When to go


Finland is a destination for most of the year. An exception will have to be made for the period between late November and mid-March when the cold is at its worst – down to -40°C in Finnish Lapland, almost guaranteed to be below 0°C in Helsinki. The daily light period is the shortest, with darkness setting in at 15 pm in Helsinki and lasting 20 to 22 of the 24 hours in the much higher latitudes of Rovaniemi and mainly Inari.

The equinox months of September and March are considered the best months to admire the Northern Lights above the Arctic Circle but you can always see them in August and late April.  

Finnish autumn includes another period – short and usually without snow – very interesting to visit the country, the golden-yellow foliage days that the Finns call ruska. Depending on the latitude in the country and weather conditions it can take place anywhere from September to mid-autumn.

The end of spring and summer bring warmer temperatures. In a very different way, these are other good times to explore Finland.

More information on Finish Meteorological InstituteAuroras Now e Aurora Service