1. Murmansk region
When to go: from September to March.
Murmansk is one of the most convenient places to find the northern lights. You can easily get here by any type of transport and find accommodation here with the desired level of comfort. True, the bright lights of the city and polluted air can prevent you from enjoying the views in all their glory. Therefore, it is better to go outside of Murmansk.
For example, get in a car or bus and go to the village of Teriberka, which is located 130 km from the regional center. The multi-colored sky is a regular occurrence in this area, and in clear weather it can be observed from anywhere in the village. But the spectacle becomes especially mesmerizing on the shores of the Barents Sea. By the way, the beaches are located within the borders of Teriberka, so you don’t have to travel far.
Another colorful place is Khibiny on the Kola Peninsula. Here you can stop at one of the ski resorts and admire the lights from above or meet them while going down the slope. But the distance from Murmansk is about 215 km. But from Kirovsk, where there is also an airport, it’s only 28 km.
2. Arkhangelsk, Arkhangelsk region
When to go: from the end of September to the end of March.
In urban areas, the northern lights most often appear as a colored haze in the sky and may appear dim. The best point for observation is the Northern Dvina embankment.
If impressions and colors are not enough, go to the village of Malye Karely, 25 km from Arkhangelsk. The most convenient way to get here is by car or direct bus. The Northern Lights will be especially bright away from the bustle of the city. And if you stay overnight at a local tourist complex, then you may be able to observe this amazing natural phenomenon right from the window of your room. By the way, in the village there is a museum-reserve of wooden architecture “Malye Korely“, where you can have an interesting time during the day.
3. Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
When to go: from August to April.
Salekhard is the only city in the world that is located directly in the Arctic Circle. The Northern Lights in the vast expanses of permafrost amazes with its glow and variety of shades. In the capital of the district you can encounter a unique phenomenon in relative comfort: there are good hotels, shops, restaurants and other amenities of civilization.
To get the most out of your trip, go see the Northern Lights on excursions – for example, in a reindeer herders’ camp in the tundra. You will be able to try on the image of a nomad, try unusual dishes of the peoples of the North and feel the atmosphere of a real tent – a traditional dwelling made of reindeer skins.
4. Komi Republic
When to go: from late August to early April.
The easiest route in pursuit of the radiance is a trip to Syktyvkar, the capital of the region. You can catch the first glimpses of a heavenly disco already at the end of summer, and with the onset of cold weather the colors become more and more numerous. But keep in mind that city lights may blur the picture.
If you want maximum saturation, go further. For example, one of the suitable places is located only 60 km from Syktyvkar. IN Finno-Ugric Ethnopark You can complement your experience by playing Sami football, making a fragrant herbalist doll at a master class, going on a ski trip and eating from the authentic menu of a local cafe.
Another option is to travel to the north of the republic, to Vorkuta. There are more chances to see the northern lights here. In addition, the glow here is especially bright and colorful.
5. Village Oymyakon, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
When to go: from late August to March.
Local winters here seem to be created in order to test the strength of curious tourists. If you are not scared by the sight of a thermometer with a mark of minus 60 degrees, dress warmly and go to Yakutsk. From there you will have to travel another 15 hours by car to Oymyakon. The long and harsh journey is justified by the fact that the northern lights in this area are considered one of the brightest, and the colder the weather, the greater the colors of the sky.
But count on rural flavor: there are no hotels here, so you need to arrange accommodations with residents in advance.
6. Anadyr, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
When to go: from September to March.
When going to Chukotka, you can add two entries to your list of achievements at once: a personal meeting with the northern lights and a visit to the most remote region of Russia. You will have to spend a little more than 8 hours in the sky on the way from Moscow to Anadyr. But this is just the beginning of the adventure. If you have planned a trip from October to January, most likely it will not be a taxi that will take you from the airport to the city, but a hovercraft crossing the estuary. There may not be room available in the few hotels in Anadyr upon arrival, so make sure to book a room in advance or rent a private apartment.
You can see the blazing sky in the capital of the region itself: directly on the streets or in more breathtaking places, for example, from the observation deck of the Camel Hill or on the shore of the estuary. And all the delights of Chukotka will be revealed on an excursion to the national park “Beringia” Here you can see fjords, picturesque lagoons and canyons, watch seals and rare birds, stroll along Whale Alley, created from the bones and jaws of huge mammals – in general, there will be enough impressions to last a lifetime.
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