Best Noctourism Hotspots | Radical Storage

A 2025 survey by Booking.com revealed that 62% of respondents across 33 countries are considering holidays with night-time activities, such as stargazing, after-dark city tours, and night safaris, [1] a growing trend that has been coined as Noctourism. [2]

Nighttime tourism no longer just means bars or clubs; instead, people are seeking new kinds of adventures when the sun goes down, opening up travel opportunities both all over the world and all around the clock.

To uncover the best destinations for travellers after dark, we’ve chosen 50 destinations previously highlighted as good places for nighttime travel and analysed them across four key categories: safety, transportation, experiences and natural factors. Each place was evaluated on indicators such as crime and safety perception, [3] availability and affordability of late-night transport, quality of night tours [4] and conditions such as light pollution [5] and daylight hours. [6]

Weighing the index by Safety (10%), Transportation (10%), Experiences (40%), and Natural Factors (40%) to fairly understand what really makes a great Noctourism destination, the result is our data-driven ranking that reveals which places truly come alive after sunset for a safer, memorable trip.

Key findings:

Rome is the ultimate Noctourism capital, topping the overall index with a score of 6.07 out of 10.
Amsterdam (6.03) and Tromso (6.03) are joint second in the overall ranking, showcasing two different nighttime experiences, from safe streets to unmatched natural factor scores.
Northern Europe dominates celestial travel with Tromso, Rovaniemi, Reykjavik and the Orkney Islands leading for chances to see the Northern Lights in real time.
Taipei, Dubai, Doha, Rovaniemi and Hong Kong all score 9 and above on the safety index, proving to be the safest places for Noctourism.
Madrid and Belgrade are the best destinations for accessible nighttime transport, with both scoring 8/10 on transportation.
Rome, London, Paris and Tokyo prove that the bigger cities still shine after sunset with experience index scores above 8.
Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Havana came bottom of the index, scoring 4 and below out of 10 overall.

What is Noctourism?

A travel trend coined by Booking.com in their 2025 travel predictions, Noctourism refers to the growing interest in exploring places after dark. [1] Beyond a simple night out, Noctourism refers to tourist activities such as stargazing, night safaris, evening tours, late-night food markets and more.

The trend highlights a bigger shift in how people are choosing to travel. Many are now seeking ways to avoid daytime crowds, extend their sightseeing hours and experience places from a different perspective. [7]

The best locations for Noctourism

To uncover which destinations offer the best experiences after dark, we analysed 50 locations already renowned for their nightlife using a weighted Noctourism Index across four key categories: Safety (10%), Transportation (10%), Experiences (40%), and Natural Factors (40%).

The Safety Index combined data on crime perception and how safe residents feel walking alone at night. The Transportation Index measured how easily and affordably travellers can move around the location after dark, including local transport costs and the time of the last transport. The Experiences Index focused on what travellers can do at night based on the number of night tours, the quality and the price. Finally, the Natural Factor Index evaluated environmental conditions that make for the best Noctourism conditions, such as the level of light pollution and average daylight hours during winter months.

This analysis reveals which destinations allow travellers to explore confidently and enjoy the world in its most atmospheric hours.

Noctourism Hotspots
Rank	Location	Safety Index	Transportation Index	Experiences Index	Natural Factor Index	Overall
1	Rome, Italy	5.2	5.8	9.2	3.20	6.07
2	Amsterdam, Netherlands	8.3	4.7	7.5	4.30	6.03
2	Tromso, Norway	8.1	3.8	4.7	7.38	6.03
4	Rovaniemi, Finland	9.4	4.3	5.2	6.15	5.91
5	Tokyo, Japan	8.6	6.3	8.1	2.80	5.84
6	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	9.9	6.1	6.6	3.73	5.73
7	London, UK	3.9	4.1	8.8	3.41	5.70
8	Paris, France	3.6	6.6	8.2	3.38	5.67
8	Marrakech, Morocco	5.5	7.1	7.2	3.82	5.67
10	Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand	8.3	6.2	3.5	6.92	5.63

