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Bright night sky with the Milky Way visible over a desert landscape

4 Dazzling Stargazing Spots Across Europe

 

With a rise of interest in remote outdoor excursions, more travelers are becoming enchanted by the thought of spending nights away from cities to look up and see all the fascinating details the sky has to offer. There are a number of places closer to home where this is possible, but for those who want to tie in such an experience with a dream vacation to Italy or a beach getaway in Spain, these are the best stargazing spots in Europe.

 

Night sky of an abundance of stars and the Milky Way over a valley in Spain’s Canary Islands, one of the best spots for stargazing in Europe

© Ollie TaylorDreamstime.com

 

1) Canary Islands, Spain

 

The Canary Islands have long been a beloved beach destination in Spain, but as astrotourism continues to boom, travelers are beginning to discover what scientists have long known; that the skies with Starlight Reserve protection make for one of the best stargazing spots in Europe. Around the different islands you’ll have a front row seat to everything from meteor showers to the Milky Way. There are plenty of stargazing tours and observatories at the ready to help you navigate the sky, or you can journey out on your own and simply enjoy the view. You could build an entire vacation around hopping from island to island to sample the variety of experiences at night after days spent hiking desert landscapes or lounging on black sand beaches.

 

Bright starry sky with the Milky Way visible over snow-capped mountains, reflected in a lake in the foreground in the Pyrenees

© Llopartic | Dreamstime.com

 

2) Pyrenees, France

 

Fairly remote in the south of France, the Pyrenees mountain range offers a rugged terrain accentuated by the countless stars lighting up the night sky. While the region as a whole offers no shortage of stargazing opportunities, the most notable spot lies atop Pic du Midi. Taking the cable car to the summit allows you to enter the observatory and try out the high-powered telescopes or gaze out at the snow-capped mountains glowing faintly from the astral activity above. It was here that NASA scientists took photographs of the moon’s surface in preparation for the Apollo missions, a testament to the astral clarity of the area.

 

Aurora Borealis glowing over a lake with hills in the distance in the Scottish Highlands, a great place for stargazing in Europe

© Jamiemuny | Dreamstime.com

 

3) Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom

 

There are a few places throughout the United Kingdom that are great for stargazing, but the large expanses of unspoiled land in the Scottish Highlands allow you to have an incredible view from almost anywhere, whether you’re skirting along the Moray Coast or skipping across the different isles. And while Scotland definitely isn’t a hotspot for chasing down the Aurora Borealis like Iceland or Norway, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights from the Highlands if all the conditions happen to line up perfectly.

 

A small stone villa surrounded by cypress trees in Tuscany at night, with the sky lit up by the Milky Way

© Fesus Robert | Dreamstime.com

 

4) Tuscany, Italy

 

Galileo Galilei is often considered the father of observational astronomy for his discoveries such as the rings of Saturn and a multitude of stars in the Milky Way. So it’s only fitting that his homeland, the rolling hills of Tuscany, remains one of the best stargazing spots in Europe. While you can see a fair number of stars from small cities like Siena or Pienza, you’re better off venturing to a more remote location for the clearest viewing opportunities. Not only will you be treated with amazing night sky, but you can enjoy it with a glass of some of the most acclaimed wine in the world in hand.

 

Featured image: © David VargaDreamstime.com