Best Places to See the Northern Lights

A ribbon of green light unfolding across the night sky can make everything below it feel momentarily insignificant. For guests hoping to witness that welcome sight, the best places to see the northern lights on a Princess vacation include Norway and Alaska. Each offers a different setting for the search, from guided evenings in Arctic Norway to an inland stay near Fairbanks on an Alaska cruisetour. The right choice depends on when you sail and how you’d like to experience the evening

Key takeaways

Tromsø, often called the Northern Lights Capital, and Alta both sit beneath the auroral oval, which gives northern Norway sailings some of the best viewing conditions.
September and October bring the darkness Norway needs for aurora season, since early summer in the Arctic north has near-constant daylight.
September is the ideal window to see the northern lights during Alaska’s cruise season, while reaching inland Fairbanks requires a land-and-sea cruisetour rather than a standard port stop.

Tromsø and Alta in Norway’s Arctic north

On cruises to Tromsø, the Northern Lights Capital, the darker nights of September and October bring a chance to watch the sky. Tromsø sits beneath the auroral oval, where the northern lights appear most often, so a clear evening here gives you good odds of a sighting. Check your sailing’s evening port hours and the excursions available for your dates.

Luminous curtains of bright green aurora borealis stretch vertically into a dark starry sky above a calm Arctic fjord surrounded by rugged, snow-dusted mountains. — Experience the celestial magic of Tromsø, Norway, where vivid green ribbons of the northern lights sweep across a clear Arctic sky and reflect off the peaceful fjord waters.

Alta offers fjord views or a land-based camp

Cruises to Alta are another way to spend an Arctic evening. The In Search of the Northern Lights by Boat excursion explores Altafjord aboard a boat with heated indoor areas. Step onto the open deck to watch the sky, then head inside as guides share stories about the aurora and local culture — it’s the best of both worlds as you sail through a staggering fjord.

For a stationary viewing experience, In Search of the Northern Lights takes you to a land-based camp away from city lights. Around three hours at the site gives you time to settle in with a hot drink and watch for changes overhead. It also suits guests who would rather wait on solid ground or set up camera equipment in one place.

The Northern Lights Safari at Paeskatun takes you to Northern Lights Camp Alta, set high above the valley near the old slate quarry. Watch a short film on the myths and science behind the aurora, then warm up with hot drinks and cake in a slate cottage or beside the fire in a Sámi lavvu. Guides can also help with your camera settings.

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Alaska’s September window

September’s dark nights in Alaska make it one of the most promising times in cruise season when you’re on the aurora search. Around the autumnal equinox, you have even more nighttime viewing opportunities than during summer’s long daylight hours. The window between 12:30 and 4:30 a.m. is considered peak observation hours, so plan for a late night rather than an after-dinner glimpse.

To look for the aurora inland, choose an Alaska land-and-sea cruisetour that goes to Fairbanks. Fairbanks is an inland destination reached during the land portion of your vacation, not a port where the ship docks, so make sure you look for this additional cruisetour outside of your standard cruise itinerary.

A wide panoramic night photograph showing a massive arching green aurora borealis sweeping across a dark, star-filled sky over a snowy landscape with dark evergreen trees and rugged, snow-capped mountains in Alaska. — Experience the grandeur of Alaska’s backcountry under the night sky, where a majestic arc of bright green aurora borealis spans across the horizon over snow-covered peaks.

Solar activity and why timing matters

Choosing the right month gives you the dark skies you want, and activity on the sun helps determine what appears in those skies. The sun follows a roughly 11-year cycle, with eruptions becoming more frequent around its most active phase, called solar maximum. NASA and NOAA announced in October 2024 that the sun had reached this phase. When eruptions send charged particles and magnetic fields toward Earth, they can trigger geomagnetic storms and more extensive aurora displays. Significant storms also occur outside the peak, so you don’t have to time your vacation to one particular year.

For individual nights, forecasters use the Kp index, a scale of zero to nine that measures disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field. Higher readings indicate stronger geomagnetic activity, which can make the aurora visible across a wider area. Think of it as a short-term indicator rather than a way to choose a cruise months ahead. Forecasts help assess an approaching evening, while your itinerary puts you in a favorable viewing region.

Vibrant pink and magenta aurora bands stream vertically through the upper sky while bright green auroral pillars reflect off a calm bay bounded by dark rocky shores and mountain silhouettes. — Marvel at a spectacular display of intense solar activity, where rare magenta and vibrant green aurora borealis lights illuminate the night sky over a tranquil coastal fjord.

What affects your chances on any given night

Cloud cover can hide an aurora even when solar activity is strong. Clear, dark skies away from artificial light give you the best chance of seeing it, which is why viewing outings often head beyond city centers. Once you reach your viewing spot, avoid those bright phone screens to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness and experience more impactful visuals.

No destination or excursion can guarantee a sighting, so a sailing with several evenings in favorable viewing regions gives you more opportunities than a single night. If clouds interrupt one attempt, another evening may bring ideal skies. Look at where your itinerary spends those nights, as well as how long it stays in port, when choosing a cruise around the aurora.

Waiting outdoors feels colder than walking around town. When it comes to clothing:

Thermal layers: Wear a warm base layer beneath your outer clothing.
Wind-resistant outerwear: Pack a jacket that helps block the wind while you stand outside.
Insulated footwear: Choose warm boots with thick socks.
Gloves: Look for a pair that lets you operate your camera without exposing your hands.

Carry a fully charged spare camera battery in an inside coat pocket. Cold temperatures can shorten battery life, so keeping a replacement warm helps you stay ready when the display begins.

Capturing the aurora on camera

If you want to memorialize your northern lights view, set up your camera before the lights appear so you can spend more of the evening looking up. A few quick tips when it comes to getting that perfect photo:

A dedicated camera with manual controls gives you more flexibility over focus and exposure than relying on a phone’s automatic settings.
A tripod keeps it steady during longer exposures, while a remote shutter release lets you take the shot without nudging the camera.
Practice using both at home so you’re familiar with the controls in the dark.

In Alaska, the North to Alaska program features award-winning photographers sharing advice for capturing the region. Use those opportunities to ask questions about your own equipment so that you are ready to snap your shot.

Ready to find the right location for you during the aurora borealis season? Learn where to see the Northern Lights in Norway or check out these six places to see the Northern Lights in Norway. If September suits your calendar, see these best times to see the Northern Lights on an Alaska cruise to plan a sailing with a Fairbanks land stay. Choose the journey you want to have an extraordinary evening.

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