Rome, Italy

With the highest average score across all four categories, the index reveals Rome as the ultimate Noctourism destination. With an experience index score of 9.2, Rome offers 305 different night tours, with an average rating of 4.7 from tourists at an average price of €51/£51.48. With twilight tours of the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, to open-air cinemas and night markets, the city is rich in culture once the sun goes down. [8] Rome also scores well for transportation (5.8), with reliable metro and night bus options. The last transportation runs until 11.30pm, with the average cost of a one-way ticket being €1.51/£1.31.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Second in the ranking, Amsterdam scored strongly across both the safety (8.3) and experience (7.5) categories. The city offers 164 night tours, including late opening museums, and popular light festival boat tours that offer a night-time charm [9]. While transport options slightly dip at night (4.7), the city’s compact layout and popular cycling routes make night travel enjoyable until 12.30am, costing €3.41/£2.96 a ticket.

Tromso, Norway

Tromso ranks joint second with Amsterdam in the Noctourism rankings, combining high safety scores (8.1) with exceptional natural factors (7.38), the highest of any top 10 city. The city’s long winter nights and minimal light pollution make it one of the best destinations for reindeer sledding, stargazing and Northern Lights experiences. [10] Although transport options are limited (3.8), Tromso’s small size and organised tours make navigation simple for tourists, with transport still available until midnight at €3.78/£3.29 a ticket.

Rovaniemi, Finland

Of course, Santa Claus’ hometown had to rank high on the list. With high scores for safety (9.4) and natural factors (6.15), Rovaniemi is a haven for winter Noctourism. Long dark nights paired with snowy landscapes create the perfect backdrop for celestial travellers, offering 153 night tours including Northern Lights Tours, late night BBQs, sledge rides, night safaris and reindeer visits, but at a higher price of €126/£127.75. [11]

Tokyo, Japan

Despite being known for its hustle and bustle, Tokyo blends safety (8.6) and experiences (8.1) with efficiency, offering one of the most dynamic nightscapes in the world. Offering 244 night tours at an average cost of €68/£68.84, think neon-lit streets, late-night dancing, food tours, dinner cruises and car meet-ups [12] offer a city that never sleeps but always feels secure. Despite a low natural factors score of 2.8, Tokyo’s transport network (6.3) makes it one of the easiest to explore after dark at €1.26/£1.09 a ticket.

Places with the best night transport

Being able to get around easily is a key necessity for Noctourism, ensuring travellers can explore confidently and safely in the dark. By taking an average price of a one-way ticket across all modes of transport, including buses, trains, and taxis, the following destinations scored highest on the transportation category of the index, combining affordability and last transportation time.

Locations with the best night transport
Rank	Location	One-way Ticket (Local Transport) £	One-way Ticket (Local Transport) €	Last transportation time	Transportation Index
1	Madrid, Spain	£1.31	€1.51	2:00 AM	8.0
1	Belgrade, Serbia	£0.00	€0.00	12:30 AM	8.0
3	Chicago, USA	£1.87	€2.15	24 hrs	7.9
4	São Paulo, Brazil	£0.71	€0.82	1:00 AM	7.7
5	New York, USA	£2.17	€2.49	24 hrs	7.6
6	Las Vegas, USA	£1.91	€2.19	2:00 AM	7.4
7	Hong Kong, Hong Kong	£1.15	€1.32	1:00 AM	7.2
8	Mexico City, Mexico	£0.28	€0.33	12:00 AM	7.2
9	Marrakech, Morocco	£0.33	€0.38	12:00 AM	7.1
10	Doha, Qatar	£0.41	€0.47	12:00 AM	7.0

Madrid and Belgrade share the top spot for the transportation index. Madrid offers affordable fares (€1.51 for a one-way ticket) and public transport runs well past midnight to 2am. Belgrade stands out particularly for its zero-fare public transport system [13]. Since January 2025, all buses, trams, trolleybuses and BG trains are free to ride, with the last ride being 12.30am.

