Over the past year, the northern lights have appeared with remarkable frequency and intensity, captivating the imaginations of both seasoned sky watchers and curious novices. But why? The Aurora Borealis is sparkling across your social media with missives from New York to Scandinavia.
The Sun remains near the peak of Solar Cycle 25, unleashing a steady rhythm of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. This heightened activity fuels frequent and vivid geomagnetic storms, making the auroras more vivid and accessible than at any point in recent memory. For travelers who missed the spectacle last season, there’s good news: the coming years are expected to bring continued solar brilliance, offering ample opportunity to witness the northern lights at their most expressive.
The Arctic Circle still promises the best vantage points. Northern Norway, with its fjords and serene landscapes, especially around Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands, remains a classic. In Iceland, the lights dance above Reykjavik and the secluded countryside’s otherworldly terrain and expansive skies. Alternately, Sweden’s design-led lodges and Finland’s emerging wilderness retreats. Wherever you go, the key is distance from light pollution and a willingness to embrace the long, crystalline nights of the northern winter.
Norway
February, March & April
To observe the Northern Lights, you really want to be above the Arctic Circle to improve your chances of catching such an elusive phenomenon and both Alta and Lofoten make for the optimal location to spot the northern lights, especially during March.
Alta, located where the sea meets Finnmarksvidda, has been a historical meeting place for indigenous groups mastering the arctic environment since the Stone Age. With some PRIOR favorite accommodations available in isolated high Arctic locations, away from urban lights, Alta offers ideal conditions for viewing the Aurora Borealis. Stay at Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge, which sits directly on the riverbank, or spend a night at The Igloo Hotel, a hotel built out of water from Alta River and from harvested ice from Sierravann.
Hanging on the edge of the Arctic Circle is the Norwegian archipelago of Lofoten, ideal for adventurers seeking hiking, climbing, skiing, and arctic surfing. Known for its majestic fjords, snow-capped mountains, and fish-dense seas, Lofoten offers a rustic yet modern experience with properties like Hattvika Lodge, which features fully restored traditional fishermen cabins from the 1880s with heated tile floors and spacious beds. This remote district attracts creative and discerning travelers, including artists and artisans, and is celebrated for its design-forward properties, culinary excellence, and focus on sustainability and hyperlocal Scandinavian produce. Holmen Lofoten, a family-run property (and a favorite of PRIOR), is a destination in its own right: a complex of original fishermen’s cabins and modern additions, with a restaurant that embodies sustainable indulgence and Scandinavian slow living. Worth noting, in recent years, Lofoten’s growing popularity has made it busier during peak months, so it's no longer the quiet secret it once was.
Farther south, below the Arctic Circle, Norway’s fjordlands also offer occasional surprising opportunities to glimpse the aurora. Storfjord Hotel, overlooking the forested hills near Ålesund, pairs handcrafted log architecture with mountain-to-sea views and locally sourced cuisine. Nearby, the historic Hotel Union Øye, a 19th-century retreat once frequented by writers and royals, sits along the Norangsfjord amid deep fjord scenery. Though the aurora here is less frequent, these properties are more easily accessible from major cities. Continue south to Trondheim - a picturesque, historic city where the lights are occasionally visible on clear winter nights. The soon-to-open Villa Nord, from the team behind Oslo’s Sommerro, will join the restored Britannia Hotel.
Iceland
December, January & February
Starting in late fall, Iceland is illuminated by the aurora borealis. Experience the Northern Lights on "Super Jeep" tours through Þórsmörk, snowmobile adventures across Langjökull Glacier, and journeys through a man-made ice tunnel. At the newly opened Sky Lagoon, guests can relax in oceanside geothermal springs while watching the mesmerizing solar winds over the North Atlantic. Or check out the sheep farm turned exclusive lodge, Deplar Farm, a Nordic oasis surrounded by snow-coated mountains on northern Iceland’s Troll Peninsula. The remote location shields guests from artificial light pollution and offers optimal viewing conditions. In the country’s heart, Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll offers a different kind of Icelandic adventure. Reached exclusively by 4x4 through snow-packed roads, this new high-mountain lodge sits amid steaming geothermal fields and glacial peaks.
