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The Northern Lights are a mainstay on even the most intrepid travelers’ bucket lists. The perfect blend of mystery and staggering beauty, the cosmic phenomenon is best viewed, as their name suggests, in northerly climes at precise times of the year – namely, August to April.
Of course, it’s never guaranteed they’ll be on show, as many heartbroken visitors to Iceland, Sweden, and Alaska will tell you. But that only adds to the experience when you’re lucky enough to stand under them.
You’ll need timing, patience, and the perfect spot to maximize your chances. While we can’t help much with the first two, we’ve found eight amazing hotels where you can post up while you wait for the magic to begin.
Here are the best hotels to experience The Northern Lights.
Arctic Bath, Sweden
Location: Swedish Lapland
Price: From $567
Vibe: Swedish, design-forward luxury
The rundown: Strikingly designed, this floating hotel spa is spectacular. The central bird’s nest-inspired spa steals the show, but its immaculate cabin rooms are just as impressive. Some rooms are built over the lake, interconnected by a long gangway.
It’s open all year, allowing guests to bask in the midnight sun or ogle at the Northern Lights. Its remote location allows for low light pollution and perfect viewing conditions.
Arctic Treehouse, Finland
Location: Santa Claus Village
Price: $236+
Vibe: Elegant Scandinavian luxury
The rundown: Modern Scandinavian design comes to life at Arctic Treehouse Hotel. All three accommodation styles are stunning in their own right, but the Glasshouses, with their private sauna and panoramic views, take first prize in our book.
Endlessly cozy, you might be convinced to stay inside when the aurora appears – although you can see them from your bed, anyway.
Hotel Ranga, Iceland
Location: Hella
Price: From $416
Vibe: Aurora-orientated accommodation
The rundown: Hotel Ranga is beautiful. It’s ideally situated to experience the Northern Lights. The staff is terrific.
But what earns its place on this trip is the effort to allow its guests to enjoy the Aurora. Guests are woken by the staff (if requested) when the lights are on show and turn the entire building’s lights off to maximize the view. There’s even a viewing deck on the roof with telescopes.
Hidden Valley B&B, Canada
Location: Whitehorse, Canada
Price: From $122
Vibe: Homely Canadian escape
The rundown: Hidden Valley is a good old-fashioned B&B. Four comfortable rooms, an attentive staff, and a cozy atmosphere that sometimes makes a fresh change from the grandeur of fancy hotels. They’ll even pick you up from the airport.
If The Northern Lights are on the list, ask for the Cappuccino Room – it’s got views of the spectacle from its window.
Tromsø Ice Domes, Norway
Location: Tromsø, Norway
Price: $1200
Vibe: One in a lifetime Arctic adventure
The rundown: There’s no getting around the price tag. The Ice Domes are expensive. But there’s no doubt you’ll have the experience to cherish forever. The domes (igloos, let’s face it) have been expertly built and are decorated with intricately carved ice patterns, making for an incomparable setting for your stay.
You do get a full range of experiences for the price, however. Visitors head out on a snowshoe hike to perfectly dark Northern Light viewing spaces, a dogsledding tour, all meals, and all clothing and gear needed to keep safe and warm.
Busta House Hotel, Scotland
Location: The Shetland Islands, Scotland
Price: $162
Vibe: Isolated Scottish brilliance
The rundown: You’ll have to go to the furthest reaches of Scotland to see the lights, and Busta House should be the final destination. The 16th-century traditional Scottish country house is a cozy respite from the expected cold and serves the best local fare.
There’s also a selection of over 150 malt whiskeys for that added bit of warmth before you head out looking for the Aurora.
Borealis Basecamp, Alaska
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Price: From $1043 (3 days)
Vibe: What’s cooler than being cool? Ice Cubes in Alaska
The rundown: Seeing the Alaskan wilderness is an experience unto itself. Throwing in a giant ice cube to live in while the Northern Lights dance overhead is borderline magical.
The guys at Borealis Basecamp have done everything possible to ensure a visit this far out is worth it. The cubes allow for full views of the night sky while remaining comfortable and private. During the day, you’ll be sent off on a number of adventures, including snowmobiles and even helicopters, if you opt for the high-end package.
Hotel Arctic, Greenland
Location: Ilulissat Icefjord, Western Greenland
Price: $170
Vibe: As North as North can be
The rundown: Built on the edge of the UNESCO-listed Iluslissat Icefjord, Hotel Arctic is one of the most out-there hotels we’ve featured. It claims to be the most northerly 4-star hotel in the world, which the views from its restaurant back up (it’s the icebergs).
There are plenty of traditional rooms available, but it’s the outdoor Umiaq cabins that we’d lean into, with their wooden patios perfect for watching the lights.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
