Tucked into the fjords just north of the Arctic Circle, Bodø sits in Norway’s Nordland county as a quiet city surrounded by wild nature.

Bodø combines modern comfort with remote landscapes — so you can explore powerful nature, floating saunas, sea eagles, and Northern Lights without the crowds. In our humble opinion, it’s one of the most underrated places in Norway, and it probably won’t last.

If you’ve seen the Lofoten hype and want something a little quieter (especially in summer) — Bodø might just be your perfect stop.

In Luleå, winter doesn’t whisper — it glows. Between November and March, nights stretch long enough for the Northern Lights to take over the sky, turning this quiet city on Sweden’s frozen coast into one of the Arctic’s most underrated aurora destinations.

We stayed there a week in February, and saw the aurora 3 nights in a row!

Most travelers rush north to Kiruna or Abisko — and miss Luleå’s secret: you can see the Northern Lights here without leaving civilization.

Somewhere between Stockholm’s bustle and the Arctic wilderness, Luleå glows quietly on Sweden’s northern coast. In winter, the sea freezes into an ice road, locals skate to work, and the Northern Lights shimmer above the bay. It’s peaceful, real, and a just the right amount of wild — but with great coffee and cozy beds.

Whether you’re here for the aurora, the architecture, or just a slower pace, here are the best Luleå hotels and nearby Arctic stays.

Svalbard sits halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole — a scatter of icy islands where glaciers meet sea, foxes pad across snowfields, and polar bears outnumber people.

We first arrived by the small prop plane from Tromsø, stepping into that eerie polar stillness that feels less like travel and more like landing on another planet.

This isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place you feel, and it will redefine your idea of Arctic wilderness.

Here’s how to plan your own Svalbard expedition or tour, season by season — with honest notes from our own time on the islands.

Rovaniemi, Finland, isn’t just Santa’s hometown — it’s the gateway to the Arctic, a cozy, snow-dusted city where Northern Lights dance above the rooftops and reindeer wander along frozen rivers.

We’ve stayed here several times in different seasons, and the truth is: there’s no “wrong” place to stay — only how close you want to be to nature, and how much you want to watch the aurora from bed.

That being said, it’s always better to be a bit further from city lights. And, personally, we love to have our own cabin with sauna for a true Nordic experience (you also save on food).

So here’s our handpicked list of the best hotels in Rovaniemi — from luxury spas to dreamy cabins — all with that essential Arctic magic.

If you’re chasing the Northern Lights in Norway, Tromsø is usually the first name you hear — and for good reason.
The city sits right under the auroral oval, surrounded by mountains, fjords, and more cozy hotels than anywhere else above the Arctic Circle.

You don’t have to trek into the wild to see the aurora — sometimes it dances right above your balcony. That being said, if the aurora is on the weaker side, your best shot is far from the city lights. And you’ll find awesome options in the surroundings!

Here are the best Tromsø hotels for Northern Lights lovers, whether you want views, comfort, or a cabin-in-the-snow vibe.

Alta, Norway may not get the same attention as Tromsø, but locals quietly call it the City of the Northern Lights — and for good reason.

Every winter, Alta becomes one of the most reliable places on Earth to join a Northern Lights tour and actually see the aurora dance.

We’ve actually seen some of our best auroras there, and it’s the mix of quiet roads, wide skies, and cozy Arctic charm that makes it special… with less tourists, as we love it!

There’s cold, and then there’s Lapland cold—the kind that makes the air taste clean and turns silence into music. Well, actually, there’s Svalbard cold, which takes it to another level, but that’s another story. You probably came to Swedish Lapland for the Northern Lights, but you’ll stay for the cabins that smell like pine, the saunas with a view of forever, and the hosts who still cut firewood by hand to prepare a delicious suova (Arctic Food here).

We’ve crossed Swedish Lapland roughly a dozen times, from Luleå’s frozen archipelago to Abisko’s star-soaked skies to find the best stays—those that feel remote yet reachable, wild yet warm.

Summer crowds have gone home (and we, penguins, rejoice). Temperatures are down (again, we rejoice). Winter hasn’t yet wrapped everything in snow. And in between, fall (or autumn, depending on where you’re reading this from) quietly transforms Europe’s wildest corners into glowing forests, aurora skies, and solitude you didn’t know you needed.

If you’ve ever wanted to trade pumpkin spice lattes for misty valleys, or swap city noise for the crunch of leaves under your boots, this is your season. Here are five wilderness escapes we’ve loved (or are about to explore) where fall feels like nature’s secret handshake.

Take a deep breathe in… and fall for nature with us!

If you’re yearning for the perfect fall escape, Finnish Lapland is your dream come true. Vast toundra and taiga landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see, vivid fall colors, cozy log cabins with crackling fireplaces, warm saunas, cold lakes, and the northern lights dancing overhead.

