Weather in Finland

Finland offers dramatically different but equally compelling experiences across its four distinct seasons. Summer, from mid-June to August, is the season of the midnight sun — in Lapland, the sun does not set at all around the solstice, and even in Helsinki daylight extends to nearly twenty hours. This is when lakes open for swimming, hiking trails are dry, outdoor festivals run continuously, and the entire country relaxes with a joyfulness that feels like release after the long winter. July is peak tourist season in Finnish Lapland and along the south coast; book well ahead.

Winter from December to March is the season of northern lights, reindeer safaris, and the extraordinary silence of snow-covered forests. Rovaniemi in Lapland is the self-proclaimed hometown of Santa Claus and a hub for winter activities including snowmobiling, husky safaris, and ice fishing. The polar night in northern Lapland, when the sun does not rise for weeks, is a profound experience for those who embrace it. Spring's brief wildflower season in May and the autumn foliage season of September — called ruska in Finnish — when the fell landscapes turn gold and crimson, are the hidden gems of the Finnish calendar.