Month guide · Prime season
Can you see the northern lights in December?
The darkest month — aurora possible at almost any hour.
The northern lights in December
December is the darkest month of all — inside the Arctic Circle the sun barely rises, so the viewing window is enormous and the lights can appear in the afternoon as readily as at midnight. It is cold and festive (Christmas in Lapland) and magical for it, but also one of the cloudier months in places, so pick clear, continental spots and dress for serious cold.
What about the southern lights?
High summer in the south — no aurora australis until autumn. The aurora is the same phenomenon in both hemispheres — see where the aurora reaches for the full north-and-south picture.
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.
- GetYourGuide
Aurora chasing tours
Guided minibus & boat tours worldwide that drive you to the clearest, darkest skies on the night.
from ~€65 pp
See tonight's tours - Hotellook
Glass igloos & aurora cabins
Heated glass-roof rooms across Lapland, Iceland and the Arctic — watch the lights from bed.
from ~€180 / night
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.
from ~€40 / day
Compare cars - SafetyWing
Cover the trip
Aurora trips are remote, cold and weather-dependent — travel medical cover from a few dollars a day.
from ~$1.50 / day
Get covered