Fancy seeing the Northern Lights in all their glory? Discover the best time and places to see the Northern Lights in Finland, from someone who timed her trip to Lapland for the aurora and got lucky.
I’ll admit it: I went to Finland wanting to see the Northern Lights REAL BAD. I kept telling myself I wouldn’t be disappointed if they didn’t show, because I’ve been on trips where they could have happened and just… didn’t (Lofoten, I’m looking at you).
So I stacked the odds. I booked Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland for March, right around the spring equinox, when geomagnetic activity tends to be stronger. I stayed at Apukka Resort just outside the city, in a glass-topped suite, and spent my days snowmobiling and husky sledding while I waited for the sky to do its thing.
It did. I saw a mad geomagnetic storm, with the sky lit up green over Apukka, and I’ve been Finland’s biggest fan ever since. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your own trip: when to go, where to base yourself, where to stay and how to give yourself the best chance.
PS: Want to delve into how to plan a Northern Lights Trip? Watch this video!
Best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland: at a glance
- Season: Late August to early April in Finnish Lapland.
- Best months: September and March, around the autumn and spring equinoxes, when activity tends to be higher. March and early April also tend to bring clearer weather.
- Best time of night: Roughly 10 pm to 2 am. The busiest hours are usually 11 pm to 2 am.
- Where: Head north of the Arctic Circle into Lapland. Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari, Levi and Kilpisjärvi are the best bases.
What is the aurora borealis?
Funnily enough, these dancing lights (the Aurora Borealis) that you see at night are actually from the sun. Eruptions on the sun send huge streams of electrically charged particles out on the solar wind, and some of them are funnelled towards the Earth’s poles.
This is all very scientific, but it’s just those particles colliding with oxygen and nitrogen high in the atmosphere to create dazzling skylights. Oxygen glows green (the colour you’ll see most often) and, higher up, red, while nitrogen adds the purples and pinks. These lights can appear in many forms, such as spirals, rays, flickers, and curtains of light.
The sun runs on a roughly 11-year cycle, and the latest Solar Maximum peaked in October 2024. The years after a maximum still bring strong displays, so the 2026/27 and 2027/28 winters should still be great for aurora hunting in Finland. My guide to the best time to see the Northern Lights explains how it all works.
What time of night is best?
The lights are most active late at night, so your best chance is between around 10 pm and 2 am. The Finnish Meteorological Institute says displays typically peak around midnight, and the busiest hours are usually 11 pm to 2 am. That said, you can get lucky earlier in the evening, so start looking as soon as it’s properly dark.
It’s also best to look for them on nights when there are little to no clouds. The aurora happens far above the weather, so even a strong display will be hidden behind a blanket of cloud. If you’ve planned your trip right, you’re not really chasing the Northern Lights. You’re chasing clear skies.
Try to avoid the full moon too, if you can. The moon is a natural light source and washes out fainter displays. If your trip does coincide with a full moon, don’t stress: check what time the moon rises and sets, and plan your aurora hunting around it.
When is the aurora season?
The northern region of Finland falls within the Arctic Circle, which results in long nights during winter and long days in summer. As you need darkness to be able to see the Northern Lights, your best chances of seeing them are between late August and early April. From May to July, the nights in Lapland simply don’t get dark enough, and around midsummer the sun doesn’t set at all.
In Finnish Lapland, the lights can be seen on around 150 nights a year. The Finnish Meteorological Institute puts it another way: in Lapland, the aurora appears on roughly half of all dark, clear nights, and in Kilpisjärvi, in the far north-west, on about three nights in four. This makes it one of the best places in the world to see the mesmerising lights in the sky.
Which month is best?
At the height of winter, you’ll get very little daylight. In the far north, around Utsjoki, the sun doesn’t rise at all for around 50 days, and even in Rovaniemi you only get a few hours of daylight around the winter solstice. So you can imagine there’s a better chance of seeing the lights, right? Well, it’s not that simple, and here’s why.
