What is the best time to visit Finland?

Best Time to Visit Finland

The best time to travel to Finland is during summer (June to August) and winter (December to March).

Summer in Finland

Summer in Finland is a great time to explore the country’s natural beauty. The days are long, with the sun setting late in the evening, and temperatures can reach up to 25°C (77°F). During this season, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and swimming. There are also plenty of festivals and events taking place, such as the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä and the Savonlinna Opera Festival.

Winter in Finland

Winter in Finland is a magical time, with snow-covered landscapes and the Northern Lights illuminating the night sky. Temperatures can drop to -20°C (-4°F), so visitors should come prepared with warm clothing. Despite the cold weather, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, such as skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. There are also many winter festivals and events, such as the Christmas markets in Helsinki and the Snow Village in Lapland.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Finland

Finland in January

Weather

January in Finland is typically cold and snowy. The average temperature ranges from -2 to -7 degrees Celsius (28 to 19 degrees Fahrenheit). Snowfall is common throughout the month, and the days are short, with only around 6 hours of daylight.

Events

• The New Year is celebrated in Finland with fireworks and festivities.
• The annual Helsinki Ice Marathon is held in January, a 42 km race on the frozen Baltic Sea.
• The Tampere Film Festival is held in January, showcasing the best of Finnish and international cinema.
• The annual Snowmobile Rally is held in January, a two-day event with snowmobile races and other activities.
• The World Ice Fishing Championship is held in January, with participants from all over the world competing in the icy waters of Finland.

Finland in January

Weather

January in Finland is typically cold and snowy. Temperatures range from -10 to -5 degrees Celsius. Snowfall is common and the days are short, with an average of only 6 hours of daylight.

Events

• The New Year’s Day Parade is held in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Thousands of people line the streets to watch the parade and celebrate the start of the new year.
• The Jyvaskyla Winter Festival is held in Jyvaskyla, the largest city in Central Finland. The festival features a variety of winter activities, including ice skating, skiing, snowshoeing, and more.
• The Helsinki Ice Marathon is held in the capital city. The race is open to both professional and amateur runners and features a variety of distances.
• The Tampere Ice Hockey Tournament is held in Tampere, the third largest city in Finland. The tournament features teams from all over Finland and is a popular event for locals and visitors alike.
• The Ruka Ski Festival is held in Kuusamo, a small town in Northern Finland. The festival features a variety of skiing and snowboarding events, as well as a snow sculpture competition.

Finland in March

Weather

March is the start of spring in Finland. Temperatures begin to rise, and the snow starts to melt. The days become longer, and the sun is out for more hours. The average temperature in March is -2°C (28°F).

Events

• Helsinki Book Fair: This annual event is held in mid-March and is the largest book fair in Finland. It features authors, publishers, and booksellers from all over the world.
• Helsinki Design Week: This event is held every March and showcases the best of Finnish design. It features exhibitions, workshops, and events.
• Easter Celebrations: Easter is a major holiday in Finland. It is celebrated with church services, family meals, and egg hunts.
• Helsinki Half Marathon: This annual event is held in late March and is a popular running event. It attracts thousands of runners from all over the world.
• Snowboarding World Cup: This event is held in Ruka, Finland in late March. It is one of the biggest snowboarding events in the world and attracts top athletes from all over the globe.

Finland in April

Weather

April in Finland is generally mild, with temperatures ranging from 4 to 12 degrees Celsius. The days are getting longer, with an average of 11 hours of daylight. Rainfall is common, with an average of 12 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• Easter is celebrated in April in Finland. Traditional activities include decorating Easter eggs, attending church services, and having Easter brunch with family and friends.
• The Tampere Film Festival is held in April in Tampere. The festival showcases independent films from around the world.
• The Vappu Festival is a spring celebration that takes place in April. It is celebrated with parades, parties, and picnics.
• The Jyväskylä Spring Festival is held in April in Jyväskylä. The festival includes concerts, art exhibitions, and other activities.
• The Helsinki International Film Festival is held in April in Helsinki. The festival showcases films from around the world.

Finland in May

Weather

In Finland, May is generally mild and pleasant. Temperatures range from an average high of 14°C (57°F) to an average low of 5°C (41°F). The days are also longer, with the sun rising around 4:30am and setting around 10pm.

Events

• Vappu (May 1st): Vappu is a public holiday in Finland, celebrated with a carnival-like atmosphere. People gather in parks and public squares to eat, drink, and socialize.
• Helsinki Day (May 12th): Helsinki Day is a celebration of the city of Helsinki. The day is marked with a variety of events such as concerts, sports competitions, and art exhibitions.
• Midsummer (June 24th): Midsummer is a celebration of the summer solstice. People gather around bonfires, eat, and drink. It is a popular time for outdoor activities such as camping and fishing.
• Helsinki Festival (August-September): The Helsinki Festival is a month-long celebration of art, music, and culture. Events take place throughout the city, including concerts, theatre performances, and art exhibitions.
• Juhannus (June 23rd-25th): Juhannus is a traditional Finnish holiday that marks the longest day of the year. People gather around bonfires, eat, and drink. It is a popular time for outdoor activities such as camping and fishing.

Finland in June

Weather

June in Finland is typically mild and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). Rainfall is common, but the days are usually bright and sunny.

