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The Best Places to See the Northern Lights

The Best Places to See the Northern Lights

By Charlotte Wilson

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), a beautiful phenomenon that creates waves of intense shades of greens, pinks and violets against the backdrop of the Arctic night sky, is the perfect way to witness the powerful and strange force of nature.
 
Catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights can vary from place to place but it is often most visible in the winter season, particularly between the months of late September/October and also during early March as the nights are often longer (even endless in some places!) and the chance of rain is lower, resulting in clearer skies and subsequently better visibility.
 
The colours tend to be strongest and frequency tends to be higher the further north you travel. However, the northernmost destinations can be tricky to access, so the destination with the best accessibility may be the preferred option to see the lights. Likewise, the best destination may vary depending upon your intent – for some the Northern Lights may simply be a tick on the bucket list amidst a series of adventures and activities while for others, catching a glimpse may be the sole purpose of the vacation. Regardless of your preference, seeing the Northern Lights is a phenomenal day (or night) trip. Here are our favourite destinations in Europe from which to enjoy this remarkable sight.
 
Tromso, Norway
 
Known as the ‘Capital of the Arctic’, Tromso enjoys some of the highest levels of auroral activity on earth due to its northerly location and dark skies. The Aurora Sky Station, 900 metres above sea level, rises above the light pollution and cloud cover, offering visitors an incredible view of the magnetic light show. The raised platform is part of Absiko Mountain Station, and is considered one of the best places in the world to see the shifting, gently pulsating lights. There is also an interesting and illuminating exhibition here that will give visitors an understanding of where and how the aerial lights occur.
 
Tromso is the perfect destination for those looking to combine the Northern Lights with other activities. The city’s winter wonderland allows for an array of exciting excursion opportunities such as husky or reindeer sledding and snowmobile safaris to whale watching trips. The city itself is a modern, bustling metropolis featuring a beautiful cathedral, fine restaurants and a lively nightlife.
 
Isle of Skye, Scotland
 
If stunning, tranquil scenery, peaceful accommodation with ocean and mountainous views is on the top of your priority list, then the Isle of Skye is your best place to see the Northern Lights. October is the best time of the year to see the Northern Lights here, together with the Milky Way and more stars than you can ever imagine. If you are really lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a shooting star!
 
The Isle of Skye is accessible via a toll free bridge from mainland Scotland or alternatively by air from Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. Once at the Isle of Skye, there are numerous opportunities to explore the island including mountain walks, which is an opportunity to explore some of the best mountainous regions in the country, canoeing activities to see the Isle of Skye from its waters and you can enjoy the island like a local by heading to local restaurants and cafés during your stay.
 
Kakslauttanen, Finland
 
Northern Finland provides an utterly unique way of seeing the Northern Lights. At the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, you can snuggle up in a comfortable warm bed, and watch the auroras within your very own glass roof igloo and log cabin. This can be a fun excursion for a family or a romantic stay for couples. Either way you are more likely to see the Northern Lights this way.
 
Aurora Borealis is generally visible from late August till late April. However, if you go during the winter months you will experience 24 hours of darkness – a blue twilight being the lightest it will get during the day – further increasing your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. You can also do a number of activities while you stay in Kakslauttanen, such as husky or reindeer safaris, ice fishing, not to mention snowboarding or skiing. All flights to Lapland connect from Helsinki Airport and the closest flight is to Ivalo, which is just a 30 minute bus transfer away.
 
Murmansk, Russia
 
The largest city north of the Arctic Circle, Murmansk will be celebrating its 100th birthday in 2016 and what better way to celebrate than by visiting the city and experiencing the Northern Lights from within Russia? Located in northwest Russia, near the border of Finland, Murmansk enjoys over 40 days of uninterrupted night, making it one of the world’s premier destinations to see the Northern Lights.
 
The best time to see the Northern Lights here is between February and March and September and October, when the luminous glow in the sky can last anywhere between several hours and several days. Aside from the glowing phenomena, there are a range of sites to explore in Murmansk such as eerie submarine graveyards, nuclear icebreakers, the port that is responsible for the icebreakers that carve their way through the arctic ocean, the Alyosha Monument, the Monument of the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic during the Great Patriotic War which stands at a mesmerising 116 feet, among other attractions.
 
Abisko, Sweden
 
With a population of just 85 inhabitants (according to the GeoNames geopgraphical database), the remote northern village of Abisko is perhaps the perfect spot from which to enjoy unobstructed views of the Northern Lights – often in absolute solitude. Abisko has its own microclimate meaning that an astonishing 83% of nights during aurora season are clear; so the chance of seeing the Northern Lights is high on any given night from September to the middle of April.
 
While in Abisko, a key destination to visit is the Aurora Sky Station in Mount Nuolja. Situated 900 metres above sea level, the journey begins with a scenic chair lift up to the station where you will learn about how the Aurora Borealis observations are made with the radio receivers and cameras. You can also book a gourmet Nordic cuisine dinner to be eaten under the glittering stars and glowing Northern Lights here. This is an absolute must for those celebrating a special occasion or simply wishing to observe the phenomena in a unique setting.
 
Keflavik, Iceland
 
Beautifully natural and undisturbed, Iceland is scarcely populated, and intensely wild. Lacking the noise and light pollution of many often visited tourist spots, the Reykjanes Peninsula can be a fantastic place from which to see the Northern Lights. The Reykjanes Peninsula is easily accessed and places that are not influenced by lights are not far away. There are plenty of great spots to see the spectacle, with ample guided tours available from local expert guides to help boost your probability.
 
Many visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in the Reykjanes Peninsula will utilise nearby Keflavik as an ideal base due to its close proximity and range of excellent facilities for modern travellers – such as high end hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. For a completely unique experience, be sure to book an evening flight in or out of Keflavik International Airport and if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of this natural phenomenon from your plane window.

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