2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Northern Lights Winter activities Husky safaris Summer holidays Sami culture Families Tips Responsible tourism All our Finland guides

Finland weather & best time to visit

The best time to visit Finland depends on what you're wishing to do as the winter season from December through to April is ideal for dog sledding and winter sports (Feb and Mar best time to go for daylight) whereas the arrival of the spring in May sees the sun making a welcoming return prior to the long hot summer days from June to August.

Home\Europe\Finland

Best time to visit Finland

Finland is a land of extremes; each month is wildly contrasting.

Finns describe their country as having eight seasons, and as the days swing from eternal midsummer sunshine to December darkness, it's clear this is a land of extremes where each month contrasts wildly. Our climate charts show typical averages but temps may soar to 30°C in summer, and plummet to -30°C or lower in the Arctic winters, so come prepared. Deciding what you want to do will help you pick the best time to visit Finland. Aurora and snow activities occur in winter, but consider how many hours' daylight you'll need. Equally, summer days are glorious for hiking and kayaking, but holidaying Finns and swarms of mosquitoes might make spring preferable.

Call us for the best time to go to Finland

Helsinki Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

-10

-4

FEB

-10

-3

MAR

-6

APR

-1

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

-2

DEC

-7

-1

Our Finland Holidays

Finland, month by month

December to mid January may seem like an idyllically festive time to be in Lapland, but with the sun nudging above the horizon for just a few twilit hours each day, you’ll be limited as to how much you can actually do. February and March are still snowy but with much longer days. You’re also more likely to spot the Northern Lights around the equinox (21 March). Read more about the best time to see the Northern Lights. Springtime varies wildly from north to south. Snow still lingers into April in the north, while wildflowers are emerging in the balmier south. 1st May sees Vappu celebrations across the country, welcoming the long awaited summer and the eternal sunshine of the June solstice. Mosquitoes don’t just live in the tropics. July sees swarms of the critters in Lapland; this is not the best time to visit Finland unless you fancy getting bitten – or stocking up on bug repellent. July = sunshine, warmth and Finnish holiday time, so many places will be busier with higher prices. Book well in advance if travelling at this time. Crowds ease off later in August. Read more about summer holidays in Finland . Photographers will relish the New England-style burst of autumnal colour in September and October, when prices are often be lower. However, this is low season so many tours and attractions are closed or have reduced hours, the summer warmth has ceased and the snow has not yet fallen – so for most travellers, this is not the best time to visit Finland. The Northern Lights arrive as early as September, but cloudy skies reduce your chances of seeing them at this time. Snow arrives in November – making for pristine, untouched landscapes. Warm up in a sauna after dog sledding or snow shoeing, and keep an eye out for the aurora once the long hours of darkness begin.

Need some help? Give us a call

PLAY

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Finland or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Best time to visit Finland

Aki Käräjäoja began working with sled dogs after he finished studying, and fell in love with them. He founded Routa Travel, one of our suppliers, as a way to be around the dogs and live the life he wanted. Here’s his best time to visit Finland: “The dog sledding season starts in December and ends in early April, but for this and other winter activities, February and March are the best times as there’s more daylight. If you come at the end of December it has its own mystical feel as it’s dark all the time, which can be really great – but I prefer the sunshine.”

Our culture pick: The summer solstice

Known as Juhannus, midsummer is celebrated on the Saturday between 20 and 26 June. Toast the midnight sun Finnish-style, with lakeside bonfires, cooking, drinking and saunas.

Festivals & events

Tangomarkkinat

As you’d expect, Finland hosts plenty rock and heavy metal festivals – but also the tangomarkkinat – the world’s biggest tango festival, in Seinäjoki each July. Up to 100,000 attend – although the 'tango-free zone' still has plenty of rock for non-aficionados.

Wife Carrying World Championships

“All participants must enjoy themselves” is one of the rules of Finland’s famous Wife Carrying World Championships. Believed to have originated in the 1800s when men would steal women from villages, the contest now attracts thousands of spectators each July. A lighter wife is not necessarily an advantage; the prize for the winner is the wife’s weight in beer.

The Annual Mobile Phone Throwing Championship

Finns proudly celebrate their best-known brand, Nokia, with the annual Mobile Phone Throwing Championship in Savonlinna each August. Open to individuals, teams and children, the phone thrown the furthest wins – although the freestyle competition also gets judged on the choreography of their throwing style

More about Finland

Finland travel guide

Our Finland travel guide unwraps the home of Father Christmas - and reveals that there is so much more to this Arctic nation than reindeer, sledges and forest snowscapes.

Finland map & highlights

Finland's highlights sparkle like fairly lights across Lapland's snowscapes, the thick Taiga forest and its thousands of lakes.

Things to do in Finland

It's no accident that Finland is one of our most popular destinations for an activity holiday.

Northern Lights in Finland

If you’re looking to put a bit of colour into the darker depths of winter there’s no better place to start than Finland and if you’re also looking for more info on the best time to go then read as you keep watching the skies.

Finland winter activity holidays

The Wild Taiga in winter is about as close to Narnia as you can get without wandering into a wardrobe.

Finland Husky safaris

There’s no more exhilarating and rewarding way to discover the snowy Finnish wilderness than on a husky safari, with a team of dogs pulling you through pure white landscapes and across frozen lakes.

Bear watching in Finland

You don’t need to travel to Alaska to see gigantic brown bears; the Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to a population of these fascinating creatures and a supporting cast of other animals, too, from wolves and wolverine to elk and reindeer.

Summer holidays in Finland

If you think that Lapland is just about snow and Santa then think again as summer holidays in Finland help to create a far more accessible and affordable outdoor experience.

Sami culture in Finland

If you’re heading to Lapland we implore you to find out more about the indigenous Sámi people who’ve made this northernmost region of Finland their ancestral home.

Travelling in Finland with kids

This winter wonderland, home to Father Christmas, friendly huskies and igloo-worthy snowfall, would be a dream destination for many children.

Finland travel tips

Our Finland holiday companies each have their own areas of expertise.

Finland responisble tourism issues

It's hard to go wrong when travelling in Finland, as the country is so beautifully set up for responsible travel.

All our Finland guides

Find all our Finland guides in one place, from Husky safaris to the Northern Lights and everything in between.

More relevant guides

Written by Vicki Brown

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Tero Laakso] [Intro: Tommaso Fornoni] [Aki Karajaoja advice: badamczak80] [Wife Carrying World Championships: Visit Lakeland]

Finland weather & best time to visit