Lapland, Tromsø, Abisko and Iceland: where your chances are best
Home › Winter › Northern lights
Introduction
A green ribbon dancing over a snowy forest: seeing the northern lights is at the top of many families’ lists. We’ve done the research for you: where your chances are best, how far the drive from Utrecht is and what to sort out beforehand.
First things first: there are no guarantees. The northern lights are nature. A clear, dark night matters at least as much as the place, and the more nights you stay, the better your chances.
Researched by Arjan from Zuidlaren, so you don’t have to · Sources: FMI, Visit Tromsø · updated 24 October 2026 · About this page
Handy: all winter ideas on Winter in Scandinavia.
📌 Overview
Your best chances are north of the Arctic Circle from September to the end of March, on a clear, dark night. In Finnish Lapland, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, you’ll see them on about half of the dark, clear nights. (FMI)
| Best months | Tromsø: late August – early April (Visit Tromsø); Iceland: September–April (Visit Iceland); northern Finland: March and early April are especially good (FMI) |
|---|---|
| Darkness | Polar night in Tromsø from late November to late January; the northern lights there are often most active between ± 20 and 2 o’clock. In Finland mostly around midnight. |
| Temperature | No fixed figure: check the forecast from FMI (Finland) or Veðurstofa Íslands (Iceland) shortly before you leave. |
| Distance from Utrecht (NL) | ± 2,691 km to Rovaniemi (± 31.4 hrs), ± 3,110 km to Tromsø (± 37.8 hrs), ± 2,874 km to Abisko (± 33.7 hrs); one way without breaks (OSRM) |
Practical
The FMI puts it briefly: dress very warmly. You’ll often stand still in the cold for a long time. Layers of wool or fleece under a windproof jacket, a hat, mittens and thick socks; bring an extra layer for the kids and a thermos flask. At the Aurora Sky Station, warm clothing and boots are included with the night visit.
Source: FMI · Aurora Sky Station
The FMI has a real-time service for the northern lights; when the level shows red, it’s time to go outside. Find a dark spot with a clear view to the north. For Iceland, Veðurstofa Íslands shows a cloud map (green is cloudy, white is clear) and the activity on a scale of 0 to 9.
Source: FMI · Veðurstofa Íslands
Visit Iceland recommends: ISO 800–3200, aperture f/2.8–f/5.6, exposure 15–30 seconds, focus manually on infinity and remove filters. A tripod or a steady surface is essential.
Source: Visit Iceland
If you drive yourself, tyre rules apply in winter; they’re listed per country further down. Only stop to watch in a car park, never at the roadside, and expect moose and reindeer.
On the road
| Destination | Distance and driving time | Route | Fuel + bridges, return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rovaniemi | ± 2,691 km · ± 31.4 hrs | Danish bridges, Swedish east coast, Haparanda/Tornio | ± € 829 |
| Saariselkä | ± 2,948 km · ± 34.8 hrs | via Rovaniemi further north | – |
| Tromsø | ± 3,110 km · ± 37.8 hrs | Danish bridges, north through Sweden | ± € 959 |
| Abisko | ± 2,874 km · ± 33.7 hrs | through Sweden via Kiruna | – |
| Kiruna | ± 2,781 km · ± 32.4 hrs | through Sweden | – |
| Iceland | ± 949 km to Hirtshals (± 9.9 hrs), then the ferry | Smyril Line via Tórshavn to Seyðisfjörður | Ferry: see Smyril Line |
Distance and driving time: OSRM (OpenStreetMap), starting from Utrecht centre, one way without breaks or traffic jams. Cost: 2× the route, 6.5 l/100 km Super 95 petrol, prices from the EU Weekly Oil Bulletin (19 Oct 2026), plus Storebælt and Øresund. Not included: AutoPASS tolls in Norway and congestion charges in Swedish cities. More in our tolls guide.