New York lives up to being the city that doesn’t sleep with a 24-hour network alongside Chicago.

Meanwhile, Marrakech and Doha prove accessibility isn’t just for Western capitals, with €0.38-€0.47 one-way tickets on local transport that runs to midnight across both locations.

Locations with the best night experiences

Noctourism is nothing without experiences. The experiences index measured the number, quality and affordability of night tours and attractions in each place.

Places with the best night experiences
Rank	Location	Night Tours	Ratings of night tours by tourists	Avg price of night tours €	Experiences Index
1	Rome, Italy	305	4.7	€51	9.2
2	London, UK	276	4.4	€32	8.8
3	Paris, France	265	4.5	€59	8.2
4	Tokyo, Japan	244	4.7	€68	8.1
5	New York, USA	227	4.4	€53	7.7
6	Bangkok, Thailand	171	4.7	€36	7.6
7	Amsterdam, Netherlands	164	4.6	€30	7.5
8	Marrakech, Morocco	146	4.8	€45	7.2
9	Istanbul, Turkey	120	4.7	€32	7.0
10	Doha, Qatar	96	4.9	€37	6.8

Rome also leads in experiences as well as overall, think illuminated piazzas alive with music until the early hours of the morning.

London follows closely for its unrivalled variety, from theatre and comedy shows to river cruises, open-top bus tours to nighttime cable car rides; there’s something for everyone. [14]

Paris, Tokyo and Amsterdam all offer a modern energy full of excitement even after sunset.

Further east, Bangkok, Marrakech and Istanbul shine with immersive local experiences from bustling night markets to traditional performances, showing the global reach of Noctourism.

Best locations to see the Northern Lights

Best locations to view the Northern Lights
Location	Light pollution SQM	Average daylight hours per day	Natural factor index
Orkney, Scotland	21.96	7:47:48	8.84
Tromso, Norway	19.52	3:45:51	7.51
Yellowknife, Canada	19.46	7:00:34	6.29
Rovaniemi, Finland	18.57	5:24:24	6.24
Reykjavik, Iceland	18.32	6:28:10	5.20
Fairbanks, Alaska	17.97	6:14:24	4.88

For those with a celestial edge, Noctourism is the ideal approach to holidays. For those already drawn to the night sky, these destinations offer some of the clearest stargazing sites available.

Whether you’re going long haul or staying local, these destinations offer low light pollution, long nights and offer the perfect environment for aurora watching.

Orkney, Scotland

The Orkney Islands sit off the north coast of mainland Scotland and, during the dark nights of the autumn and winter months, offer a spectacular view of the Northern Lights. The northern location and low light pollution offer regular, clear views. [15]

Tromso, Norway

Tromso is a perfect destination to experience the Northern Lights. If you visit from late August to early April, between 18:00pm and 2:00am are the best times to try and spot them. Its geographical location is below the Northern Lights oval, and with only 3:45:51 average daylight hours per day in the winter, it means that on a cloudless night, you’re in one of the best places on Earth to see the aurora. [16]

Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife, the capital city of Canada’s Northwest Territories, has been known as one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights with long, clear winter nights from mid-November to the beginning of April. [17]

Rovaniemi, Finland

Aside from Santa, Rovaniemi (or Lapland as it’s better known), is renowned for its Northern Lights experiences. Experience expeditions into the forests on magical sleigh rides to enjoy the night sky just like jolly St Nick would. [18] With only 5:24:24 daylight hours on average in winter, it offers ample opportunity to soak in the aurora.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Similarly, Reykjavik offers opportunities to enjoy the aurora borealis regularly. It also offers a range of other celestial sightings with a vast number of stars to gaze at and the moon, too. [19]

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks sits at 65 degrees north latitude, which means that it’s the perfect sky for the aurora borealis as well as midnight sun experiences, sunrises and sunsets that last. [20] You can soak in the celestial sights via dog sledge, whilst ice fishing or on a snow cat safari tour.

