Best Hotels to See the Northern Lights in Europe (We Stayed at a Few)
I had a feeling something was going on so I went out in my PJ… at Hali Country Hotel in Iceland
Last update: August 2026
You’ve seen the photos: glass igloos glowing under green skies, cozy cabins deep in Lapland, snow hotels made entirely of ice. It all looks unreal — and it is, until you find yourself standing outside at midnight, in –25°C, watching the aurora swirl above your room.
Of course, all that comfort comes with a price tag — it’s the Arctic, after all. You can absolutely find cheaper ways to see the Northern Lights, but be ready to stand in the cold for hours (we love it, personally) and maybe, just maybe, head outside to the toilet in a snowstorm when you had expired butter that someone left in your cabin. True story.
And not every great place to spot the aurora needs to market itself as a “Northern Lights hotel.” Some of our favorite stays are the ones where you can just walk right out the door and look up!
We haven’t stayed in every one of these hotels (we’re working on it, promise), but we’ve researched them, seen many in person, and talked to travelers who’ve frozen in all the right places. Here’s our handpicked list of the best hotels in Europe to see the Northern Lights in 2026, from Norway to Finland to Sweden — plus a few bonus picks in Iceland worth every chill.
🛌 Where to stay:
• 🇳🇴 Retro Rorbuer, Lofoten — we stayed here, converted fisherman huts right on the pier
• 🇫🇮 Arctic Snow Hotel, near Rovaniemi — we visited, snow and ice rooms with glass igloo options too
• 🇸🇪 ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi — Eli's visited 7 times, the original, rebuilt every winter from river ice
• 🇮🇸 Frost and Fire Boutique Hotel, Hveragerði — we stayed here, geothermal hot tubs by the river
🇪🇺 Top experiences:
• 🇳🇴 Trollfjord Cruise & Sea Eagle Safari, Svolvær — runs year-round, even in the dark months
• 🇫🇮 Husky safari and northern lights hunt, Rovaniemi — mush your own team, then wait for the sky
• 🇸🇪 Nutti Sámi Siida reindeer experience, Kiruna — feed and learn from local Sámi herders
• 🇮🇸 South Coast and northern lights tour, from Reykjavik — Skógafoss and Vík by day, aurora hunt by evening
🚗 Renting a car makes chasing clear skies easier. Compare rentals here across all four regions.
🇳🇴 Norway: Northern lights with a side of fjords
View from Retro Rorbuer in the Lofoten Islands - Imagine with northern lights!
1. Aurora Canvas Dome – Alta, Norway
Watch the sky from your bed in these heated glass-roof domes tucked deep into the Arctic wilderness. Perfect mix of comfort and wilderness.
👉 Check prices and availability at Aurora Canvas Dome
2. Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel – Alta
An entire hotel sculpted from ice, complete with thermal sleeping bags, reindeer hides, and morning saunas.
My Aurora App featured one of our aurora pics (in the Lofoten). Check our best northern lights photography tips here.
3. Æra Glass Cabins — Near Tromsø
Drive past the Arctic Cathedral on the main land and you’ll find yourself in Krokelvdalen — a quiet valley of lakes, mountains, and properly dark skies just outside Tromsø. Æra Glass Cabins is built around one simple idea: you don’t chase the northern lights here — you wait for them in bed.
The Aurora Cabin and Panorama Glass Lodge both feature floor-to-ceiling glass facing the sky, so when the aurora shows up, you don’t move… you just look up. There’s also a sauna, restaurant, outdoor fire pit, and an aurora alert system sent straight to your phone.
It’s easiest with a rental car, but you can also reach it by bus from Tromsø (and if you stay on towards Oldervik, you’ll visit one of our favorite villages). More more magical options in Tromsø and around, read our full guide to the best northern lights hotels in Tromsø.
👉 Check availability for Æra Glass Cabins
4. Retro Rorbuer – Lofoten Islands (we stayed there)
Not technically an “aurora hotel,” but the rorbuer (converted fisherman huts) are some of Norway’s most charming places to stay. And the views from this one are to die for, northern lights or not! Step straight out onto the pier, look up, and if you’re lucky, the lights will ripple above the fjord. Bonus: cozy interiors, wood stoves, and often a sauna next door. It definitely deserves a spot in our selection of best rorbuer in the Lofoten!
Zoom in and out on the map below to find an aurora hotel in Norway:
🇫🇮 Finnish Lapland: The glass igloo dream
5. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Saariselkä, Finnish Lapland
5 steps from our accommodation in Kemijärvi
The legendary glass igloos. Heated, cozy, and designed for sky-watching from bed. You’ve probably seen it on Instagram or in a magazine!
6. Northern Lights Village – Levi, Finland
Smaller, quieter, and more affordable than Kakslauttanen — still plenty of glass roofs and husky tours.
👉 See Northern Lights Village offers
7. Arctic TreeHouse Hotel – Rovaniemi, Finland
Design-forward, perched on a hillside with panoramic forest views. Featured in our guide to the Best Northern Lights Hotels in Finland.
👉 View Arctic TreeHouse Hotel deals
8. Arctic Snow Hotel - Near Rovaniemi, Finland (we visited it)
A dream of snow and ice. If the cold is not for you, they also have glass igloos. We visited this magical place recently — read about our visit in our Rovaniemi winter guide.
Zoom in and out on the map below to find a northern lights hotel in Finland:
🇸🇪 Swedish Lapland: Ice, design & wild silence
Camp Ripan spa is the best after a day out at -30º C!