September and October
In these months, you’ll still have daylight, but there is higher geomagnetic activity around the autumn equinox, so there are more geomagnetic storms. There is also usually no snow just yet, so the lakes are still unfrozen, and you can get beautiful reflections of the lights in the water.
The weather in September and October is also a lot warmer, and shades of red and orange come alive in the autumn forests. The Finns call this autumn colour season ruska, and in Lapland it usually peaks in September.
November to January
These are the months when you’re in almost total darkness for most of the day, so there are more hours in which to see these Finland lights. However, these are also the months when you can expect lots of snowfall, and where there is snowfall, there are clouds.
This means fewer clear nights for seeing the aurora in Finland. Accommodation costs during this time, particularly around Christmas, are also more expensive, but there is an abundance of winter activities like skiing, husky sledding and snowmobiling.
Top Tip: Are the Northern Lights not enough to persuade you to visit? Discover why Finland is one of the best places to travel in November.
February and March
February and March are my pick for visiting Finland to see the Northern Lights in Lapland. The skies tend to be clearer than in early winter, and around the spring equinox there is geomagnetic activity similar to that during autumn. The Finnish Meteorological Institute rates March and early April as the best time for aurora watching in northern Finland once the weather is factored in.
There is also still plenty of snow during this time, and the days are getting longer, so you can spend the days skiing, snowmobiling or husky sledding and the nights looking up at the sky. This is exactly when I went to Rovaniemi, and it paid off.
Best places to see the Northern Lights in Finland
The best region to see the Northern Lights in Finland is undoubtedly Lapland. It is in the country’s northern parts and mostly within the Arctic Circle. As a rule, the further north you go, the more often the aurora appears.
But some towns and villages provide unforgettable views of this mesmerising night sky show. Let’s take a look…
Rovaniemi
I simply have to start with Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and the place where I finally got my Finnish aurora. This is a small city of around 65,000 people sitting right on the Arctic Circle, and it is most notably known as the official hometown of Santa Claus.
Aside from Santa Claus Village and the Arktikum, a science centre and museum for the Arctic, Rovaniemi is a brilliant base for aurora hunting. It has an airport just outside the city, plenty of tours, and you only need to get a short way out of town to escape the light pollution. With rolling fells, rivers and frozen lakes, you can capture some truly picturesque photos of the Northern Lights.
If you want a more exciting way to see the dancing sky, go skiing at the Ounasvaara Ski Resort, which sits almost in the centre of the city. The slopes stay open into the evening (until 8 pm on weekdays), and in the depths of winter it’s dark well before then, which gives you a chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis from the slopes on an active night.
My top tip for Rovaniemi is to fill your days. The aurora only comes out at night, and there’s nothing worse than sitting in your room all day waiting for it. I spent a day snowmobiling across the frozen landscape and went husky sledding too, and both were highlights of the trip.
Top Tip: If you want to learn more, read about the best things to do in Rovaniemi.
Where to stay in Rovaniemi: Apukka Resort
Take it from me: nothing beats staring at the sky from the comfort of a warm room. And you can do precisely that at Apukka Resort, on the shore of a lake about 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Rovaniemi and 15 minutes from the airport, in one of their glass igloo cabins or suites.
This is where I stayed, and it made for a truly unforgettable experience, as the warm bed keeps you comfy while the sky puts on a show. I stayed in a Lappish Kammi Suite, a glass-topped dome filled with cosy furnishings and a roaring fire to keep us nice and toasty. The beds were uber comfortable, which was much needed after a day of snowmobiling, and the kitchenette was fully equipped with everything we needed.
Apukka now offers Kammi and Komsio glass igloo suites, plus a range of glass-roofed Aurora Cabins, from standard to family-sized. It also runs its own activities, from husky and reindeer safaris to snowmobiling and aurora hunting, so you don’t have to go far for your days out. Its husky adventure has you driving your own team of huskies along a 6 km trail.
