Iceland has been a major destination for travelers seeking an astrotourism experience and dark sky locations for stargazing. However, it might surprise some that Hawaii has now emerged as a major stargazing location in the world. For those seeking warmer weather for their favorite pastime can’t go wrong when it comes to the Aloha State.

Astrotourism is among the fastest-growing travel trends in 2025, with a growing number of travelers and star seekers looking for locations for stargazing, the Northern Lights, solar eclipse events, and other dark sky adventures.

Which are the best destinations for astrotourism?

The booking platform Planet Cruise has conducted research to help stargazers find the ideal locations for astrotourism. It has ranked the top destinations worldwide for stargazing and other celestial adventures.

To get to this result, Planet Cruise studied key factors, including the location’s latitude, average elevation, light pollution levels and number of Instagram posts about astronomy events such as the Northern Lights.

While many of these destinations topped the ranking and are fairly predictable, like Iceland, Canada and Switzerland, one unexpected US destination lands among the top five astrotourism locations worldwide – Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

Mauna Kea features a lofty elevation of almost 4,000 meters (13,123 ft) and minimal light pollution, creating an unparalleled view of the night sky. Visitors here often spot the Milky Way in all its splendor. Meanwhile, the surrounding area also boasts stargazing tours, hiking and other outdoor adventures.

Other stargazing firsts

However, Hawaii wasn’t the only destination for natural phenomenon adventures. Interlaken in Switzerland also came up top of the list for its low light pollution, where the Milky Way is often visible. Moreover, the area is ideal for other outdoor activities and winter sports, which Planet Cruise claims make it an adventure-lovers’ paradise.

Furthermore, Reykjavík, Iceland, is in second place with its abundance of opportunities to enjoy, including the Northern Lights. Meanwhile, despite some light pollution in the city, heading out to darker areas for Aurora Borealis viewing. Moreover, the destination boasts more than 41,000 Instagram posts.

Also in the top three, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Canada has a high altitude and very low light pollution, with around 10,057 Instagram searches for the Aurora Borealis.

Find out more about the astrotourism research performed by Planet Cruise here.