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The Northern Lights

Experience the magic of the Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi.

Witness The Northern Lights in Rovaniemi from August Until April

Also known as Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights are visible on around 150 nights a year in Finnish Lapland. In Rovaniemi, the spellbinding astral show can be witnessed in and around the city from late August until early April.

How Can I See the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi?

Catching the magical phenomenon requires clear and dark skies and a viewing spot not affected by light pollution, like street lights and neon signs. In Rovaniemi, you don’t have to walk far from the city centre to find a good spot, and really strong Auroras can be seen even with interference from artificial light.

Please note: there are no sure-fire ways of predicting when the Auroras will appear, only approximate predictions.

Where Can I See The Northern Lights in Rovaniemi?

There are quite a few good places for viewing the Auroras near the city centre. The Arctic Garden behind the Arktikum museum is a popular spot a 10-minute walk away, and the top of Ounasvaara fell is another good choice a 45-minute walk away. Any location with no light pollution and an unrestricted view of the northern sky works – the darker, the better.

When Is A Good Time to See the Auroras? Get Notified!

The Northern Lights commonly appear between 10 PM and 2 AM, but can at times be seen as soon as 7 PM. A show might last from only a couple of minutes to several hours.

To skip waiting outside in the cold for the Auroras to appear, we’ve got the perfect solution for you in the form of an instant notification service that works in the Rovaniemi area: Aurora Alert Realtime lets you know as soon as the Auroras are visible.

Take A Guided Tour for In-Depth Information

For a more thorough Aurora experience, we warmly recommend joining one of the numerous Northern Lights tours in Rovaniemi. Aurora hunts are available on snowmobiles, husky sleds, snowshoes, and in reindeer sleighs, just to name a few ways to experience the dancing arcs in the sky.

Expert guides maximize your chances of seeing the Auroras by taking you to special viewing spots while explaining the science and myths behind the phenomenon.

Aurora Legend: "Fox Fire"

According to Sámi folklore, the Auroras are caused by a fox running over the fells of Lapland, whipping up snow with its tail and sending sparks up the northern sky. The sparks form a colourful arc of fire that lights up the dark landscape. The Finnish name for the Northern Lights, “revontulet”, meaning “fox fire”, derives from this myth.

Science Says

In scientific terms, the Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with each other upon entering the earth’s atmosphere, which results in emissions of various colours of light. Green is by far the most common, but red, pink, violet, yellow and even blue can be seen at times.

Santa Claus There’s no place like Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, for a genuine Christmas experience.

Sustainable Rovaniemi

Sustainable Rovaniemi We are a region up in the Arctic, we need our seasons, snowy winters and warm summers to provide a safe environment to our Arctic species. Welcome to our sustainable way of life!

Northern Lights

Northern Lights Experience the magic of the Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi.

Polar Night Experience the Polar Night, celebration of mysterious lights on glittering snowdrifts.

Arctic Capital Rovaniemi combines the northern nature with urban surroundings, self-confident localness and open-minded internationality. Rovaniemi is also the Official Hometown of Santa Claus®.

Midnight Sun The Midnight Sun – also known as the nightless night or polar day – can be seen in Rovaniemi from early June until early July, and nights are white throughout the summer.

Autumn Colors Let Rovaniemi surprise you with easy access to plenty of routes and scenery spots to marvel the fiery landscapes of Autumn Color.

Four Seasons All four seasons are clearly present in the annual cycle of Rovaniemi. However, many locals would say the year consists of up to eight seasons, each with their own distinct characteristics.

Arctic Circle Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland situated right on the Arctic Circle, which makes the town a gateway to the Arctic.

Snow And Ice For many, Lapland is synonymous with snow. In Rovaniemi, there’s white stuff on the ground for approximately six months of the year.

Local Food Lapland’s food culture is directly linked to its pristine nature, and Rovaniemi is a great place to explore the fresh produce of northern forests and waters.

Architecture Rovaniemi is proud to have several major features designed by Alvar Aalto, one of Finland’s foremost architects. Other visionaries have also embellished the city with landmark structures.

Authenticity Rovaniemi is an urban outpost amidst wild nature, where age-old traditions meet modern life.

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