Safest places after dark

Safety is one of the most important factors to consider for nighttime travelling. Places that scored high here combined low crime rates with strong infrastructure so that solos and groups could all enjoy Noctourism.

Safest places after dark
Rank	Location	Safety index	Crime Index	Safety walking alone during night	Safety Index
1	Taipei, Taiwan	83.5	16.4	85.2	9.9
1	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	83.9	16.1	83.2	9.9
1	Doha, Qatar	84.4	15.7	82.0	9.9
4	Rovaniemi, Finland	81.0	19.0	80.0	9.4
5	Hong Kong, Hong Kong	78.5	21.5	76.3	9.0
6	Singapore, Singapore	77.5	22.6	77.5	8.9
6	Munich, Germany	78.9	21.2	73.4	8.9
8	Seoul, South Korea	75.4	24.6	74.2	8.5
8	Prague, Czech Republic	75.4	24.6	73.9	8.5
8	Reykjavik, Iceland	75.8	24.4	72.1	8.5
8	Tokyo, Japan	75.3	24.8	72.7	8.5

Seoul, Prague, Reykjavík and Tokyo stand out for their high safety perception and low crime rates, all scoring 8.5. These places combine secure environments with efficient local transport and friendly night-time cultures, making them ideal for travellers exploring after dark.

The future of Noctourism

As global temperatures continue to rise [21] and daytime travel becomes busier [22], Noctourism is predicted to continue as a defining travel trend of the coming years. More destinations are expected to jump on this nighttime tourism trend and curate more experiences designed for the evening.

Methodology

50 destinations were compiled from a range of reputable travel and media sources discussing Noctourism and night-time tourism trends, including Cerca Travel, Yahoo! Life, Paul Lo Travel, Spaghetti Traveller, and Lonely Planet. Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian destinations were excluded from the final ranking due to ongoing conflict and barriers to tourism.

The research ranked the 50 locations using a weighted index across four categories:

Category	Metric	Weights	Weights (%)
Safety	Crime index	33.3	10%
	Safety index	33.3
	Safety walking alone at night	33.3
Experiences	Average price of night tours (Euro)	30	40%
	Night Tours	50
	Ratings of night tours by tourists	20
Natural factors	Average Daylight hours during winter	40	40%
Natural factors	Light pollution SQM	60	40%
Accessibility	Last transportation	50	10%
Accessibility	One-way Ticket (Local Transport) £	50	10%

Data Sources

Data was gathered in October 2025 from publicly available, reputable sources between February and May 2025.

Safety data was taken from Numbeo, which compiles crowd-sourced perceptions of safety and crime across global destinations.

Transportation metrics were from a combination of Numbeo and official public transport websites for each place. These included the average cost of a one-way local transport ticket and the latest operating time for metro or train services.

Experience-based metrics were collected from GetYourGuide, focusing on the number, average rating, and average cost of night tours listed under the “Night Tours” filter. The top 20 recommended tours for each place were reviewed to calculate average prices and ratings, providing a comparable measure of both quality and availability of nighttime activities.

Natural conditions were measured through environmental and astronomical indicators. Light Pollution (SQM) data was taken from LightPollutionMap.info and average daylight hours were sourced from Time and Date, using winter months in the Northern Hemisphere (November–February) to represent typical conditions when nights are longest.

Calculation

Each metric was normalised on a 1-10 scale, then combined according to its category weighting. The four category scores were then aggregated to produce an overall Noctourism Index for each place. Currency conversions for tour and transport prices were standardised to euros (€) using 2025 mid-year exchange rates.

Limitations

The availability of organised night tours on third-party booking platforms may also underrepresent informal or locally run experiences.