cusp of the auroral oval and a popular place to see polar bears in their natural habitat. For a real adventure though, take a boat or plane to Iqaluit, a natural paradise tucked away on Baffin Island, where you’ll be in the heart of the Arctic and far away from the lights of the city.

— Zoë Smith

Top 8 Places to See the Northern Lights by Zoe Smith from Viator Travel Blog