More glass igloos and aurora rooms near Rovaniemi
- Arctic TreeHouse Hotel: A short walk from Santa Claus Village, with suites built on stilts among the pine trees, each with a huge panoramic window facing the northern sky. Its restaurant, Rakas, serves seasonal northern dishes.
- Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos: In Sinettä, about half an hour’s drive from Rovaniemi. It combines 15 glass igloos with a snow hotel that is rebuilt every winter, so you can sleep in both on the same trip.
Ivalo
If you want to visit a smaller town without missing the Northern Lights, then Ivalo is a fantastic option. The town is also the northernmost on this list apart from Kilpisjärvi, and its airport is the northernmost in Finland, so it’s easier to reach than you might think. Expect a rustic yet beautiful experience.
The best area to explore is the Hammastunturi Wilderness Area, as there is little to no light pollution. Here, you might spot reindeer as they roam through the pine forests, and it’ll be even more memorable if you see them under the Northern Lights.
Inari, about 40 km further north on the shore of vast Lake Inari, is worth the drive too. It’s the heart of Sámi culture in Finland, and the Siida museum is the best place to learn about the Sámi people, the Indigenous people of the far north, and the Arctic landscape they live in. The frozen lake makes a wonderful wide-open spot to watch the sky.
Where to stay in Ivalo: Aurora Village Ivalo
The Aurora Village Ivalo is another one of those accommodations where you can see the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed. Every cabin type has a glass roof, from the Aurora Cabins for two or three to the two-storey Aurora Towers, and the resort sends aurora alerts through its app. There’s an on-site restaurant serving meals made with local ingredients, and Ivalo airport is only a 15-minute drive away.
Note that it is open to guests aged 12 and over from December to March.
Kemi
On the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia is the small coastal town of Kemi. It sits south of the Arctic Circle, so you won’t see the aurora as often as in northern Lapland, but it still appears on roughly a quarter of dark, clear nights, and the frozen sea makes a spectacular foreground.
One of the many memorable sights here is the SnowCastle area on the seafront, home to the SnowCastle Restaurant and a winter wonderland experience that is open every day of the year.
Another one of those famous attractions is the iconic Icebreaker Sampo, which takes visitors out to crunch through the frozen Bay of Bothnia. Cruises run from December to early April, and you can even float in the icy water in a survival suit.
Where to stay in Kemi: Seaside Glass Villas
You wouldn’t think seeing the Northern Lights in comfort could get much better. But the Seaside Glass Villas pair the Aurora Borealis perfectly with sea views. They sit in the SnowCastle area, right on the shore, and you’re within walking distance of Kemi’s restaurants.
Kittilä
If you’re searching for a lovely resort town in Northern Finland, look no further than Kittilä, the town is popular amongst visitors due to its fantastic Levi Ski Resort.
The resort is no more than a 20-minute drive away from Kittilä and Kittilä airport, and, as you can imagine, the views of the Northern Lights from here are spectacular. Levi sits well inside the aurora zone, where the lights appear on roughly half of all dark, clear nights.
Where to stay in Kittilä: Levin Iglut
Levin Iglut is the glass igloo stay in Levi. Its 27 glass igloos sit high on the slopes of the Utsuvaara fell, about 10 km from Levi village, looking out over the Lapland wilderness, and the on-site Restaurant Utsu is excellent. It opens from September to mid-April, so you can catch both the autumn and spring equinoxes.
Northern Lights Village also has a glass-roofed cabin village near Levi, a good alternative if Levin Iglut is booked up.
Saariselkä
Saariselkä is a ski resort village in northern Lapland that provides unrivalled views of the Northern Lights over Urho Kekkonen National Park. It sits well within the aurora zone, where the Finnish Meteorological Institute says the lights appear on roughly half of all dark, clear nights, so your chances are excellent.
It’s a winter sports village first and foremost, with downhill slopes, cross-country ski trails and Europe’s longest toboggan run on Kaunispää fell.
