Where are the top places for stargazing and starbathing in Europe? | Euronews

## Summary
Ahead of International Dark Sky Week, these are some of the best places for stargazing and starbathing in Europe. In 2025, the Bavarian Forest Nature Park and Bavarian Forest National Park were recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve after the state worked to reduce light pollution. “There’s so little light there, it really is wonderful, it’s like a Sternenhimmel [starry sky] show more or less,” said Claudia Mitchell, Partner and Network Manager at Bayern Tourismus Marketing. “It’s really not disrupted by any city lights, and that’s beautiful.” Related Christmas travel: Germany may look less twinkly this year as environmentalists call for lights out Train travel: France and Germany plan discounted ticket for young people Can I see the stars in Croatia? Travellers usually observe the night sky without any technology, simply basking in starlight, to boost mindfulness, relaxation and a change in perspective. “The ‘starbathing’ trend reflects a wider shift toward quieter, nature-focused travel experiences rather than traditional sightseeing in busy cities," says Chris Harrington, managing director at airport transfers provider Hoppa. "It gives people an opportunity to take in some beautiful dark skies, spot famous comets and stars, and most importantly, switch off from screens.” Europe has a number of unique dark sky parks to starbathe in, especially as light pollution continues to grow in other areas. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Travel News SAS to cancel 1,000 flights in April after surge in jet fuel price Destinations These are the most popular National Parks in the United States Destinations World’s Greatest Places 2026: The European spots that made the cut Star gazing dark sky park Northern Lights light pollution Europe Astronomy

## Article Content
By&nbsp
Indrabati Lahiri
&nbsp&&nbsp
Laura Sanders
Published on
16/01/2021 - 20:20 GMT+1
•
Updated
18/03/2026 - 13:29 GMT+1
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Ahead of International Dark Sky Week in April, here are some of the best locations in Europe to see the stars.
As of March 2026, more than 200 locations in 22 countries across the world have been certified as International Dark Sky Places by the NGO DarkSky International, spanning more than 160,000 square kilometres of protected land.
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These places act as green sites which make conscious efforts to protect and conserve the natural darkness of the sky, which also helps nocturnal wildlife.
Cooler temperatures, avoiding daytime crowds and a greater desire to connect with nature has led to the rise of "noctourism", especially among millennials and Gen Zers.
This includes nighttime activities like stargazing and "starbathing", or observing celestial events such as solar eclipses, night hikes and night safaris.
This trend has made dark sky parks especially popular. Upcoming events such as the highly-anticipated total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 has contributed to this shift, with solar eclipse tours and cruises in very high demand.
Currently, there are more than 31 International Dark Sky Parks in Europe, across countries like France, the UK, Hungary, Germany and more.
Ahead of International Dark Sky Week, these are some of the best places for stargazing and starbathing in Europe.
Where can I stargaze in the United Kingdom & Ireland?
Together, the UK and Ireland boast more than 20
dark sky places
.
First up is the Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape along the
Cornish coast
in England. This rugged heathland, straight out of an 18th Century novel, is beautiful both day and night with plenty of walkways traversing its craggy cliffs.
Northumberland
National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park in the north of England is already a popular tourist destination during the day. But as everybody else returns to their hotel for the night, you could be out witnessing a magnificent display of nature - the Milky Way.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Dan Monk (@danmonk91)
Elan Valley Estate in Wales has become a popular destination for tourists looking to climb the Brecon Beacons and
Snowdonia
, both of which are certified.
Further north is Galloway Forest Park in
Scotland
, which is abundant in evergreen forestry and beautiful lakes.
Ballycroy National Park and Wild Nephin Wilderness in
Ireland
is situated in the Owenduff and Nephin Mountains, this spot is teaming with trees, lakes and moors. It’s the perfect place to escape it all and quite literally stare into space.
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Where is the best place to stargaze in Spain?
Albanyà, situated in Girona, Catalonia is the ideal spot for Spanish stargazers. If you head to Bassegoda Park, there are regular educational tours to join as you gaze up at the twinkling stars.
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A post shared by Càmping Bassegoda Park (@bassegodapark)
Where to see the stars in Hungary
Hungary
has three dark sky places and so it’s only right that we begin with Bükk, Hungary’s largest
national park
. Situated in the Bükk Mountains in the north, near the city of Miskolc, the perfect stargazing opportunity awaits you somewhere beneath the country’s tallest peaks.
While Bükk
National Park
may be Hungary’s largest, Hortobágy National Park has got to be its most impressive. It’s the country’s first ever national park which has remained largely untouched since the last ice age. The park offers night time walks to visitors and plans to open an observatory at some point in the future.
Zselic National Landscape Protection Area, close to the border with Slovakia, is deemed the best place with close to unaltered dark night skies in Hungary by the IDSA. Certified in 2009, the parks surrounding municipalities all work to preserve the sky’s natural darkness there.
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Situated on the east of Terschelling Island, De Boschplaat is a Natura 2000 nature reserve recognised by the European Council. The public can enjoy unlimited access to the park at all times and there are eight designated stargazing spots to choose from.
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Until May 1969, the area which is now Lauwersmeer National Park was underwater, when the former Lauwers Sea was enclosed and separated from the
Wadden Sea
. The area has become an
oasis for wildlife
and hundreds of thousands of
migratory birds
stop here every

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- It also has a number of spots with excellent visibility, like the Malham National Park Visitor Centres, Hawes and the Tan Hill inn.

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- But as everybody else returns to their hotel for the night, you could be out witnessing a magnificent display of nature - the Milky Way.
- While Bükk National Park may be Hungary’s largest, Hortobágy National Park has got to be its most impressive.
- The park offers night time walks to visitors and plans to open an observatory at some point in the future.
- View this post on Instagram A post shared by RTV Noord (@rtvnoord) Until May 1969, the area which is now Lauwersmeer National Park was underwater, when the former Lauwers Sea was enclosed and separated from the Wadden Sea .

### Expert Commentary
This article covers dark, sky, park topics. Notable strengths include discussion of dark. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 2004.