is a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in the high latitude regions
Aurora Borealis? Viewing their unearthly colours and sounds in the night sky above a snowy Arctic wilderness is on many bucket lists. Let us make those dreams come true! We answer the important questions on when and where you can see the Northern Lights for yourself
- Svalbard, Norway
You can't get much further north than Svalbard. Up between the 74th and 81st parallel, this island belonging to Norway is well into the Arctic circle - and generally the higher the latitude, the better your chances of seeing the Aurora. The Northern Lights season is between November and February, but the majority of visitors come to experience a different natural phenomenon: the Polar Night. Between mid-November and the end of January, Svalbard is without daylight and in the eerie blue twilight, there are often more Aurora viewing opportunities. Visit outside of this period (ie. when you can see) and you'll be well-compensated with chances to spot reindeer, walrus and polar bears, as seen on Frozen Planet.
How to get to Svalbard: There are flights from the UK to Oslo, then onto Longyearbyen - the main settlement on Svalbard and logical base for a visit, with its handy Basecamp hotel. We mentioned Tromso in last year’s guide - you might find that more accessible.
Kakslauttanen, Finland
At the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finnish Lapland, you can Aurora gaze from the comfort of your own glass igloo, and stay in a traditional log cabin complete with sauna and open fire. If the Lights don’t play ball, try snowy activities such as a reindeer safari or rent some walking skis to explore the nearby Urho National Park. Planning for a Christmas holiday for next winter? It's a mere two hours to the Russian border by road to see Santa in his home at Korvatunturi - or you could take the more traditional route, via dog sled, through the park (and avoid the border crossing).
How to get to Kakslauttanen: There are no direct flights to Ivalo (a 30 minute ride from the hotel) from the UK, but there are flights from Manchester, London and Edinburgh with stop-offs in Helsinki. Alternatively, you could fly into Helsinki, and make your own way up north
Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
The village of Jukkasjärvi in the Kiruna region of Sweden is home to the country's first ice hotel. Northern Lights tours by night flight operate from Jukkasjärvi, but down at ground level, take a tour of the Esrange Space Center, where you can admire Sweden’s starry skies if the Aurora isn’t visible. There are plenty more (cheaper) options for places to stay in Kiruna than an ice hotel, and you can still see the Lights, as well as do fun winter activities like snowmobiling.
How to get to Jukkasjärvi: The northern part of Sweden is pretty remote so you’ll have to fly to Stockholm before flying on to Kiruna. There are alternative travel options but the road is long (36 hours!) so we'd recommend waking up to the magical snow-laden scenery on a night train direct from Stockholm
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is still the most affordable and accessible place to see the Northern Lights, but it’s getting more popular. In January 2015, 9,003 Britons visited Iceland, probably because, Lights aside, there’s plenty to fascinate about this land of geysers, volcanoes and blue ice. The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is on the way to the capital from Keflavík International Airport, stays steamy all year round and costs €40 online for a standard day ticket. And don't miss hunting out Iceland’s Game of Thrones locations while you're in the country.
How to get to Reykjavik: Thanks to easyJet, flights are reasonable: at the time of writing, the cheapest return flights are from Edinburgh, Birmingham and London Luton. Accommodation can be pretty pricey, but have a look for deals with budget hotels like Alba Guesthouse. If you've ever considered visiting Greenland, you can fly there from Reykjavik. It's extreme, but the Aurora is visible from late September to early April.
.Ireland
Cross the Irish Sea and you'll find plenty of opportunities to see the Northern Lights in Ireland. The most northerly point in the whole of Ireland is actually in the Republic, at Malin Head in County Donegal. This area was subject to a striking display of activity a few years ago, though March 2016 saw the Northern Lights reach as far south as County Cork. Stay in the nearby town of Inishowen if you want a base for a few nights - the excellent Inishowen Lodge B&B on the other side of the headland has views across the water to Northern Ireland from the terrace. If you're extra keen, pop over the border and chase the Lights all the way along the beautiful shores of County Antrim or the 'Causeway Coast'. Find more spectacular places to look for Northern Lights, right on your doorstep, with our guide to spotting Aurora in the UK.
How to get to Ireland: Donegal has its own airport, a couple of hours' drive from Inishowen. NI's Derry-Londonderry airport is even closer, at under an hour away (a good excuse to explore both sides of the border!
