Northern Lights Tour: Russia or Finland? Visa, Chances and Program Comparison

Written by: Süleyman Öz, co-founder and operations manager at Holitera Turizm

When most people think of seeing the northern lights, Finland's Lapland, Norway's Tromsø or Iceland come to mind first. But for Turkish citizens, the hardest part is not seeing the lights, it is getting a Schengen visa. In this article I compare Russia (Murmansk) and Finnish Lapland in terms of visa, chances, program and cost.

1. Visa: e-visa or Schengen?

Russia: With a burgundy passport, an online e-visa is enough. The application is made over the internet; there is no consulate appointment, no fingerprinting, no bank statements and no stress of refusal. Green and grey passport holders enter without a visa.

Finland / Norway / Sweden Lapland: A Schengen visa is mandatory. Finding an appointment can take weeks, the document list is long and there is a chance of refusal. If refused, the flight and hotel costs you have already paid are also at risk.

2. Chances of seeing the northern lights

Both regions are inside the aurora belt, so on the right night lights can be seen in both. Murmansk is at roughly latitude 69, north of the Arctic Circle; Rovaniemi is just above the Arctic Circle line (roughly latitude 66.5). Being further north means the lights are seen more often and higher in the sky. What matters most, however, is the weather: that is why the number of aurora hunting nights in a program is the most important question.

In Murmansk we stay 3 nights and go on 3 separate aurora hunts. Last season our program in Murmansk had 2 nights and only a visit to a Sami village. With that program we took 3 groups: 2 of our groups coincided with the strongest northern lights of the year, while 1 group had cloudy skies for 2 nights. After this experience, in the 2027 program we extended Murmansk to 3 nights and added Teriberka on the Barents Sea coast as a full day. Nobody can guarantee anything, but 3 nights significantly increase the chances.

3. Program: only northern lights, or the best of Russia?

Lapland programs generally take place in a single town. The Russia route, however, combines three different experiences in one holiday:

• Moscow: Red Square, the Kremlin and cathedrals, metro stations
• Murmansk: 3 nights of aurora hunting, a Sami village, reindeer, husky sledding, snowmobiles, Teriberka on the Barents Sea coast
• St. Petersburg: The Hermitage Museum, Catherine Palace and the Amber Room, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

4. Cost and the "extras" trap

It is very common for northern lights tours to show a low price and then sell aurora hunts, husky sledding, snowmobiles and museum entries as "extras" on the spot. In our program, THY flights, two domestic flights, 4-star hotels, 3 nights of aurora hunting and all activities plus museum entries are included in the price. The only optional activity is ice floating, for those who wish to take part; it is done in special clothing in the icy waters of the Kola Bay, and since it is not an experience everyone would choose, it is kept separate.

Comparison table

Which one should you choose?

If you have a Schengen visa and want a calm winter holiday in a single region, Lapland is a good option. If you want to see the northern lights without dealing with a visa and also explore Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Russia route is far more advantageous.

Our 2027 dates

• 23–30 January 2027
• 31 January – 7 February 2027
• 7–14 March 2027 (Ramadan Bayram period)

Our tours depart from Istanbul; guests living abroad come to Istanbul and join the group there.

👉 Program, price and installment options: Russia Northern Lights Tour (Moscow – Murmansk – St. Petersburg)

Frequently asked questions

Which country for the northern lights requires no visa?

For burgundy passport holders the easiest option is Russia: an online e-visa is enough. Green passport holders enter Russia visa-free.

How long does a Russian e-visa take?

Applications are made online and are usually completed within a few days. We support our guests throughout the application process.

In which month are the northern lights best seen?

In Murmansk the season runs from late September to late March; since the nights are longest and darkest, December–February is the most productive period.

Related articles: Can the Northern Lights Be Seen in Moscow and St. Petersburg? · Murmansk Northern Lights Guide · All Russia and Northern Lights Tours