Between stargazing, night markets, and museum sleepovers, the best part of your vacation may be after hours.
When planning a vacation, you likely think about all the daytime activities you want to do: exploring ancient artifacts, shopping, or lounging by the pool. With this mindset, you could be missing out on some of the most memorable excursions: nocturnal adventures.
Planning your vacation around after-dark activities — called “noctourism” or nocturnal tourism — is expected to grow in popularity throughout 2025, according to the results of a Booking.com survey. It makes sense: More people are looking to experience the beauty of the cosmos, like the Northern Lights or the solar system, and avoid the intense heat that can make summer travel miserable — especially in countries where air conditioning is not the norm.
Another contributing factor: Travelers want to break away from the pack. “One of the biggest trends in travel in 2025 continues to be getting as far away from crowds as possible, and the result is a whole world of nighttime adventures,” says Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare, an Equinox Circle partner and members-only, boutique travel-planning company.
Before you book your own up-all-night trip, here’s what to keep in mind — straight from travel planners.
The Best Nocturnal Adventure Activities
“From starry skies to urban settings, noctourism is about discovering the magic of exploration at night — and there are lots of options,” says Biggs Bradley. Here are a few activities to consider.
Stargazing
One type of nocturnal adventure vacation Biggs Bradley says more people are seeking out is stargazing trips, both in the U.S. and internationally. “Clear skies, low light pollution, dry, crisp air, and a little bit of magic are requirements for excellent stargazing, and many destinations on the planet offer those in spades,” she says.
When choosing a destination, look for a location with minimal light pollution, adds Angela Malek, the senior travel specialist at luxury travel company Scott Dunn. “There are designated Dark Sky Parks across the U.S. and around the world, specifically created for stargazing,” Malek says. “These protected areas — ranging from reserves and sanctuaries to urban locations with minimal light pollution — offer ideal conditions for experiencing the night sky in its full brilliance. You might even have one closer than you think.”
The National Parks Conservation Society has a complete list of Dark Sky Parks in the U.S., which includes Saguaro National Park in Arizona, Arches National Park in Utah, Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, and Cape Lookout Seashore in North Carolina, to name a few.
Outside of the U.S., Biggs Bradley says that some amazing places to stargaze include Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve in Ireland, Namib Desert in Namibia, Atacama Desert in Chile, Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in New Zealand, and Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal.
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Watching the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights is on many people’s bucket list. “For the best chances of witnessing the Northern Lights, destinations like Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland provide the ideal combination of northern latitudes and extended hours of darkness,” Malek says.
Heads up: Summer actually isn’t the best time of year to go on a Northern Lights vacation, so you may want to save this dream vacation for later in the year or early next year. “Across the Arctic regions, the best time to view the Aurora is from September to early April,” says Biggs Bradley. “Within that time frame, countries have different peak viewing months due to the likelihood of clear skies. Sometimes the Aurora will be out, but it’s not visible because of cloud cover. For instance, in Iceland, September and March are the two most likely months to view them.” Try checking a lunar calendar and avoiding going when it’s a full moon, Biggs Bradley recommends. As beautiful as full moons are, the brightness can make the Aurora fainter and harder to see.
If you do want to see the Northern Lights during the summer, Bradley says one place to consider is Finnish Lapland, the northernmost part of Finland. She says the best time to see the Northern Lights here is from late August to early March, so a late summer vacation would work well. “Visitors can go on nighttime expeditions via cross-country skis, snowmobiles, dog sleds, and snowshoes, and sleep in funky hotels that feature glass igloos,” she says.
Visiting Urban Markets and Museums After Dark, by Foot or Bike
You don’t have to go somewhere remote to have an adventurous nocturnal vacation. Many cities have late-night activities including markets, after-hours museum events, midnight bike tours, ghost tours, and movie screenings.
The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. offers sleepovers, allowing attendees to wander the rooms at night. Some cities in the U.S. — such as Washington D.C., New York City, Savannah, and Corpus Christi, Texas — offer nighttime bike tours, allowing you to see a whole new side of the town you’re visiting.
Want to travel outside of the U.S.? Biggs Bradley says many countries have amazing night markets. Some of her favorites are the Saturday Night Market in Chiang Rai, Thailand, the Night Market Foodie Tour in Beijing, and the Queen Victoria Night Market in Melbourne.
What to Keep in Mind Before Booking a Nocturnal Adventure
No matter what type of nocturnal adventure you decide to go on, Biggs Bradley says it’s important to plan on being up at night. That means figuring out when you’re going to be able to get some sleep during the day.
If you’re traveling to see the Northern Lights, she says that many hotels offer “Northern Lights wake-up calls,” so you can get some sleep in the evening and get up closer to midnight, since the best time to see the Northern Lights is between midnight and dawn.
For stargazing adventures, Malek recommends packing a red flashlight. “A red flashlight is a must-have for transitioning in and out of stargazing mode, as it preserves your night vision,” she says. Even during the summer, remember to pack layers because temperatures can drop significantly at night, she suggests.
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Whether you’re going somewhere remote or to a bustling city to experience vibrant nightlife, be mindful of your surroundings. Malek recommends finding a stargazing tour group or a private guide to reduce the likelihood of getting lost at night. That way, you’ll also have someone on hand who can point out noteworthy cosmic points you may otherwise miss. If you are traveling to a city, be on the lookout for pickpockets.
With a nocturnal adventure on the books, your summer nights are going to be more exciting than ever. The big question is, where do you want to spend them?
Through Equinox Circle, Equinox members have insider access to Indagare’s curated journeys, a 30-day complimentary trial of Self Planner membership, and $100 off annual subscription, plus access to VIP benefits including upgrades, complimentary breakfast, spa credit, and more.