When and where to see the northern lights
Dark, clear skies matter more than luck. Here's how to give yourself the best chance.
When to go
The season runs from about late August to early April, when the nights are dark enough. The hours around midnight are often best, but the lights can appear at any time it's dark.
Where to stay
The further north you are, the more often you'll see them. Finnish and Swedish Lapland, northern Norway and Iceland get them on many clear nights; in southern Finland and the Baltics they show only when activity is strong.
How to watch
Get away from lights: an open lake shore or a fell top is ideal. Check the cloud forecast and an aurora forecast, dress warmly and give your eyes a quarter of an hour to adjust. A phone camera on night mode often sees more than you do.
