When to go: from September to March.
Murmansk is one of the most convenient places to search for the Northern Lights. You can easily get here by any type of transport and find accommodation of the right level of comfort here. However, 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 Murmansk.
For example, get into a car or bus and go to the village of Teriberka, which is located 130 km from the regional center. The multicolored sky in this area is a regular phenomenon, and in clear weather it can be observed from anywhere in the village. But the sight becomes especially fascinating 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 go far.
Another picturesque place is Khibiny on the Kola Peninsula. Here you can stop at one of the ski resorts and admire the radiance from a height or meet it coming down the slope. But the distance from Murmansk is about 215 km. But from Kirovsk, where there is also an airport, it is only 28 km.
When to go: from the end of September to the end of March.
In urban areas, the northern lights most often look like a colored haze in the sky and may seem dim. The best point for observation is the embankment of the Northern Dvina.
If impressions and colors are not enough, go to the village of Malye Kareli, 25 km from Arkhangelsk. The most convenient way to get here is by car or by direct bus. The Northern Lights away from the hustle and bustle of the city will be especially bright. And if you stay overnight at a local tourist complex, you may be able to observe an amazing natural phenomenon right from the window of your room. By the way, in the village there is a museum‑reserve of wooden architecture "Small Korely", where you can have an interesting afternoon.
When to go: from August to April.
Salekhard is the only city in the world that is located right in the Arctic Circle. The Northern Lights in the vast permafrost amazes with its glow and variety of shades. In the capital of the district, you can meet a unique phenomenon in relative comfort: there are good hotels, shops, restaurants and other benefits of civilization.
To get the most out of your trip, follow the Northern Lights on excursions — for example, to a reindeer herders' camp in the tundra. You will be able to try on the image of a nomad, taste the unusual dishes of the peoples of the North and feel the atmosphere of a real plague — a traditional dwelling made of deer skins.
When to go: from the end of August to the beginning of April.
The easiest route in the pursuit of radiance is a trip to Syktyvkar, the capital of the region. You can catch the first glimpses of the heavenly disco at the end of summer, and with the onset of cold weather, there are more and more colors. But keep in mind that city lights can blur the picture.
If you want maximum saturation, go further. For example, one of the suitable places is located just 60 km from Syktyvkar. In the Finno‑Ugric Ethnopark, you can complement your impressions with a game of Sami football, make a fragrant herb doll at a master class, go skiing and refresh yourself with food 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 can be especially bright and colorful.
When to go: from the end of August to March.
The local winters here seem to be created in order to test the strength of curious tourists. If you are not afraid of the sight of a thermometer with a mark of minus 60 degrees, dress warmly and go to Yakutsk. From there, it will take about another 15 hours to get 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 more colorful the sky is.
But count on the rural flavor: there are no hotels here, so you need to arrange accommodation with the residents in advance.
When to go: from September to March.
Going to Chukotka, you can add two entries to the 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, you will most likely be taken from the airport to the city not by a taxi, but by a hovercraft crossing the estuary. There may not be places in the few hotels in Anadyr upon arrival, so take care of booking 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 exciting places, for example from the observation deck of 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, walk along the Whale Alley created from the bones and jaws of huge mammals — in general, there are enough impressions for a lifetime.
