Don’t you want the fun to end at nightfall?
Whether you’re a nighttime lover or just looking for new adventures, here’s a list of things to do at night around the world.
1. Aurora Borealis – Reykjavik, Iceland
Admiring the lights of the Northern Lights imprinted on the Arctic sky is undoubtedly one of the most stunning natural nocturnal spectacles in the world.
In Reykjavik , you may be lucky enough to be able to see the Northern Lights just by looking out of your home window. However, remember that the best place to admire this natural spectacle is a dark place. Getting away from the city is therefore highly recommended.
Many hotels and local tours are organized in such a way as to help visitors admire the “Dawn of the North” and, if you have the strength to face the rigors of winter, you will have 20 hours a day!
While you will find yourself with your nose up, don’t forget that you will have an infinite number of stars to contemplate during the night. If you are a fan of celestial bodies, Hotel Rangá , an hour from Reykjavik, even has a private astronomical observatory.
Discover the best places to sleep under the magical lights of the Northern Lights .
2. Bioluminescence Kayak Tour – Florida, USA
If the idea of getting a little wet doesn’t scare you, head to the Meritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Central Florida for a unique and authentic experience that only the night can offer.
In the dark, an almost magical phenomenon occurs in the summer months on the Indian River lagoon in Florida. Small organisms, called “Dinoflagellates”, light up like fireflies when they are moved, giving rise to numerous trails of neon in the hidden waters in the pitch dark.
The best way to witness this exceptional spectacle is to take a kayak ride . Starting the tour as the sun goes down, you will also be lucky enough to witness a beautiful sunset in the water and, as the sky gets darker and darker, you will see your paddles creating fairy dust-like swirls as schools of fish whiz by. around your little boat!
3. Friday Night Skate – London, UK
If you run out of plans in London on a Friday night, make your way to Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner at 8pm, where you’ll find more than 5,000 Rollerblade-wielding people preparing to venture out on the city streets.
Although skaters and cyclists are welcome, the event is aimed at rollerblading and classic roller skating lovers and, to participate, you will need to be skilled enough to be able to turn, turn and control your speed on four wheels.
The event is entirely organized by volunteers, supervised to ensure the safety of the participants and the “Night Skate” route is published mid-week on the event organizer’s website .
It’s absolutely free, all you have to do is make yourself visible!
4. Spa parties – Budapest, Hungary
It is no coincidence that Budapest is also known as the “City of Baths”. The numerous thermal baths of the Hungarian capital were introduced during the Ottoman Empire and have been a vital element of the social life of the city since their origin. Locals of all ages flock here to relax, socialize and even do business.
In summer, show up after 10pm at the famous Széchenyi Baths (one of the largest spas in Europe), built in a beautiful yellow neo-Baroque palace. In all likelihood, you’ll find yourself in one of the most rowdy raves you’ve ever attended.
“Sparties” (parties in spas) are a symbol of Budapest’s nightlife, a symbol so great that many come from neighboring countries to join the wild crowd in bikinis dancing in the 3 immense outdoor pools of the Terme di Széchenyi.
If all this were to be a little too “steamy” for you, many of the spas scattered around the city are open late in the evening and you can enjoy an outdoor swim in heated waters, under the light of soft street lamps accompanied from the vibrations of Tecno music.
5. Candlelight tour of the monastery – Arequipa, Peru
Three volcanoes frame the second largest city in Peru , Arequipa. Birthplace of the Nobel Prize-winning writer Mario Vargas Llosa and home to the resplendent Santa Catalina Monastery , a 20,000m² monastery.
Built during the country’s colonial era and a perfect example of the contemporary Andean Baroque architectural style, it was built as a convent to shelter the daughters of the numerous Spanish families arriving in the country.
Between visits to the beautiful quarters of the citadel, two nights a week, the former convent opens its doors for a candlelit tour of the labyrinth-like dungeons.
Walk through cobbled alleys and through courtyards filled with orange trees, through dark galleries and cloisters with shadows and voices in the background… just like 200 nuns did a few centuries ago.
6. Ghost tour – Edinburgh, Scotland
When theatrical tales, which many call sensational, are brought together with historical precision, a spooky evening in the form of a ghost tour is a fun and cultural way to spend the night.
Edinburgh , the city that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson in the writing of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, with its dark past marked by plague, torture and massacres, enjoys an excellent reputation for spooky sightings.
Many tours take place in the ancient city (the city hub for infestations) and will take you to the discovery of exceptional places such as the vaulted rooms in the city dungeons, the Edinburgh Dungeons, a local cemetery also known as the Torture Museum. Tours always seasoned with stunning and terrifying tales.
7. Night Jungle Trekking – Chiang Mai, Thailand
It may not be the first time you have ventured on winding forest tracks, amidst waterfalls and tropical wildlife but… have you ever spent the night in a jungle?
In northern Thailand , after a long day of trekking, you can discover the hilltop villages of Chiang Mai province and spend the night with the tribes of Mount Lahu, the most authentic and traditional peoples of the whole country.
Visit the country, help prepare homemade dinner (without the help of modern tools) or engage in a conversation in front of the flames of a fire with someone (maybe you will need your tour guide to help you with the translation!) Before fall asleep, lulled by the sound of the tribe’s songs and the natural sounds of the forest, inside huts built in bamboo like stilts.
Now that you know what adventures lurk in the dark, you will also know what the word “Night” means!
