Northern Lights in Czechia: When and Where to See Them (2026)

The northern lights over Czechia are no longer a once-in-a-lifetime event. In May 2024 almost the whole country saw them, and on the night of 11–12 November 2025 a red aurora was again visible to the naked eye. The Sun has passed the peak of its 11-year cycle, but the strongest storms often come during the declining phase, so the chances stay real in 2026–2027. Here is which forecast to watch, where to go from Prague and how to photograph the aurora with your phone. Around Prague checked the facts on 29 October 2026.

When the aurora was seen over Czechia

5 November 2023: the Kp index rose to 7, and a red aurora was photographed in South Moravia, the Vysočina region and near Trutnov. It was brightest around 18:15.
10–11 May 2024: an extreme G5 geomagnetic storm, the top of the scale. The aurora was seen across Europe, Czechia included.
10–11 October 2024: a strong storm brought the aurora over Czechia again.
1 January 2025: a G4 storm, but clouds spoiled the view in many places.
11–12 November 2025: a G4 storm after X-class flares. The mostly red aurora was visible even without a camera.

Which forecast you need

The aurora reaches Czechia only during a strong geomagnetic storm. The Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences recommends watching the Kp index: for good visibility over Czechia it should reach at least 7, ideally 8. At Kp 5–6 the chances are slim.

Kp index and storm forecasts: SpaceWeatherLive, NOAA SWPC (the G1–G5 scale and a 30-minute aurora oval forecast) and SolarHam.
Cloud cover: the ČHMÚ forecast. Even a strong storm is invisible behind clouds.
Accuracy: forecasts 1–3 hours ahead are fairly reliable, 1–3 days ahead much less so.
Season: chances are higher around the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the solar wind couples more easily with Earth's magnetic field.

What it looks like in Czechia

Don't expect the green curtains of Norway. At these latitudes the aurora is usually a faint red or purple glow, sometimes with a green tinge, low over the northern horizon. A phone camera sees it more vividly than the eye, so if the sky looks "a bit pink", take a night-mode shot.

Where to watch

What matters is darkness far from towns and an open view to the north. In Prague itself light pollution means you will only see the aurora during an exceptionally strong storm. Drive out of the city to high ground without street lights.

Jizera Dark Sky Park: the world's first international area of its kind, shared by Czechia and Poland, declared in 2009 (about 75 km²). Roughly two hours from Prague.
Manětín Dark Sky Park: the only one in the interior of the country, north of Plzeň, declared in 2014.
Beskydy Dark Sky Park: shared with Slovakia, about 300 km², centred on the village of Staré Hamry.
Border mountains: the darkest skies in Czechia are over remote parts of the Šumava and Novohradské hory.

If you head into the mountains in winter, dress warmer than you think you need and don't stop on the hard shoulder. For ideas, see our 17 day trips from Prague.

How to photograph the aurora with your phone

Use night mode and turn off the flash.
Put the phone on a tripod or something steady: a 3–10 second exposure needs it still.
Focus on a bright star, or set focus to infinity if you have a manual mode.
Turn the screen brightness down and give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adjust to the dark.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can you see the northern lights in Czechia?

Yes, during a strong geomagnetic storm. Between 2023 and 2025 the aurora was seen over Czechia several times, including in May 2024 and November 2025.

What Kp index do you need in Czechia?

The Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences recommends at least 7, ideally 8.

Can you see the aurora from Prague?

Only during a very strong storm, and faintly. It is better to drive to a dark place with an open northern horizon.

Why does the aurora look brighter in photos?

A long exposure collects more light, and the human eye is poor at seeing the faint red of the aurora in the dark.

Will there be auroras in 2026–2027?

The Sun passed its cycle maximum in 2024, but big storms have historically also come in the declining phase. Only the forecast a few hours ahead can say more.

Sources: Novinky.cz on the aurora of 5 Nov 2023, Novinky.cz: astronomers' advice, ČT24, Počasí & Radar, Kudy z nudy: Jizera Dark Sky Park, Space.com on the solar cycle.

Cover photo: Victor Lucas / Pexels.

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