If you are here, you already know what are the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, so we skip this part and go directly to the basic information which can help you to plan Lapland holidays with best chances to see the Northern Lights in Finland.
The best place in Finland to see the Northern Lights is Lapland/Northern Finland above the Arctic Circle. There are no exact place with best chances to see it, because it depends only on weather and cloudiness. No need to move around Lapland, looking for different locations. The only thing important regarding the place is open space, and no artificial lights. If you can find a place in dark and wide panorama – this is the best place to have a great view of Aurora. Finnish Lapland is good Aurora destination because the area is underpopulated, cities and villages are small and it is very easy to find places without illumination just few steps from your accommodation. Nevertheless there are some places with infrastructure specially designed for best Northern Lights views:
It is quite difficult to predict the Northern Lights activity more then 2-24 hours beforehand. But there are some guidance to raise your chances to see it.
The best months to see Aurora in Finland are September-October, February-March.
Statistic proofs it: springtime (March) and autumn (September) contain the most "geomagnetically disturbed days" which means Aurora activity.
Nevertheless each dark month has its own character worth taking into consideration while planning a Northern Light trip to Lapland.
It is time for 24h of daylight, MidNight sun. No chances to see the Northern Lights at all!
Obligatory condition - Dark time for sure.
To be more accurate, more often Aurora appears from around 22.00 to 2.00 at the night.
Be patient. Sometime even if Northern Light forecast is promising, it is needed to go out and look at the sky dozens of times during a night.
Be ready if Aurora appear when you least expect it.
As you might be already aware that no one can guarantee the Northern lights and predict it. There's a lot of luck involved. But there are some things you can do to increase chances.
As was said earlier, it should be September-March time of the year, and dark time of the day from 22pm to 3am.
The more time you have for Lapland vacations, the better chances to see Lights.
Get notified! Download weather apps, Aurora alerts and Northern Light forecast.
As a recommendation if you are staying in Rovaniemi - Pyha-Luosto - Levi area of Finnish Lapland: There is a real-time information about the geomagnetic disturbances=Northern Lights, provided by Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory Magnetogram. Great help - Real Time sky web-cameras online. If Northern Lights are there, it can be seen immediately on the camera! Just go outside and enjoy the view.
On the charts you can see disturbances in Earth's magnetic field. If the values of the curve starting to grow up or down more than 100-300 points, it is a good sign for time to go out and find a place with open panorama to observe the night sky.
One of the latest Aurora innovation in Finnish Lapland is Glass Igloo hotels or rooms with panorama sky view. It is comfortable warm little cabin with glass roof, perfectly located with the best possible view, where you can stay overnight and see the Lights from your bed or with glass of wine, not been afraid to freeze your hands outside.
We would say it is not an accommodation option for your Lapland holidays, but as 1 night stay experience it works great to add some luxury to your vacation and unique experience to sleep under the stars.
Some of the glass igloos are very simple and basic like Lake Inari Mobile Cabins, or Olokolo mobile sleeping nest.
Other are luxury lodge like SnowmanWorld Glass Resort.
And a lot of options in between, but all of them can offer something special. Like Northern Light Village in Saariselka. This place has own husky-reindeer farm. They can organize in-house activities as well as they are experts in Northern light hunting and know al the secrets.
There are a lot of helpers in Lapland, making it easier to catch the Aurora and make best possible DIY pictures of it.
Almost every location, ski resort, holiday villages has variety of organized tours combining some activity with Aurora hunting.
It is possible to choose from evening hiking in the wilderness, snowmobile safaris, reindeer-husky rides, Northern lights camp-fires with professional photographers, and many other adventures depending on you preferences, budget, group size and members age.
Local guides can share their knowledge about the Lights, give brief scientific overview, tell myths and legends, advice photo hints and tips, show best locations with perfect view and organize some local treats during the tour. If your Lapland holidays limited in time, guided tour makes sense and is worth it.
No problem!
There are 2 options if you are eager for it.
Both of them are quite expensive and time-consuming.
1. Check most possible Northern Lights forecast. Check current weather map and drive somewhere with clear sky or some breaks in the clouds. Be ready to drive quite a lot, of course reasonable distance to manage it during a night.
2. If no cloud breaks, try Northern lights from the flight.
Come to Finnish Lapland in September – earlier October.
Choose one National park in Lapland, for example, Pyha-Luosto National park.
Take your сamping equipment and tent and follow one of the nature trails, which is equipped with sleeping huts, fireplace stations with wc and firewood. Make your campsite and wait for the Northern lights for free!
The Northern Lights can be also seen in Helsinki. Find out the best time and places where to see the Aurora in Helsinki here.