{"id":93861,"date":"2019-05-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/best-places-to-see-northern-lights\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:55:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:55:42","slug":"best-places-to-see-northern-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/best-places-to-see-northern-lights\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to the Best Places to See the Northern Lights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chasing the Northern Lights is a dream of many. Picture yourself, bags packed, jetting off to a cold climate somewhere in Europe or North America to bear witness to this magical phenomenon.\u00a0<\/span>The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, arises when electrically charged solar particles collide with atmospheric gases to produce a mind-blowing neon light show that brightens up the night sky with spectacular green, red and yellow hues. The best places to see the Northern Lights is located in the \u201cAurora zone\u201d<\/strong> in the Northern Hemisphere. The aurora is most frequently visible in Northern Scandinavia. The Auroral band stretches across destinations in Canada, Alaska and the United Kingdom too. This otherworldly phenomenon is worth trekking to the cold temperatures for. Seeing the Northern Lights in person will prove to be life changing!<\/span><\/p>\n

Discovering the best places to see the Northern Lights is an exciting venture with all these incredible destinations to consider. Take a look at our extensive guide on the best time and places to see the Northern Lights!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Image courtesy of @umbe_____<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Best Time to See the Northern Lights<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re searching for the best places to see the Northern Lights, the ideal conditions to look out for are crisp, cold, dark nights with clear skies and minimum light. The prime months for seeing this phenomenon range from late-August to mid-April<\/strong> with the peak season occurring in the equinox months, September and March. Some regions have Aurora Borealis sightings year-round but to increase the odds of seeing it, book your flights for winter when the nights are colder, longer and clearer. If your main mission is to see the Northern Lights, then avoid travelling to these destinations during the summer months (June to August) when there are more daylight hours. Remember, darkness is essential to see the Northern Lights!<\/span><\/p>\n

The Best Places to See the Northern Lights<\/h2>\n

Iceland<\/h3>\n

Pingvellir National Park, most of the country<\/b><\/p>\n

Iceland<\/span><\/a> is the ideal place to see the Northern Lights because it is the only destination where it is possible to spot this phenomenon from <\/span>almost anywhere on the island<\/b>. The northern part of Iceland is an \u2018Aurora chaser\u2019s\u2019 favourite region due to its dramatic landscapes, geothermal hot springs and larger-than-life waterfalls. The town of <\/span>Akureyri\u2019s<\/b> low light pollution makes it an ideal spot to see the Northern Lights. Other spots to consider in Iceland include the <\/span>Sn\u00e6felsness Peninsula, Reynisfjara black sand beach and J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n glacial lagoon<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

When to go: <\/b>Early-September to mid-April<\/span><\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/b>Fly to Reykjavik.\u00a0Once in the city, you can choose from various cruises and jeep tours which incorporate Northern Lights hunting with glacier and ice cave walks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your cheap flights to Reykjavik today!<\/a><\/h3>\n

Where to stay: <\/b>If you\u2019re willing to brave the cold consider camping or staying in a caravan at the prime Northern Lights spotting locations. There are also magnificent hotels to choose from:<\/span><\/p>\n