SeasonMap

Aurora, month by month around the world

Dark enough to see the northern (or southern) lights, cloud permitting.

27 destinations on SeasonMap, ranked within each month by the comfort score — because the point is not only where the season is on, but whether the weather is worth the trip while it is.

← All seasons · The world's calendar

When it is on

Number of destinations with aurora on in that month. Windows move a little each year.

Aurora in January

  1. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.46climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.44climate
  3. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.34climate
  4. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.33climate
  5. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.31climate
  6. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.31climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.30climate
  8. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.30climate
  9. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.29climate
  10. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.28climate
  11. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.27climate
  12. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.27climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.27climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Denali National Park, United StatesWinter aurora season · 21 Oct – 9 Apr (usually)The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open.25climate
  15. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.24climate
  16. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.24climate
  17. 🇸🇯 Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan MayenAurora season · 1 Oct – 28 FebFar enough north that the lights appear in the middle of the day as well as at night through the darkest months.24climate
  18. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.24climate
  19. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.24climate
  20. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.24climate
  21. 🇺🇸 Gates of the Arctic National Park, United StatesAurora season · 1 Nov – 31 MarNovember to March is the park's own answer for the northern lights, though with no road in most people watch from Coldfoot or Bettles and fly over in daylight.23climate
  22. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.23climate
  23. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.23climate
  24. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.21climate
  25. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.20climate

…and 1 more in January.

What's on around the world in January →

Aurora in February

  1. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.54climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.48climate
  3. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.44climate
  4. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.42climate
  5. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.40climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.40climate
  7. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.40climate
  8. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.39climate
  9. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.38climate
  10. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.36climate
  11. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.35climate
  12. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.34climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.34climate
  14. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.33climate
  15. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.33climate
  16. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.33climate
  17. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.32climate
  18. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.32climate
  19. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.31climate
  20. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.31climate
  21. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.30climate
  22. 🇺🇸 Denali National Park, United StatesWinter aurora season · 21 Oct – 9 Apr (usually)The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open.29climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Gates of the Arctic National Park, United StatesAurora season · 1 Nov – 31 MarNovember to March is the park's own answer for the northern lights, though with no road in most people watch from Coldfoot or Bettles and fly over in daylight.29climate
  24. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.29climate
  25. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.28climate

…and 1 more in February.

What's on around the world in February →

Aurora in March

  1. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.90climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.65climate
  3. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.60climate
  4. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.56climate
  5. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.52climate
  6. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.50climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.50climate
  8. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.50climate
  9. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.50climate
  10. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.49climate
  11. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.47climate
  12. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.47climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.47climate
  14. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.46climate
  15. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.45climate
  16. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.42climate
  17. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.42climate
  18. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.42climate
  19. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.42climate
  20. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.41climate
  21. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.40climate
  22. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.39climate
  23. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.37climate
  24. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.37climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Denali National Park, United StatesWinter aurora season · 21 Oct – 9 Apr (usually)The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open.36climate

…and 1 more in March.

What's on around the world in March →

Aurora in April

  1. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.84climate
  2. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.72climate
  3. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.70climate
  4. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.69climate
  5. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.68climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.68climate
  7. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.67climate
  8. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.64climate
  9. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.59climate
  10. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.58climate
  11. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.58climate
  12. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.57climate
  13. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.57climate
  14. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.56climate
  15. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.55climate
  16. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.54climate
  17. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.53climate
  18. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.51climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Denali National Park, United StatesWinter aurora season · 21 Oct – 9 Apr (usually)The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open.50climate
  20. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.49climate
  21. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.44climate

What's on around the world in April →

Aurora in May

  1. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.73climate

What's on around the world in May →

Aurora in June

  1. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.68climate

What's on around the world in June →

Aurora in July

  1. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.70climate

What's on around the world in July →

Aurora in August

  1. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.90climate
  2. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.87climate
  3. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.85climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.83climate
  5. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.82climate
  6. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.79climate
  7. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.74climate
  8. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.70climate
  9. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.70climate

What's on around the world in August →

Aurora in September

  1. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.84climate
  2. 🇦🇺 Hobart, AustraliaAurora australis · 1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)Tasmania faces the pole, so a strong geomagnetic storm shows from the south-facing beaches below the city.79climate
  3. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.76climate
  4. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.76climate
  5. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.75climate
  6. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.74climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.73climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.73climate
  9. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.72climate
  10. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.71climate
  11. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.70climate
  12. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.70climate
  13. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.69climate
  14. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.68climate
  15. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.68climate
  16. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.68climate
  17. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.67climate
  18. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.66climate
  19. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.64climate
  20. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.63climate
  21. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.63climate
  22. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.60climate
  23. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.59climate
  24. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.59climate

What's on around the world in September →

Aurora in October

  1. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.67climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.63climate
  3. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.60climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.57climate
  5. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.57climate
  6. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.56climate
  7. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.56climate
  8. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.56climate
  9. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.52climate
  10. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.52climate
  11. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.52climate
  12. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.51climate
  13. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.50climate
  14. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.50climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.50climate
  16. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.50climate
  17. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.48climate
  18. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.47climate
  19. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.47climate
  20. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.46climate
  21. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.44climate
  22. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.41climate
  23. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.41climate
  24. 🇺🇸 Denali National Park, United StatesWinter aurora season · 21 Oct – 9 Apr (usually)The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open.40climate
  25. 🇸🇯 Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan MayenAurora season · 1 Oct – 28 FebFar enough north that the lights appear in the middle of the day as well as at night through the darkest months.40climate

