These cosmic destinations offer the clearest skies, the brightest stars, and an unforgettable connection to the universe.
Most people never truly see the night sky. City lights drown out the stars, and daily life keeps us too distracted to look up. But in the right place, at the right time, the cosmos comes alive in ways that make you feel small in the best possible way. Imagine standing under a sky so clear you can see the Milky Way stretch across the horizon, watching meteors streak through the darkness, or witnessing the eerie glow of an aurora dance above you.
The universe puts on a show every single night, but only a handful of places on Earth give you a front-row seat. For travelers who crave something beyond the usual vacation, astro-tourism offers a chance to escape the ordinary and step into the infinite. Once you experience the night sky like this, you’ll never see it the same way again.
1. Sleep under the Northern Lights at Norway’s Arctic Domes.
Seeing the aurora borealis is already a bucket-list experience, but watching it from the comfort of a cozy glass-domed cabin takes it to another level. In Norway’s Arctic wilderness, the Arctic Domes let you lie in bed while the night sky explodes in streaks of green, purple, and blue above you, as writers describe in an article for The Flains Travel. There’s no need to stand outside freezing or chase the lights across the countryside—just relax, sip some hot cocoa, and let the cosmos do the work.
During the day, you can explore the rugged Arctic landscape, go dogsledding, or warm up in a sauna with fjord views. If you want to witness one of nature’s greatest light shows in ultimate comfort, this is as good as it gets. Once you’ve fallen asleep under the aurora, regular hotel rooms will never feel the same.
2. Gaze at the universe from the Atacama Desert, Earth’s best stargazing spot.
The Atacama Desert in Chile isn’t just one of the driest places on Earth—it’s also home to some of the clearest night skies you’ll ever see, says Mark Johanson writing for Lonely Planet. With almost zero light pollution and high-altitude landscapes, this place feels like it was designed for stargazing. It’s no surprise that world-class observatories, like ALMA and Paranal, call this desert home.
You can take a guided tour with astronomers who’ll show you distant galaxies, nebulae, and planets through powerful telescopes. But even without equipment, the Milky Way shines so brightly overhead that it looks almost unreal. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a tiny speck in the vastness of the universe, the Atacama delivers. Just step outside, look up, and get lost in the endless sea of stars.
3. Watch a meteor shower from the dark skies of Joshua Tree National Park.
A meteor shower is magical anywhere, but watching one from Joshua Tree National Park is next level. This rugged California desert is already famous for its bizarre rock formations and twisted Joshua trees, but once the sun sets, the real show begins. With minimal light pollution and wide-open skies, it’s one of the best places in the U.S. to catch a meteor shower, according to experts at the National Park Service. Imagine lying on a blanket, staring up as shooting stars streak across the sky every few seconds—it’s the kind of experience that makes you forget everything else.
The Perseids in August and the Geminids in December are especially mind-blowing. Pack some warm blankets, bring a telescope if you have one, and get ready for a night where the sky feels more alive than ever.
4. Experience the magic of the Midnight Sun in Svalbard, Norway.
Stargazing might be the goal, but what if the sun never sets? In Svalbard, Norway, say writers at Visit Svalbard, the Midnight Sun keeps the Arctic bathed in golden light 24 hours a day from late April to August. It’s a surreal experience—hiking at midnight, kayaking under a glowing sky, or watching wildlife while the sun hovers just above the horizon. This isn’t about seeing the stars; it’s about witnessing one of Earth’s most bizarre and beautiful natural phenomena.
The eerie, endless daylight messes with your sense of time, making everything feel slightly unreal. And once the season shifts, the polar night takes over, plunging Svalbard into months of darkness—perfect for catching the Northern Lights. No matter when you visit, this remote Arctic wonderland delivers an unforgettable cosmic experience.
5. See the Southern Hemisphere’s night sky from New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie Reserve.
The Northern Hemisphere gets all the astro-tourism hype, but the Southern Hemisphere’s skies are just as spectacular—maybe even better. New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie Reserve is a designated Dark Sky Reserve, meaning there’s virtually no light pollution to interfere with your view of the cosmos. Here, you can see the Southern Cross, the Magellanic Clouds, and parts of the Milky Way that Northern Hemisphere stargazers never get to witness.
