scandinavia – See The Aurora

Located in the far north of Sweden at a latitude of 68 degrees, Abisko is arguably the best spot for aurora viewing in all of Europe. But it is less popular than Iceland or Tromsø, Norway. While I wouldn't call it cheap, Sweden is certainly less expensive than the aforementioned countries. There are never any guarantees, but the microclimate around Abisko gives a higher likelihood of clear skies than other places in Scandinavia. I had a chance to visit in March of 2019. Of the 6 nights I spent there, it was clear enough to see the aurora on 4 of those nights. Even when the KP index was only 1, the lights were still very active. I'm writing this article for others who may want to plan a visit to this special place. Getting Here Considering how far north it is, Abisko is surprisingly accessible. The nearest larger city is Kiruna, with a population of 18,000. The airport there is served by Norwegian...

/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 */ .elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))} If it's your dream to see the aurora in person, then you can't do better than to visit one of these places. All the locations listed (except for #10), are situated underneath the auroral oval. This means that the aurora may be visible on any clear night, even when solar activity is very low. Most locations experience the midnight sun in the summer, which is to be avoided if your goal is to see the northern lights. In the Arctic regions, aurora season generally lasts from late August to early April. The middle of winter experiences the longest nights (sometimes for a month at a time). This may increase your odds of seeing the lights, but you also have to consider the weather. Winter is often stormier and cloudier, and of course temperatures are at their coldest. If you want to combine a northern lights trip with activities that you can do during the...

Tag: scandinavia

Guide to Seeing the Aurora in Sweden