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.

Argentina

Ushuaia Best: Jun, Jul, May

Australia

Hobart Best: Jun, Jul, May

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

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

Greenland

Nuuk Best: Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar

Iceland

Reykjavík Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar Akureyri Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar

New Zealand

Queenstown 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 Longyearbyen Best: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb 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

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

United States

Fairbanks Best: Sep, Mar, Oct, Feb Anchorage Best: Sep, Oct, Feb, Mar
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.