Northern Lights Russia: Top Places To See Northern Lights

If your next destination is Russia to view the northern lights, then let’s plan your trip together. Russia is among the top 8 countries where you can witness these magical lights. Your trip to Russia in winter will be a challenging but unforgettable experience that help you see Russia from a different standpoint.

Travel to the Russian Arctic region to witness these northern lights. The main thing is to plan your trip so that you complete it without any hassle or huddle. The trip could cost a fraction, but no worries—plan your Northern Lights Russia trip with us to make it memorable. We will discuss the most haunting northern lights places in Russia and the best time to visit them. So, let’s start your journey with an introduction to Aurora Borealis. 

What Are Aurora Borealis? 

The northernmost version of Aurora Polaris is the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis. This natural phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from the solar region collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in the emission of magical lights known as Aurora Borealis. The amount of light depends on the number of particles and their energy. 

Polar Lights in the Northern Hemisphere are known as Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Whereas in southern latitude polar lights are known as Southern Lights or Aurora Australis.

Where to see the Northern Lights in Russia?

You must be wondering Where to see the Northern Lights in Russia, we have the top places in Russia You can visit:

Murmansk:

In the Kola Peninsula Murmansk is located in the far northwest of Russia, near Finland. We suggest you consider a small village called Teriberks 120 Km away from the city to witness these dancing lights. The average temperature during winter night goes 10-15 Celsius below zero. Make sure you have enough time to stay and track the lights. 

Arkhangelsk region:

Another large city in the Arctic Circle is Arkhangelsk. The city is famous for its unique wooden architecture and history. There is no way of predicting in advance as the northern lights here last for 10 minutes and go on for several days. So you should plan your trip wisely and look for darker and longer nights. 

Kirovsk:

Your next top destination for Northern Lights Russia is the Khibiny Mountains on the Kola Peninsula. Be aware that the climate is very challenging here. But if you hike up will be rewarded with thousands of seemingly dancing lights in the sky.

Naryan-Mar:

For your next great experience for the Northern Lights, Russia is polar Naryan-Mar. Capital of Nenets Autonomous District famous for reindeer farms, fishing, and oil. The best month to visit here is November to March. The colors of the phenomena in this region are exceptional, and the flicker adds to the magic. The flight time is 3 hours.

What is the Best Time For The Aurora?

The first and foremost step in this journey is to know the best time to visit Russia for northern lights. So let’s select your month with us, go through the following points to know the best month to plan your trip:

  • The northern lights season in Russia begins in late August and lasts up to early April. 
  • While planning your trip to Northern Lights Russia visit in September and October. 
  • Enjoy beautiful autumn colors as tundra and forest are packed with golds, reds, and Orange. 
  • As winter comes in November and lasts up to April, the polar lights also start viewing depending upon the latitude. 
  • The polar nights last up to 40 days, during this time sun does not rise above the horizon. 
  • February and March are good for haunting Northern Lights Russia. 

Pro Tips to Remember Before Your Trip

Below we have mentioned some pro tips to remember before planning your Northern Lights Russia Trip:

  • Book your tickets in advance if you are planning your trip to Russia.
  • For your successful trip check Northern Lights Russia Forecast. The better results, make sure you learn about ISO and shutter speed.
  • The weather in winter in Russia corresponds to all the stereotypes, so once in the Arctic Circles, you should prepare many layers of clothing. As hunting for northern lights takes some time, you wear wool socks, gloves, a scarf, or thermal clothing.
  • Make sure you are away from city lights or light pollution.
  • Also check the information on the solar flares, as solar activity forecasts.

FAQs

Can you see the Northern Lights in Russia?

The maximum area of Russia lies in the high-latitude region, which offers the good opportunity of viewing northern lights in multiple locations. Murmansk region, Yamal, Chukotka, Karelia, Komi Republic, etc. are the best places to see these lights.

Where can you see the Northern Lights in Russia?

Russia’s Best Locations for the Northern Lights

1- Murmansk, Kola Peninsula.
2- Arkhangelsk.
3- Naryan-Mar.
4- Novaya Zemlya.
5- Taimyr Peninsula.
6- Yamal.

What time of year can you see the Northern Lights in Russia?

You can plan your trip from mid-September to mid-April, as winter is the best month to witness these magical lights. 

What is Russia’s coldest month?

The coldest month in the Moscow region is January, the average temperature at this time of year is -7,5 °C. We usually have one to two weeks of really cold weather when it’s below – 20 °C, but the rest of the time is pretty mild. The first snow usually falls in October-November and it stays until April.