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The Northern Lights are one of the most magical things you can experience in Europe. What makes it even better is that you can see them in multiple countries. Whether you’re in Ireland or Iceland, you can find yourself under the dancing natural lights. Browse this gallery to learn about some of the best places to witness the Northern Lights in Europe.
Interactive Map
© Greg Clarke
1/
Ardmalin, Donegal, Northern Ireland
County Donegal is located in Northern Ireland, an ideal place for viewing the Northern Lights. Though spotting the Northern Lights can be a rare occurrence in Ireland, it’s made even more special when they’re seen dancing above the calm Irish waters.
© Carsten Frenzl
2/
Polar Rise, Norway
Northern Norway is an area full of rolling mountainsides and jagged fjords. Sometimes called the Land of the Northern Lights, this region in Norway is the perfect setting for capturing the lights. You may even see the rarer red and purple lights along with the green.
© imagea.org
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Abisko National Park, Sweden
In Sweden, one of the best places to experience the Northern Lights is deep in Abisko National Park. Find a clearing or climb to the top of the forest to camp under the lights. Or, stay in the nearby Icehotel for the quintessential Swedish stay.
© Timo Newton-Syms
© Andrés Nieto Porras
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Þingvellir, Iceland
The open, flat land of Þingvellir National Park makes for ideal Northern Lights viewing. With few hills and mountains, you can literally see the lights dancing for miles. And the park is close enough to the capital of Reykjavik that you’re not away from everything.
© Euan Mcintosh
6/
Aurora over Belhaven Bay, Scotland
The best place in Scotland to catch the Northern Lights is over the Belhaven Bay. And the best time to do so is at the end of February. Find a spot next to the water and see the lights stretch all the way across the bay.
© EHRENBERG Kommunikation
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Faroe Islands, Denmark
See the Northern Lights alongside a gathering of puffins on the Faroe Islands in Denmark. Bring a fishing pole and cast a line while the green, yellow and red lights dance with the stars above you.
© Martin Vmorris
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Finnmark, Norway
Witness the Northern Lights on their best display over the North Cape from Finnmark. As one of Norway’s most breathtaking destinations, it’s made only more magical with the arrival of the lights. See the sky fill with a deep green hue in the Finnmark countryside.
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