Top ways to see the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

Northern Lights flight

Take to the skies for some amazing Auroras! This is something out of the ordinary: Northern Lights hunting in an airplane.

The flight is carried out in a small passenger plane and takes about an hour. Not the cheapest option, but definitely something to write home about. See more here.

Aurora ice floating

Here’s another thing you don’t do every day: float in an icy lake looking up at the dancing Northern Lights.

You’ll be provided with a rescue suit that keeps you warm and comfortable. Crazy? Maybe. Fun? For sure! See more here.

Stay in a glass igloo

You’ve seen them in photos but have you ever stayed in one? Rovaniemi has many locations you can lie in wait for the Northern Lights in the comfort of your own room.

Arctic Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos are located by lake Lehtojärvi, half an hour from Rovaniemi city centre and Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle are in Santa Claus Village.
See the full list of glass igloos and glass houses on here.

Take a reindeer ride or husky tour

Many reindeer rides and husky tours are combined with Northern Lights watching, as top viewing spots are easily accessed with the help of furry arctic animals.

It is a truly unique experience to whisk through snowy forests on a sled pulled by reindeer or huskies, and on top of that be rewarded with a spectacular Aurora Borealis display.

Take a snowmobile tour

Some great Aurora viewing spots can be accessed on snowmobiles, and most tours take you from the city centre to the middle of the snowy woods where Aurora experiences are truly unique.

Driving a snowmobile is good fun, but it might be surpassed by an Aurora show!

Go snowshoeing

If you appreciate silence on your Northern Lights hunt, snowshoeing might be the thing for you. Entering the snowy landscapes on a simple pair of snowshoes that keep you from sinking in the snow can be a profound experience.

Completing that with a Northern Lights display might just rearrange your “Top 3 experiences of a lifetime” list.

Take a walk to viewing spots close to the city centre

In case you don’t feel like making much of an effort to see the Aurora Borealis, Rovaniemi offers great options for that, too: finding a good viewing spot within a 10-minute walk from the city centre is not hard.

The most popular spot is the Arctic Garden behind Arktikum, but more or less any spot along the river bank is good. If the Auroras are really strong, you can even see them in the city centre despite light pollution from street lights and neon signs.