Whether you’re an intrepid adventurer or someone who just wants to snuggle up with a good book and hot cocoa, Finnish Lapland offers the perfect blend of wild and warm.

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.

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 2025, from Norway to Finland to Sweden — plus a few bonus picks in Iceland worth every chill.

Norway is one of the best places on Earth to chase the Northern Lights and enjoy breathtaking landscapes — but when you zoom into the map, the Arctic north gives you two tempting main bases: Tromsø and Alta.

Both towns promise aurora magic, Arctic adventures, and that raw, snow-dusted beauty. But which is the right one for your trip in 2025? We’ve been to both — frozen toes included — and here’s the breakdown.

👉 This article is part of our Arctic Travel Hub, where we gather all our insider tips, destinations, and stories. If you’re chasing the northern lights, also check out our Northern Lights Hub.

Spoiler alert: We have a personal favorite, but both are absolutely worth a visit.

The northern lights seem to be everywhere on social media. A couple of decades ago, this breathtaking natural phenomenon was only accessible to just a few lucky people. Now, it’s easier than ever to try and see them.

But between the best locations, when to go, the weather forecast, and the more scientific details such as the Kp-index (Kp-what?), it's not always easy to know where to start.

So if the northern lights have been on your bucket list for a while, keep reading for a few northern lights tips!

The northern lights don’t understand borders (and sometimes, neither do we). From the icy plains of Alaska to the wild Southern Ocean, auroras ripple across both hemispheres in glowing ovals of light.

If you’ve already dreamed your way through Iceland or Norway (see our Europe guide), here’s the global bucket list: the best places in the world to chase the aurora borealis — and even its southern twin, the aurora australis.

The Northern Lights are one of those rare things that live up to the hype. They look like magic — glowing curtains of green, pink, and purple rippling across the night sky. But behind the wow-factor is a cocktail of solar physics, Earth’s magnetic field, and a bit of folklore humans have been spinning for centuries.

This guide breaks down what the Northern Lights actually are, how they form, why they come in different colors, and the surprising ways they affect both people and animals — without turning into a boring science lecture. We’ll even talk about the different shapes they take, so you can show off at the next party (providing your friends are nerds like us!)

The aurora is wild enough on its own. But try to photograph it and suddenly you’re fighting the dark, the cold, and a camera that refuses to focus. And by the time you figure it out, Lady Aurora is already gone. Don’t panic: you don’t need to be a pro to bring home shots that look like they belong on a postcard — or at least on Insta. You just need a little prep, the right gear, and a few tricks to outsmart the Arctic night.

This is your beginner-friendly guide to photographing the Northern Lights — no tech snobbery, no 200-page manual, just clear steps to help you capture the sky on fire.

So you want to catch the Northern Lights? Smart move. But here’s the thing — the aurora doesn’t just show up on demand like a Netflix show (or, as a local joked in Alaska, by activating a switch). Timing is (almost) everything. Get it right, add a pinch of luck, and you’ll be under a sky on fire. Get it wrong and… well, you’ll just be staring at some very expensive clouds or, at least, a stunning starry sky.

This guide covers the best months and seasons to see the Northern Lights (in Europe, North America, and even the Southern Hemisphere), plus a few insider tips — and some gear recs — to up your odds...

So you’ve booked your aurora adventure. Flights? Check. Camera? Charged. Excitement level? Off the charts. But here’s the deal — the Northern Lights love the kind of weather that can turn your eyelashes into icicles. We’ve been there —repeatedly. Yes, voluntarily. And we know how to dress for our beloved Arctic! But show up unprepared and you’ll spend more time shivering than stargazing.

This guide is your survival kit: what to wear, how to layer, and the gear that actually keeps you warm at –30°C while waiting for the sky to put on a show.

You’ve seen the photos. The swirls of green and purple. The ice hotels and starry skies. But how do you actually plan a Northern Lights trip in Europe without blowing your budget, freezing your face off, or ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time?

We’ve chased the aurora across Scandinavia and beyond — from cozy Finnish cabins to Swedish frozen lakes. We’ve waited hours in the cold, sometimes with a reward and sometimes with nothing except frostbite. We’ve tested apps, gear, and all the local tips we could get.

So, here’s our not-boring, fully practical guide to the best places to see the Northern Lights in Europe — and how to pick the one that matches your vibe.

If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know we’re in love with Arctic regions. And a lot of people turn to us for advice, and even want us to go with them on an Arctic trip!.

We’ve been there. We’ve hiked across frozen tundras, stood under the shimmering Northern Lights in absolute silence, and yes, once questioned our life choices while knee-deep in snow, miles from civilization.

The Arctic isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling, a test of resilience, and a reward for those who seek the extraordinary. So, this guide is for you, adventurous penguins, and all of our friends and relatives who keep asking us stuff (we love you)!