Seeing the Northern Lights in Finland
Named by the Italian polymath Galileo – after the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas – the Aurora Borealis have fascinated observers since time began and the indigenous Laplanders, the Sámi, are no exception.
Traditional Sámi tales have long included the colourful natural phenomena with generations passing on the myths and legends associated with the lights in the sky; the most common of which is that the lights are the souls of the dead. Anyone witnessing the Northern Lights in Finland is therefore required to watch with reverence and behave in a manner befitting a solemn occasion. Making too much noise is most definitely discouraged and it’s also said that whistling attracts the souls of the departed closer to the earth which may also result in whistlers being whisked off to join them.
Scientists remain somewhat inconclusive as to what the Northern Lights are. Charged particles from a fluctuating solar wind monkeying with atoms in the magnetosphere, is pretty much the gist of it; although Professor Brian Cox may have more to say on the matter.
Whatever your beliefs, witnessing the Northern Lights firsthand has become one of the top reasons to visit Finland. If you’re looking for more suggestions on the locations, accommodation, activities and the best time of year for success then here is where your quest begins.
Traditional Sámi tales have long included the colourful natural phenomena with generations passing on the myths and legends associated with the lights in the sky; the most common of which is that the lights are the souls of the dead. Anyone witnessing the Northern Lights in Finland is therefore required to watch with reverence and behave in a manner befitting a solemn occasion. Making too much noise is most definitely discouraged and it’s also said that whistling attracts the souls of the departed closer to the earth which may also result in whistlers being whisked off to join them.
Scientists remain somewhat inconclusive as to what the Northern Lights are. Charged particles from a fluctuating solar wind monkeying with atoms in the magnetosphere, is pretty much the gist of it; although Professor Brian Cox may have more to say on the matter.
Whatever your beliefs, witnessing the Northern Lights firsthand has become one of the top reasons to visit Finland. If you’re looking for more suggestions on the locations, accommodation, activities and the best time of year for success then here is where your quest begins.
Our Finland Holidays
Finland Northern Lights holiday, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities & Aurora hunting in the Finnish wilderness
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£1599 to £2199
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Northern lights family holiday, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing Spa hotel
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£1065 to £1225
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Northern Lights Autumn holiday in Finland
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Northern lights short break, Finland
Leisurely stay in Finnish Lapland & an Aurora alert system
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£1225 to £1645
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Northern Lights short break, Finnish Lapland
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€1204
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Winter tailor-made holiday in Finland
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Finnish Lapland Autumn Northern Lights holiday
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Autumn northern lights short break
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Family Northern Lights break
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New Year’s Eve in the Arctic Circle holiday
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Northern Lights Family Christmas in Lapland
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Northern Lights in Lapland holiday
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Boxing day holiday in Finnish Lapland
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Northern Lights holiday in Finnish Lapland, Harriniva
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Nangu Northern Lights Activity Holiday
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Northern Lights short break in Nellim, Finland
Short Northern Lights break in Finland.
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£1095 to £1395
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Lapland Autumn Northern Lights holiday
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Locations
The best place to watch the Northern Lights in Finland is as close as possible to the Arctic Circle in Lapland. National parks, such as Pallas-Yllästunturi, Lemmenjoki and Urho-Kekkonen, are ideal, with organised tours taking you deep into remote, forested regions where a lack of light pollution and localised vantage points provide the best chance of sightings. Lapland’s lakes are also wonderful locations to watch the Northern Lights with Lake Torasjarvi, in the west, and Lake Inari, in the far north (especially the village of Nellim), providing incredible lakeside viewing platforms. Finally, Luosto, in Pyhä-Luosto National Park, is one of central Lapland’s top spots for sightings; this relatively untouched and remote region is just a 90-minute drive from Rovaniemi airport.
Accommodation
Where you stay can really enhance your viewing chances with wilderness hotels (with rooms featuring north facing widows) and awesome Aurora Bubbles (basically, glass igloos) both worth booking around the frozen shores of Lake Inari. Staying at a reindeer farm within Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is another great way to immerse yourself in the snow covered wilds of Lapland with cosy, yurt-like cocoons with north facing Perspex walls offering a unique alternative to cosy guest rooms. Due to the remote locations, wilderness hotels often operate on a full board basis.Outdoor activities take place close to the accommodation or provide a means of getting from one hotel to the next, perhaps by snowmobile, dog sled or on cross country skis. Nearly all lodgings within the Aurora zone, no matter how remote, will include an outdoor sauna that’s free of charge for guests. If you’re really up for a wild experience, try a traditional kota for a night or two. It may not come complete with sauna but will include a shed stacked with wood for cooking sausages and keeping warm by the fire.
