Northern Lights Tours in Europe

What our customers ask about Northern Lights Tours in Europe

• When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Europe?

  The Northern Lights viewing season stretches from September to March in Europe with peak visibility during the darkest winter months. Data shows September leads with an 88% success rate followed by October at 74% and November through February ranging from 60-62%. Places like Finland's Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offer guests unobstructed views from glass igloos while Iceland's Hotel Stracta in Hella provides excellent viewing spots from their spacious grounds away from light pollution.

• What are the best European destinations for viewing the Northern Lights?

  Key viewing locations include Iceland's South Coast Finnish Lapland Northern Norway and Swedish Lapland. Each area offers something different - visitors can watch the lights dance above Vatnajökull National Park's glaciers in Iceland or from specialized glass igloos in Finland's Ivalo. Norway's cities of Tromsø and Alta serve as popular bases with properties like the Scandic Alta positioned near the Northern Lights Cathedral. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The locations in Northern Norway were perfectly chosen for aurora viewing especially around Alta where we had three spectacular shows."

• What type of accommodation is available on Northern Lights tours?

  Lodging options span from glass igloos in Finnish Lapland to modern hotels and local guesthouses. You'll find places like the Aurora Village in Ivalo with its glass-roofed cabins the GLO Hotel Art in Helsinki and countryside properties such as Hotel Borgarnes in Iceland. Properties are selected based on their location for aurora viewing. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The glass igloo experience at Aurora Village was incredible - we could watch the Northern Lights right from our bed!"

• What activities are typically included in Northern Lights tours besides aurora viewing?

  Tours pack the daylight hours with local experiences. Iceland's programs take visitors to the Golden Circle Blue Lagoon and waterfalls like Gullfoss and Skógafoss. Finnish tours include dog sledding reindeer farm visits and snowmobile rides. Norway's itineraries feature stops at fishing villages like Sommarøy and Tromsø's Polar Museum. As confirmed by a TourRadar traveler: "The husky sled ride was a thrill and I loved those dogs! The landscapes were just stunning and we never felt waterfalled out."

• What cultural experiences are included in Northern Lights tours?

  Tours emphasize connections with local Sami communities. Programs such as Wild Sweden's tour in Jokkmokk let visitors experience reindeer farms share meals in traditional lavvu tents and learn about Sami culture. A TourRadar traveler remarked: "Meeting Anna's Sami family outside Jokkmokk was a highlight. We shared traditional meals in their lavvu learned about reindeer herding and gained genuine insight into their Arctic lifestyle while waiting for the aurora to appear."

• How many nights should I plan for a Northern Lights tour?

  Successful tours typically run 5-8 days giving multiple chances to spot the lights. Iceland's Northern Lights Exploration spans 8 days while Finland's Aurora Borealis & Glass Igloo experience takes 5 days. Weather patterns change daily so longer stays increase viewing opportunities. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights 3 out of 4 nights during our tour in Tromsø."