Northern Lights Hotels

In Nordic countries close to the arctic circle there are countless northern lights hotels for watching the shape-shifting colours above. With its own rooftop observatory, Hotel Rangá in Iceland has a wake up service so you don’t miss the magical show. Head to the heart of Finnish Lapland where the Arctic Light Hotel is a cozy hideaway, perfect after hunting for the mesmerizing aurora borealis. Fancy your own northern lights cabin? Stay in an overwater cottage at Norway’s Eliassen Rorbuer and see the northern lights reflected in the still waters of the Reinefjorden. Or, spot the northern lights while also experiencing Sweden’s Icehotel, the original northern lights igloo hotel.

Across the pond in North America, Alaska and northern parts of Canada provide a wild backdrop to the spectacular light display. Anchor down near Anchorage, Alaska, where the ski resort surrounding Hotel Alyeska offers a luxurious place to witness the northern lights. Popular with royalty, Canada’s Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta is another secluded, luxury lodge hotel where ink-blue nights light up with vivid colours.

Iceland’s northern lights hotels are often surrounded by volcanic landscapes for dramatic displays of the lights above. Many hotels have thermal baths and indoor viewing options too. Meanwhile Norway offers luxurious stays near stunning lakes, and in Sweden’s northern lights hotels, ski resorts, igloo rooms and glass pods await. For a family vacation, head to Finland’s Lapland for an impressive light display and lots of winter fun. Or, for a northern lights hotel in Canada, head to the Northern Territories, where wild landscapes create a stunning backdrop. Due to its location right under the Auroral Oval, Alaska’s northern light shows are breath-taking too.

Visit a northern lights hotel from December through to March. The darker, clear skies and long nights increase visibility and your chances of seeing them.

The northern lights are unpredictable, but destinations within the Arctic circle give you fantastic opportunities to catch this natural phenomenon during winter. Many hotels offer special excursions and have viewing spaces indoors, too.

Some hotels offer free cancellation, so you can book now and cancel before a set date if you need to, while still receiving a full refund. Check the hotel’s cancellation policy before you book.

For more northern lights hotel options, enter your location, dates and hit search for our latest deals. You can filter options by amenities, property type, neighbourhood and more. You’re just a click away from a vast selection of northern lights hotels and you can save more when you book car hire and flights too. So, book a trip of a lifetime with Expedia, and don’t forget your camera.