AuroraCast / Best month / Ylläs

Best month to see the northern lights in Ylläs

Planning a trip to Ylläs, Finland for the aurora? Here's the month-by-month guide. The best months are September, October, February, March. Looking for tonight's odds instead? →

Month-by-month viewing quality

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
MonthViewingWhy
January Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
February Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
March Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
April Good Plenty of darkness; solid odds
May Marginal Short nights at the season edge
June No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
July No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
August Good Plenty of darkness; solid odds
September Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
October Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
November Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
December Peak Long dark nights + peak activity

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds in Ylläs: darkness and activity. You need real darkness — so the bright midnight-sun months are out no matter how strong the aurora is. On top of that, geomagnetic storms run statistically stronger around the spring and autumn equinoxes (the Russell–McPherron effect), which is why September and October and February and March tend to edge out the dead of winter. Ylläs's season runs late september to early april.

Ylläs is a fell resort in western Lapland beside Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, with the villages of Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi at its foot. It sits south of the oval's centre, so a moderately active night is what you want.

Where to stand in Ylläs

Ride or drive up the fell for altitude above any valley haze, or walk out onto the frozen lake at Äkäslompolo for a flat northern horizon.

Tours & stays to book

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Northern lights tours from Ylläs

Viator · guided tours · from $80

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Aurora chases & photo tours in Ylläs

GetYourGuide · guided tours · from $80

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Cabins, lodges & glass igloos near Ylläs

Booking.com · lodging

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Know when Ylläs is about to light up

Aurora odds swing night to night. Leave your email and we'll tell you when Ylläs hits its best window — time to book a tour for your dates.

This guide is built from each month’s dark-hours and the long-run seasonal pattern of aurora activity — it tells you when the odds are best, not what any single night will do. Aurora viewing is never guaranteed. Our method & sources.