Tromsø is considered by many as the best place in the world to see aurora borealis. This northern city in Norway is located in the heart of a fjord and its surroundings are ideal for enjoying the auroras. It is also one of the best places for stargazing. One possible trail is heading to the fishing village of Oldervik by bus and starting your way back to Tromsø.

The Finnish Lapland is much more than the land of the Samis and Santa Clause: it is one of the best places to see aurora borealis. The Urho Kekkonen National Park is a good stage to go on a ski tour and see the auroras. You can take off from the Kiilopää mountain center and end each leg at a cabin or refuge, where you can then relax as you wait for nightfall, the moment when the aurora colors take over the sky.

Reykjiavik is Iceland’s capital, one of the best places to see an aurora borealis. The curtains of colors tinge its skies with magic from September to April. To assure prime visibility, it is advisable to start a route towards the other end of the island, especially in the north, such as an all-terrain route that can take us near to Akranes and the Skardsheidi Mountain, about 50 kilometers from Iceland’s capital.

Greenland, with two thirds of its territory in the Arctic Polar Circle, is one of the purest and most underexplored corners of the world and a great place to delight in the game of lights and colors from the auroras. The auroras can be seen from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, but exploring further towards the south in this spectacular landscape on the planet’s largest island also has many rewards. Some of the places that are worth visiting: Flower Valley, Narsarsuaq or the Qaleragdlit Glacier.

Canada (in particular, the Northwestern Territories) features an ideal location and weather for observing the aurora borealis. There are different places where you can enjoy this spectacle, such as the Yukon or Yellowknife territories. Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwestern Territories. Another region for watching the auroras in Canada is the Jasper National Park, in the province of Alberta. If you go to Jasper National Park, you can do a 45-km trail known as Skyline Trail.

Sweden is one of the best countries in the world for observing aurora borealis, particularly in the Norrbotten region, in the north, since a large part of its territory lies in the Arctic Polar Circle. In this region, the Abisko Touriststation, in the Abisko National Park, is the starting points for various trails, such as the Kungsleden trail (King’s Path). The section between Abisko and Nikkaluokta being one of the most popular trails in Sweden.

New Zealand’s South Island is possibly, alongside Tazmania, the best place in the southern hemisphere where aurora australis can be seen. In this region, you can do a trail around Lake Tekapo, located inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, which makes it an ideal site for observing the aurora australis. So, if you do not get lucky with the southern lights, you will probably be able to enjoy one of the most impressive starriest skies on the planet.

The Faroe Islands are an archipelago located between the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland. Although these islands are mostly self-governing, they are under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is a land of mermaids, lighthouses and towns engulfed by the sea, ideal for short walks full of impressive landscapes, like those that surround the village of Gjogv, on Eysturoy Island. There are also hiking trails to do while you wait for the sun to set to see auroras.

Alaska, part of the United States, is a good place for observing aurora borealis. Fairbanks or the Denali National Park are recommended sites for enjoying the northern lights, as well as the surrounding area of Anchorage. Here, you can get away from the light pollution of the city and enter the Chugach State Park. One of the suggested options for viewing the auroras is going to Lake Eklutna, barely an hour’s drive north of the city.

The Isle of Skye (the largest and most northern of the Inner Hebrides) is a destination that has inspired writers worldwide like Virginia Woolf. This region in the North Atlantic, is part of Scotland (the United Kingdom), and it is also one of the best places for viewing the aurora borealis, clouds permitting. We propose going to the northern peninsula of Trotternish and following a trail to the Old Man of Storr Rock, which, according to legend, was a giant that was petrified.