Murmansk is above the Arctic Circle. Most people come for the northern lights.
Shall I tell you the best way to see them?
— Sasha
Murmansk
The Arctic, and the northern lights
The largest city above the Arctic Circle, with the aurora overhead from September to March.
Sasha's picks
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The northern lightsFrom September to March, on clear dark nights away from the city lights.Two or three hours
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TeriberkaA fishing village on the Barents Sea, at the edge of the Arctic Ocean.A full day
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Huskies and reindeerSled rides and Sami culture outside the city.Half a day
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The icebreaker LeninThe world’s first nuclear-powered surface ship, now a museum.Two or three hours
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The Alyosha monumentA giant soldier above the bay, with a view over the port.Two or three hours
When to go
September to March for the northern lights. Late May to July for the midnight sun.
| Season | Months | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Dec–Feb | The polar night in December, auroras on clear nights. |
| Spring | Mar–May | Snow and light return; the aurora season ends in March. |
| Summer | Jun–Aug | The midnight sun, until late July. |
| Autumn | Sep–Nov | The aurora season starts and the tundra turns red. |
A 2-day plan
Two or three nights gives you the best chance of clear skies.
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1
The city and the first night out The Alyosha monument · The icebreaker Lenin · The northern lights
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2
The Barents Sea Teriberka · Huskies and reindeer
Getting there
About two and a half hours by plane from Moscow.
ROTW prices every trip for your dates, hotel level and group size. Pin what you like, send it to me, and I'll come back with a real quote.
— Sasha
Questions people ask
Are the northern lights guaranteed?
No one can promise them. Clear skies and solar activity decide, so two or three nights gives you better odds.
How cold is it?
Often minus 10 to minus 20 °C in winter, and colder by the sea in the wind. ROTW can arrange warm gear.
What is the polar night?
In December and early January the sun doesn’t rise, though there are a few hours of blue twilight.
