Watching the Northern Lights ripple across the sky is one of the great travel experiences. Watching them without leaving a warm bed is even better. In the far north of Scandinavia, a handful of hotels have been designed around the aurora, with glass roofs, angled windows and rooms set deep in dark forests far from light pollution.
Here are eight of the best, from glass igloos in Finnish Lapland to fishermen's cabins in Lofoten. The first three give you a real chance of seeing the lights from bed.
One honest note first: the aurora is never guaranteed. You need clear skies, darkness and solar activity, so plan for at least three or four nights and treat any display as a bonus.
See the Northern Lights from bed
1. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finnish Lapland
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is the hotel that made the glass igloo famous. Deep in the forests of Finnish Lapland, well north of the Arctic Circle, its domed glass rooms let you lie under the covers and watch the sky overhead. If you fall asleep, an in-room aurora alert wakes you when the lights appear.
By day there are husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobile tours and traditional smoke saunas. The aurora season runs from around late August to April. The darkest skies, from November to February, are also the busiest and most expensive weeks.
2. Arctic Bath, Swedish Lapland
Arctic Bath is a circular timber spa that floats on the Lule River in summer and freezes into the ice in winter. It has just twelve cabins. The floating cabins have slanted glass windows angled upwards for watching the stars and the Northern Lights from bed.
The other unforgettable moment here is a plunge into the 4°C cold bath at the centre of the spa, followed by a sauna. Come between around September and March for the best chance of the aurora.
3. Treehotel, Swedish Lapland
At Treehotel, eight extraordinary rooms by leading Scandinavian architects hang high in a pine forest near the Arctic Circle. On a clear winter night, you look out through the glass at the snowy pines as green ribbons of aurora ripple across the sky. In the UFO, a round skylight frames the sky. From the 7th Room, you can lie on a net terrace above the forest floor and watch the lights directly overhead.
Arctic Bath is in the same village, Harads, so many travellers stay at both.
Step outside and look up
4. Icehotel, Swedish Lapland
Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi is the original ice hotel, carved every winter since 1989 from blocks of the frozen Torne River. You won't see the sky from an ice suite, but step out onto the frozen river, away from the lights, and on clear winter nights the Northern Lights often swirl above the village. December to February brings the best displays and the coldest temperatures.
5. Reine Rorbuer, Lofoten, Norway
Reine Rorbuer offers traditional red fishermen's cabins on stilts in Reine, often called the most beautiful village in Norway. From September to March, the Northern Lights dance over the granite peaks and reflect in the water around the cabins. It is one of the most photogenic aurora settings on earth, and it is an affordable option outside the summer peak.
6. Svinøya Rorbuer, Lofoten, Norway
In Svolvær's harbour, Svinøya Rorbuer has restored fishermen's cabins, a celebrated restaurant in an 1828 trading wharf, and Northern Lights tours run with local operators. From autumn to spring, the aurora ripples over the mountains and reflects in the water around the cabins.
7. Copperhill Mountain Lodge, Åre, Sweden
Copperhill Mountain Lodge is a striking ski hotel by architect Peter Bohlin near the top of Mount Förberget. It is further south than Lapland, so the aurora is less frequent, but on clear midwinter nights the Northern Lights can appear over the mountains. Watching from the outdoor hot pool is unforgettable. It is the best choice if you want skiing and a chance of the lights on the same trip.
8. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Canada
The wildcard is in the Canadian Rockies. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is in Jasper National Park, one of the largest dark-sky preserves in the world. Walk down to the shore of Lac Beauvert on a clear autumn or winter night and you may see the Northern Lights above the Milky Way.
When and how to see the Northern Lights
- When to go: the aurora season in Lapland and northern Norway generally runs from September to March. December and January have the longest nights. September, October and March offer milder weather and still-dark skies.
- How long to stay: plan at least three or four nights to give yourself several chances of clear skies.
- Where to look: get away from lights, look north, and be patient. Displays often begin as a faint grey-green arc and build over time.
- Book early: glass igloos and the Treehotel and Arctic Bath rooms are small in number and sell out months ahead, especially over Christmas and New Year.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really see the Northern Lights from your bed?
Yes, at hotels with glass roofs or angled windows, such as the glass igloos at Kakslauttanen in Finland, the floating cabins at Arctic Bath and several treerooms at Treehotel in Sweden. Clear skies and solar activity are still needed, so sightings are never guaranteed.
What is the best month to see the Northern Lights?
In Lapland and Lofoten the season runs from around September to March. December to February has the darkest skies, while September, October and March are milder and still dark enough at night.
Which country is best for seeing the Northern Lights from a hotel?
Finnish and Swedish Lapland are the classic choices for glass-roofed hotels, while Norway's Lofoten Islands combine the aurora with dramatic mountains rising from the sea.
How many nights do I need to see the Northern Lights?
We recommend at least three or four nights in the Arctic, which gives you several chances of a clear, dark sky.
