Where Can You See the Northern Lights? A Global Guide

Countries Under or Near the Oval

In these places aurora is a regular occurrence.

United States: Alaska only. The interior around Fairbanks sits squarely under the oval and is the only reliable location in the country. Elsewhere in Alaska, position and climate vary considerably, and coastal and southeastern regions are much weaker prospects.

Canada. A large share of the country’s north sits under the oval, thanks to where the geomagnetic pole lies. Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories is the best-known destination, under the oval despite a map latitude of only about 62.5°N. Whitehorse, northern Manitoba and much of the territories also qualify.

Iceland. The whole country is well placed, slightly south of Tromsø magnetically. Its limitation is the weather.

Norway. Northern Norway, particularly around Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands, sits under the oval. Southern Norway does not, reliably.

Sweden. Swedish Lapland, including Abisko and Kiruna, sits inside the oval.

Finland. Finnish Lapland qualifies, with Rovaniemi just below the core of the oval and places further north more firmly within it.

Greenland. Well positioned given how close it is to the geomagnetic pole, though access is limited and expensive.

Russia. The far north, including Murmansk and the Siberian Arctic, sits under the oval, though practical tourist access varies.

Faroe Islands and northern Scotland. Marginal. Sightings happen, particularly when activity is elevated, but neither sits under the oval and both have difficult weather.

When the Aurora Reaches Further South

During strong geomagnetic storms, the oval expands towards the equator and the aurora becomes visible from places that normally never see it: the northern United States, Britain, Germany, and occasionally much further.

These are the events behind the viral photographs, and they are spectacular. The storm of May 10–11, 2024 was rated G5, the first of that strength since 2003, and aurora was reported as far south as the Florida Keys, Mexico’s Yucatán and northern India. Three things to understand about them:

They are storm-dependent. Ordinary activity keeps the oval where it usually sits. Mid-latitude sightings need the kind of disturbance measured at the top end of the Kp scale, which is rare by definition.

They are becoming less frequent. NASA and NOAA announced on October 15, 2024 that the sun had reached the solar maximum period of Solar Cycle 25, earlier and stronger than originally forecast. Activity now declines gradually over the following years, which means fewer of the large storms that push the aurora south. If your aurora plans depend on a mid-latitude sighting, the window is shrinking.

They matter little for destinations under the oval. Fairbanks, Yellowknife and Abisko do not need a storm to produce a display. That is the practical argument for traveling to the oval instead of waiting for it to come to you, particularly as the solar cycle quiets.

The Southern Lights

The aurora australis is the same phenomenon at the other end of the planet. It is harder to see for one simple reason: there is very little land under the southern auroral oval.

The southern oval sits mostly over ocean and Antarctica, which leaves few practical viewing places:

Tasmania is the most accessible, with south-facing coastlines and reasonably frequent sightings.

New Zealand’s South Island, particularly the far south around Invercargill and Stewart Island.

Southern Chile and Argentina, in the far south of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

Antarctica, which sits directly under the oval but is not a casual destination.

The seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, so the viewing season runs roughly March to September. From these places the southern lights usually appear low on the southern horizon; the overhead curtains seen from under the northern oval are rare there.

What Decides Whether You See It

Being under the oval gets the aurora above you. Four other things decide whether you see it.

Darkness. High-latitude destinations lose their aurora season in summer entirely, because the sky never gets fully dark. That alone is why the Fairbanks season runs from August 21 to April 21: around the June solstice the city gets close to twenty-two hours of daylight.

Cloud. The most underrated factor, and the one that separates otherwise similar destinations. Continental interiors such as Fairbanks, Yellowknife and Abisko are dry and clear far more often than maritime places like Tromsø or Iceland.

Light pollution. Faint displays disappear in ambient light. Bright displays are visible from city centers.

Geomagnetic activity. Less important than most guides suggest if you are under the oval: at Fairbanks, even low Kp readings of 1 to 2, which are routine, can produce displays. If you are watching from a mid-latitude location, activity becomes the dominant factor.

So Where Should You Go?

For most travelers the shortlist is short: Fairbanks, Yellowknife, Abisko, Tromsø, Iceland or Finnish Lapland. They differ on oval position, clear skies, cost and access, and the right answer depends on where you are traveling from.

The detailed comparison is here: best time and place to see the northern lights.

For North American travelers, interior Alaska is the strongest combination of position, clear skies and access. The Northern Lights Tour with Free Photos from Arctic Night Tours, rated 4.8/5 from more than 250 reviews, is our pick in Fairbanks: hotel pickup, a guide who follows the forecast to clear sky, and photos of you under the lights. See all Fairbanks northern lights tours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you see the northern lights?

Under the auroral oval: interior Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Greenland and the Russian Arctic. During strong geomagnetic storms the aurora becomes visible much further south, but those events are unpredictable and are becoming less frequent as the solar cycle declines.

Which countries have the northern lights?

The United States (Alaska), Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland and Russia all have territory under or near the oval. Scotland and the Faroe Islands see occasional sightings without sitting under it.

Do you have to go far north to see the aurora?

Not as far as most people assume, and past a point it stops helping. What matters is being inside the auroral oval, which is centered on the geomagnetic pole. Yellowknife sits under the oval at only about 62.5°N, while some far-northern places can sit poleward of it.

Can you see the northern lights in the United States outside Alaska?

Only during strong geomagnetic storms, when the northern-tier states may get a display low on the horizon. Alaska is the only reliable option, and the interior around Fairbanks is the strongest part of it.

Can you see the northern lights in the UK?

Occasionally, when geomagnetic activity is elevated, most often in northern Scotland. It is not reliable, and such sightings will become rarer as solar activity declines from the October 2024 maximum.

Is there an aurora in the southern hemisphere?

Yes, the aurora australis. It is harder to see because most of the southern auroral oval lies over ocean and Antarctica. Tasmania, southern New Zealand and far southern South America are the accessible options, with a season running roughly March to September.

What time of year can you see the northern lights?

Roughly late August to late April in the far north. Darkness sets the season; the aurora itself runs all year. There is no viewing season in the high-latitude summer because the sky never gets dark.

Do I need a big solar storm?

Only if you are watching from a mid-latitude location. Under the oval, routine activity is enough: low Kp readings of 1 to 2 can produce displays over Fairbanks.

Next Steps

To compare the practical destinations: best time and place to see the northern lights. To plan a trip to the strongest option for North American travelers: Fairbanks northern lights tours.

Browse Fairbanks northern lights tours →