Seasons in Finland

SUMMER
Because of the long, cold winter Finns celebrate their summer very passionately. Some go to music festivals, offering a choice of jazz, blues, rock, opera and chamber music. Others are sailing among the coastal islands or enjoying slow life at their summer cottages – swimming, fishing and cooking dinner on the grill. For three brief – but oh, so sweet! – months, the temperatures soar high and the sun does not set at all.

ENDLESS SUMMER DAYS AND WHITE NIGHTS
The summer isn’t endless in Finland, but there are almost endless summer days and white nights.

In Finnish Lapland a single summer day lasts for over two months. In the southern parts of the country it is never really dark either, just a period of twilight for a few hours. This is why we call Finland the Land of the Midnight Sun.

STEP OUTSIDE
On a fine summer day, Finns have an overwhelming urge to get outside and get out of town. From the beautiful coastal islands to the ever-present forests and lakes everywhere and anywhere in the country, the nature is always nearby, even with the largest of cities. Some, of course, still stay in the city and enjoy slow city life under the sun.

When in the city Finns enjoy their months of sunshine (and a glass of cider) on the sidewalk and park terraces around town. Market places of all sort are another attraction. The signs are small at first – the marketplaces feature strawberries or peas eaten fresh – but by midsummer the Nordic nation has definitely defrosted.

MIDSUMMER
Midsummer is a main national holiday in Finland. Originally a celebration of the summer solstice, it is typically spent with friends and family at a summer cottage away from the city, either partying or relaxing.

Midsummer is often seen as the beginning of warm summer weather and many Finns start their summer holidays on Midsummer Eve. Taking place at the end of June, longest day of the year is a key element in the festivities in the northern parts of Finland.

STAY UP ALL NIGHT
When nights are almost as light as day it is possible to do all the same things that you would do in the daytime – the greatest difference comes from the incredible change in the nature of the light… It takes on a reddish-yellow color – almost like during sunrise or sunset – and everything around you is bathed in an unimaginably warm, bright light.

Getting out of a dark nightclub at 3 a.m. can be a bit confusing, as it feels more like 3 p.m. You wouldn’t be the first to swap sleep for an after-party on the beach – in full sunlight, of course.

FESTIVALS
Finland is one of the best places in Europe to go to festivals. From numerous rock, jazz, opera and folk festivals to chamber music and theatre events, there is always a party going on. Of course, you already know the sun never sets…

From large-scale rock festivals to small local happenings, you’ll find something going on more or less every day throughout the Finnish summer. The largest festivals have been around for decades and cater for all tastes in the popular music category, gathering tens of thousands of people.

COTTAGE LIFE
Escaping to the countryside or wilderness is a national way of relaxation. Easy-going parties with friends and family remind us what life really is about – having a good time with the most important people in your life.

Often situated by water, cabins and cottages are an essential element in Finnish life, providing a physical and mental getaway from the daily grind. Forgetting the everyday worries is inevitable in retreats amid the country’s greatest resource: its rugged natural beauty.

AUTUMN
Summer ends with an explosion of colour in the forests. This is the season known as ‘ruska’, when the autumnal reds, browns and yellows are especially beautiful on the fells of Lapland. September is also a popular time for trekking in northern Finland.

IT’S TIME FOR ‘RUSKA’
While Finns are going back to work, recalling the summer and planning for the next one, others are still finding their way here, to spend a different kind of holiday. Autumn is a time of silence. A time to step back and calm down. It is a time for hiking in clean, crisp air and colorful surroundings. Waiting for the winter to arrive.

Autumn leaf colour, or “ruska” to locals, is a spectacular natural phenomenon that paints northern landscapes in deep and soft tones. Covered in forests and wildernesses, Finland is a prime destination for some serious leaf peeping.

BERRIES AND MUSHROOMS FROM FOREST
The woods are dotted with wild edible mushrooms, such as yellow chanterelles and brown porcini. Autumn is a heavenly time for people who like to gather their own food.

The pièce de résistance regarding Finnish food products is the surprising fact that they are often completely free of charge and have grown in the wild. Everyman’s right in the country’s forests guarantees that you are allowed to pick almost anything your heart and mouth desires.

SEASON OF CHANGE
Autumn is the time when Finns are taking their boats out of the water, putting their bicycles in the garage, and preparing to get out their skates and skis. It is the time between the two main seasons – summer and winter – but no less important.

Autumn leaf colour acts as a messenger of sorts; it bids a melancholic but sweet farewell to long summer days and serves as a reminder of the dark and cold winter days looming around the corner.

NORTHERN LIGHTS SEASON BEGINS
Even though many people associate the Northern Lights with cold and snowy winter scenery, the most active seasons are actually autumn and spring when the earth’s orientation towards the sun maximises the probability of solar flares interacting with the planet’s magnetic field to generate this phenomenon.

WINTER
During January and February, there is almost always snow in northern and eastern Finland. Even if there’s little snow in Helsinki, there’s often up to a metre or more on the skiing slopes of Lapland. The snow season in northern Finland begins in November and lasts at least until May. In the inland regions of southern and central Finland, the first snow falls at the beginning of December and melts during late March and April.

