Best Places to See the Northern Lights with Kids

By Tracey Davies

One of Mother Nature’s most magical spectacles, the Northern Lights a.k.a the aurora borealis is a swirling, shimmering dance of colour that lights up the Arctic skies. In recent years, these elusive lights have been spotted as far south as the UK on a clear night, and if you're lucky, you can catch the faint green glow on your phone camera. However, nothing quite compares to seeing the real thing on an inky polar night, especially if you can witness them through a child's eyes.

'Aside from aurora chasing, kids can also learn about Sami culture and reindeer herding, and stay in the world-famous ICEHOTEL.'

The closer you are to the Arctic Circle – more precisely, the 'auroral oval' – the higher the chances are of seeing the lights, which is why countries including Norway, Sweden and Finland (all of which are home to part of the region of Lapland), Iceland, Canada and Alaska are the best destinations for aurora hunting. As the ribbons of light are only visible under certain conditions, it's important to plan your Northern Lights adventure properly.

In fact, 2025 might be the year to tick the Northern Lights off your bucket list, as the Sun has reached the solar maximum in the 11-year solar cycle.

In general September through to April is peak season to see the lights, and the long, dark nights of winter are when you're most likely to catch them. However, Mother Nature will not perform her light show on demand and even in the auroral zone, clouds can spoil the view.

That said, a Northern Lights family holiday isn’t just about seeing the dancing lights, it's about the whole experience – sleigh rides through snowy forests, dog sledding across an Arctic tundra, and learning about the local Sami culture.

For the best Arctic adventures, here are our suggestions on where to see the Northern Lights on your next winter family holiday.

Best Countries for Seeing the Northern Lights

Norway

Alongside dramatic fjords and vast Arctic tundras, a Norway family holiday is a brilliant way to see the Northern Lights. It's an easy three-and-a-half hour flight from the UK to Tromsø in northern Norway, where the Arctic conditions and clear skies offer a good chance of spotting the elusive light show, particularly between September and March.

Tromsø makes a great base for an all-round winter family holiday. Known as the 'Gateway to the Arctic', it's home to the spectacular Arctic Cathedral and the fascinating Polar Museum, and is also a launch spot for whale watching and fjord cruises.  

Easily accessible from Tromsø, both Alta and the Lofoten Islands are popular destinations for family adventure holidays. Aside from spotting the Arctic lights, kids can try winter activities including snowmobiling, ice fishing and dog sledding, as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as kayaking around icebergs or taking a RIB tour of Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway.

Sweden

Like Norway, a Sweden family holiday is another great way to see the Northern Lights, particularly in Swedish Lapland, which lies north of the Arctic Circle. With solar activity peaking in 2025, now is a prime time to plan your Sweden family holiday for an unforgettable polar experience.

In the far north, Kiruna makes a good base for a snow family holiday, with a a good chance of catching the lights from September through to April, and peak light displays happening between December and February.

Kiruna is also close to Abisko National Park, which is renowned for its clear skies and high aurora visibility – the chances of a sighting increase dramatically if you stay for three nights or more. Aside from aurora chasing, kids can also learn about Sami culture and reindeer herding, and stay in the world-famous ICEHOTEL, which is rebuilt every year.

Finland

Along with the other Arctic regions, Finnish Lapland offers the best chance to see the Northern Lights. Venture north of the Arctic Circle to towns such as Rovaniemi, Saariselkä and Levi on your Finland family holiday to have a higher chance of aurora sightings between September and March.

If you're looking for family snow holidays without skiing, particularly in the run up to Christmas, a Lapland family holiday is a great way to combine chasing the Northern Lights with a visit to Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus. Kids love staying in ‘aurora bubbles’ or glass-roofed cabins, and there are plenty of other excursions such as reindeer sleigh rides and husky sledding to keep them occupied and happy during the day.

Iceland 

Glaciers, hot springs, puffing volcanoes… Iceland’s wild landscape is a dream for a family adventure holiday. And from September to April, Iceland is another hotspot for seeing Mother Nature's marvellous light show. Light pollution is always the enemy of aurora, so avoid staying in the cities and head to more rural areas such as the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon in the south, or Kirkjufell near Grundarfjörður on the north coast of Iceland.

There's plenty else to do on an Iceland family holiday; check out our feature on the best things to do in North Iceland with kids, or all over the country think natural waterfalls, black-sand beaches and tales of Vikings and elves. That said, nothing quite beats seeing the aurora dance across the sky from your own geothermal hot tub.

Canada

A Canada family holiday is another great opportunity to catch the polar lights, if you know where to go. Like in Europe, the further north you venture, the higher the chance of seeing them. The best areas are in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, particularly Yellowknife, which has minimal light pollution and reliable sightings from September to April. Yellowknife’s Aurora Village is well designed for families with its heated viewing domes as well a host of cultural activities to do during the day.

Another good way to catch them is on a family adventure holiday to Churchill, Manitoba, which has the world's greatest concentration of polar bears in the wild. It's remote Arctic tundra is the perfect spot to catch a glimpse of the polar lights too.

Alaska

The best way to see the Northern Lights in the United States is by going on an Alaska family holiday. Fly into Fairbanks, the largest city in the state, and head to Denali National Park, which has the least light pollution in the region. The best time to catch the light show is from late August to mid-April, when the nights are long and dark.

Tempted? Now read our feature on our best hotels and best family holidays [LINK] for seeing the Northern Lights. Or alternatively call us on 020 3633 0653 or message us via our enquiry form and one of our family travel experts will take you through our winter family holidays.