Destinations
Where to actually see it
Visibility is mostly about geomagnetic latitude and luck with the sky. The northern bases sit under the oval and need almost no activity. The southern ones sit further from it and need a real storm — each card says how much.
Northern lights · aurora borealis
Tromsø
NorwayThe capital of the Arctic aurora
Abisko
SwedenA microclimate built for clear skies
Reykjavík
IcelandAurora and waterfalls in one trip
Rovaniemi
FinlandGlass igloos at the Arctic Circle
Fairbanks
USA (Alaska)North America's aurora capital
Yellowknife
CanadaStatistically the best in Canada
Ilulissat
GreenlandIcebergs beneath the lights
Southern lights · aurora australis
Tasmania
AustraliaThe southern lights down under
Stewart Island
New ZealandThe island whose name means glowing skies
Invercargill
New ZealandThe southernmost city, and the mainland's best odds
Dunedin
New ZealandThe easiest southern base to actually reach
Aurora destinations at a glance
Every spot sits under (or beneath) the auroral oval. Tap a pin to open its guide.
Compare two bases head-to-head
Torn between two? See them side by side — visible nights, clear-sky odds and how to get there.
Plan the trip
Tours, stays and wheels
Some links below are paid affiliate links. If you book a tour, reserve a stay or buy gear through them, we may earn a commission — it never costs you anything extra and helps keep the forecast free.
- Klook
Aurora chasing tours
Guided minibus & boat tours worldwide that drive you to the clearest, darkest skies on the night.
See tonight's tours - Booking.com
Glass igloos & aurora cabins
Heated glass-roof rooms across Lapland, Iceland and the Arctic — watch the lights from bed.
Find stays - Discover Cars
Rent a car to chase clear skies
Self-drive away from town glow to the dark-sky spots. Compare every local supplier in one place.
Compare cars - SafetyWing
Cover the trip
Aurora trips are remote, cold and weather-dependent — travel medical cover from a few dollars a day.
Get covered