![]() Öskjuhlíð in the center of Reykjavík, the hills outside of the town of Akureyri in the north of the country, or nearby Húsavík all provide excellent viewing points. Alternatively, head to Kleifarvatn lake only 30 minutes from the capital - nine square kilometers of eerie calm gives off exactly the right atmosphere. Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is only 20 minutes outside Reykjavík but it’s known as Iceland’s Mecca for northern lights watchers. ![]() However, if you really want to make sure you get the best possible show, you really do need to get out of town, even if just a little way. In fact, with the right weather conditions, it’s possible to see the lights anywhere in Iceland, even Reykjavík. Iceland has built an entire industry on the northern lights, so there are stays and tours to suit pretty much every budget and length of stay. You can catch the northern lights from pretty much anywhere in Iceland, but Thingvellir National Park is the aurora-hunters’ Mecca - Shutterstock Here you can observe the lights from your own glass igloo, warm and cozy in a stunning structure made of local kelo pine and featuring a kitchen, bedroom, fireplace, and, yes, a private sauna! Iceland (Reykjavík, Thingvellir, Kleifarvatn) ![]() For something really special, however, try Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. See the lights from the frozen shores of Lake Inari before heading back inside to warm up. ![]() Much further north (but also home to a sauna - where in Finland isn’t?) is the village of Nellim. It’s in the middle of some of the darkest countryside in the country, slap bang in the center of Finland, and surrounded by lakes. The Hankasalmi Observatory, around 15 minutes from the winter resort of Revontuli and home to a classic Finnish sauna and spa, is a great place to start. If you want to go all out, head to Svalbard, one of the northernmost inhabited places on earth - Shutterstockįinnish Lapland is home to a number of spots where you can see the lights, some more scientific and more extravagant than others. So, now you’re geared up, where exactly should you go to get to the northern lights?… Norway (Tromsø, Alta, Svalbard) Think about getting a wide-angle lens, which will allow you to capture more of the sky and a tripod, because shivering hands make for bad picture-taking! Long exposure and a higher ISO are both key to capturing the lights. How can I take the best photos of the northern lights? And don’t worry about remembering all of this when the time comes - there’s an app for that! My Aurora (available on Apple and on Android ) is a great guide to all the variables above, from weather forecasts to sun imagery and maps of solar winds. If you can see sunspots, it means that the sun’s pumping out those winds that produce the aurora. And, if you want to get your science on, monitor the solar cycle and the number of spots visible on the surface of the sun. Make sure you’re not near any sources of light pollution - get as far away from towns and cities as you can. However, it’s a myth that it has to be cold it’s rather that the best auroras happen in the far north on clear nights that, because of these factors, tend to be cold. It might be obvious, but clear skies help too. Although strong auroral displays can withstand bright moonlight, your chances are better on nights when there’s a new or crescent moon. What are the best outdoor conditions for seeing the northern lights?Īs a rule, the darker the night, the better the view is. The nights are long or, in some very northern places, virtually endless. September to April are generally the best months to go aurora-hunting. ![]() And you may have thought that you can only catch the lights in Norway or Iceland, but our best-countries list features spots that might be a little closer to home for you… Frequently asked general questions Which is the best month for seeing the northern lights? We’ve answered some common questions to help you get the best out of your trip to hunt the aurora borealis: when to go, the best outdoor conditions for it, and how to snap the best photos. If, like most of us, you don’t live north of the Arctic Circle, seeing the northern lights is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you need to be prepared for. You can catch this beautiful natural phenomenon in several European and North American countries Now is the best time of year to see the aurora borealis, or the northern lights. ![]()
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