What's on around the world in October →

Aurora in November

  1. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.55climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.51climate
  3. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.45climate
  4. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.43climate
  5. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.42climate
  6. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.40climate
  7. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.38climate
  8. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.36climate
  9. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.36climate
  10. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.36climate
  11. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.35climate
  12. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.35climate
  13. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.35climate
  14. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.35climate
  15. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.34climate
  16. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.34climate
  17. 🇸🇯 Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan MayenAurora season · 1 Oct – 28 FebFar enough north that the lights appear in the middle of the day as well as at night through the darkest months.32climate
  18. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.32climate
  19. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.31climate
  20. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.30climate
  21. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.29climate
  22. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.29climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.29climate
  24. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.27climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Gates of the Arctic National Park, United StatesAurora season · 1 Nov – 31 MarNovember to March is the park's own answer for the northern lights, though with no road in most people watch from Coldfoot or Bettles and fly over in daylight.25climate

…and 1 more in November.

What's on around the world in November →

Aurora in December

  1. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomAurora on strong nights · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough north that a decent solar storm shows over the Moray Firth, but not far enough that it is routine.45climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Isle of Skye, United KingdomAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark skies and a northern horizon over the Minch make Skye one of the better bets in Britain, on the nights the Atlantic cloud lets it through.41climate
  3. 🇳🇴 Trondheim, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Far enough south that it takes an active night rather than any dark one, but on those nights the lights are visible from the Bymarka hills fifteen minutes out of the centre.35climate
  4. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 31 Mar (usually)Dark enough to see them from roughly September to mid-April, cloud permitting, which is the part nobody can book.33climate
  5. 🇳🇴 Bodø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well north of the Arctic Circle, so the lights are overhead rather than on the horizon from September to early April.33climate
  6. 🇨🇦 Edmonton, CanadaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 AprEdmonton sits far enough north to catch the lights on active nights from September through the spring.31climate
  7. 🇸🇯 Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan MayenAurora season · 1 Oct – 28 FebFar enough north that the lights appear in the middle of the day as well as at night through the darkest months.29climate
  8. 🇳🇴 Tromsø, NorwayAurora season · 15 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Directly under the auroral oval, so a quiet night still shows something from September to early April.28climate
  9. 🇬🇱 Nuuk, GreenlandAurora season · 10 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from September to April, and you only need to walk out past the last streetlights on the Qinngorput side to be clear of the town.28climate
  10. 🇷🇺 Murmansk, RussiaAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral oval, but the city's own light and the Barents cloud work against you — the trips run out to Teriberka or the Lovozero side to get away from both.28climate
  11. 🇫🇮 Rovaniemi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Sitting on the Arctic Circle, the lights are a regular event rather than a rare one from late August to April.28climate
  12. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places.28climate
  13. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Dark enough from mid-September, and the harbour and the hot pools above the town both look north over the bay with no streetlight in the way.28climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Anchorage, United StatesAurora season · 20 Aug – 15 AprFrom late August the nights are dark enough again.27climate
  15. 🇸🇪 Kiruna, SwedenAurora season · 1 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Inland and dry, which is the real advantage over the coast: fewer cloudy nights than Norway at the same latitude, and the Abisko rain shadow an hour west is better again.27climate
  16. 🇬🇱 Ilulissat, GreenlandAurora season · 15 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)The lights come back with the dark in late September and stay until the sun does in April.27climate
  17. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandAurora season · 1 Sep – 10 Apr (usually)Dark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light.26climate
  18. 🇨🇦 Yellowknife, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)It splits in two: late August to September, when the lights reflect off open lake water and the nights are mild, and the long cold half from November.24climate
  19. 🇫🇮 Ruka, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Far enough north and far enough from anything that the lights are routine on a clear night from late August to April.24climate
  20. 🇳🇴 Svolvær, NorwayAurora season · 10 Sep – 5 Apr (usually)Well inside the auroral zone from September to early April, and the mountains across the Vestfjord give it something to sit behind.24climate
  21. 🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United StatesAurora season · 21 Aug – 21 AprSitting under the auroral oval, the town claims better than nine nights in ten over a three-night stay if you actually go out after midnight.24climate
  22. 🇨🇦 Churchill, CanadaAurora season · 15 Aug – 15 AprThe town sits under the auroral oval and gets displays on a majority of clear nights.23climate
  23. 🇫🇮 Levi, FinlandAurora season · 25 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough from late August to April, and far enough north that a quiet night still shows something.23climate
  24. 🇨🇦 Whitehorse, CanadaAurora season · 20 Aug – 10 Apr (usually)Dark enough to see the lights from late August until the light comes back in spring, with a break either side of the solstice when it never really gets dark.23climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Denali National Park, United StatesWinter aurora season · 21 Oct – 9 Apr (usually)The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open.21climate

…and 1 more in December.

What's on around the world in December →