Month by month, what the light, the cold and the land are like in Inari, and what you can do here.
December to March is the time for snow, huskies, snowmobiles and northern lights. If you want snow and daylight together, aim for mid-February to March. For the midnight sun, come in June or July. For autumn colours (ruska) and the first auroras, come in the first half of September.
There is no bad month, only different ones. Below is what each season is really like at our latitude, 69° north, so you can pick the one that suits you.
| Season | Months | Light | Typical temperature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polar night and early winter | Late November to mid-January | Sun below the horizon, 3 to 5 hours of blue twilight | −6 to −17 °C | Quiet, cosy stays, northern lights, Christmas and New Year |
| Deep winter | Mid-January to February | 1 to 7 hours of daylight, growing fast | −7 to −17 °C, colder snaps are common | Huskies, snowmobiles, snowshoes, ice fishing, northern lights |
| Spring winter | March to April | 11 to 16 hours of daylight | −12 to 3 °C | Sun and snow together, skiing, long days outside, lights in March |
| Midnight sun and summer | Late May to August | Up to 24 hours of daylight | 1 to 19 °C | Hiking, packrafting, fishing, paddling, long calm evenings |
| Ruska and autumn | September to October | 13 hours falling to 9, with real nights again | −2 to 11 °C | Autumn colours, berries, mushrooms, first auroras |
Temperatures are the average daily highs and lows at Ivalo airport, 1991–2020, from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. A single day can be far colder or milder.
Three moments that only the far north has, with their dates at our latitude.
About 28 November to 13 January
The sun stays below the horizon, but it is not dark all day. For 3 to 5 hours around noon the land turns a deep, soft blue. A calm, inward time, with candlelit evenings, the sauna and a good chance of northern lights on clear nights. If you need sunshine, choose February or March instead.
About 20 May to 23 July
The sun does not set. You can hike, fish or paddle at midnight in warm golden light, and the nights never turn dark. Bring an eye mask. There are no auroras in these months, and mosquitoes are part of the bargain in late June and July.
The first half of September
A burst of red, orange and gold on the fells and birches, a little earlier up here than farther south. It is a short window and nature sets the date, not us. September also brings the first dark skies and the first auroras, with fewer visitors and no need for snow gear.
Pick a month for its light, its weather and what you can do with us then. The adventures and holidays follow our booking pages, so the list is always up to date.
Cold, dark and beautiful. The sun returns on 13 January and the light grows every day, while the long nights keep the aurora in play.
Our favourite winter month: sunny days, deep snow and still very good auroras. Book early.
Bright, snowy and gentler on the fingers, with our best mix of light, snow and auroras. The last month for the lights by sledge.
Late winter. Long days and snow that starts to soften, good for skiing and quiet. The last month of the winter adventures.
The thaw. Rivers open, paths can be muddy and some trails are not yet usable. A shoulder month.
The sun never sets and the nights are mild enough to stay outside. Pack a head net.
Our warmest month and the longest days, made for hiking, fishing and the water. Mosquitoes are at their peak.
Adventures this month
Holidays this month
Warm days, fewer bugs and the first dark skies, and often quieter than July.
Adventures this month
See all 6 summer adventuresHolidays this month
Ruska colours the fells in the first half of the month, and the first auroras appear. Our quiet favourite.
Bare trees, first snow, not yet winter. Quiet and moody: the last hikes, fire evenings by the kota and the first dark skies.
The in-between month. Snow arrives but the days are short, and most visitors prefer to wait for December.
Christmas, candlelight and the blue glow of the polar night. It is cloudier than February or March, so the aurora is never certain.
Climate normals, not a forecast. Highs and lows: Ivalo airport, 1991–2020, Finnish Meteorological Institute. Snow: average depth at FMI's Kaamanen station, the nearest to the village, 2009–2025. Sunrise and sunset on the 15th, at the village, in Finnish time.
The lights come on their own time. Our job is to put you under a dark sky at the right moment.
Northern lights are not a show with a timetable. We never promise them, and we say so before you book.
The sky here is dark enough for auroras from late August to early April, and the best odds are from September to March on clear nights. They need three things at once. It must be dark, the sky must be clear, and the sun must be active enough to send charged particles our way.
We cannot control any of them, which is why we suggest at least three nights. Over three nights most guests see them at least once, but December and January are cloudier, so the clear nights are fewer. In the midnight-sun months, from late May to late July, you will not see auroras at all.
Our village sits away from town lights, so it is a good place to wait, and if the sky opens we let you know. From September to March you can also wait for the lights by the fire, with smoked salmon on the embers.
Experience the Aurora on a cosy wooden sledge safari in Lapland, far from light pollution, in a peaceful, intimate small group in one of the best spots to chase them, Muotkantunturi Wilderness.
Dress in layers, whatever the month. For our activities we lend you warm overalls, so you do not need to buy anything for the trip.
Start with a wool or merino base layer, a warm middle layer and windproof outer clothes. Add warm boots, a hat, and mittens rather than gloves.
Bring a waterproof jacket and a fleece or light down layer, and shoes that can take mud and wet snow.
Light trousers, a hat, sunglasses, sturdy shoes and insect repellent. A head net is cheap and helps a lot in July.
Free, with local tips from those who call Lapland home.
When to visit Finnish Lapland, what to wear, how to get here and what is myth or reality: the questions we hear most, answered from our own local experience to help you prepare, travel better and enjoy the real Lapland.
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September to March on clear nights. For the best mix of dark skies and decent weather we like September and late February to March. Plan at least three nights, because the lights cannot be promised.
A normal winter day is between −15 and −25 °C, and cold snaps of −30 °C happen most winters. Inari is very dry, which makes the cold feel milder than it sounds. The average January high is −8 °C and the low −17 °C.
No. From about 28 November to 13 January the sun stays under the horizon, but you get 3 to 5 hours of soft blue twilight around noon, and the snow reflects it.
Usually the first half of September. It varies each year with the weather, so we cannot give an exact week.
No. In the midnight-sun months, from late May to late July, the sky is never dark enough. Auroras return in late August.
Early December and April are usually the quietest and the most affordable. Christmas, New Year and February are the busiest, so book early for those.
Not if they are dressed for it. We lend warm overalls for activities, and dogs are welcome at the village. On the coldest days very small children and some dogs may be happier indoors, and we will tell you.
Yes, if you like hiking, fishing and long evenings. June and July have the midnight sun and August is quieter and warm, but bring repellent for the mosquitoes.
A short letter when there is something worth telling, never more than once a month.
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Pick your season, then the place to come home to after each day out.
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