Comparison
Four places families often head for. We only mention what we could check at a source; a price level is only given where Eurostat measures it.
| Area | Getting there from Utrecht | Chance of northern lights | With kids | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finnish Lapland | ± 2,691 km to Rovaniemi, ± 2,948 km to Saariselkä | On about half of the dark, clear nights; in Kilpisjärvi on 3 out of 4 (FMI) | Ranua Wildlife Park (child 4–14 € 20 online, source) and Arktikum in Rovaniemi (child 7–17 € 10, source) | Restaurants & accommodation +2% vs. NL (Eurostat 2025) |
| Tromsø | ± 3,110 km, via Sweden | Late August to early April; no guarantee, more nights mean better chances (Visit Tromsø) | Dog sledding at Tromsø Villmarkssenter: child NOK 1,695 (source) | Restaurants & accommodation +17% vs. NL (Eurostat 2025) |
| Abisko / Kiruna | ± 2,874 km to Abisko, ± 2,781 km to Kiruna | Aurora Sky Station: night visit 19 October 2026 – 27 March 2027, no guarantee (source) | Aurora Sky Station: chairlift, guide and warm clothing included | Restaurants & accommodation +3% vs. NL (Eurostat 2025) |
| Iceland | ± 949 km to Hirtshals, then Smyril Line | September to April (Visit Iceland) | – | – (no Eurostat figure for Iceland in this table) |
Days out
Location: Rovaniemi Type: Tour · evening
A guide drives you away from the city lights to a dark spot. Whether warm overalls and a campfire are included varies by provider: it’s in the description.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: Rovaniemi Type: Dog sledding · winter
A ride behind a team of huskies is often the highlight of the trip for kids. On this tour, according to the provider, you do two short rides of 500 metres: one behind huskies and one in a reindeer sleigh. Check the minimum age for the tour.
Place: Rovaniemi Type: Tour · daytime
You travel from the town to a reindeer farm near Rovaniemi and take a ride in a reindeer sleigh there. Along the way you hear how reindeer live in Lapland.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkPlace: Rovaniemi Type: Tour · daytime
On a snowmobile you ride through the snowy forests around Rovaniemi. According to the provider, you get a briefing and winter clothing beforehand: overall, boots, gloves and helmet. Whoever drives needs a driving licence.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: Ranua Type: Wildlife park
Arctic animals such as polar bears, wolverines and lynx, about an hour’s drive south of Rovaniemi. The park is open daily. Tiqets offers a combination with a guided tour and transfer.
Location: Rovaniemi Type: Museum · science centre
Museum and science centre about life in the far north, with a free audio guide in over 30 languages. Allow 1 to 2 hours. A nice indoor activity for a cold afternoon.
Saariselkä is on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park. According to the FMI, you’ll see the northern lights here on about half of the dark, clear nights.
Location: Saariselkä Type: Tour · evening
With a guide you look for dark spots outside Saariselkä in the evening. According to the provider, photography is included: the guide photographs the northern lights for you.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkPlace: Saariselkä Type: Tour · daytime
A snowmobile tour through the forests and across the open fell landscape around Saariselkä, far from the bustle of Rovaniemi.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkPlace: Saariselkä Type: Tour · daytime
You ride about 10 kilometres with a dog team and then visit the kennel. There you get to know the dogs up close.
Location: Tromsø Type: Tour · evening
An evening in a small group of no more than 15 people, with a campfire, hot stew and warm drinks. According to the provider, a thermal suit and boots are included. The tour takes about 8 hours, so expect a long evening.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: Tromsø Type: Dog sledding · winter
Half a day with huskies through the winter landscape around Tromsø. On the tour via GetYourGuide you sit in the sled as a passenger while an experienced musher steers; afterwards there’s a traditional Norwegian stew. The tour via Viator is a different one: there you drive a team yourself.
For comparison: at Tromsø Villmarkssenter, a dog-sled ride costs NOK 3,390 per adult and NOK 1,695 per child (source).
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkPlace: Tromsø Type: Tour · daytime
At a Sámi camp outside Tromsø you feed reindeer and take a short sleigh ride. There’s a meal by the fire, and your hosts tell you about Sámi life.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkYou fly via Bodø to Svolvær or to Harstad/Narvik Evenes, 170 km from Svolvær (Visit Lofoten).
Location: Svolvær Type: Tour · evening
In a small group you travel by minibus across Lofoten to the places with the best chance of clear skies. The mountains and sea make the photos especially beautiful.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkAlta lies sheltered at the end of a fjord and so gets less precipitation than Tromsø on the coast (Visit Alta).
Location: Alta Type: Tour · evening
With a small group you look for a dark spot to wait for the lights. According to the provider, how far you drive decides whether there’s a campfire or hot chocolate with a snack.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkPlace: Alta (Gargia) Type: Tour · daytime
A four-hour tour where you drive a dog team yourself, through the forests of the Gargia valley near Alta. According to the provider, there’s a warm meal and coffee along the way.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: Abisko Type: Viewpoint · evening
By chairlift to a station on Mount Nuolja, far away from the lights. Night visits from 19 October 2026 to 27
March 2027, from 20:30 until 1 o’clock at the latest, with a guide, warm clothing and boots. There are 40 places per evening, and the northern lights are not guaranteed.
