Can You See the Northern Lights in Moscow and St. Petersburg? Where to Go in Russia?

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

“Can you see the northern lights in Moscow?” and “Can you see the northern lights from St. Petersburg?” are the two questions we get most often. The short answer: almost never. To really see the northern lights you need to go to the north of Russia, to Murmansk, which lies above the Arctic Circle. In this article I explain why, where and how to go, based on our experience in the field.

Can you see the northern lights in Moscow?

Moscow is at roughly the 55th parallel. The “aurora belt” where northern lights are regularly seen lies between the 65th and 72nd parallels. In Moscow the lights can only be seen as a faint reddish glow on the horizon during very strong geomagnetic storms, which occur only every few years. Taking city lights into account too, it is not wise to plan your trip around seeing northern lights in Moscow.

Can you see the northern lights in St. Petersburg?

St. Petersburg is at the 60th parallel, a little luckier than Moscow, but the situation is the same: the lights can only be seen weakly, on exceptional storm nights and outside the city. In winter, St. Petersburg's real beauty is the Hermitage, Catherine Palace and its snowy canals; it is not a city for the northern lights.

Where in Russia can you see the northern lights?

For those travelling from Turkey, the best destination is Murmansk. The city lies at about the 69th parallel, north of the Arctic Circle and right inside the aurora belt. That is why, when you go out to a dark spot in the open air, the chance of seeing the lights is incomparably higher than in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Teriberka, on the Barents Sea coast about 2.5 hours by road from Murmansk, is also the region's favourite spot both for daytime scenery and night-time viewing.

How do you get to the northern lights from Moscow?

The domestic flight from Moscow to Murmansk takes about 2.5 hours. On our tours the route is as follows: we fly from Istanbul to Moscow with Turkish Airlines, visit Red Square and the Kremlin, then take a domestic flight to Murmansk. In Murmansk we stay for 3 nights and go aurora hunting every night, then fly on to St. Petersburg by domestic flight again. The return is from St. Petersburg with Turkish Airlines. Both domestic flights are included in the package.

Why do we stay 3 nights in Murmansk?

The greatest enemy of the northern lights is cloud cover. On a one-night programme, if the sky is overcast your chances are over. That is why we stay 3 nights in Murmansk and go on 3 separate night hunts; each evening our local aurora guide checks the cloud map and the KP index and picks the clearest spot. Last season our programme had 2 nights in Murmansk and only a visit to a Sami village in the region. With that programme we took 3 groups: 2 of our groups coincided with the strongest northern lights of the year, while 1 group had cloud cover for 2 nights in a row. After that experience we extended Murmansk to 3 nights in the 2027 programme and added Teriberka on the Barents Sea coast as a full day. Be cautious with anyone who guarantees sightings; we don't offer guarantees, we offer the programme that maximises your chances.

Do you need a visa for Russia?

Holders of burgundy passports travel to Russia with an online e-visa; there is no consulate appointment or fingerprinting. Holders of green (private) and grey (service) passports enter without a visa. For Finnish, Norwegian or Swedish Lapland, however, a Schengen visa is required. That is why Russia is the easiest way to see the northern lights without the hassle of a Schengen visa. Detailed comparison: Northern Lights Tour: Russia or Finland?

Our 2027 tour dates

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

On all dates, Turkish Airlines flights, two domestic flights, 4-star hotels, 3 nights of aurora hunting, the Sami village (reindeer, husky sledding, snowmobiles), Teriberka, the Kremlin, Hermitage and Catherine Palace entrance fees are included in the price. There are no extra tours to pay for locally; the only optional activity is ice floating, which those who wish can join.

👉 Programme, price and instalment options: Russia Boutique Northern Lights Tour (Moscow – Murmansk – St. Petersburg)

What our guests say

“The Russia tour I joined in February to see the northern lights was wonderful. […] Thank God, we saw the lights at their most intense.”
– Şaban T., Google review

“For me, the most important detail of the tour was that we toured St. Petersburg, Murmansk and Moscow accompanied by Russian guides who speak Turkish.”
– Murat D., Google review

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the northern lights from Moscow?

Very rarely, only during exceptional geomagnetic storms, and then faintly. For regular viewing you need to go to Murmansk.

When can you see the northern lights in St. Petersburg?

St. Petersburg is not in a suitable location for the northern lights. The lights are seen in Murmansk between September and March; the best period is December–February, when the nights are longest and darkest.

I live abroad, can I join the tour?

Yes. Our tours depart from Istanbul; guests living abroad come to Istanbul and join the group for the Turkish Airlines flight.

Can I join alone?

Yes. We room solo travellers with a guest of the same gender, so you can join without paying a single supplement.

Related articles: Northern Lights Guide to Murmansk · Russia Northern Lights Tour 2027 Guide · All Russia and Northern Lights Tours