The Breathtaking Northern Lights

If viewing the northern lights is on your bucket list, Sweden is a great place to begin. Without a doubt, it is one of the best countries on the planet for viewing the Northern Lights. Of course, it helps that big swaths of the country are far enough north that light shows are common. But there are other reasons why Sweden was chosen. It's easy to get to by plane, it's safe to roam around, and there are plenty of intriguing places to see while looking for the ideal aurora.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, emerge in and around Kiruna, Sweden's extreme north, in early September. The sky comes to life as pink, green, and purple streaks dance high above. By the time winter has fully set in, around January, the Northern lights can be seen across Swedish Lapland, a large expanse of land in Sweden's northwest corner that covers nearly a quarter of the country. Last sightings of these undulating rainbows may occur as late as the end of March or early April.

The long winter nights are welcomed by visitors flocking to witness this incredible light show. On clear evenings, the best time to see Northern Lights in Sweden is between 6:00 pm and 2:00 am. However, the most spectacular display usually takes place around 10:00-11:00 pm.