The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis. Photo: Fredrik Broman/Imagebank.sweden.se

An advantage of Sweden’s geographical location in Scandinavia is its proximity to the Arctic Circle, the magnetic north pole, and higher latitudes — 65 to 72 degrees.

This polar proximity means a significant portion of the country lies within a zone (called the "auroral oval"), where solar particles collide with gases in the earth’s atmosphere to create colorful ribbons of light known as the Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis.

Usually red, green, or purple in color, they dance and unfold across the sky like curtains, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

In Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the northernmost parts.

Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear, dark with little to no moonlight, and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside.

On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm.

For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena. Spend two or three days in one of the regions below, chances are high you'll catch the Northern Lights.

But remember — if you do get the chance to see the Northern Lights in person, never whistle to them. According to ancient Sámi mythology, it brings you bad luck... 

Abisko National Park

Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

In addition to guided tours, back-country camping and trekking out into the park at night, travelers can also take a chair-lift up to the Aurora Sky Station and its lookout tower, which overlooks the park.

You can enjoy the Northen Lights from the comfort of your hotel room via a live webcam video feed, but nothing beats being there in person to see those lights dance across the sky.

For more information:
Abisko National Park 
Abisko Tourism
Aurora Sky Station

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley

Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Usually red, green or purple in color, the Northern Lights can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Photo: Fredrik Broms/Imagebank.sweden.se

The Tornedalen region (home to the Torne River), the areas around Lake Poustijärvi, and the neighboring villages of Nikkaluokta and Vittangi, are all ideal for viewing auroras. Several companies run night dog-sledding and snowmobile trips that take you through the surrounding wilderness for sky-watching.

For more information:
ICEHOTEL, official site 
ICEHOTEL — a frozen dream
Esrange Space Center
Spaceport Sweden — Northern Lights flights

Porjus and Laponia

Porjus is a tiny village of roughly 400 residents, located in Swedish Lapland some 60 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Laponia.

Porjus — close to national parks Sarek, Padeljant, Muddus, and Stora Sjöfallet —  is  located along the shores of the Stoma Lulevatten lake. Plenty of clear days under zero degrees Celsius and little light pollution from nearby houses makes Porjus a prime spot for viewing Northern Lights.

You can rent a private apartment or share one of several apartments located along the edge of the lake, providing front-row seating to for amazing light shows over the lake.

For more information:
Porjus Tourism 

Other regions in Swedish Lapland

As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare. You can find descriptions of various winter activities as well as links to local operators on each of their tourism sites listed below.

While in Luleå, you can head out into the surrounding Brandö forests and wilderness, far from bright artificial city lights to view the natural ones. Dog-sledding across frozen Lake Skabram just outside Jokkmokk might also put you in close contact with the Northern Lights.

You can drive a snowmobile to the mountaintop of Dundret in Gällivare for a private light show, or head a few kilometers to nearby villages around Arvidsjaur to watch those lights shimmer across the dark winter sky.

For more information:
Jokkmokk Tourist Information
Visit Luleå 
Gällivare
Arvidsjaur 

Lola Akinmade-Åkerström

Lola Akinmade-Åkerström is a Stockholm-based freelance writer and photographer who has had the good fortune to experience the Northern Lights in person.

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.