You can see the Northern Lights primarily in high-latitude regions near the Arctic Circle, where the auroral oval is located between about 65° and 75° north latitude. The best places include:
- Norway : Especially Tromsø, considered one of the top spots worldwide due to its location in the aurora zone, clear skies, and minimal light pollution. Other good locations in Norway include Senja, Lofoten Islands, and Vesterålen islands, with Tromsø being the most recommended for its accessibility and scenery
- Swedish Lapland : Areas like Kiruna and the Luleå archipelago offer excellent aurora viewing with fewer tourists and dark skies
- Finland : Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland is a popular destination with aurora visible roughly 150 nights a year, especially from September to March
- Iceland : Reykjavik and locations like Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon provide opportunities to see the lights, often reflected on icy waters
- Greenland and Canada : Also part of the auroral band with good viewing chances
- Other northern locations : The Shetland Islands in Scotland offer occasional sightings, especially during high solar activity periods
The Northern Lights are best seen during dark, clear nights from late August to mid-April, with peak viewing often between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. The best months are typically autumn (September/October) and spring (March/April), though they can be visible throughout the winter
. In summary, the prime viewing spots are in northern Norway (Tromsø being the top choice), Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Greenland, and parts of northern Canada, all within or near the auroral oval
