23 Breathtaking Places to Catch the Northern Lights on a Budget

Destination 16: Salla, Finland

Salla, a tiny Finnish Lapland town, isn’t just remote—it embraces its remoteness with the slogan "In the Middle of Nowhere." But for Northern Lights hunters, this "nowhere" is exactly where you want to be. With zero light pollution, an endless Arctic wilderness, and near-total silence, Salla offers one of the purest and most untouched aurora experiences in the world. What makes Salla unique is its pristine natural surroundings. Instead of battling crowds in Rovaniemi, you can rent a cozy log cabin, step outside, and watch the sky dance in green and violet hues—no tour needed. The dry, clear air means the Northern Lights appear incredibly vivid, often stretching across the entire horizon.