Olleronvaara hill
A quiet forested hill north-west of the centre, 10–15 minutes by car. Higher ground, an open northern horizon and very little light pollution – one of the best spots close to town.
Northern lights in Rovaniemi
The capital of Lapland sits right on the Arctic Circle – and the best seat in town is Olleronvaara, a quiet forested hill just north-west of the centre. High enough to escape the city glow, close enough to land at the airport and be under the sky within half an hour.
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Tonight in RovaniemiPossible chanceClouds … · dark 17:25–06:40 · #6 of 6 tonight
Arctic Circle · 66.50° N
Seeing the aurora in Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and the easiest place in Finland to start an aurora trip. The airport is only about 10 km from the centre, the overnight train arrives from Helsinki, and at 66.5° N the city sits right on the Arctic Circle.
Auroras are seen here regularly from late August to early April. The trick is to get away from the city lights: within 15 minutes you can be on a dark hill, a frozen lake or a riverbank looking north.
Getting there
Fly to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN), take the overnight train from Helsinki, or drive the E75. Most aurora tours in Lapland start from Rovaniemi.
Quick facts
- Latitude
- 66.50° N
- From Rovaniemi
- City centre
- Kp usually needed
- 1.9+
- Season
- Late Aug – early Apr
- Olleronvaara hill: open northern horizon, little light pollution
- Only 10–15 min from the centre and the airport
- Ounasvaara fell and Kemijoki riverbanks for dark views
- Direct flights, night train and the most aurora tours in Lapland
Where to stand
Best viewpoints in Rovaniemi
Ounasvaara fell
The fell on the east side of the river, with trails and ski slopes. Head to the darker northern side, away from the floodlit slopes.
Lake Norvajärvi
A large lake about 20 km north of the city. Once frozen it gives a wide, open sky with almost no artificial light.
Riverbanks outside the centre
The Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers give open views to the north. Walk or drive a few kilometres out of town for darker skies.
Live weather maps
Weather & clouds in Rovaniemi
Live weather map and the next 48 hours in Rovaniemi – darker bands show the hours dark enough for auroras.
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Map: Windy.com (ECMWF model) · Forecast: Open-Meteo · Updated every 5 minutes
Questions
Rovaniemi northern lights FAQ
Is Rovaniemi a good place to see the northern lights?
Yes. Rovaniemi is on the Arctic Circle and sees auroras regularly in season. It is also the easiest place in Lapland to reach, which makes it a great base – just get out of the city lights.
Where can I see the northern lights in Rovaniemi without a tour?
Olleronvaara hill, the northern side of Ounasvaara and the riverbanks outside the centre are all reachable by car or taxi in 10–20 minutes. Look north on a clear, dark night.
What is the best month for northern lights in Rovaniemi?
Any month from September to March can be good. September–October and February–March combine long nights with often milder weather; December–January have the longest nights.
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