2025 is shaping up to be an exceptional year for aurora activity, with increasing solar energy from the current solar cycle. If you’ve ever dreamed of witnessing the northern lights, now is the time to plan your trip. Below are our top picks for aurora destinations — along with bookable tours through our partners.
Iceland offers some of the most accessible aurora viewing in the world. Head just a short drive from Reykjavik to escape light pollution and enjoy guided tours with geothermal hot spring stops.
Located above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø boasts some of the clearest skies and longest aurora windows in Europe. With mountain backdrops and fjords, it’s one of the most photogenic places to witness the lights.
Alaska remains one of the most reliable northern lights destinations in the USA. In Fairbanks, you can often see auroras even from hotel parking lots on the edge of town. Consider combining it with a hot springs visit.