Where Can You See the Northern Lights in Europe?

Where Can You See the Northern Lights in Europe?

Unless you’ve been adrift in the ocean or had no Wi-Fi in 2024, you’ll have noticed your social feeds dominated by Northern Lights pictures from all over the UK.

In what was a rare treat, many of us were lucky enough to catch them dancing up and down the British Isles this year – from Islington and the Isle of Man to Bradford and Brighton.

If this has left you Googling the best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe and planning a cheeky winter holiday, here are some places you can visit from the UK to see the greatest show (off) Earth.

Rovaniemi, Finland

If Santa Claus had a side hustle, it’d be running aurora tours in Rovaniemi.

This Finnish Lapland town doubles as Santa’s ‘official’ home, so expect serious festive vibes.

It’s got snow-covered forests, reindeer that look like (and may well be) extras from Christmas films and skies so clear you can practically hear them whisper “tonight’s the night!”

The good news is, Rovaniemi takes its Northern Lights tourism very seriously. There are glass igloos, heated sleigh rides and enough Lapland-themed swag to decorate a year-round grotto.

Don’t leave without trying the local cloudberry liqueur to warm up after a chilly night.

Abisko, Sweden

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Welcome to Abisko, where the sky behaves like it’s auditioning for an Oscar.

This tiny Swedish village is famed for its Aurora Sky Station, a prime viewing spot perched on a mountaintop.

You’ll find this in Abisko National Park, a slice of pristine wilderness that feels like stepping into a Nordic fairy tale, minus the trolls (we hope).

Why is Abisko so good? Two words – polar vortex. The area has a near-permanent ‘blue hole’ of clear skies.

This makes your chances of spotting the Northern Lights here particularly good.

If the auroras don’t show, the park’s starry skies are almost as Insta-worthy. Almost.

Reykjavik, Iceland

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Iceland is undoubtedly the cool kid of Europe’s travel scene, making Reykjavik a hot spot for both culture and scenery.

You can catch the Northern Lights above Reykjavik on a good night. But the best spots are just a short drive away.

Hop in a car or take a night tour to Þingvellir National Park or the black sand beaches near Vík and wait for the show to begin.

Between aurora-hunting, soak in a geothermal pool or eat enough lamb stew to rival a Viking.

Reykjavik’s urban-meets-wild vibe makes it perfect for those who want their auroras served with a side of hipstery cafes, bars and music events.

Svalbard, Norway

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Ever wanted to see the lights all day long? Svalbard is the place.

Reachable from the UK by via. flight connections, this Arctic archipelago is for the more determined travellers among us.

Svalbard is so far north that it experiences polar night, a period when the sun doesn’t rise for weeks.

You’ll literally see auroras in the middle of the day, which feels like a glitch in the matrix.

It isn’t for the faint-hearted, though. It’s cold, remote and you might encounter a polar bear (really).

But for hardcore adventurers, Svalbard is unbeatable.

Just make sure you’re well-prepared, have the right equipment and layer up like a boss to avoid the souvenir of frostbite.