Mauna Kea in Hawaii is now recognized as one of the world's top stargazing destinations. Travel Pulse
Stargazing tourism is growing fast in 2025, with more people traveling to see the Northern Lights, solar eclipses, and dark sky locations. To help travelers find the best places for these experiences, a travel company researched and ranked the top destinations for stargazing worldwide.
The company considered important factors like latitude, elevation, light pollution, and social media mentions of celestial events. Many of the top-ranked locations were expected, such as Iceland, Switzerland, and Canada. However, one surprising location made the list—Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
Mauna Kea stands nearly 4,000 meters high and has very little light pollution. This makes it one of the best places in the world to view the stars. Visitors can often see the Milky Way clearly. The area also offers stargazing tours, hiking, and other outdoor activities for travelers.
The number one spot went to Interlaken, Switzerland, which has an elevation of 3,401 meters and minimal artificial light. The region provides incredible views of the Milky Way and is also famous for winter sports and outdoor adventures.
Reykjavík, Iceland, ranked second because of its high latitude, which makes it an ideal place to witness the Northern Lights. While the city itself has some light pollution, nearby darker areas allow for incredible aurora displays. More than 41,000 Instagram posts feature the Northern Lights from Reykjavík, showing its popularity among travelers.
In third place was Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Canada. This area has an average elevation of 1,481 meters and very low light pollution. With over 10,000 Instagram mentions of the Northern Lights, it remains a top choice for stargazing.
The rankings highlight the growing interest in astro-tourism, where travelers seek out remote locations to experience the wonders of the night sky. Hawaii’s presence in the top five shows that the United States has one of the best spots for stargazing, proving that travelers don’t have to go far to enjoy breathtaking celestial views.
