Northern lights or Aurora borealis start high in the atmosphere at altitudes of 60 to 250 miles. They occur when the charged particles from the sun get trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field. There are many accessible places that you can take in these lights. If you are in polar latitudes, you can see these lights on any dark night. Ideally, long winter nights are the best, but not necessarily. Other than the weather, the right season and dark sky are the best.
Finland and Northern Sweden
If you are in Sweden, then you should head to its northernmost town of Kiruna. Other than the lights, there are other tourist attractions you can enjoy viewings, such as plentiful reindeer, local Sami culture, and Abisko National Park. The weather here is a bit stable, but it is colder too.
In Finland, you can head to the Lapland region as it serves as gateway access to nearby national parks.
Iceland
Even without auroras, Iceland is an amazing place to visit. It is filled with volcanoes, massive waterfalls, geysers, and glaciers. Both the longitude and latitude of the country favor the Northern lights viewing, but the weather is not always favorable. Fortunately, the coastline road around the country allows you to chase the clear skies.
Tasmania and New Zealand
You have probably heard more about the northern lights as compared to aurora australis (southern lights). That is because there are few locations you can see these lights from Southern Hemisphere. The best places to see them are both New Zealand and Tasmania. The dark sky can help you see any active southern lights.
Norway
Tromso is the largest town in northern Norway, but because of the Gulf Stream, it has moderate temperatures. It has magnificent fjords, beautiful scenery, and the Lyngen Alps. You can see spectacular northern lights from this place. Other locations you can try include Alta, Nordkapp, Kirkenes, and Lofoten Islands.
Yellowknife, Canada
Do you know that Canada is a northern lights viewing paradise? This is made possible with low light pollution and northern latitude. Other popular viewing spots include Wood Buffalo, Churchill, and Jasper National Park.
Fairbanks, Alaska
It is only located a few degrees below the Arctic and adjacent to the amazing Denali National Park. This is the best place in the USA to view northern lights. Moreover, it has its own forecast system and provides tours to take tourists far from city lights.