9. Camp Ripan – Kiruna (we tested the spa and restaurant)
Not technically a Northern Lights hotel, but easily one of our top picks. Modern Scandinavian-style cabins with big windows, a fantastic restaurant, and an incredible spa with outdoor hot baths — the perfect spot to watch the aurora without freezing your eyelashes off.
👉 Check Camp Ripan availability
10. Treehotel – Harads, Sweden
Architectural masterpieces in the forest: mirrored cubes, UFO pods, and treetop cabins that catch the light just right.
11. Arctic Bath – Swedish Lapland
Floating spa on a frozen river. Watch the aurora from a hot tub, then plunge into the ice hole (if you dare).
👉 Check Arctic Bath availability
12. ICEHOTEL – Jukkasjärvi (Kiruna), Sweden (we visited it 7 times)
The original ice hotel. Rebuilt every year from river ice and illuminated in aurora green. Split your stay between an ice suite and a warm room. Read our full guide to the ICEHOTEL Sweden.
Did you know?
The ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi was the world’s first hotel made entirely of ice and snow — and it all started by accident. In 1989, a French artist held an exhibition inside an ice structure built on the frozen Torne River. When visitors asked if they could sleep inside, the team improvised with reindeer hides and sleeping bags. The rest is (frozen) history. Every winter since, artists from around the world rebuild it from scratch, making it a living, melting piece of Arctic art. And you can visit it during the day even if you don’t stay there. Eli visited 7 times, and each year is a new experience!
Zoom in and out on the map below to find a northern lights hotel in Swedish Lapland:
🇮🇸 Iceland: Fire, ice & hot baths
A trail behind Frost and Fire Hotel will take you to this awesome river, fed by a boiling hot and a cold stream. In the middle, the water temperature is just right. You might have to wiggle a bit depending on the currents! Eli’s dad is enjoying it!
13. Hotel Rangá – South Iceland
Classic Icelandic lodge with themed suites, an observatory, and an aurora wake-up call system.
14. Frost and Fire Boutique Hotel – Hveragerði (we stayed there)
We’ve actually stayed here — though back in 2011, right after the financial crisis, when the prices were almost suspiciously low and tourism was just getting started. Those days are gone, sadly. Today it’s definitely pricier, but still one of Iceland’s most peaceful and magical spots: geothermal hot tubs by the river, steam rising against snowy mountains, and auroras dancing overhead while you soak. Stylish rooms, incredible breakfast, and pure Icelandic calm.
15. Panorama Glass Lodge – Hella
Private glass-walled cabins nestled in Icelandic wilderness. The contrast between the contemporary design and the rugged landscape is absolutely mind-blowing.
Explore more options in our selection of the best hotels for northern lights in Iceland.
Zoom in and out on the map below to find a northern lights hotel in Iceland:
Penguin tip:
Winter weather in the Arctic can be unpredictable — flights, ferries, and even aurora tours sometimes get delayed or cancelled. We always travel with Heymondo Travel Insurance — our readers get 5-15% off, and it covers last-minute cancellations and medical costs in non-EU regions. .
FAQ: Booking a northern lights hotel
The view from our accommodation in Alta, Norway
Are Northern Lights hotels worth it?
If seeing the aurora is your dream, yes. You’re paying for comfort and location — being able to watch the northern lights from bed is something you’ll remember forever (and your toes will thank you). Obviously, northern lights can’t be guaranteed — it’s nature’s magic! You can check our best tips to see the aurora here.
Are they warm enough?
Usually, yes — even ice hotels provide thermal sleeping bags, reindeer hides, and saunas. Still, bring good base layers and warm socks; Arctic heating can be… optimistic. If you book a cabin with no heating, you’d better keep that fire going!
Can you see the Northern Lights without staying in a special hotel?
Absolutely. Many local cabins, Airbnbs, or countryside lodges give you great views if you’re away from light pollution. You just have to be ready to stand outside and wait — sometimes for hours — in freezing silence. Check our Northern Lights Hub for advice.
When’s the best time to see the aurora in Europe?
From late September to late March. February and March offer the best combo of clear skies, daylight activities, and solar activity. Read our month-by-month guide to seeing the northern lights.
Which country in Europe is best for the Northern Lights?
Lapland (Finland, Sweden, Norway) is your safest bet, though Iceland can surprise you with strong auroras when the clouds behave. Explore the best destinations in Europe to see the aurora here.
The northern lights in bikini
Ok, don’t be too impressed by this picture. We were right in front of our cabin in Alta. And it was October. And a hot sauna was waiting.
Can I photograph the Northern Lights with my phone?
Definitely — especially with today’s phones. If the aurora is strong, most newer models can capture it using night mode, as long as you keep your hand steady (or better yet, rest it on something solid). Still, nothing beats a real camera, a tripod, and manual settings if you want those crisp, cinematic shots. You can read our best northern lights photography tips here.
Whether you’re soaking in Iceland’s geothermal tubs or sleeping in an ice sculpture in Sweden, the Arctic knows how to mix wild nature with once-in-a-lifetime comfort.
That said, the more rustic stays have their own magic — silence, darkness, and a sense of real remoteness. However, it’s definitely not for everyone. We’ve seen it many times when taking friends up north: some fall in love instantly, others last exactly one night before begging for heated floors.
Both experiences are valid. But one thing’s certain — once you’ve seen the aurora ripple above you, you’ll never forget it. Just… maybe skip the expired butter next time.
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