Northern Lights in Finland 2024-2025

For around 200 nights per year, some regions of Finland witness the stunning natural phenomenon known as aurora borealis. Even though hunting the aurora is a matter of luck, in Finland's Lapland, it's actually quite easy to catch a glimpse of the amazing colorful lights that show up on every other clear night.

When is the best time to see Northern Lights

The season for northern lights in Finland is quite long and stretches from September through March. As a matter of fact, autumn and early spring are the best time for catching the northern lights, as solar activity is quite intense and reliable. March is also considered to be the month with the clearest skies.

Most often, the aurora borealis can be seen at midnight, as well as a few hours before and after. However, the auroras can occur at any other time when the sky is dark enough to see them.

Northern Lights Forecast

You can observe the brightest aurora at around midnight or until 2 am. The mystical shimmering in the sky can last for just a few minutes at a time so be patient not to miss it. Your main obstacle can be cloudiness, so don't forget to check the aurora forecast or sign up for alerts from the Finnish Meteorological Institute to be ready to run outside at the right moment.

Place to see Northern Lights in Finland

Before you head to a specific location, know that there is a universal rule that will help you get the best experience in your chosen area. You need to find a dark, open place, as far as possible from city lights. Since auroras are most often seen in the northern sky, it is worth finding an unobstructed view at least towards the northern horizon.

Lapland

The northernmost part of the country—Lapland—is the best destination for aurora borealis chasers. It can be reached by train or plane from the capital of Helsinki. You can go on a Northern Lights snowmobile adventure, try dog-sledding or snowshoeing, or just watch the Northern Lights with comfort in a glass igloo. The warm and cozy glass rooms even have an aurora alarm so you won't miss it.

To increase your chances of seeing aurora Borealis, you need to travel to the Finnish "northern arm" region. The village of Kilpisjärvi in the municipality of Enontekiö boasts 75% chance of catching the northern lights. The neighboring Utsjoki municipality which borders Norway, provides the same high likelihood to see the phenomenon. Sodankylä and nearby Inari, Kittilä, Rovaniemi, and Savukoski municipalities also sport a good chance to witness the phenomenon.

Ivalo in Inari municipality has an Aurora Village with snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, ice karting, and horse sled riding. Rovaniemi witnesses northern lights about 150 times a year. However, you'll have to get out of the city for the best view because of light pollution. Keep in mind that in the winter, the temperature in Lapland can drop to -30°C (-22°F), so pack lots of warm layers and insulated boots.

Your chances to see northern lights will be a bit lower in Kemi, located near the city of Tornio, on the Swedish border. Aurora shows up in local skies for about 100 nights per year. However, the town, situated on the Bothnian Bay, boasts a Snow Castle, which looks stunning with northern lights in the background. There are also many hotels and lodging options.

Helsinki

Your chances of seeing the phenomenon of northern lights in Helsinki (located in Uusimaa of southern Finland) are much lower than in Lapland. However, with a bit of luck, you can still catch a glimpse of dancing lights here on a clear, dark night in the fall or early spring. The popular spots for local aurora chasers include the 98-ft (30-m) Observatory Hill (Tähtitorninmäki), which is located in the park near the South harbor in Ullanlinna district. You can also try other parks in Helsinki or get out of the city to avoid light pollution.

Turku

Although the Northern Lights are not very common in Turku, they can occasionally be seen, on average, once a month. The area around the Student Village is one of the best places to view the Northern Lights, for example, by taking a bike or walking path on the north bank of the river.

How to capture Northern Lights on your camera

Choose the manual mode to shoot the Northern Lights for better results. Focus the camera on the farthest point. It is also advisable to focus in daylight and mark the correct lens position rather than doing it in the dark. The aperture of the camera should be opened as wide as possible. this will ensure both the Northern Lights and the sky behind are in focus. In addition, the shutter speed should be as fast as possible. Make sure your ISO is at least 2000.