Best Places To See The Aurora Borealis
Have you always dreamt of witnessing the incredible display of colors shimmering across the sky during auroras?
Every year, thousands of tourists and photographers head to The North Pole to watch one of nature’s most magical shows: the aurora borealis.
While you can watch the aurora borealis from heated cabins everywhere from Sweden to Canada, there is nothing like heading into the wilderness on a clear night surrounded by a white blanket of fresh snow and enveloped by the silence of a cool and crisp winter night to observe in awe the magnificent northern lights dancing in the winter sky. Believe us, this experience will be sure to leave you speechless!
To help you select the best places to see this incredible show, we’ve highlighted below some of the best spots on Earth to see the aurora borealis.
Are you ready for a trip to wonderland?
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
Canada is home to approximately 80 to 90% of all accessible land situated directly under the Aurora Oval, these giant rings forming above the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole. As a result, Canada is one of the best places on Earth to observe this unique phenomenon. But where exactly in Canada, you ask?
While there are a few different places where you can see the aurora borealis in Canada, Yellowknife, a small town located in the Northwest Territories, is one of the most wonderful areas in the world to enjoy the northern light spectacle. And as a matter of fact, the town has even been nicknamed the ‘’Aurora Capital of North America’’. There, every night during the winter season, the sky puts on an incredible and marvelous light show displaying an array of colors from pale green and pink to shades of red, blue, and violet.
When to Visit:
The area is blessed with long and clear winter nights, so the best time for visitors to catch a glimpse of this unique light display is between mid-November and the beginning of April.
Best spots to see the Aurora Borealis:
The main areas to observe this natural phenomenon unfold at night include:
• Somba K’e Park
• Prosperous Lake
• The Ramparts
• Parker Park
• Great Slave Lake
• Aurora Village
If you’re planning a trip there to snap awesome pictures of the northern lights, make sure to check the Aurora forecast here.

Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Fairbanks is another ideal spot to watch the northern lights dance in the sky during clear and dark nights. Indeed, Fairbanks in Alaska is ideally located at a high latitude, close to the Arctic circle, and under the aurora oval.
Once in Fairbanks, aurora seekers will enjoy one of the most wonderful spectacles that nature has to offer as the sky takes on green, teal, white, and even magenta hues during intense auroras.
When to Visit:
The aurora season in Fairbanks is pretty long and stretches from the 21st of August to the 21st of April. While clear skies and dark nights are a prerequisite, it’s estimated visitors can observe the northern lights four nights out of five on average during this period.
Best spots to see the Aurora Borealis:
Due to the high aurora activity in the area, there are a lot of spots from which you can enjoy the show, and some of the best ones for photographers include:
• Creamer’s Field
• The Chena Lake Recreation Area
• Murphy Dome
• Cleary Summit
• Haystack Mountain
You’ll find more information about Fairbanks here.

Reykjavík, Iceland
No article about the best spots to visit to experience the mesmerizing northern lights would be complete without mentioning Reykjavík in Iceland! Serious contestant for the ‘’Northern Lights Capital of the World’’ award, Reykjavík is indeed one of the best places on Earth to watch the aurora borealis.
Indeed, the city experiences twenty hours of darkness at the winter equinox, which provides plenty of opportunities to capture the light show.
When to Visit:
In order to marvel at the northern lights in Iceland, you’re best to visit between September and April, when the nights are the darkest.
Best spots to see the Aurora Borealis:
While you can see the northern lights from downtown Reykjavík during aurora season, going outside the city to escape the light pollution will definitely allow you to experience more vibrant colors.
Some of the best areas to go to include:
• Grótta island
• Kirkjufell
• Lake Kleifarvatn
• Þrengslin
• Garður
You can check the aurora forecast for Reykjavic here.

We hope this article has provided you with some great inspiration for your next photography adventure. Also take a look at other locations with winter landscapes too beautiful to miss.
Whether you’re a serious photographer passionate about striking landscapes or a beginner who just started photography as a hobby, these spots will provide you with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to capture the aurora borealis.
Also, to help you make the most of your trip, we’ve published a guide on how to photograph the aurora borealis or northern lights. Don’t hesitate to check it out here.
Dan has been working in the photography industry for over 20 years mostly in the commercial space. He re-focused in travel and travel content 5 years ago after a long career in commercial studio, interior and advertising content for industry leaders in many genres.
Published many times in print with Professional Photographer, Sony, Culture Trip, Countryside Magazine, NY Tourism Guide, New York Times, many real estate marketing magazines throughout the USA and many online publications. Dan has also co-authored “Creative Photography : The Professional Edge”.
Dan also runs yearly photography tours in Alaska at alaskabearcruise.com where he is the guide and company co-owner. He also runs a successful nationwide photography business.
Current principal sponsors include Think Tank Photo and Lumix, also a previous British Photography Awards Ambassador.