Hello, Mu husband and I are traveling to Helsinki in the first week of august for a couple of days from Stockholm. I am very interested in seeing the northern lights, so would I get to see them if I travel to Rovaniemi instead. Otherwise too, is it good to visit Rovaniemi for a day in summer or can be skipped altogether? Thanks!
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6968 posts
If you want to see the northern lights, Abisko would be a better choice than Rovaniemi. But the beginning of August is too early, the chance of actually seeing them is small.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
August is too early for Northern lights.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
thanks guys.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
Hello folks,
I need some recommendations for where to stay in Helsinki for 2 and a half days. Would prefer the central area but open to recommendations otherwise as well.
Thanks
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5845 posts
With regard to where to stay, many of the business class hotels have discounted rates in the summer.
In 2014, we stayed at the Glo Hotel Kluuvi which is just off the Esplanade. It was quite nice.
Posted by
South Dakota, USA
308 posts
We had a great stay at the Hilton Helsinki Strand. It has an amazing buffet breakfast.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
We will be renting a car from flam, and wanted to know where we can stay in the songefjord area for a couple of nights. We are thinking of Balesdrandt, is that a good option?
Posted by
Finland
4 posts
Wrong forum for Songefjord! That's in Norway.
Posted by
Finland
4 posts
I have seen the northern lights in early August, but this was near Vaasa and against a poorly darkened sky. Apparently the lights are actually always most active on the side of the globe that is experiencing sunshine :-) So they are there even in the white nights of Hammerfest, but being able to see them is the problem.
But returning to the question, basically any place where you can see the NL on a regular basis will have quite to fairly well-lit skies in the 1st week of August. Even if the sun is officially set for several hours, the sun is just barely below the horizon and if the sky is clear it doesn't get properly dark. If the sky isn't clear, that's already the end of any hopes for seeing the NL.
Posted by
Finland
4 posts
Lapland is beautiful in summertime and an amazing landscape in any season. I would go to Kilpisjärvi, Saariselka or Kemijärvi (the latter is reachable by train). BUT where there is no wind, there will be an impressive number of mosquitoes.
For accommodations, try Booking.com and leave the options entirely open. If will then search everything from hotels to short-term rental apartments, B&Bs and campsite cabins