The Best Places to Travel if You Wanna See the Northern Lights Without a Million Tourists
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Fun fact: We’re currently in the midst of a solar maximum (yup, we had to google it too) that’s expected to end in mid-2025, so right now is the most intense and most accessible the northern lights will be for years. That means if you've been thinking about traveling somewhere to see the lights at their finest, now's the time, baby.
And while everyone and their mother knows about hotspots like Tromsø, Norway, and Sweden's Lapland, I'm here to tell you that there are plenty of other incredible places to catch the aurora borealis—many of which are a little closer to home. To help guide you on your glorious, aurora-inspired travel journey (because yes, you should plan one asap), I put together this list of stunning, under-the-radar spots that will grant you some of the best, least-crowded views. Because less tourists = less problems, right? Right. Let's get into it.
GOÐAFOSS WATERFALL, ICELAND
Niagara Falls who? Drive along the iconic Ring Road in North Iceland and you’ll come across a waterfall so magnificent, it looks like it should come with a “made by AI” label. But it (and the photo above, promise) is totally real, even more beautiful during winter nights, and just a quick ride from two cities where you can stay—Akureyri, which has a cute art museum, and Húsavík, home to the Geosea geothermal baths. Meet you at the pool bar?
FLY INTO: Akureyri International Airport (AEY)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: September through April
ILULISSAT, GREENLAND
The country’s most charming coastal city sits next to a UNESCO World Heritage icefjord, which is honestly reason enough to visit. Icebergs create a sparkling backdrop for the northern lights in winter, when snowmobiling, skiing, and dogsledding are also at their peak. Fun fact: There are actually almost as many sled dogs in town as there are people...and if that’s not a utopia, I don’t know what is.
FLY INTO: Ilulissat Airport (JAV)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: January through April
MACKINAW CITY, MICHIGAN
The skies over Headlands International Dark Sky Park are damn near spotless, letting the light show do its full thing. Book an on-site guesthouse or make nearby Mackinaw City your home base. The cozy Northern Michigan town has plenty of waterfront sunset views. Feeling even more adventurous? Stay inside the Big Bay Point Lighthouse, an allegedly haunted bed-and-breakfast a few hours away on LakeSuperior, where the celestial sights start right outside your window.
FLY INTO: Pellston Regional Airport (PLN)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: April, October, November
ORKNEY, SCOTLAND
If “holly jolly” were a place, it would be this group of islands off the northern coast of Scotland. Affable locals refer to the lights as the merry dancers, and chilly months are rife with so much holiday magic (tree lightings! craft fairs!), you might mistake it for the North Pole. Load up on its famous fudge before exploring Stone Age-era sites (put Skara Brae on your list now) and stunning stone cliffs, from which you might just also peep a seal.
FLY INTO: Kirkwall Airport (KOI)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: November, December
YELLOWKNIFE, CANADA
Dubbed the Aurora Capital of North America, this Northwest Canadian city is perfect for passenger princesses who want to experience the lights without, like, any planning. Book a package that includes airport transfers, tours, a room, warm-clothing rentals, and more with the Indigenous-owned Aurora Village. Then expect to spend your days snowshoeing, ice fishing, and scarfing down bannock, and your nights in front of a roaring fire, hot beverage—and camera—in hand.
FLY INTO: Yellowknife Airport (YZF)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: December through March
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