In Search of Northern Lights (Finland)

Last year I read an article about how there was extra solar activity so there would be more Northern Lights visible in 2024 and 2025. We went to Iceland a few years ago and saw some Northern Lights. It was cool! But it was also freezing. And waiting in the dark was no fun at all. So this time, my sister and I had a brilliant plan to pick a hotel where you can just lie in your bed and watch the lights. 

After much research, we decided to go to Rovaniemi, Finland which is in the Arctic Circle. We had never been to Finland and thought this was a good opportunity. We decided to go at the end of March because around the equinoxes, there is an increased chance of seeing the lights. 

After more research, we picked the Nova Skyland Hotel. They have Aurora suites which has huge windows pointed skyward to catch the lights. Each suite is actually a two story loft. There is a bedroom and bathroom upstairs. There is a living room with more huge windows and a bathroom downstairs. There was a sauna in the bathroom! I loved the room. The design was sleek and modern with wood finishes. 

The room includes the breakfast buffet in their beautiful restaurant, which also has huge windows (to catch the lights during dinner, I guess). The buffet had a lovely selection. 

The area around the hotel is beautiful, all pine tress sitting in the snow. It was quiet and calm. Hiking among the trees were soul soothing. I live in the desert so I'm not used to snow or cold. But it was refreshing and pristine. 

The hotel had two reindeer. I wasn't brave enough to pet them. But they were cute! 

We were also next to Santa Claus Village which I'm guessing is very popular around the holidays. It is Christmas year round here. 

We had the best salmon I've ever had at this little hut in Santa Claus Village. They roast the salmon in the fire in the middle of the restaurant. All they serve is salmon. It's small so there's always a wait. But worth it. 

The town of Rovaniemi was small but quaint. We went to the Arktikum which was a combo science center and natural history museum. It was small but very well done. There is an arctic garden outside with a pond and it was so beautiful.

Did you know Fins drinks the most coffee in the world? We had to try the coffee. It did not disappoint. 

On the way back, we had a five hour layover in Helsinki so we took the train from the airport to city center. I created my own walking tour. Helsinki is the perfect combination of old and new. There are historic buildings next to sleek glass ones. 

I didn't realize I love Finnish architecture and design so much. It's modern, simple, sleek. 

So did we actually see the Northern Lights? We saw a smidge of them. I'm glad we saw something. And the trip to Finland was much more than I was expecting so it's still a win!