Northern lights trips: data, cold and apps

2026-10-17 · 3 min read

Chasing the northern lights means late nights, remote roads and a phone working hard in the cold. Aurora forecasts and cloud maps need data, the best spots are often far from town, and cold batteries die early. Here is how to plan data for Iceland, northern Norway and Finnish Lapland.

Where people go

• Iceland: most trips start in Reykjavik, with drives out of the city or along the ring road to get away from light.
• Northern Norway: Tromsø is the main base, with tours and drives into the surrounding fjords.
• Finnish Lapland: Rovaniemi is the usual gateway, often reached through Helsinki.

Which eSIM to pick

For one country, a country plan is the simple choice: Iceland, Norway or Finland. Each has a guide with networks and plan sizes, for example the Norway guide.

If your trip combines countries, say Tromsø and Lapland, or a stop in Iceland on the way, check the regional plans:

• The Europe eSIM covers Iceland, Norway and Finland at the time of writing.
• The EU & UK eSIM covers Finland, but not Iceland or Norway, because they aren't in the EU.

Check the full list on the Europe guide before you buy. Driving from northern Norway into Finland? One eSIM for a multi-country trip covers what happens at the border, and Europe or EU & UK eSIM has the full route check.

Why aurora hunting needs data

Seeing the lights depends on two things: aurora activity and clear skies. Both change through the evening, so most people keep checking:

• Aurora forecast apps and activity alerts, which need data to update.
• Cloud cover maps and weather forecasts, to choose which direction to drive.
• Road conditions, which matter in winter, especially in Iceland and northern Norway.
• Messages with your tour or group, if plans change at short notice.

Check these while you still have good signal in town, and decide where you're heading before you leave it.

Remote roads and signal gaps

The darkest skies are away from towns, and that is where coverage gets less predictable. Main roads and towns are usually covered, but remote stretches, fjords and valleys can have gaps. Plan as though you may lose data for part of the night.

1. Download offline maps of the whole area you might drive, not just your hotel's town.
2. Save your route and accommodation as screenshots.
3. Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back.
4. Check road conditions before you leave town, while you still have signal.

Cold, night photos and battery

Batteries drain faster in the cold, and some phones shut down early when they get very cold, even with charge left. Aurora nights add long exposures in night mode with the screen on, which drain the battery further.

• Keep the phone in an inside pocket between shots.
• Carry a power bank, also kept warm, and charge in the car.
• Turn down screen brightness; it also helps your eyes adjust to the dark.
• Use a small tripod so you take fewer, better shots.

How much data for an aurora trip

Our recommender uses 0.2 GB a day for maps and messaging, 0.5 GB a day for socials and photos, and 1.3 GB a day for streaming or video, then adds 15% headroom.

Forecast apps themselves use little data. Uploading night photos and video is what adds up, so do that on hotel Wi-Fi if you can.

Before you fly

1. Check your phone is carrier-unlocked and on the device list.
2. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. Validity starts when your phone first connects to a network in a covered country.
3. On landing, turn the eSIM line on, turn Data Roaming on for it, and set it as your data line.
4. Install your aurora and weather apps and download offline maps before you go.

If you're connecting through another country on the way, read our post on layovers and eSIM validity first.

See Europe plans