Gallery Where to See the Northern Lights in Europe

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Ardmalin, Donegal, Northern Ireland

County Donegal is located in Northern Ireland, an ideal place for viewing the Northern Lights. Though spotting the Northern Lights can be a rare occurrence in Ireland, it’s made even more special when they’re seen dancing above the calm Irish waters.

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Polar Rise, Norway

Northern Norway is an area full of rolling mountainsides and jagged fjords. Sometimes called the Land of the Northern Lights, this region in Norway is the perfect setting for capturing the lights. You may even see the rarer red and purple lights along with the green.

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Abisko National Park, Sweden

In Sweden, one of the best places to experience the Northern Lights is deep in Abisko National Park. Find a clearing or climb to the top of the forest to camp under the lights. Or, stay in the nearby Icehotel for the quintessential Swedish stay.

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Northern Lights in Ruka, Finland

Finland’s vast countryside has plenty of places to witness the beauty of the Northern Lights. For the closest look, go to the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. Or, head to the natural setting of Lapland to see the lights from a campsite.

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Þingvellir, Iceland

The open, flat land of Þingvellir National Park makes for ideal Northern Lights viewing. With few hills and mountains, you can literally see the lights dancing for miles. And the park is close enough to the capital of Reykjavik that you’re not away from everything.

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Aurora over Belhaven Bay, Scotland

The best place in Scotland to catch the Northern Lights is over the Belhaven Bay. And the best time to do so is at the end of February. Find a spot next to the water and see the lights stretch all the way across the bay.

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Faroe Islands, Denmark

See the Northern Lights alongside a gathering of puffins on the Faroe Islands in Denmark. Bring a fishing pole and cast a line while the green, yellow and red lights dance with the stars above you.

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Finnmark, Norway