The Best Places to See the Northern Lights: A Journey of Culture and Cosmic Lightshows

Witnessing the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis as we call it, is like seeing Mother Nature’s neon sign lighting up the heavens. A celestial rave of swirling greens, pinks, and purples, it’s an awe-inspiring phenomenon that has captivated us for millennia. But where can you best experience this cosmic spectacle? Let’s embark on highlights of the top Northern Lights hotspots, looking for what make these locations even more magical. You can't really go wrong with any of these aurora viewing destinations, they all have a surprising amount in common, and here I make a pitch for why each one is the best. Enjoy!

Frankly, the best place to see the Northern Lights is wherever you are when they are out overhead.

1. Whitehorse, Yukon: Wilderness, Gold Rush Spirit, and Cosmic Magic

Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory, is a perfect blend of rugged wilderness and rich history. Known as the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush, this northern town offers more than just stories of fortune seekers, it’s also one of the best places in North America to see the Northern Lights. With its vast, open skies and relatively low light pollution, Whitehorse offers a front-row seat to the aurora’s mesmerizing dance.

In Whitehorse, you can combine your aurora viewing with a taste of the local culture. Try your hand at dog sledding, soak in the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, or explore the town’s vibrant arts scene, which celebrates the rich heritage of the Yukon’s First Nations. Whether you’re watching the lights from a cozy cabin or braving the chilly outdoors, Whitehorse offers a Northern Lights experience that’s steeped in both wilderness and history.

2. Tromsø, Norway: Where Vikings Meet the Cosmos

Tromsø is the crown jewel of aurora-watching in Norway. Nestled in the Arctic Circle, this charming town is like the Venice of the North, if Venice had fjords and Vikings. The indigenous Sámi people, who have called this region home for thousands of years, believed the Northern Lights were the spirits of their ancestors dancing across the sky. If you listen closely on a clear night, you might just hear the soft whispers of ancient Sámi stories blending with the aurora’s cosmic hum.

Between light shows, you can warm up with some reindeer stew or, for the adventurous, try a polar plunge in the icy fjords. You’ll need something to tell your friends back home, after all.

3. Fairbanks, Alaska: Where the Last Frontier Meets the Final Frontier

Fairbanks is Alaska's premier destination for Northern Lights viewing, offering an ideal combination of auroral activity and wilderness adventure. Here, the skies come alive with vibrant colors during winter’s long nights. Visitors can catch this cosmic ballet from remote lodges, hot springs, or even while snowshoeing under the stars. With its clear skies and rugged charm, Fairbanks promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of the aurora, where nature’s light show meets the wild spirit of Alaska.

Alaska Natives have their own tales of the lights. The Inupiat and Yupik people believed that the lights were the souls of animals, especially whales, playing in the sky. If you want to honor this tradition, consider booking a shoulder season tour that involves both aurora viewing and whale watching. Because, hey, you never know when the two might meet!

4. Reykjavík, Iceland: Where Fire, Ice, and Lights Collide

Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is already bursting with natural wonders, from volcanoes and geysers to glaciers and hot springs. But the Northern Lights add a whole new dimension to the country’s already otherworldly landscape. In Reykjavík, you can soak in a geothermal hot spring while watching the auroras swirl above, talk about a spa experience that’s out of this world.

Local Icelandic folklore says the Northern Lights can ease the pain of childbirth (just in case you were planning on doing that during your trip). On the flip side, it's also said that pregnant women shouldn’t look directly at the lights, or their child will be born cross-eyed. Ah, the joys of ancient wisdom.

5. Yellowknife, NWT: Where Legends of the North Come to Life

Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, is one of the most reliable places on Earth to catch the Northern Lights. The skies are so clear, and the auroras so regular, that the town even has a viewing platform called the “Aurora Village,” where you can watch the lights from a heated tipi. Talk about luxury northern living!

According to the Dene First Nations people, the Northern Lights are the spirits of the dead playing a game of soccer with a walrus skull. So if you’re out there watching the lights dance, don’t be surprised if you hear the faint echoes of cosmic cheers from the afterlife. Maybe pack a walrus skull of your own, just in case they need a substitute.

