Going to Murmansk for Aurora borealis: what experienced travelers advise

Aurora borealis in the polar latitudes is all year round. We can only see it at nighttime. Therefore, the best time to travel to Murmansk for this spectacular sight – from October to April.

But even if you arrive in Murmansk at the correct time of year to see Aurora borealis is not guaranteed. How to increase the chances of success and have a good time?

1. Try to allocate at least 4–5 days for the trip: one weekend may not be enough. The aurora can only be seen with clear skies and high solar activity, and the more time you have, the greater the chance of a change in the weather.

2. On request "Northern Lights Forecast" you will find special sites with data on geomagnetic activity, a forecast for the appearance of the Aurora, as well as a map of the places where it is most likely to be observed.

By the way, the residents of Murmansk themselves say: when the temperature drops by 10 degrees or more, the radiance almost always appears.

3. The radiance is visible to an eye without extra light sources, mostly outside the city. Preferably in an open area, upland. And the lucky ones can watch this natural spectacle right from the plane.

4. In order not to deal with details, you can find an experienced local guide who will take you to a place where there will be gaps in the clouds. In addition, an inexperienced person may not be able to distinguish a faint glow from a cloud: in real life it does not look as bright as a photo.

5. Load your trip with other pleasant experiences – you will be interested and easier to wait!

And here's where you can go and what to do:

Visit Murmansk port

Port – heart and main attraction of the city. At night, the illumination of the cranes can be seen from afar. It is worth visiting the building of the seaport and being impressed by the Lenin icebreaker.

Feel the spirit of the Arctic in the famous Teriberka

The village where the Zvyagintsev's "Leviathan" was filmed and Mizgirev's "Duelist", located 150 km from Murmansk. This is one of the few places on the peninsula where there is an entrance to the Barents Sea.

Here you can visit the former school building – now an art platform decorated with graffiti, a weather station, a beach with "dragon eggs" and a graveyard of wooden ships. And if you book a boat trip in the Barents Sea in advance, there is a chance to meet whales or seals.

Admire the panorama of the Kola Bay from above

To do this, you need to climb one of the hills, between which the city stands. Be sure to visit Zeleny Cape, where the monument to Alyosha (the official name is the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic) is erected. The name appeared after the song "Alyosha", dedicated to the monument to the Soviet soldier in Bulgaria.

Or you can stay at the AZIMUT hotel, where the view of the bay opens directly from the rooms.

Get acquainted with the life of indigenous peoples: the Saami (Lapps)

To do this, come to the Saami villages: near the village of Loparskoye (40 km from the city) or Sam Syit (110 km from the city). You can also ride in a dog or reindeer sled here.

Find unusual monuments

The sculpture of the cat Semyon, who traveled to the city from Moscow for 6 years, looking for his owners, stands at the entrance to the amusement park near Semyonovskoye Lake. In the park itself there is a Ferris wheel and the Oceanarium, where fur seals and walruses perform.

The Monument to the Woman Waiting on Chamburova-Luchinsky Street is dedicated to all women waiting for the return of their loved ones, sailors from the voyage.

And in the park on the central square of the city of Five Corners, in front of the AZIMUT hotel, there is a sculpture of the main northern fish – cod. Thanks to her, local residents survived the war, she was even supplied to besieged Leningrad.

Try sea urchins and scallops

One of the local delicacies is freshly caught sea urchins and scallops. Look for them in the menu of local restaurants, including the one located at the AZIMUT hotel >. Here you can also try venison dishes typical of the peninsula.

The season of radiance is in full swing, and the long weekend of March 8 is yet to come. True, in recent years the direction has become popular, it is better to look for places in hotels in advance. Those who choose AZIMUT Murmansk will be able to live in the very center of the city overlooking the Kola bay. And if you book a room 5 or more days before arrival on official website, you will get a 10% discount on accommodation with breakfast. Children under 12 years old with their parents stay free of charge.