Lapland
Lapland is the northern region of Finland, known for snow and polar night in winter and the midnight sun in summer.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Lapland is the largest region in Finland, covering about 100,367 km² of land, freshwater and sea, and most of it lies north of the Arctic Circle. Visitors come for the snow and polar night in winter and the midnight sun in summer. In Finnish the region is called Lappi, and its north is home to the Sámi, an Indigenous people. In Utsjoki the midnight sun lasts 72 days.
Rovaniemi, the regional capital and a university city, is the main hub for shopping and services. Lapland is one of Finland's least densely populated areas, so distances between towns can be long. Snow covers the ground for about six to seven months, and mid-winter temperatures can drop to around −40 °C. Summer suits hiking in the fells and forests, and Halti, at 1,324 m, is Finland's highest point. Rovaniemi also promotes itself as Santa's official hometown.
Lapland in five
- Come between September and March for aurorasThe sky needs to be dark and clear. Stay several nights, since cloud decides more than the aurora forecast.
- Book the night train earlySleeper trains run from Helsinki to Rovaniemi overnight, and cabins sell out around Christmas and February holidays.
- Dress for -20 °C and colderWinter days often drop far below freezing. Wear wool layers, insulated boots and mittens; many tour operators lend overalls.
- Expect very short days in DecemberNorth of the Arctic Circle the sun barely rises for weeks around the solstice. February and March bring snow with longer days.
Things to do in Lapland
See all attractions in Lapland
Need to know
- Airport
- Rovaniemi (RVN), Kittilä (KTT) and Ivalo (IVL)
- Getting there
- Flights from Helsinki; overnight sleeper train
- Getting around
- Rental car, airport buses to resorts and tours
- Best base
- Rovaniemi for access, Levi or Saariselkä for dark skies
- Time needed
- 4–5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-8°Low-14°Deep cold, aurorasJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -8°
- Low
- -14°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Deep cold, auroras
- FebruaryCloudy10 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-6°Low-12°Snow, aurorasFebruaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -6°
- Low
- -12°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, auroras
- MarchCloudy9 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-9°Snow, long daysMarchCloudy
Poor
- High
- -2°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, long days
- AprilCloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh3°Low-4°Spring snowAprilCloudy
Mixed
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring snow
- MayCloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Thaw, mudMayCloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw, mud
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Midnight sunJuneRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midnight sun
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Warm, mosquitoesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, mosquitoes
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Berries, dark nightsAugustRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Berries, dark nights
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Ruska, aurorasSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Ruska, auroras
- OctoberCloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low0°Early snowOctoberCloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Early snow
- NovemberCloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-2°Low-6°Dark, first snowNovemberCloudy
Poor
- High
- -2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, first snow
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-5°Low-11°Polar nightDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- -5°
- Low
- -11°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Polar night
Average daily high and low in Rovaniemi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lapland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-1
- Feels like
- -5°
- Humidity
- 95%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Lapland
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today1°-5°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue1°-5°80%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed3°-2°100%Wednesday: Snow. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu3°-2°4%Thursday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri2°-2°31%Friday: Snow. High 2°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sat1°-2°23%Saturday: Snow. High 1°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sun3°-3°16%Sunday: Snow. High 3°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 16%.
Updated 10:46 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Santa Claus Villageabout 20 minutes by bus from RovaniemiOn the Arctic Circle, with Santa's post office; busiest in December.
- Ranua Wildlife Parkabout 1 hour by car from RovaniemiArctic animals including bears and wolverines.
- Pyhä-Luosto National Parkabout 2 hours by car from RovaniemiFell walks and an amethyst mine.
Before you go to Lapland
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Lapland, checked
- Non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Check entry rules with Migri before you book.Source
- Check with Finnish Customs what you can bring in from outside the EU before you buy reindeer or other meat products to take home.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Finland.
- The Lapland War left many landmines. When walking off-road, keep to marked paths and known routes.
Plan around Lapland
The capital, one flight or an overnight train south
Read the guideRovaniemiThe Arctic Circle gateway and its guides
Read the guideSwedish LaplandKiruna and the same aurora skies, across the border
Read the guideTromsøNorway's aurora city, a long cross-border trip west
Read the guideAll of FinlandRegions, rail, money and entry rules
Read the guideInsurance for winter tripsCover for cold, activities and cancellations
Read the guideGetting around EuropeNight trains, flights and passes compared
Read the guideLapland FAQ
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Lapland?
From about September to March, on clear, dark nights. Late September and March have milder weather; December to February have the longest nights.
Rovaniemi or Levi: where should I stay?
Rovaniemi has the most flights, trains and tours. Levi and Saariselkä are smaller fell resorts with skiing and less light pollution.
Do I need a car in Lapland?
Not for one base with tours. A car helps for chasing clear skies, but winter driving on snow and ice needs care and winter tires, which rentals include.
How cold is Lapland in winter?
January and February highs are around -8 °C and nights fall far lower, with wind chill. Wear wool layers, insulated boots and mittens, and ask your tour operator what gear they lend.
Can you see the northern lights from Rovaniemi?
Yes, on clear nights, though town lights can hide faint displays. Tours drive to darker spots, and staying several nights improves the odds because cloud decides more than the forecast.