Aurora is a unique astronomical phenomenon formed by magnetic radiation, creating streaks of colorful light in the sky. Aurora occurs in the area near the two poles of the Earth, so there are northern lights and southern lights. Whether or not you can see the aurora depends on each person's "luck", but people have also predicted the aurora season, usually from early October to late March of the following year, in which December, January, February is the "peak" because the chance of hunting the aurora at this time is very high. According to National Geographic, there are 7 best places in the world for tourists to experience "hunting for the aurora".
Iceland
The clear night sky on the roads along the coast has created conditions for tourists from near and far to see the aurora. According to National Geographic, the best viewing spot in Iceland is at the top of Kirkjufell mountain or you can also see the aurora in the suburbs of Reykjavík. In addition to hunting for aurora, visitors here can also experience many other unique landscapes such as: glaciers, volcanoes, geysers...
When to go: Late August to early April.
Fairbanks, Alaska
This location is considered the best place to see the aurora in the entire United States, located just 2 degrees from the North Pole, near the international airport and Denali National Park. Visitors here even have a dedicated weather forecast page for the aurora (auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu) to follow along.
When to go: Late August to mid-April.
Yellowknife, Canada
Canada is also considered a paradise for viewing the aurora, thanks to its geographical location in the low latitude region and very little light pollution. The best place to see the aurora here is Yellowknife, the capital of Northwest Canada. Yellowknife is located on Slave Lake - the second largest in the region, especially famous for the aurora viewing village (Aurora Village). Visitors here can participate in many special activities dedicated to aurora hunting tourism. In addition to Yellowknife, in Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park and Jasper National Park are also ideal places to see the aurora.
When to go: Late August to mid-April.
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø is the largest city in Northern Norway, located 217 miles from the Arctic Circle, but thanks to the Gulf Stream, the sea here has a very moderate temperature. Tromsø's scenery is also very impressive with beautiful bays and the dreamy Lyngen Alps. Near the city, the village of Ersfjordbotn is a great place to watch the aurora, only about 12 miles (~20km) from Tromsø. In addition, there are a number of other famous places for tourists to choose to hunt for the aurora: the Lofoten Islands, or the remote towns in the north of Alta, Nordkapp, Kirkenes...
When to go: Mid-September to late March.
Northern Sweden and Finland
Kiruna town is located in the far north of Sweden, considered a transit train station that takes tourists to many places to watch the aurora, such as: ice hotel, Abisko national park, Sami cultural reserve... Driving a short distance from town, there is a great aurora viewing spot for tourists. The weather here is colder than Norway but relatively stable. Rovaniemi is considered the capital of Lapland region of Finland, the gateway for you to visit nearby national parks in winter. When the landscape is covered in white, moisture condenses, accumulates snow and dew on the trees to form a unique "tykky". When the aurora appears romantically in that background, it will be a memory that visitors will never forget.
When to go: Mid-September to late March.
Greenland
Northern Greenland is the best place to see the aurora if you venture further north. However, you can still see the stunning and captivating aurora even further south, such as at the Qaleraliq Glacier, where small icebergs can still be seen in the summer.
When to go: Mid-August to late April in the south and late August to mid-April in Nuuk.
Tasmania (Australia) and New Zealand
We often hear about the northern lights more than the southern lights because there are few places to see the southern lights in the southern hemisphere. However, there are 2 prominent places where you can observe the southern lights: Tasmania (Australia) and New Zealand. Because it is located in Antarctica and has a quiet night, you can easily admire the unique aurora scene here.
When to go: Can be visited year-round but ideally around the spring or fall equinox.
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