Best time for a Lapland holiday: when should you go?

Best time to visit Lapland in short

• End of December to end of March: snow, reindeer, northern lights and winter activities. This is the best travel period for most travellers.
• September and October: autumn colours, peace and dark nights.
• June through August: long bright days and summer nature.
• April and May: the transition period, with more daylight but uncertain snow.

Winter: the magical winter months

The magical winter months run from the end of December to the end of March. It is a good period for anyone who wants to see snow, because in Lapland you can then see the landscape turn into a white world. You can travel calmly and enjoy the silence.

It is also the season of our reindeer experience: from December through March we welcome guests by a campfire, cook the food over an open fire and you feed the reindeer yourself. These are unforgettable activities that are only possible in winter.

December and the cosy Christmas period

At the end of December the cosy Christmas period begins, usually with a solid layer of snow already. In Swedish Lapland it is extra busy around New Year and during the Swedish holiday period.

The days are short. In December the sun hardly shows itself and barely touches the horizon. In the northernmost places in Sweden, Finland and Norway you do not even get a full hour of sunlight around the shortest day. Around Luleå there are still a few hours of daylight.

Because of those short days the twilight lingers for a long time and the surroundings look mysterious. As soon as the sun comes above the horizon, the sky turns pink and orange, sunrise and sunset in one. Those are magical days for walking.

January and February: the coldest month and thick blankets of snow

January is often the coldest month. In January the extreme cold arrives: temperatures can drop far below freezing, down to -35°C. Good clothing is then essential.

From January you see trees heavily laden with thick blankets of snow, and the chance of clear nights is high. From mid-January the days get longer quickly, so you get more and more hours of daylight for activities.

March: the bright end of winter

At the end of March there is still enough snow for all winter activities. You get a milder climate and milder temperatures, sometimes around freezing during the day. The sun is higher and the days are long. For many travellers this is therefore a pleasant month, with a real winter and more light.

Northern lights: when is the chance greatest?

For the northern lights you need dark nights, a clear sky and a bit of luck. In the bright summer months you do not see them. From the end of August or September it gets dark again and the season begins, which continues until about March or April.

Under clear starry skies you can count stars for hours. When the northern lights appear, you see the sky come alive with an incomparable glow in green, yellow or sometimes red. You will look on in amazement, and with your own eyes you see something photos never fully show.

The northern lights are never guaranteed, because they depend on the weather and cloud cover. So plan several nights, preferably with friends or family, so that you have a better chance of a special evening.

Autumn: September and October

At the beginning of September nature turns yellow, orange and red. At the end of October the first snow often falls. It is quiet, the air is clear and you can walk without snowshoes. The nights get dark again, so there is a chance of the northern lights.

Summer: June through August

In summer it hardly gets dark in the north. It is the time of long days, hiking in the Finnish and Swedish forests and picking berries, such as cloudberries. You then see no northern lights and do no snow activities.

Spring: April and May

In April and May winter slowly lets go. It is lighter, but the snow is less predictable. For many travellers this is the least easy period to plan. Winter activities in April and May are not available.

Sweden, Finland or Norway?

Many travellers compare Finnish Lapland, Swedish Lapland and Norway. The Finnish winter months and the Norwegian coast differ from Sweden in crowds and atmosphere. In Finland you find larger resorts and many facilities together. In northern Sweden it is quieter and smaller in scale. Which destination suits you depends on what you are looking for.

When is the best time to book?

For a winter trip it is best to book a few months ahead, so that you have a choice of accommodation and dates. Many Lapland trips are a seven-day trip, often from Saturday to Saturday. Our standard Winter Wonderland package lasts 5 days and 4 nights.

How you experience Lapland with Go to Sápmi

If you want to experience Lapland the way we do it, choose our reindeer experience. It runs from December through March, because that is when the winter, the animals and the campfire come together best. We arrange the entire trip for you, including the accommodation and other activities.