Our top Finland Holiday
Finland Northern Lights holiday, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities & Aurora hunting in the Finnish wilderness
From
£1395 to £1575
5 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 1 Dec, 15 Dec
2020: 5 Jan, 12 Jan, 19 Jan, 29 Jan, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 1 Mar, 15 Mar, 29 Mar
2019: 1 Dec, 15 Dec
2020: 5 Jan, 12 Jan, 19 Jan, 29 Jan, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 1 Mar, 15 Mar, 29 Mar
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Finland or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland
Although December and January are the darkest months in northern Finland and great for seeing the Northern Lights, it is tricky to make the most of the days as the sun barely rises above the horizon. You really want a tour to include plenty of things to do during the day before setting your Aurora alarm. December is also a very popular time for families heading to Lapland to see Father Christmas, which pushes up prices and accommodation can get booked out. Read more about the best time to see the Northern Lights in our guide.
October and November can be cloudy, so keep this in mind if you’re thinking of an autumnal Aurora experience. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland is February and March, as well as the end of September, when more light allows for lots of things to do during the day and clearer skies conjure up a higher chance of a successful sightings by night. The highest chance of a sighting occurs between 10pm and midnight, although lights can appear anytime between 6pm and 4am.
October and November can be cloudy, so keep this in mind if you’re thinking of an autumnal Aurora experience. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland is February and March, as well as the end of September, when more light allows for lots of things to do during the day and clearer skies conjure up a higher chance of a successful sightings by night. The highest chance of a sighting occurs between 10pm and midnight, although lights can appear anytime between 6pm and 4am.
Additional activities
Although your prime objective maybe watching the Northern Lights, they do only come out at night, so do build some winter activities into your itinerary. National parks such as Hossa are full of forest trails and lakeside tracks, with snow shoes and cross country skis just a couple of ways to negotiate snow covered routes. Of course, if you feel the need for speed then a ride on a reindeer drawn sleigh could do the trick, although standing behind a team of huskies might well prove more exciting as you fly through frozen wilderness areas travelling between 25km and 40km in a day.
These sorts of activities can take you ever deeper into Finland’s forests, to overnight wilderness camps and purpose built Aurora accommodation. Snowmobiles are also a speedy way to whisk you from one point to the next with fat biking, on chunky tyres, another activity to add to your Christmas list. Make sure you’re fit enough for the challenge, though, or else you might end up sleeping no sooner than you’ve left the saddle – and missing the nightly show!
These sorts of activities can take you ever deeper into Finland’s forests, to overnight wilderness camps and purpose built Aurora accommodation. Snowmobiles are also a speedy way to whisk you from one point to the next with fat biking, on chunky tyres, another activity to add to your Christmas list. Make sure you’re fit enough for the challenge, though, or else you might end up sleeping no sooner than you’ve left the saddle – and missing the nightly show!
More about Finland
The best time to visit Finland depends on what you wish to do as winter is ideal for dog sledding and winter sports whereas the arrival of spring in May sees the sun making a return prior to the long hot summer days.
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The Wild Taiga in winter is about as close to Narnia as you can get without wandering into a wardrobe.
There’s no more exhilarating and rewarding way to discover the snowy Finnish wilderness than on a husky safari, with a team of dogs pulling you through pure white landscapes and across frozen lakes.
You don’t need to travel to Alaska to see gigantic brown bears; the Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to a population of these fascinating creatures and a supporting cast of other animals, too, from wolves and wolverine to elk and reindeer.
If you think that Lapland is just about snow and Santa then think again as summer holidays in Finland help to create a far more accessible and affordable outdoor experience.
If you’re heading to Lapland we implore you to find out more about the indigenous Sámi people who’ve made this northernmost region of Finland their ancestral home.
This winter wonderland, home to Father Christmas, friendly huskies and igloo-worthy snowfall, would be a dream destination for many children.
It's hard to go wrong when travelling in Finland, as the country is so beautifully set up for responsible travel.
Find all our Finland guides in one place, from Husky safaris to the Northern Lights and everything in between.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Vincent Guth] [Intro: Heikki Holstila]
[Locations: Markus Trienke]
[Best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland: Giuseppe Milo]
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