Travel guides
Seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky is a dream for many travellers, and Rovaniemi is one of the best places in the world to try. The town lies on the Arctic Circle, right under the band where auroras appear most often.
Here is what you need to know to give yourself the best possible chance.
When is the aurora season?
The Northern Lights are visible in Rovaniemi from roughly late August to early April, whenever the sky is dark enough. In summer the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright.
Autumn and spring often bring clearer skies, while midwinter offers the longest nights and snowy landscapes. There is no single best month — clear weather matters most.
What time of night is best?
Auroras can appear any time it is dark, but activity is often strongest between about 21:00 and 02:00. Patience pays off: the lights may come and go several times during one night.
How to read the aurora forecast
Two things decide whether you will see the lights: solar activity and cloud cover. The Kp index measures geomagnetic activity — in Lapland auroras are often visible even at Kp 1–2.
Cloud cover is just as important. A clear sky with low activity is usually better than a cloudy sky with high activity, so always check the local weather forecast too.
Where to go
Street lights wash out faint auroras, so head away from the town centre to a dark spot with an open view to the north, such as a frozen lake or a riverbank.
Local guides know dozens of viewing spots and drive to where the sky is clearest that night, which greatly improves your chances.
Ways to chase the lights
You can search for the aurora by minibus, by snowmobile or even on a reindeer sleigh. Small-group and private tours give you more time at each spot and more personal help from the guide.
Photographing the Northern Lights
A tripod, a wide-angle lens and a long exposure of a few seconds will capture far more colour than your eyes can see. Modern phones with a night mode can also work well when kept perfectly still.
On a photography tour, a professional photographer takes care of the settings and you take home edited photos of your night.
Dress for a long, cold night
Aurora hunting means standing still outside for a long time, often at well below -10 °C. Dress in warm layers, and choose a tour that provides thermal overalls and boots if you do not have your own.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed, but with clear skies, a dark spot and a few nights to try, your chances in Rovaniemi are excellent. Compare aurora tours on SeekLapland and book directly with local experts.