Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably come across photos of the Northern Lights at their finest: vivid shades of magenta, green, and red painting the skies because of some insane magnetic storms that give us all something seriously beautiful to gawk at. As the name suggests, the Northern Lights can usually be seen in the Northern Hemisphere around the Arctic Circle, but in recent times, during powerful geomagnetic storms, the Northern Lights can be visible as far south as New York and New England.
2024 was a huge year for seeing the Northern Lights, but they’re not going anywhere in 2025. If you can venture to one of the main sighting spots (we’ll fill you in on these later) around the September and March equinoxes, you’ve got a pretty good shot at catching a glimpse of them. What makes this period so special, you might ask? During these months, the sun’s activity peaks as part of its 11-year cycle, increasing the likelihood of intense auroras—a rare opportunity you won’t want to miss.
Excited for the spectacular Northern Lights in 2025? Let’s show you how to catch them!
Best Time to Visit the Northern Lights
Auroras can appear throughout the year, but September to March offers the best viewing conditions due to longer nights and increased solar activity. Since NASA announced back in October that the sun’s 11-year cycle has reached its peak, it has been predicted we’ll be in for a heck of a lot of solar activity in the coming months (fingers crossed). While there’s no guarantee that we’ll get some sort of mega show, there’s widespread expectation that it will be an epic display; you solar seekers better be prepared.
It’s tricky to predict when the Northern Lights will show up; sometimes, you might only see them for a minute or two, and in other cases, they can stick around for ages. You really just have to be on the lookout and hope for the best. A bit of patience, a good location, clear skies, and being wrapped up well will have you set up for success. Websites like the Space Weather Prediction Center have a predictor that shows the forecast for the next half hour in the Northern Hemisphere, allowing you to monitor the live aurora’s movements.
Best Places to See the Northern Lights
Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Maximize the odds of witnessing the Northern Lights in action by heading to the Alaskan city of Fairbanks. Because of its prime location under the auroral oval, it’s one of the easiest places to see them. Sure, Alaska is no hop, skip, and jump, but if you don’t want to take any risks when it comes to spotting, Fairbanks is a safe bet.
The key months for viewing in Fairbanks are between August and April, and a lot of the time, you don’t have to go out into rural areas, as they can be spotted straight from the city. What a view that would be from your hotel balcony.
Tromsø, Norway
Observing the Northern Lights in many parts of Norway is possible because of its location on the Arctic Circle, but Tromsø is where the real action is because it lies in the center of the aurora zone. This is amazing for travelers like yourself. Even if there’s not much activity during the sighting season (September to April), since you’re so close to the oval, you might still be able to catch a sighting.
When darkness creeps in from 6 pm onwards, this is a key viewing time in Tromsø until around 2 am. Seeing the skies light up in the city center is possible, but if you venture out to somewhere a little darker, like Prestvannet, you’ll be in for a real feast for the eyes.
Rovaniemi, Finland
Lapland’s capital, Rovaniemi, has long been associated with being the home of Santa Claus, but due to its Arctic Circle location in the very north of Finland, it’s gifted with some exceptional opportunities for viewing the Northern Lights between August and April. The Finnish have their own way of describing the rare sight; they like to refer to it as ‘revontulet,’ which in English means “a mystical firefox that lights the sky on fire with its tail.” It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Rovaniemi is well geared up for visitors coming to experience the ‘revontulet,’ so much so that there are plenty of unique ways to see them, rather than just sitting around with a hot cup of cocoa (although that does sound appealing to me). Get lost in the colors while lying down on your back inside a glass igloo, hop on a snowmobile through dense forests in search of nature’s masterpiece, or embark on a reindeer sleigh ride in honor of the big man himself.
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Head to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, a quiet spot above the Arctic Circle. There’s remote, and then there’s Kangerlussuaq, but that’s what makes it unique. With a handful of accommodation options, home to the world’s second biggest ice cap, and little to no light disturbance, which gives you a clear view of the sky, it’s hard not to be lured in by this place.
Since Greenland generally doesn’t have many flight connections, you’ll have to fly via Denmark or Iceland if you want to reach Kangerlussuaq directly. But oh man, you’ll be awestruck by the aurora displays here, wild blues and greens taking over the sky as you lay there in the snow, freezing your toes off. It’s crazy the things we put our bodies through to witness something extraordinary.
Orkney, Scotland
Scotland? Really? I wouldn’t lie to you. In the northeast of the country sits an untouched archipelago called Orkney, where it’s easy to spot what you might know as the Northern Lights. However, the locals like to call them ‘the Merry Dancers.’
