Fireflies, month by month around the world

A few weeks of lights in the trees after dark, and the nights the paths are closed to headlamps.

5 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 seasonsThe world's calendar

When it is on

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

Fireflies in April

  1. Sun Moon Lake 🇹🇼 TaiwanFirefly season · 1 Apr – 15 May (usually)The trails around Toushe and the lake's quieter southern shore fill with them for about six weeks in spring.73
  2. Alishan 🇹🇼 TaiwanFirefly season · 10 Apr – 15 May (usually)Alishan holds about a third of Taiwan's fireflies and the peak is a few weeks from mid-April.65

What's on around the world in April →

Fireflies in May

  1. Gatlinburg 🇺🇸 United StatesElkmont synchronous fireflies · 18 May – 15 Jun (usually)Peak has landed anywhere between the third week of May and the third week of June since the park started recording it.85
  2. Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesSynchronous fireflies · 10 May – 5 Jun (usually)One of the few places in the world where the fireflies flash in unison, and for about a fortnight in May the park runs a lottery: 145 vehicle passes a night, gates shut at half past four, and no headlights near the viewing area.69
  3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesSynchronous fireflies · 18 May – 12 Jun (usually)For about a fortnight in late May and early June the fireflies at Elkmont flash in unison.68
  4. Sun Moon Lake 🇹🇼 TaiwanFirefly season · 1 Apr – 15 May (usually)The trails around Toushe and the lake's quieter southern shore fill with them for about six weeks in spring.58
  5. Alishan 🇹🇼 TaiwanFirefly season · 10 Apr – 15 May (usually)Alishan holds about a third of Taiwan's fireflies and the peak is a few weeks from mid-April.57

What's on around the world in May →

Fireflies in June

  1. Gatlinburg 🇺🇸 United StatesElkmont synchronous fireflies · 18 May – 15 Jun (usually)Peak has landed anywhere between the third week of May and the third week of June since the park started recording it.82
  2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesSynchronous fireflies · 18 May – 12 Jun (usually)For about a fortnight in late May and early June the fireflies at Elkmont flash in unison.75
  3. Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United StatesSynchronous fireflies · 10 May – 5 Jun (usually)One of the few places in the world where the fireflies flash in unison, and for about a fortnight in May the park runs a lottery: 145 vehicle passes a night, gates shut at half past four, and no headlights near the viewing area.60

What's on around the world in June →