Month guide · Shoulder season
Can you see the northern lights in April?
The season closing — good early, gone by month's end up north.
The northern lights in April
April is the shoulder. Early in the month the far north still darkens enough for a strong display, but the window shrinks fast: by late April the Arctic sky barely dims as it heads toward the midnight sun. Aim for the first half, and the lower-latitude edges of the belt — southern Scandinavia, Scotland — hold on a little longer.
What about the southern lights?
Autumn deepens in the south — a good, dark window for aurora australis. The aurora is the same phenomenon in both hemispheres — see where the aurora reaches for the full north-and-south picture.
Best for
A last clear-sky chance up north early in the month before the light returns. For the day-by-day odds anywhere on Earth, use the live forecast; for the bigger seasonal picture, see the best time to see the northern lights.
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