Greenland Northern Lights

Greenland sits under the auroral oval, and its winter combination of extreme darkness, dry inland air and almost no light pollution makes it one of the most dependable aurora destinations anywhere. Inland at Kangerlussuaq the skies are famously clear, with statistics that beat most of Scandinavia; on the coast at Ilulissat the lights appear over an ice fjord full of enormous bergs, which is arguably the finest aurora backdrop on the planet. Displays here regularly fill the whole sky rather than sitting on the horizon, and in the deep of winter they can appear from mid-afternoon onward.

What you actually see

• Aurora over the Ilulissat icefjord - lights above a bay of giant icebergs.
• Clear inland skies at Kangerlussuaq - the statistically best odds in the country.
• Dog sled aurora trips - watching from the sea ice on a winter sledge.
• Winter settlements - coloured houses lit under the sky in small towns.

When to go

The season runs roughly September to early April, with the darkest and most reliable months from November to February. Aurora needs clear skies and darkness, so moon phase and cloud matter more than any date. Stay at least three nights to give yourself real odds.

Honest expectations

Winter here is severe - temperatures well below freezing, limited daylight and flights that get delayed by weather for days at a time. Aurora is never guaranteed and no operator can promise it. Photographing it needs a tripod and manual settings; phone cameras have improved but still flatten the experience. Costs are high across the board, and winter accommodation options are limited outside the main towns.

Nearby

Ilulissat's icefjord, Kangerlussuaq's ice sheet road and Sisimiut's winter trails.