TRAVEL TRENDS

The Magic of Astrotourism: Europe’s Best Places for Stargazing

Discover the healing power of the night sky in 2025

Photo by on

Peering through the telescope, I caught my breath. I’d never seen the moon in such sharp detail. Each crater stood out, beautifully illuminated by the distant sun, revealing a textured landscape I’d only seen in science books.

For my space-loving boyfriend’s birthday, I’d planned a trip to the Observatoire Centre Ardenne in our home country of . But I didn’t expect to be so captivated myself.

Sunset at the the . Photo by Claire at Backpacking Bella

While holidays typically evoke city breaks or crowded beaches, nothing compares to the tranquility of remote locations beneath a starry sky. And with burnout rising — since before the pandemic — finding effective ways to unwind is crucial.

In October, Skyscanner highlighted ‘where to see a solar eclipse’ as one of last year’s top travel queries. Over half of UK travellers are keen to see the Northern Lights, 31% want to witness a solar or lunar eclipse and 28% are drawn to dark sky parks for stargazing, making astro-tourism a .