Location: Abisko Type: Tour · evening
An evening walk with huskies through the Abisko valley, with a warm drink by the fire in a lávvu (Sámi tent). Via Viator you can also take a minibus from Kiruna to Abisko National Park. Compare duration, group size and minimum age.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: Kiruna Type: Dog sledding · winter
A morning tour around Kiruna where you drive a dog team yourself. Check the minimum age for the tour and whether children can ride along in the sled.
Location: Kiruna Type: Tour · evening
In the evening you drive a snowmobile yourself into the wilderness around Kiruna, away from the town lights. An active way to look for the northern lights.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: Reykjavík Type: Tour · evening
By bus out of the city to a place without lights, with hot chocolate. If you don’t see anything, according to the provider you can go again for free. Not suitable for children under 6 years.
Also via Viator
Advertisement · affiliate linkLocation: all of Iceland Type: Forecast · free
The Icelandic Met Office’s cloud map shows where it’s clear; on top of that comes the expected activity on a scale of 0 to 9.
If you book through this link, we receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Our tips remain independent.
Where to stay
Season
If you drive your own car, the country you’re driving in decides which tyres you need. This is what the official bodies say:
| Country | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 1 December – 31 March Compulsory in winter road conditions (snow, ice, slush or frost; the police decide), also for foreign cars. Winter tyres (3PMSF/Alpine symbol) or studded tyres, at least 3 mm tread. Studs are allowed from 1 October to 15 April, otherwise only in winter conditions. | Transportstyrelsen |
| Norway | At least 3 mm tread from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday; in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark from 16 October to 30 April. Studded tyres only in these periods (outside them, if the weather requires it), and then on all wheels. Winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory as soon as they’re needed for grip. | Statens vegvesen |
| Finland | Winter tyres are compulsory from 1 November to 31 March if the weather or road requires it. Studs are allowed in the same period (and otherwise when conditions require it), and then on all tyres. Tread at least 3 mm (winter) and 1.6 mm (summer). | Traficom |
| Iceland | Winter tyres on cars need at least 3 mm tread. Studded tyres are allowed from 1 November to 15 April; the City of Reykjavík advises against them in the city. | Reykjavíkurborg |
Practical
| What | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel + bridges, return to Rovaniemi | ± € 829 | our own calculation (OSRM, EU Weekly Oil Bulletin) |
| Fuel + bridges, return to Tromsø | ± € 959 (excluding AutoPASS tolls) | our own calculation (OSRM, SSB, Norges Bank) |
| Ranua Wildlife Park | € 24.50 adults, € 20 child, € 74 family (web shop) | ranuaresort.com |
| Arktikum | € 22 adults, € 10 child, € 54 family | arktikum.fi |
| Dog-sled ride Tromsø Villmarkssenter | NOK 3,390 adults, NOK 1,695 child | villmarkssenter.no |
| Aurora Sky Station | Price: see official website | auroraskystation.se |
FAQ
From September to the end of March, on clear, dark nights. In Tromsø they’re visible from late August to early April and often most active between ± 20 and 2 o’clock (Visit Tromsø).
No. It’s still nature. More nights on site mean better chances; even the Aurora Sky Station gives no guarantee.
According to the FMI, you’ll see them in Lapland on about half of the dark, clear nights, in Kilpisjärvi on 3 out of 4. On the south coast on average once a month.
± 2,691 km to Rovaniemi (± 31.4 hrs without breaks) and ± 3,110 km to Tromsø (± 37.8 hrs), according to OSRM.
From 1 December to 31 March, winter tyres are compulsory in winter conditions, also for foreign cars, with at least 3 mm tread (Transportstyrelsen).
In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, at least 3 mm tread applies from 16 October to 30 April; in the rest of the country from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday (Statens vegvesen).
Layers of wool or fleece, a windproof jacket, a hat, mittens and thick socks. Bring an extra layer and something warm to drink: you’ll often stand still for a long time.
Visit Iceland recommends ISO 800–3200, f/2.8–f/5.6, 15–30 seconds, focusing manually on infinity and a tripod.
In the web shop € 24.50 per adult, € 20 per child (4–14) or € 74 for a family; a bit more at the gate. Children under 4 free (Ranua Resort).
References
Every figure and every rule on this page has a source. Here they all are at a glance, checked on 23 October 2026.