DOZE OFF UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
In Finland, nature’s most spectacular light show, the Aurora Borealis, can be viewed in a range of purpose-built spaces from glass igloos to luxury suites.

The Northern Lights are visible on roughly 200 nights a year – or every other clear night – in Finnish Lapland. The more traditional ways to go Aurora spotting are snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobile and sled dog touring. If gazing at the dark sky in crispy winter air is not your thing, you can simply add comfort.

ON THE HUNT FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
The Northern Lights dancing up above is such a powerful and unique natural phenomenon it changes lives down on Earth. Being one of the best places to spot the Aurorae, Finland has even received immigration because of them. Below are some tips for becoming a Northern Lights Hunter yourself.

SKIING UNDER THE SUN – OR THE MOON
During the long days of March and April in Lapland, you can ski or sleigh for 12 to 16 hours under a brilliant sun. The best skiing season in Lapland starts in February and lasts until May. If you’re looking for something more exotic, try skiing under magical moonlight during the darkest ‘kaamos’ days of December and January.

You can go downhill or cross-country skiing, go on a dogsled or skimobile safari, or even indulge in some ice-skating or ice-fishing. The Finnish winter lasts half the year, so Finns have thought of plenty of activities to fill the time.

DRESS RIGHT FOR THE WEATHER
Yes, it gets cold in Finland in the winter. But that’s no reason to stay indoors – just gear up right and make the most of the fresh white season.

Dress warmly and enjoy it. Even if the thermometer reads minus 20 centigrade, it doesn’t feel as cold as you might think. The dry continental climate here doesn’t feel as cold as the damp cold of central Europe. Finns are also used to this kind of weather, so everything runs smoothly and punctually.

TAKE AN ICY DIP
Believe it or not, swimming in a hole in the ice really does you the world of good.

The secret of plunging into icy water is in the feeling that surges through your body once you are back on dry land; your circulation kicks in and your body starts to warm up. While climbing into the water does require a certain amount of courage, the initial shock and momentary loss of feeling in your legs soon pass – and it is all worth it!

CHRISTMAS TIME AND SANTA CLAUS
White landscapes enshrouded in darkness, only lit by the stars in the sky and ice lanterns on driveways set the mood for a soothingly cosy festive season…

Everyone knows Santa Claus comes from Finland, but there’s lot more to a traditional Finnish Christmas. During the festive season, Finns like to take things slow and enjoy the company of loved ones.

IN SNOWY HELSINKI
As the snow falls, the idyllic summer towns are replaced with something completely different, but equally alive with opportunities for a great time.

Once you get the hang of it, ice-skating is definitely one of the most thrilling ways to enjoy the cold. You can go for some of natural calm on the icy sea or skate in the middle of the city at the ice-skating rinks.

SPRING
Summer is short in Finland and spring is even shorter. In southern Finland there is often snow on the ground at the beginning of April, with a few crocuses poking their heads through the bare patches. Of all the seasons, spring is definitely the most versatile depending which part of Finland you are visiting. In the North it is still possible to go skiing where as South is getting warmer and warmer.

NATURE COMES ALIVE
May in the southern parts of Finland is when everything is growing so fast you can almost see the grass growing and the leaves bursting forth.

Spring is the time when nature (and Finns!) come alive after the long winter. Ice melting and birds singing – these are the sounds of Finnish spring.

FESTIVE SEASON
When the temperature starts to rise and the days get longer and longer (even it might have seemed they never would) Finns want to celebrate the new season and the promise of those long-awaited summer days.

Spring is time of rebirth and celebration. It is the time of Easter, and May the 1st – Vappu – a time of frenzied celebrations across the country. Be forewarned: this is not a day when Finns are their usual sober and hardworking selves. This is the time to celebrate!

HIDING PLACE
If you prefer peace and quiet, this is a good time to rent a cottage. The forests are carpeted with anemones and other wildflowers. Spring rain and sunshine pass quickly over the lakes. The water is still cold, but if you are brave, hot and steaming from the sauna, then you might fancy taking a quick dip.

Spending those bright spring days in a cottage near water can be just as lovely as doing it in the summer-time. Coastal Finland has many cabins and cottages for rent throughout the year.

SEASON OF CONTRASTS
In Lapland, spring means skiing in the sun well into the evening – whilst in Helsinki people are already preparing for summer, taking strolls in the parks filled with fresh grass and flowers.

Depending where in Finland you are located, spring can offer totally different experiences. In the South you can already loose the thick winter clothes and buy fresh flowers from the market – while in the North it is still possible to ski and snowboard under the bright spring sun.

BIRD WATCHING
Winter slowly yields its grip and the sea is once more open. Soon the air will be full of the migrating birds returning north. Finland is a bird-watchers’ paradise.

Bird observation towers – found all around Finland – are perfect for spotting rare species and appreciating the beautiful landscape.

SHOPPING
Whether you are shopping or just exploring, design gems and unique fashion can be found throughout the country.

If you crave cool, the best place to start the perfect day in Helsinki is the Design District around Diana Park. Follow the black-and-white stickers and discover a hip neighbourhood of 200 trendy boutiques, galleries and eateries. It is a shopping heaven for design aficionados.

Seasons in Finland