The ski resort offers nighttime skiing on floodlit slopes. This means you’ve got a fantastic opportunity to ski under the glowing night sky.
Where to stay in Saariselkä: Star Arctic Hotel
The Star Arctic Hotel offers the best of both worlds, with cosy accommodation and quick access to outdoor activities. It sits on the summit of Kaunispää fell, with glass-roofed suites that allow you to take in the breathtaking Northern Lights, and the ski slopes are right on the doorstep.
More glass igloos in Saariselkä
- Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort: The resort that built the world’s first glass igloos, just south of Saariselkä and about 40 minutes from Ivalo airport. Choose from small and large glass igloos or the bigger Kelo-Glass Igloos, which pair a log cabin with a glass-roofed bedroom. It’s the most famous name in Lapland and priced to match, and recent reviews are more mixed than they used to be, so read up before you book.
- Northern Lights Village Saariselkä: A village of aurora cabins with glass roofs over the beds, usually a little cheaper than Kakslauttanen. The same company now runs villages in Levi, Pyhä and Ivalo too.
Kilpisjärvi
If your only goal is to see the aurora, Kilpisjärvi is the place to go. This tiny village sits in the far north-west of Finnish Lapland, where Finland, Norway and Sweden meet, and it’s actually closer to Tromsø in Norway than to Rovaniemi.
It has the best odds in the country: the Finnish Meteorological Institute says the lights appear on about three in every four dark, clear nights here. Climb (or just gaze up at) the sacred Saana fell, and watch the sky over the frozen lake. It is remote, with few places to stay, so book well ahead.
Top tips for seeing the aurora
Can I increase my chances of seeing the aurora?
The best way to give yourself a chance to see the Northern Lights is by visiting during the autumn, winter and early spring, ideally around the equinoxes in September and March. Also, keep an eye on the cloud forecast, as this will tell you if there will be cloud cover or not.
Watch the cloud forecast as closely as the aurora forecast. On my Tromsø trip, I used the cloud layers on Windy Premium to find a clear patch of sky, and the same trick works in Lapland.
Get to grips with the Kp index, which measures geomagnetic activity on a scale of 0 to 9. At 0 to 2, the aurora sits far north and is fairly dim, though in northern Lapland that can still be enough. From 3 to 5, it’s brighter and moves further south, with more movement and shapes. At 6 and above, you’re looking at a big storm.
To see the Northern Lights at their vibrant best, it’s also a good idea to visit remote regions of Lapland, or simply get out of town, away from the light pollution. Many Northern Lights hotels will send you an aurora alert or wake-up call, so you don’t have to stay up all night.
Finally, dress warmly in plenty of layers and good boots, and be patient. There’s no schedule for when the lights will appear, so give yourself several nights and enjoy the winter activities in the meantime.
Do the Northern Lights happen every night?
Technically, the Northern Lights happen on most nights of the year, somewhere around the Arctic. But this doesn’t mean you can see them every night.
Sometimes cloud gets in the way. Or the geomagnetic activity isn’t strong enough to push the Northern Lights’ mesmerising dance far enough south for you to see it.
Are there Northern Lights tours I can join?
There are some great aurora tours you can join, and most of them run from Rovaniemi. A local guide knows where the clear skies are likely to be, will drive you out of the city, and will usually supply warm overalls and a campfire.
Here are some top picks you can join:
- Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Wilderness Tour with Photos
- Rovaniemi: Snowmobile Safari Adventure
- Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Sledge Ride
- Rovaniemi: Ice Floating in a Forest Lake
- Rovaniemi: Guided Northern Lights Tour
- Rovaniemi: Apukka Husky Adventure
Map of the best aurora spots
Read more: more places to see the Northern Lights
- Seeing the Northern Lights in Norway: An Insider’s Guide
- Why You Need to Visit Finland in Winter
- Rovaniemi: Finland’s Northern Lights Playground
- When is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights?
- How to Chase the Northern Lights in Tromsø
- Northern Lights Hotels in Iceland You Need to Stay at
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