Experience the best Northern Lights tours in Sweden

Northern Lights Sweden is a weather-dependent winter experience centered on Kiruna, where guided tours either chase clearer skies by road or offer fixed viewing from dedicated locations. Choose from aurora chases, photography-led tours, or Arctic activities that combine Northern Lights viewing with an active adventure.

Overview

• On-site duration: Most aurora chases run around 4–6 hours; activity-led options can vary.
• Best season: October to March, with the widest winter product choice from December to March.
• Starting points: Kiruna hotel/designated pickups.
• Key experiences: Aurora chases, photography, Sky Station visits, snowshoeing and other Arctic activities.
• What affects sightings: Cloud cover, darkness, weather, route conditions and guide decisions.
• Good to know: Northern Lights sightings are a natural phenomenon and cannot generally be guaranteed.

Things to know before booking your Northern Lights Sweden tour

• Choose your tour style: Kiruna-based Northern Lights chases that take you beyond the city lights. Choose the standard Kiruna guided tour for a straightforward small-group chase, or the photographer-led expedition for a longer experience with professional photography.
• Duration varies by experience: The standard Kiruna guided tour lasts 4 hours, while the photographer-led expedition typically runs 6–10 hours, with unlimited mileage and time.
• Your starting point matters: Both Kiruna experiences include pickup and drop-off from your accommodation. Check your booking for the exact pickup arrangements.
• Northern Lights sightings aren't guaranteed on every tour: The aurora is a natural phenomenon and can't generally be guaranteed. Some experiences are specifically marketed as a guaranteed Northern Lights expedition and cites a 99% sighting success rate, so check the individual experience details to understand what applies to your booking.
• Routes can change during the night: Kiruna Northern Lights chase tours follow changing weather and cloud conditions, so the route and viewing location may change. You may spend several hours on the road rather than staying close to Kiruna.
• Dress for Arctic conditions: Warm clothing is essential, even when your tour provides extra gear. The standard Kiruna tour does not include winter clothing, while the photographer-led expedition provides thermal overalls. Bring warm layers, gloves, a hat, and suitable winter footwear.
• Age suitability: The standard Kiruna Northern Lights guided tour does not allow children under 6. The supplied information does not specify an age restriction for the photographer-led expedition, so check the individual experience before booking.
• Physical requirements: The standard Kiruna tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Both experiences involve spending time outdoors in Arctic conditions, so guests should be comfortable with cold temperatures and extended periods of outdoor waiting.
• For families: If travelling with children, check the minimum age and suitability requirements of your selected experience before booking. Age and participation rules can vary by tour.

Tips to get the best Northern Lights photos

Whether you're using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or smartphone, a little preparation can make it easier to capture the aurora in the dark.

• Use manual settings: For a DSLR or mirrorless camera, start with manual mode, a wide aperture such as f/2.8, ISO around 1600, and a shutter speed of around 10–15 seconds. Adjust the shutter speed down when the aurora is moving quickly, or increase exposure when the display is faint.
• Focus manually: Autofocus can struggle in very dark conditions. Focus manually on a bright star or distant light, then keep the focus fixed.
• Keep your camera steady: Use a tripod and a 2-second self-timer or remote shutter release to reduce camera shake during long exposures.
• Use a wide-angle lens: A wide lens lets you capture more of the sky while including Arctic landscapes such as mountains, trees, or reflections for context.
• Shoot in RAW: If your camera supports RAW, use it to retain more image information for editing later.
• Keep spare batteries warm: Cold temperatures can reduce battery life, so carry a spare battery and keep it in an inside pocket until needed.
• Give your phone a chance: Modern smartphones can capture the aurora using their night or low-light modes. Keep the phone completely still, ideally on a tripod or stable surface, and let the night mode exposure run.
• Don't rely on one fixed setting: Aurora brightness and movement can change quickly. Take a test shot and adjust your shutter speed, ISO, or aperture as conditions change.