Murmansk's two great experiences are the polar night and the polar day, and they push visits to the two extremes of the year. The polar night runs from about 2 December to 11 January, with the sun never rising above the horizon — though there is usually a few hours of twilight around noon. This is the best time for the aurora borealis, which is visible on roughly half of clear nights between late September and late March. December and January also bring the lowest temperatures, regularly below -20°C and occasionally below -30°C.
The polar day runs from about 22 May to 22 July. The sun never sets, the snow has largely gone, and the surrounding tundra blooms briefly with wildflowers. Summer temperatures average around 12-15°C and rarely exceed 20°C. This is the best season for hiking the Khibiny Mountains and travelling along the Kola coast. The shoulder seasons (March-April and September-October) are cold but offer normal day/night cycles, fewer tourists, and good aurora chances.