Finland is a country synonymous with breathtakingly distinctive seasons and a medley of natural phenomena to admire year round. Winter, however, may arguably be one of the most beautiful seasons. It is a time when the country takes on a magical, otherworldly quality and life slows down.
Under a thick blanket of snowfall, the country is transformed. In Lapland, forest giants bend under the weight of snow and transform into impressive towering sculptures. In central and southern Finland frozen lakes mirror the heavens, stretching into infinity.
Whilst daylight is limited in this season, particularly above the Arctic Circle, the beautiful sunsets with their pink and purple hues are not to be missed. The fresh air remains clean and crisp and the lack of light pollution in the wilderness treats us to the most incredible night skies, ideal for stargazing.
The Polar Night, known as Kaamos in Finland, is one of the most revered times of year. It is a phenomenon which can only be experienced above the Arctic Circle in winter, when the sun does not rise for at least 24 hours. While the days remain dark, the landscape is bathed in sapphire blues and shades of indigo and violet. This is caused by scattered and refracted light from below the horizon and is emphasised by the reflective nature of the snow and ice.
Life in winter is about embracing the conditions - venturing outside when it is light and retreating into cosy interiors when it is dark. While it’s light, we will immerse ourselves in nature, trekking through one of Finland’s immense National Parks, trying our hands at cross country skiing, or gliding across frozen lakes in reindeer drawn sleighs, as the indigenous Sami people travelled centuries ago. We might eat outside, huddled around a crackling fire while we soak up lungfulls of the clean, fresh air. In the evenings, we will retreat to our cosy base and make use of the sauna, unwind by a fire or take our own leisure time to read or relax.
If we are lucky, the night skies might surprise us with a display of the Northern Lights. Nothing is more humbling or awe inspiring than witnessing the effects of a storm on the sun, millions of miles away, hitting our earth's atmosphere in a spectacular display of colour and movement!
Average Temperatures in Finland in Winter
Regional Variations:
Southern Finland (e.g., Helsinki, Turku): -5 to +2°C (23 to 36°F)
Central Finland (e.g., Jyväskylä, Kuopio): -10 to -5°C (14 to 23°F)
Northern Finland & Lapland (e.g., Rovaniemi, Inari, Kilpisjärvi): -20 to -10°C (-4 to 14°F)