Northern Lights in Tromsø

Tromsø sits in the middle of the auroral oval, which is why it's the most reliable city on earth for chasing the northern lights. Local guides do the real work: reading cloud forecasts and driving to clear sky, sometimes as far as the Finnish border, so you stand under the lights instead of under cloud.

Best time: September to early April; the long dark from November to January gives the most viewing hours.