The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) are curtains of green and purple light that appear in the sky on winter nights around the Arctic Circle. This page lists tours that include aurora viewing: itineraries in Finland’s Lapland region and Rovaniemi, Tromsø in Norway, Abisko in Sweden, and Iceland.
The Northern Lights are most often seen between latitudes 65–70, in the belt just above the Arctic Circle. The best-known viewing spots include Rovaniemi, Levi and Saariselkä in Finland; Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands in Norway; Abisko and Kiruna in Sweden; areas away from light pollution around Reykjavik in Iceland; and Murmansk on Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
Nights must be dark enough to see the aurora, so the season runs from late September to late March. Nights are longest between December and February, but cloud cover can also increase. Visibility depends on solar activity and clear skies; no tour can guarantee a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Itineraries that include several nights improve your chances of seeing them.
Lapland tours highlight winter activities such as husky sledding, reindeer safaris, snowmobiling and ice fishing; Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is also a classic stop on these itineraries. Aurora viewing usually takes place on guided night tours. The tour’s inclusions and exclusions list shows which activities are included in the package.
Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland are in the Schengen Area; holders of ordinary passports need a Schengen visa. For Russia programs that include Murmansk, a visa is obtained online as an e-visa. Temperatures can fall below -20 °C in winter: thermal underwear, a heavy coat, waterproof boots, gloves and a hat are essential. Some hotels and tours provide winter suits and boots; this is also stated in the tour’s inclusions list.
To photograph the Northern Lights, you will need a tripod, a wide-angle lens, and a camera capable of long exposures or a phone with a night mode. Batteries drain quickly in the cold, so keep a spare battery in an inside pocket. On guided viewing tours, the guide usually helps with camera settings too.
Accommodation in Lapland has a direct impact on your Northern Lights experience. Glass-roofed igloos and cabins are the most popular options, as they let you watch the lights from bed, and they book up early. Ice hotels such as the SnowCastle in Kemi are included in itineraries as a one-night experience. On tours staying in city hotels, the lights are viewed on night excursions to locations away from light pollution. The day-by-day itinerary shows where you will stay each night.
Above the Arctic Circle, daylight in December and January is limited to a few hours, so daytime activities are concentrated around midday and evenings are set aside for viewing tours. As February and March approach, the days grow longer, the snow remains deep and the weather may be clearer. The daily itinerary and the nights scheduled for viewing tours are listed on the tour page.
The Northern Lights can be seen from late September to late March on dark, clear nights; December–February has the longest nights.
No. The visibility of the lights depends on solar activity and cloud cover; itineraries with several nights increase your chances, but cannot guarantee a sighting.
Yes. Finland, Norway and Sweden are in the Schengen Area; holders of burgundy passports need a Schengen visa. An e-visa is sufficient for programs in Murmansk, Russia.
Itineraries are usually 3–5 nights; at least three nights are recommended to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
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