Events

• Midsummer Day is celebrated on June 24th. It is a traditional Finnish holiday that includes bonfires, dancing and singing.
• The Tampere Jazz Happening is held in mid-June and is one of the largest jazz festivals in Europe.
• The Midnight Sun Film Festival is held in Lapland and celebrates the beauty of the midnight sun.
• The Savonlinna Opera Festival is held in late June and is one of the most popular cultural events in Finland.
• The Ilosaarirock Festival is held in Joensuu and is one of the largest rock festivals in Finland.

Finland in July

Weather

In July, Finland experiences long days of sunshine with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 22°C. The nights are usually cool and pleasant.

Events

• The Savonlinna Opera Festival is held in July in the city of Savonlinna. This festival is one of the most popular summer events in Finland and features some of the best opera performances in the world.
• The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is held in the city of Kaustinen in July. This is one of the largest folk music festivals in Finland and features traditional Finnish music, dance and culture.
• The Tampere Jazz Happening is held in July in the city of Tampere. This event features some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Porvoo Old Town Festival is held in July in the city of Porvoo. This event celebrates the city’s rich cultural heritage with music, art, and food.
• The Helsinki Festival is held in July in the city of Helsinki. This event features a variety of cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances, and art exhibitions.

Finland in August

Weather

August is the warmest month in Finland, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). The days are long, with up to 19 hours of daylight in the south and 16 hours in the north. Rainfall is common, with an average of 15-20 days of rainfall in August.

Events

• The annual Helsinki Festival is held in August, featuring a variety of music, theatre, and art performances.
• The annual Flow Festival is held in Helsinki, featuring a variety of music, art, and culture performances.
• The annual Savonlinna Opera Festival is held in August, featuring world-class opera performances.
• The annual Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is held in August, featuring traditional Finnish folk music.
• The annual Porvoo Old Town Festival is held in August, featuring a variety of events, music, and food.

Finland in September

Weather

September in Finland is usually quite mild, with temperatures ranging from 10-15 degrees Celsius. The days are shorter than in summer, but there is still plenty of sunshine and some rain.

Events

• The Helsinki International Film Festival is held in September, offering a great opportunity to watch a variety of films from around the world.
• The Tampere International Short Film Festival is held in September, showcasing a selection of short films from around the world.
• The Turku Book Fair is held in September, offering a great opportunity to discover new books and authors from Finland and abroad.
• The Savonlinna Opera Festival is held in September, offering a great opportunity to experience world-class opera performances.
• The Helsinki Design Week is held in September, offering a great opportunity to discover the latest trends in design from Finland and abroad.

Finland in October

Weather

October in Finland is usually cool and wet. Temperatures range from an average low of 3°C to an average high of 7°C. Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of 60mm of precipitation. Snow is not common in October, but light snowfall is possible in some areas.

Events

• Helsinki Design Week: This week-long event takes place in early October and celebrates Finnish design. It features a variety of exhibitions, workshops, and events related to design and architecture.
• Helsinki International Film Festival: This festival takes place in mid-October and showcases the best of Finnish and international cinema. It features a variety of screenings, workshops, and events.
• Helsinki Marathon: The Helsinki Marathon takes place in late October and is one of the largest marathons in Finland. It is a popular event for runners of all levels and attracts thousands of participants each year.
• Helsinki Book Fair: This annual event takes place in late October and celebrates Finnish literature. It features a variety of book-related events, including author readings, book signings, and workshops.
• Helsinki Festival: This annual festival takes place in late October and celebrates Finnish culture. It features a variety of music, theatre, and art performances, as well as workshops and other events.

Finland in November

Weather

November in Finland is generally cold and wet. Temperatures range from an average of -2°C in the south to -7°C in the north. Snowfall is common in the northern parts of the country, but it is less likely to occur in the south.

Events

• All Saints’ Day is celebrated on November 1st. This is a public holiday in Finland, and people usually visit cemeteries to honor their deceased family members.
• The Helsinki Book Fair is held in November. This is one of the biggest book fairs in the Nordic countries, and it is attended by authors, publishers, and booksellers from around the world.
• The Tampere Film Festival is held in November. This is the largest film festival in the Nordic countries, and it showcases the best of Finnish and international cinema.
• The Turku Christmas Market is held in November. This is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Finland, and it features traditional Finnish crafts and food.
• The Jyväskylä Ice Marathon is held in November. This is a long-distance ice skating race on the frozen lakes of Jyväskylä, and it attracts hundreds of skaters from around the world.

Finland in December

Weather

December in Finland is usually cold and snowy, with temperatures averaging around -3°C (27°F). The days are very short, with daylight lasting only for about 5 hours.

Events

• Joulupukin Päivä (Santa Claus Day): On December 6th, the Finns celebrate Joulupukin Päivä, which is a day to honor Santa Claus. This day is a great opportunity to take part in Christmas festivities and to visit Santa Claus in person!
• Christmas Markets: Throughout December, Christmas markets are held in many cities in Finland. These markets are a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, with festive decorations, traditional food, and handmade gifts.
• Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve is a special day in Finland, and is celebrated with a traditional dinner and gifts. Many Finns also attend church services on this day.
• New Year’s Eve: New Year’s Eve is a big celebration in Finland, with fireworks, parties, and other festivities.
• Helsinki Ice Park: The Helsinki Ice Park is a winter wonderland that is open from December to March. The park features ice sculptures, an ice rink, and other winter activities.