Everything you need to know about seeing the aurora borealis in Finnish Lapland: the best times and locations around Pyhätunturi, camera settings, and how to combine your aurora hunt with Arctic experiences.
There are few natural phenomena that stop people mid-sentence and make them forget the cold. The northern lights are one of them. If seeing the aurora borealis is on your bucket list, Finnish Lapland and Pyhätunturi in particular is one of the best places on Earth to make it happen.
We've spent countless nights under the Arctic sky, guiding visitors through their first aurora experience. Here's everything we've learned about when to go, where to look, and how to make the most of it.
Why Pyhätunturi Is an Ideal Aurora Destination
Pyhätunturi sits well above the Arctic Circle at 67°N latitude, placing it directly beneath the auroral oval: the ring-shaped zone around the magnetic north pole where aurora activity is strongest. But latitude alone isn't what makes this place special.
Unlike larger Lapland resort towns, Pyhätunturi remains refreshingly small. There are no sprawling shopping centres throwing light into the sky. The village is surrounded by the ancient fells of Pyhä-Luosto National Park, one of the oldest protected wilderness areas in Finland. Step just a few hundred metres from the nearest building and you're enveloped in genuine Arctic darkness: the kind that lets even faint green arcs become vivid, dancing curtains of light.
The fell-top terrain also gives you something flat landscapes can't: elevation. Climbing even partway up Pyhätunturi provides an unobstructed 360-degree view of the horizon, which means you won't miss auroras that appear low in the sky.
When to See the Northern Lights
The aurora season in Lapland runs from September through March, with the best conditions typically occurring in two peak windows:
- September to October: The autumn equinox brings a spike in geomagnetic activity. Skies are often clear before the heavy snowfall begins, and the landscape is still dusted with the last golden colours of ruska (autumn foliage). Nights are dark enough by mid-September for strong displays.
- February to March: By late winter, the polar night has lifted and you get a beautiful combination: long, dark evenings for aurora viewing plus enough daylight hours to enjoy outdoor activities. Snow-covered fells reflect moonlight and create a magical setting even before the lights appear.
December and January offer the longest darkness (up to 20 hours), but cloud cover is more frequent and temperatures drop to -25°C or below. That said, some of our most breathtaking displays have been on crisp January nights when the sky cracks wide open.
Practical tip: Auroras are most active around magnetic midnight, which in Finland falls between 22:00 and 01:00. However, strong storms can produce visible lights as early as 18:00 and as late as 05:00. Keep an eye on the Finnish Meteorological Institute's aurora forecast or apps like "My Aurora Forecast" for real-time alerts.
What to Expect During an Aurora Display
First-time viewers are sometimes surprised that the northern lights don't always look like the explosive, saturated photos on Instagram. A mild display may appear as a pale greenish-white arc stretching across the northern sky: beautiful, but subtle. Your eyes might even wonder, "Is that a cloud?"
When geomagnetic activity intensifies (Kp index 4 and above), the show transforms. Curtains of green, violet, and pink ripple across the entire sky. Pillars of light shoot upward. The corona effect, where rays seem to converge directly above you, can make you feel like you're standing inside a cosmic cathedral. These strong displays happen multiple times each season, and on the best nights, even seasoned guides stop what they're doing to stare.
How to Photograph the Northern Lights
You don't need professional gear to capture the aurora, but a few settings make all the difference:
- Camera: Any camera with manual mode works. A mirrorless or DSLR is ideal, but modern smartphones (iPhone 15 Pro and later, Samsung Galaxy S24 and up) now have dedicated night modes that produce surprisingly good results.
- Tripod: Non-negotiable. You're shooting long exposures, and even steady hands won't cut it at -15°C.
- Settings for DSLR/mirrorless: Start with ISO 1600, aperture f/2.8 (or as wide as your lens allows), and a shutter speed of 8 to 15 seconds. If the aurora is moving quickly, shorten the exposure to 4 to 6 seconds to preserve the structure of the curtains.
- Focus: Switch to manual focus and set it to infinity. Take a test shot of a bright star to confirm sharpness.
- Batteries: Cold drains batteries fast. Carry at least two spares and keep them in an inside pocket close to your body.
Composition tip: Include foreground elements like snow-laden birch trees, a frozen lake, or the silhouette of Pyhätunturi fell to give your photos scale and a sense of place.
What to Wear for Aurora Hunting
You'll be standing still in sub-zero temperatures, which feels far colder than walking or skiing in the same conditions. Dress in three layers:
- Base layer: Merino wool against the skin. It wicks moisture and insulates even when damp.
- Mid layer: Fleece or down jacket for warmth.
- Outer layer: A windproof, insulated Arctic jacket and snow pants. We're talking -10°C to -30°C, so this isn't the time for fashion over function.
Pay special attention to extremities: thick wool socks inside insulated winter boots, a balaclava or buff for your face, and layered gloves. A thin liner glove under a heavy mitten lets you operate camera buttons without exposing bare skin to the frost.
Combine Aurora Viewing with Arctic Experiences
Staring at the sky is unforgettable, but imagine watching the northern lights while floating in a warm, insulated survival suit on a frozen lake. That's exactly what our Aurora Floating experience offers. You're gently cradled by the water in complete silence, face turned to the sky, as colours ripple overhead. It's one of the most surreal and peaceful ways to witness the aurora, and it regularly ranks as the single most memorable moment of our guests' Lapland trips.
If you're spending a few days in Pyhätunturi during aurora season, consider combining your evenings of aurora hunting with daytime adventures like Arctic winter fishing on a frozen lake or learning bushcraft skills in the snowy forest. The contrast between active, hands-on days and meditative, sky-watching nights is what makes a Lapland winter trip feel complete.
Final Thoughts
The northern lights don't perform on command. Some nights you'll wait for hours and see nothing but stars (which, for the record, are spectacular in Lapland too). Other nights, the sky will ignite before you've even finished lacing your boots. That unpredictability is part of the magic, and it's why so many visitors come back for another try.
What we can promise is this: Pyhätunturi gives you the best possible odds. Dark skies, high latitude, pristine wilderness, and a community of guides who know exactly where to take you. The aurora will do the rest.