January: the best winter month for Tromsø, Abisko and Fairbanks
Three places reach their best five-night figure of the year this month. Reykjavík goes the other way.
- Best sky: Fairbanks
- 14 to 16 dark hours
- 12 places compared
Most reviewed tour in Fairbanks
Day trip with aurora stop
Chena Hot Springs & Northern Lights Tour
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €244
See dates and price
Links go to Civitatis. Scores are Civitatis customer ratings. Check the listing for the current price and conditions.
Where to see the northern lights in January
Places are ordered by how often a five-night stay included at least one dark night with a usable sky.
See the full table
| Destination | Dark hours per night | Nights with a usable sky | At least one in 3 nights | At least one in 5 nights | At least one in 7 nights | Kp for overhead aurora | Night temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FairbanksAlaska, USA | 14.9 h | 89% | 97% | 99% | Kp 2 | -20 °C | |
| 2YellowknifeCanada | 14.6 h | 89% | 97% | 99% | Kp 1 | -30 °C | |
| 3WhitehorseCanada | 14.4 h | 82% | 93% | 98% | Kp 3 | -17 °C | |
| 4KirunaSweden | 15.5 h | 65% | 80% | 88% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 5AbiskoSweden | 15.7 h | 61% | 77% | 87% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 6SaariselkäFinland | 15.7 h | 60% | 76% | 85% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 7RovaniemiFinland | 15.3 h | 57% | 72% | 83% | Kp 3 | -13 °C | |
| 8LeviFinland | 15.6 h | 53% | 69% | 80% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 9LuleåSweden | 15.1 h | 51% | 67% | 77% | Kp 3 | -9 °C | |
| 10ReykjavíkIceland | 14.8 h | 50% | 65% | 76% | Kp 2 | 0 °C | |
| 11TromsøNorway | 16 h | 43% | 57% | 67% | Kp 1 | -8 °C | |
| 12AkureyriIceland | 15.1 h | 34% | 47% | 56% | Kp 2 | -7 °C |
A usable sky means at least two dark hours in a row with half the sky or more free of cloud, over an area of about 110 km. It says nothing about solar activity, so it is not the chance of seeing the aurora. How we calculate this
What January is like
Past the solstice the nights shorten only slowly. Mid-January, the sun stays more than 10 degrees below the horizon for 16 hours in Tromsø, 15.7 in Abisko, 15.3 in Rovaniemi, 14.9 in Fairbanks, 14.8 in Reykjavík and 14.6 in Yellowknife. Tromsø's astronomical polar night ends on 14 January, though the mountains keep the sun hidden until about 21 January.
It is also the cold peak. Yellowknife averages -30C during dark hours, Fairbanks -20C, Abisko and Rovaniemi -13C, Tromsø -8C. Reykjavík stays at 0C.
Where the sky is on your side
A usable night means at least two dark hours in a row with half the sky or more free of cloud, averaged over a satellite cell about 110 km across. Fairbanks and Yellowknife share the top on 97% of five-night stays with at least one usable night, which is Fairbanks' best figure of the year. Whitehorse is third on 93%. The top pair is 17 points ahead of the best European place.
That place is Kiruna, on 80%. Abisko follows on 77%, its best month, and Saariselkä on 76%. Rovaniemi is on 72%, Levi on 69%, Luleå on 67% and Reykjavík dips to 65%. Tromsø reaches 57%, its own best month, and only Akureyri is lower, at 47%. Compare Fairbanks and Yellowknife for the top pair.
Abisko is ahead of Tromsø in every month from October to March in our data. The Swedish Tourist Association calls the "blue hole" a local weather phenomenon that often brings clear skies, but cites no data. Our figures agree on direction, yet a second test on ERA5 reanalysis puts Abisko lower and Tromsø a little higher than we do. Do not treat the 20-point gap as exact. In the same data Kiruna, the nearest town on our list, is ahead of Abisko in every month, so our figures do not single Abisko out.
How many nights to plan
Abisko gives 61% for three nights, 77% for five and 87% for seven. Kiruna gives 65%, 80% and 88%. Tromsø gives 43%, 57% and 67%. Yellowknife gives 89%, 97% and 99%. Reykjavík gives 50%, 65% and 76%. A week in Tromsø (67%) is below three nights in Yellowknife (89%). The nights calculator has every other combination.
Is it a good month to book a tour?
Yes on sky grounds. The cards below are for Fairbanks and Yellowknife, the month's top two places. The Yellowknife minibus trip is from EUR 74.82 per person for four hours (checked 5 October 2026), with free cancellation up to 48 hours ahead. The three Fairbanks listings run from EUR 177.66 for an evening at a viewing lodge to EUR 322.46 for a day trip to the Arctic Circle, with free cancellation up to seven days ahead. None of the four states a no-aurora policy. Dress for the cold: the mean during dark hours is -20C in Fairbanks and -30C in Yellowknife. See whether a tour is worth it.
Tours in the best-placed destinations for January
The two places with the most usable nights this month, with what each listing says about a night without aurora.
Fairbanks
Viewing lodge
Fairbanks Aurora Viewing Lodge Experience
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €178
See dates and priceDay trip with aurora stop
Arctic Circle & Northern Lights Tour
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €322
See dates and price
Yellowknife
Minibus tour
Northern Lights Trip
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €75
See dates and price
Common questions
Is January a good month for the northern lights?
For the sky, yes. 97% of five-night stays in both Fairbanks and Yellowknife had at least one usable night, and 80% in Kiruna, the best Nordic figure. The sun also has to cooperate, which our figures do not cover.
Is January or February better for the northern lights?
It is close. January is better in Fairbanks (97% against 95%), Abisko (77% against 75%) and Tromsø (57% against 48%). February is better in Yellowknife (98% against 97%), Rovaniemi (74% against 72%) and Reykjavík (67% against 65%).
How cold is it in January?
Mean air temperature during the dark hours is 0C in Reykjavík, -8C in Tromsø, -13C in Abisko and Rovaniemi, -20C in Fairbanks and -30C in Yellowknife.