The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a familiar sight on the bucket lists of travelers, adventurers, and the curious! Setting the northern skies ablaze with iridescent displays of rippling light and unearthly shapes, the northern lights have captivated us for millennia. But how can you see the northern lights in 2025? Where should you go, and what time of year is best to witness the beauty of the northern lights? The good news is that next year, we will experience a solar maximum, heightening the frequency of auroral displays, making 2025 the perfect time to join us on an Arctic adventure!
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights are a natural light display, or 'aurora,' caused by the disturbance in Earth's magnetosphere caused by solar wind. Essentially, solar wind (charged particles released from the Sun) alters the trajectories of plasma particles in our planet's atmosphere. These particles, through ionization, emit light of varying color, the strength and shape of which depends on the level of acceleration driving the particles in our atmosphere.
The color depends on what kind of atmospheric interaction occurs with (oxygen or nitrogen) and how high these particles are in the atmosphere when the collision occurs.
- Blue to violet – below 100 km
- Green – 100 – 240 km
- Red – over 240 km
The northern lights have influenced cultures across the Arctic and northern regions, with myths and legends being created, telling creation stories and tales of gods and spirits. They have been mentioned throughout history, alluding to fact and fantasy, but always as a source of wonder, awe, and amazement! There are endless facts about the northern lights – feel free to check our blog with facts about the northern lights.
Picture by Katja Riedel
The northern lights are a fantastic scientific display, showing how the planet interacts with the universe and how the Sun and other celestial bodies can impact our tiny blue globe! During a coronal mass ejection or solar maximum, the intensity, frequency, and vibrancy of aurorae increase, making these moments the best time to see the northern lights!
Book one of our late-season Arctic 2025 trips to take advantage of 2025's solar maximum. Trips later in the season offer fantastic opportunities to witness the northern lights in stunning surroundings – be sure to select a trip outside of the bright, undimming Arctic summer!
What do the northern lights look like?
The way the northern lights look depends entirely on atmospheric conditions, as is their color! Generally, the northern lights present as rippling bands and waves of light, most commonly red or green, which stretch across the night sky. Shapes described as curtains, spirals, flickering rays, and tentacles are often commonly seen. These displays are sometimes small and compact, while they stretch across the entire sky at other times, transforming it into something seemingly from another world! In 2025, the northern lights should be at their most visible for 11 years, so it will be a display to remember!
Picture by Katja Riedel
How can I see the Northern lights in 2025?
As the name suggests, the northern lights are most commonly seen in the extreme north of the Earth. Most auroras occur in a band known as the ''auroral zone'', between 10° and 20° from the geomagnetic poles. The Arctic region is a fantastic place to view the northern lights, partly due to lower levels of light pollution and the long periods of darkness that occur during the Arctic winter.
The northern lights can be seen much further south if solar activity peaks. Earlier in 2024, for instance, the northern lights could be seen across much of northern Europe and the northern United States, with faint reports from the Mediterranean. Most of the time, the best way to see the northern lights is to visit countries in the far north, such as Norway, Sweden, Canada, and Finland, and hope for a clear night and a vibrant display.
The best option, however, is to view the northern lights in the Arctic regions, combining this fantastic experience with some of the most beautiful scenery and iconic wildlife in the world! In other words, join us aboard!
Where is the best place to see the northern lights in 2025?
One of the best places to witness the northern lights in 2025 is aboard one of our expedition cruises to the Arctic! The Arctic region offers great opportunities to view the northern lights, and you will have an excellent chance to spot this phenomenon aboard our vessels as they cruise around Spitsbergen and the seas of the north. Be sure to choose a trip that doesn’t occur during the Arctic summer – otherwise you won’t witness darkness and night! Greenland’s wild, dramatic, and remote coastlines are the pick of the lot.
Our trips to east Greenland, which start in August 2025, explore the stunning fjords of this wild part of the Arctic, transporting you into another world of untamed wilderness, untouched beauty, and unforgettable experiences. They also take full advantage of the peak season to view the aurora.
Picture by Gérard Bodineau
With so few settlements, Greenland has some of the clearest skies in the world, making viewing the northern lights - and the stars a life-altering experience. Many of our trips are partly dedicated to viewing the northern lights, with nighttime viewing sessions scheduled during visits to incredible locations such as Scoresby Sund.
If you want to see the northern lights in 2025, don't miss out on a place aboard one of our varied Arctic 2025 itineraries. Those later in the season are designed to fully take advantage of the superior aurora displays promised by the upcoming solar maximum!
When is the best time to see the northern lights in 2025?
While aurora displays occur year-round, the best time to view the northern lights is generally during the darker periods of the Arctic year. August to April is considered the peak season, given the long periods of darkness in the far north, and times around midnight generally provide the most optimal viewing opportunities. Be sure to factor this into your planning as many of our trips to Svalbard won’t offer night opportunities to view the northern lights. For photographing the northern lights, there are some good rules and best practices to follow. You can also check our complete guide to photographing the northern lights.
Beyond the northern lights - a look south
In addition to the northern lights, 2025 promises to be a fantastic year to view the aurora Australis or southern lights! Found in the southern polar regions, the southern lights are much the same as the northern lights but are seen far less often, given the difficulties of reaching southern areas suitable for viewing them! For this reason, if you want to witness the aurora, the northern lights are your best bet!
However, a fantastic and rare opportunity is available for those eager to experience the southern lights! Our Antarctica - Beyond the Polar Circle - Wilkins Ice Shelf - Aurora Australis trip will be accompanied by Dr. Tyler Nordgren, professor of Astronomy and physics, and Dr. Julie Rathbun, senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, and NASA, during a voyage deep into Antarctica to offer unmissable viewing opportunities for the southern lights.
Intrigued? Secure your spot aboard and witness fantastic auroral displays in both polar regions! Don't miss out on the best opportunity to see the northern lights in 11 years—join us in 2025!
Main image by unknown photographer
