The northern lights are the thing parents most want to show their children, and also the thing most likely to end in tears at ten o'clock at night. We have seen both: wide-eyed children pointing at a green ribbon, and exhausted ones asleep in a snowsuit before the sky did anything. The difference is rarely the aurora. It is the choice of tour and the time.

This guide is for families with children under twelve. It explains which StayLapland evening tours are gentle enough, what to expect from the cottage version in particular, and how to plan the day around a child's bedtime. Our 5% reader discount applies to everything you book from this page.

Why the usual aurora advice does not suit small children

Most northern lights advice is written for adults. It tells you to stay out late, move to the clearest sky, and be patient for hours. That is great for a couple with a camera, and not so great for a five-year-old who wants to know when the hot chocolate is coming.

Children see the aurora differently. A faint grey-green arc that an adult finds magical may look like cloud to a child. The experience works better when the evening has other things in it: a fire, a story, a snack, an animal, a gift. The aurora is the final reward, not the whole entertainment.

So we choose tours that are short, warm and varied, and we plan the day so that children have rested. The hunting tours, with their five-hour nights, are excellent for older children and adults; we explain the differences in our hunting tour comparison. This post is about the gentler option.

The cottage tour: what the listing promises

The Northern Lights Tour in Atmospheric Cottage5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts from €109 per adult and lasts about three hours. According to the listing it includes a guide, winter clothing, overalls, boots, gloves and socks, local snacks and drinks by the campfire, information about the northern lights and, notably, a surprise gift for the children.

That last line is the one parents notice. A small gift for the children changes the mood of the evening. Even a child who is tired and a bit scared of the dark has something to look forward to, and a story to tell later.

The cut-off is three hours before the start, which means you can decide on the day, depending on availability. Some dates have minimum guest numbers, so open the live calendar and read the conditions for your date. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off. Check cottage tour dates and prices →

How late is too late? Planning around bedtime

This is the question that matters most. The start time of an evening tour varies, and you will be told the exact time in your confirmation. For a three-hour tour that begins in the early evening, the finish may fall before a child's usual bedtime plus an hour or so. For a late start it will be much later.

Our advice: before booking, decide how late your child can reasonably stay up, then pick the earliest slot on the calendar. If every slot is later than you can manage, consider a different night or a different tour. A child who is awake and happy at nine is a joy; a child who is carried half asleep to the car at midnight remembers very little.

A nap in the afternoon makes an enormous difference. Plan the day so that the child has a quiet hour at the hotel after lunch. Skip the busy sightseeing, and let the evening be the main event. We cannot promise the aurora will appear, but a rested child will enjoy the fire and the gift either way.

Campfire or cottage, and where the sleigh fits

Two other evening tours are worth knowing. The Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts from €99 and is the plainer, more outdoors version: guide, snacks and drinks by the fire, and no cottage. The Northern Lights Tour Sleigh Ride, from €109 and about four hours, adds a snowmobile-pulled sleigh and a teepee, which older children may love and small ones may find long and cold.

For children under about six we favour the cottage, since there is somewhere warm to retreat to. For children from seven to twelve, the campfire or sleigh options are an adventure. Our guide on family activities in Lapland explains how to pace the whole trip.

Whichever you choose, think about group size. On some days the tours need a minimum number of guests, and a bigger group can be noisy. A quiet fire is one of the best things you can give a child. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

What to wear, bring and expect with children

The tour provides winter overalls, boots, gloves and socks in adult and child sizes according to the listing. You still need warm base layers for each child, a hat that covers the ears, and a neck warmer. Cotton is the enemy. Wool and synthetics keep children warm.

Pack a small bag for the evening: wet wipes, a snack they like, a spare pair of mittens and a favourite soft toy. Keep the phone charged; it will die faster in the cold. Our guide on what to wear on a northern lights tour has the detail.

Expectations matter more than any clothing. Tell the children beforehand that the sky might be shy, that cloud can hide the lights, and that the fire and the gift are the main plan. A child who knows that is rarely disappointed. If the lights do appear, it is a bonus beyond anything the adults could organise.

What if there are no lights?

This is the honest part. No tour can promise the aurora, and the cottage tour does not advertise the 100% refund that the hunting tours do. It is an evening in the forest with a fire, a guide, a story and a gift. If the sky does not cooperate, you still have all of that.

If seeing the lights is the main goal of your whole trip, we would take a different approach and plan two evenings. Book the cottage on night one, and keep a second evening free. If you want the strongest chance of a sighting, a weather-led hunting tour is worth considering for the older family members, and you can compare in our hunting tour guide.

Whatever you choose, check the cancellation rules. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the activity, with a 100% charge inside that window. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Combining the evening with a daytime animal activity

The best family days put one gentle animal activity in the daylight and the aurora in the evening. The Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (from €159, about three hours, very easy) is a natural partner: a 2-3 km reindeer safari in the forest, information about reindeer herding, and cookies and juice. Children tend to adore it, and it fills the middle of the day with something calm.

If you prefer dogs, the Arctic Paws husky ride5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 from €65 is only about ten minutes on the sleigh, which suits a child who tires quickly. Do not stack both with a late aurora night; one daytime activity is enough, and a rest in between is non-negotiable.

Think about the order. Put the reindeer or husky in the morning, the nap after lunch, and the aurora in the evening. That rhythm is the one we use with children we look after, and it works. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Frequently asked questions

Which northern lights tour is best for young children?
We favour the cottage tour: it is about 3 hours, has a warm place to retreat to, and includes a surprise gift for the children.

How much is the cottage tour?
It starts from €109 per adult. The live calendar shows exact prices, including child pricing, and our 5% reader discount applies at checkout.

Is clothing provided for children?
Yes. The listing says winter clothing, overalls, boots, gloves and socks are provided in adult and child sizes.

How late will we be out?
The exact start time is confirmed after booking. Choose the earliest slot that fits your child's bedtime and plan a nap earlier in the day.

Will we definitely see the aurora?
No tour can promise it. The cottage tour includes a fire, snacks, a guide and a gift, so the evening is worthwhile even if cloud hides the lights.

Can I decide on the day?
The cut-off is 3 hours before the start, subject to availability and minimum guest numbers on some days. Check the live calendar for your date.

Our pick, and how to book the evening

Book the Northern Lights Tour in Atmospheric Cottage5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for the earliest slot that suits your children, and keep a second evening free in case of cloud. Open the live calendar below, pick your date, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

You book directly with StayLapland on this page. For other ideas around the trip, our guide to activities in Rovaniemi is the place to start. Check cottage tour dates →