6. Abisko, Sweden: The Auroral Archipelago

Abisko, located in Sweden's Lapland region, is home to the Aurora Sky Station, one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights. This area benefits from something called a "blue hole," a patch of sky that tends to stay clear even when the surrounding areas are cloudy. Essentially, it's as if the heavens know you're coming and want to roll out the aurora carpet.

The Sámi people here also have a deep connection to the auroras, believing that whistling under the Northern Lights could call them closer - ah, we're seeing a pattern here. So, if you feel like getting up close and personal with the lights, why not give a little whistle and see what happens? Just be ready to run if they get too close.

7. Rovaniemi, Finland: Santa’s Aurora Headquarters

Rovaniemi, located in Finnish Lapland, is the official home of Santa Claus. Yes, you read that right. And what better backdrop could there be for Santa’s workshop than a sky filled with dazzling lights? Here, you can go aurora hunting by snowmobile, dog sled, or even reindeer sleigh, because why not fully embrace the North Pole experience?

According to Finnish folklore, the lights are caused by a magical fox running across the snow, its tail brushing up sparks that ignite the night sky. This is why the Finnish word for the Northern Lights is revontulet, meaning "fox fires." So if you see an aurora in Rovaniemi, be sure to thank the celestial fox for the show, and maybe leave out some snacks for Santa while you're at it.

8. Kangerlussuaq, Greenland: The Land of Icebergs and Aurora

Greenland, the world’s largest island, offers some of the most dramatic and remote views of the Northern Lights. Kangerlussuaq, which lies just north of the Arctic Circle, boasts over 300 clear nights per year, making it an aurora hunter’s dream. Imagine watching the lights as they reflect off massive icebergs, creating a light show that’s as much in the water as it is in the sky.

The Inuit of Greenland have long seen the auroras as spirits playing in the afterlife, though their stories are often accompanied by a warning: don't wave or make noise under the Northern Lights, as it could attract the spirits down to Earth, perhaps not the kind of encounter you’re hoping for on a peaceful night out.

9. Scotland’s Shetland Islands: Aurora with a Scottish Twist

The Shetland Islands, located far to the north of mainland Scotland, offer a unique blend of Celtic and Norse culture, and yes, Northern Lights too! Known locally as the Mirrie Dancers, the Northern Lights in Shetland are often accompanied by a bracing sea breeze and the sounds of waves crashing against the rugged coastline. If you're lucky, you might even spot some of the famous Shetland ponies getting in on the aurora action.

In old Scottish folklore, the Mirrie Dancers were believed to be a sign of otherworldly battles being fought in the heavens, with the outcome determining the fate of the land. So, while you're sipping on a local Scotch whisky and watching the lights, keep an eye out for any epic celestial showdowns, just in case.

10. Saariselkä, Finland: Where Luxury Meets the Northern Lights

If you’re looking for a more luxurious Northern Lights experience, head to Saariselkä in Finnish Lapland. This destination is famous for its glass igloos, where you can watch the auroras from the comfort of your bed. Imagine lying back in a cozy, heated igloo, gazing up at the swirling lights without ever having to step outside, it's like stargazing, but with extra magic.

Finnish Lapland is also home to the indigenous Sámi people, who have long held the Northern Lights in mystical regard noted for Rovaniemi, Finland. While you’re enjoying your luxurious surroundings, remember that you might just be under the cosmic influence of that mischievous fire fox!

A Cosmic Dance

From the gold rush trails of the Yukon to the luxurious igloos of Finnish Lapland, the Northern Lights offer not just a breathtaking visual spectacle, but a chance to connect with the cultures and legends that have been inspired by these cosmic phenomena. So, wherever you choose to chase the auroras, remember that you’re not just watching lights in the sky, you’re experiencing the stories, traditions, and spirits of the land below.

So, pack your warmest clothes, brush up on your local folklore, and get ready to chase the lights across the Arctic skies.