AuroraCastaurora forecast by destination

Best month to see the aurora, by destination

Planning a trip? Pick a destination for its month-by-month viewing guide. We rate each month on dark hours and the long-run pattern of aurora activity — so you go when the odds are real, not when the sky never gets dark.

Alaska

Fairbanks Best: Sep, Mar, Oct, Feb Anchorage Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Chena Hot Springs Best: Sep, Mar, Oct, Feb Coldfoot Best: Sep, Mar, Oct, Feb Denali (Healy) Best: Sep, Mar, Oct, Feb Talkeetna Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar

Canada

Yellowknife Best: Sep, Oct, Mar, Nov Whitehorse Best: Sep, Oct, Mar, Nov Churchill Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Dawson City Best: Sep, Oct, Mar, Feb Iqaluit Best: Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar Fort McMurray Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Fort Smith Best: Sep, Oct, Mar, Nov

Finland

Rovaniemi Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Inari Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Saariselkä Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Levi Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Ivalo Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Utsjoki Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Sodankylä Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Kilpisjärvi Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Muonio Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Ylläs Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Pyhä-Luosto Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Kuusamo (Ruka) Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Oulu Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar

Greenland

Nuuk Best: Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar Kangerlussuaq Best: Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar

Iceland

Reykjavík Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Akureyri Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Þingvellir Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Grundarfjörður (Kirkjufell) Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Vík í Mýrdal Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Höfn Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Egilsstaðir Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Ísafjörður Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar

New Zealand

Queenstown Best: Jun, Jul, May Stewart Island (Rakiura) Best: Jun, Jul, May Invercargill Best: Jun, Jul, May Dunedin Best: Jun, Jul, May Lake Tekapo Best: Jun, Jul, May Christchurch Best: Jun, Jul, May

Norway

Tromsø Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Alta Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Senja Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Lofoten Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Bodø Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Narvik Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Kirkenes Best: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb Harstad Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Vardø Best: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb Andenes Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Svolvær Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Hammerfest Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar North Cape (Nordkapp) Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Karasjok Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Kautokeino Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Mo i Rana Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar

Patagonia

Ushuaia Best: Jun, Jul, May

Svalbard

Longyearbyen Best: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

Sweden

Abisko Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Kiruna Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Jukkasjärvi Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Luleå Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Björkliden Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Jokkmokk Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar Gällivare Best: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar

Tasmania

Hobart Best: Jun, Jul, May Bruny Island Best: Jun, Jul, May
These guides show when viewing odds are best, from dark-hours and seasonal activity — never a guarantee for a given night. How we build them.