The region’s Mount John Observatory offers guided stargazing tours with telescopes powerful enough to show Saturn’s rings and distant galaxies in crystal-clear detail. Even without equipment, the night sky here is a mesmerizing sight. If you want a deep-space experience without ever leaving Earth, this is one of the best places to find it.
6. Take a zero-gravity flight and experience space without leaving Earth.
Ever wondered what it feels like to float in zero gravity? You don’t need to be an astronaut to find out. Zero-gravity flights, offered by companies like Zero-G, let you experience true weightlessness as the plane performs special parabolic maneuvers. For brief moments, gravity disappears, and you float effortlessly through the cabin like you’re in space. It’s as close as you can get to being an astronaut without actually leaving the planet.
The experience isn’t cheap, but for space lovers, it’s worth every penny. You’ll flip, spin, and float in an environment that feels completely unreal. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a sci-fi movie, this adventure will make that fantasy a reality.
7. Witness an annular eclipse from the Australian Outback.
A solar eclipse is already a rare and breathtaking sight, but seeing one from the vast, open landscapes of the Australian Outback takes it to another level. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon doesn’t fully cover the sun, leaving behind a perfect “ring of fire” in the sky.
The Outback’s dry climate and minimal light pollution make it one of the best places on Earth to witness this phenomenon. Imagine standing in the middle of a red desert, watching as the sun transforms into a glowing halo—no crowds, no city noise, just you and the cosmos. If you want to experience the universe showing off in the most dramatic way possible, catching an annular eclipse in Australia should be at the top of your list.
8. Stand beneath the Northern Hemisphere’s darkest skies in Jasper National Park, Canada.
If you think you’ve seen dark skies before, Jasper National Park will make you think again. This vast wilderness in the Canadian Rockies is one of the largest Dark Sky Preserves in the world, meaning artificial light is almost nonexistent. On a clear night, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a dazzling display, and constellations pop with an intensity you won’t find in most places.
The best time to visit? October, during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, when astronomers, stargazers, and adventurers gather to celebrate the cosmos. Whether you’re setting up a telescope, taking an astrophotography workshop, or simply standing in awe beneath the night sky, Jasper is the kind of place that makes you feel completely connected to the universe.
9. Camp on Mauna Kea in Hawaii and watch the stars from one of the best vantage points on Earth.
Mauna Kea isn’t just Hawaii’s tallest mountain—it’s one of the world’s best locations for stargazing. Sitting above the clouds at nearly 14,000 feet, this dormant volcano offers an unobstructed, crystal-clear view of the cosmos. The observatories at the summit house some of the most advanced telescopes on the planet, but you don’t need high-tech equipment to appreciate the spectacle. Even from the visitor center at 9,200 feet, the night sky is nothing short of breathtaking. Watching a sunset from above the clouds and then staying to see the Milky Way rise over the horizon is an experience you’ll never forget. Just be prepared for the cold—despite being in Hawaii, the temperatures at the summit can feel more like the Arctic.
10. Sleep in a bubble hotel under the Icelandic sky.
Iceland is already a dream destination for nature lovers, but adding a night in a transparent bubble hotel takes it to another level. These secluded glass domes, hidden in the countryside far from city lights, let you sleep under an unobstructed night sky.
If you’re lucky, the Northern Lights might swirl above you while you stay warm and cozy in bed. Even without the aurora, Iceland’s dark skies offer incredible views of distant galaxies, shooting stars, and the Milky Way. The experience is a perfect mix of adventure and comfort—no roughing it required. If you’re looking for an unforgettable way to immerse yourself in the night sky, there’s nothing quite like falling asleep under a blanket of stars in one of these incredible bubbles.
11. Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley, one of the darkest places in the U.S.
Death Valley might be famous for its scorching heat and surreal desert landscapes, but once the sun goes down, it becomes a stargazer’s paradise. Recognized as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, this remote California desert has some of the least light pollution in the country, offering views of the night sky that are as close to untouched as you can get. The rolling dunes and rugged rock formations make the perfect foreground for astrophotography, while spots like Badwater Basin and Dante’s View provide wide-open panoramas of the stars.
Visiting during the winter months is ideal—not only is the weather cooler, but the crisp, dry air makes the stars shine even brighter. If you want to feel like you’re on another planet while gazing at the cosmos, Death Valley delivers.