Spring is one of the Arctic’s most underrated seasons.
Across northern Finland, Sweden and Norway, March and early April can still deliver the snowy landscapes, frozen lakes and winter activities you would expect from a Lapland holiday — but with noticeably longer daylight hours.
Then, as evening arrives, the skies are still dark enough for Northern Lights hunting.
For travellers who want to make the most of both the days and the nights, a spring Northern Lights holiday can offer a brilliant balance.
The Northern Lights do not disappear when winter ends. Aurora activity occurs throughout the year; what changes is whether the sky becomes dark enough for us to see it.
Across the far north, nights remain sufficiently dark for Aurora viewing well into spring, while the rapidly increasing daylight gives you much more time to enjoy the landscape during the day.
That means a spring trip can combine snowmobiling, husky sledding, snowshoeing and other Arctic activities with Northern Lights hunts after dark.
If seeing the Aurora is your priority, our guide to the best time to see the Northern Lights explains how the experience changes throughout the season.
Do not picture daffodils and green fields just yet.
In northern Scandinavia, March can still look thoroughly wintry. Snow remains deep across much of Lapland, frozen lakes and rivers continue to shape the landscape and winter activities are generally still in full swing.
The big difference is light.
After the darkness of midwinter, daylight increases quickly across the Arctic. This gives you longer days to explore before turning your attention to the night sky.
For many travellers, that makes spring an especially attractive time to visit: you still get the winter scenery, but there is considerably more daylight in which to enjoy it.
Yes. Both can be excellent months to travel for a Northern Lights holiday.
At high northern latitudes, evenings are still dark enough for Aurora hunting, while the days are considerably longer than during the depths of winter.
Snow conditions also generally remain thoroughly wintry across many of the destinations we feature, so activities such as husky sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing can still form a major part of the holiday.
The result is one of the best balances of the season: more daylight for Arctic adventures without giving up your evenings beneath the Northern Lights.
Neither is universally better – they offer different experiences.
Choose ‘winter’ if long hours of darkness, midwinter atmosphere and classic snowy scenery are central to what you want from your trip.
Choose ‘spring winter’ (as the locals call it!) if you want snowy Arctic conditions but value longer daylight hours for sightseeing and activities.
In both seasons, the Northern Lights remain a natural phenomenon and no display can ever be guaranteed.
If you are deciding between seasons, you can also explore our Northern Lights winter holidays.
Spring can work particularly well for travellers who want an Arctic holiday that gives you more time to enjoy the daytime activities, rather than focusing almost entirely on the Aurora and the hours of darkness.
The longer days give couples, families with older children and adventurous travellers more time to enjoy activities and explore their surroundings.
It can also appeal to photographers. The changing light throughout the day creates very different conditions from the darkest weeks of winter, while the evenings still offer opportunities to photograph the Aurora.
Whether you want an active week in Finnish Lapland, a wilderness escape in Sweden or a Northern Lights adventure among Norway’s fjords and mountains, spring gives you the chance to experience the Arctic as the light begins to return.
Browse our Northern Lights holidays and find the trip that suits you.
Yes. Northern Lights activity occurs throughout the year, but you need a sufficiently dark sky to see it. Across the far north, nights remain dark enough for Aurora viewing during much of the spring Northern Lights season.
No. March remains firmly within the Northern Lights season across many Arctic destinations and can combine dark evenings with excellent snowy conditions and increasing daylight.
Typically, yes. March and early April can still offer deep snow and wintry landscapes across northern Lapland, although conditions naturally vary by destination and year.
Often, yes. Many northern destinations continue to offer snow-based activities during March and into the later winter season while conditions allow. Always check the specific itinerary and departure date for the activities included.
It can be particularly good for families with older children and teenagers who want to fit plenty into the daytime. Longer daylight hours allow more time for Arctic activities while evenings can still be dedicated to Northern Lights hunting.