With minimal development in Orkney, there’s nothing to obstruct your view of the Dancers. As long as darkness is on your side, you’ll have a high likelihood of finding them. There are a few main places that locals recommend, such as the Broch of Gurness, Bisray, Inganess Bay, and Wideford Hill. To stay updated during the season, join the Facebook group ‘Orkney Aurora Group.’ There are always live updates posted there, so you can follow the reports as they show up in real-time.
How to See the Northern Lights on a Budget
A running trend you’ll notice in the places where it’s possible to see the Northern Lights is that they generally come with a higher price tag. Norway, Finland, and Alaska aren’t exactly cheap spots, and even at their least busy times, are they? But don’t jump to conclusions just yet. If you follow these tips, you’ll be surprised at just how much money you can save on a trip of this nature.
- Skip the expensive places: Norway and Finland should be a no-no if you’re trying to cut costs; instead, hit the lesser-known locations that get fewer tourists, like Orkney in Scotland or Abisko in Sweden.
- Don’t book a tour: While an organized excursion can be an excellent way to see the Northern Lights, these are usually expensive. However, staying somewhere that affords you the luxury of seeing the lights by just looking out your front window without going into the wilderness will save you some cash.
- Avoid the high season: August usually marks the start of the Northern Lights season in most places. But people don’t typically book their trips until further into the season, usually between December and February. If you save your vacation until the beginning of the season or just at the end when April comes along, you could get some good deals.
- Consider camping: Chances are, most accommodation in the place you’ll visit will be booked up months in advance, but if you’re prepared to rough it, camping could be a good option. It’s much more affordable than paying to spend a night at an overpriced hotel, and you can soak up the views from the comfort of your sleeping bag.
Northern Lights Tours and Experiences
In some settings, all you have to do is look up at the sky to see the Northern Lights. But that doesn’t exactly scream adventure, does it? If you’re traveling halfway across the world, you might want to splurge on a tour or experience with a company like Get Your Guide to make it truly memorable.
- Reindeer Safaris: Glide across the snow on a reindeer sleigh ride as the Northern Lights ignite the sky with vibrant colors. Learn how the reindeer herders live their lives and sip on hot drinks to warm up as you relish the dazzle above.
- Snowmobiling: Race over frosty hills on a high-powered snowmobile and learn how to operate one of these mighty machines in the pure darkness as the aurora guides the way.
- Overnight in an Igloo: Sleep under the Northern Lights in a 360-degree igloo, where you can observe the display in a cozy environment.
- Boat Rides: In places like Reykjavik, there are various boat tours where you can head out to sea and view the Northern Lights from afar, away from the disturbances of city lights.
- Sauna sessions: Seek refuge from the ice-cold temperatures with some bathing time in a sauna. Relax in the warmth and marvel at the sky’s glow.
How to Photograph the Northern Lights
Something like the Northern Lights doesn’t come around often, so when the opportunity to photograph them arises, you better take it.
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to snap a nice shot of the aurora. As long as you have a decent camera (or even a solid one on your phone), that’s half the battle won. The real challenge is finding the lights themselves. Do a little search online in advance to seek out the best viewpoints in the area, and whatever you do, get away from any artificial lights that could block your sight.
Setting your camera up ahead of time will eliminate the need to get organized if they pop up unexpectedly. Remember, you might only get one shot at this, so preparation is key. A tripod can be helpful in this situation because it holds the camera steadily in place, eliminating the risk of filling your gallery with blurry shots.
Be sure to lay out the settings you want for taking the pictures. You may be tempted to shoot in auto, but a photo of this magnitude deserves manual settings. For the best results, set your camera to ISO 800–1600 and use a shutter speed of 5–30 seconds to capture the movement of the lights. A wide-angle lens will help you get more of the sky in your shot, and switching to manual focus ensures your images are sharp.
Try to set yourself up in a spot with exceptional lighting. Trust me, this will make your photos come to life. Oh, and one last thing: don’t just take photos of the sky. While that might be the main attraction you’re trying to capture, you want to be in a place where there’s another subject you can focus on (e.g., a mountain or a vehicle). That way, the aurora will look much more visually appealing in the background.
Track Down the Northern Lights in 2025
You couldn’t ask for a better time to see the Northern Lights than this year, thanks to the flipping of the sun’s magnetic field. An event like this takes place once every eleven years; don’t let it pass you by.
While demand will be high, don’t be afraid to go beyond the more popular places to slash costs. You’ll experience the same thing for a fraction of the price.