When to travel

Seasons

There are four seasons in Finland that have their own weather characteristics. Climatically, the four seasons are separated by so-called thermal seasons. Thermal seasons are determined by average daily temperatures. However, it is easier to compare statistics from different years when using periods of exactly three calendar months.

• • Spring: March-May (the average daily temperature above 0 degrees)
  • Summer: June-August (the average daily temperature above +10 degrees)
  • Autumn: September-November (average daily temperature below +10 degrees)
  • Winter: December-February (the average daily temperature below 0 degrees)

Source: Ilmatieteenlaitos

Weather in Sea Lapland

There are all four seasons in Sea Lapland and their change follows fairly well the normal division of the seasons. In Sea Lapland, the effect of wind direction on temperature must be taken into account. When the wind is blowing from the North or from the sea (South), the temperature always feels a few degrees colder on the skin.

In winter, you should dress in layers and protect your neck, head and hands well, as well as wear wool socks on your feet. In summer, especially when going to sea, you should bring extra clothing even on a warm day, because the wind always feels a little cold.

Check the weather right now in Sea Lapland 

Year round activities in Sea Lapland

There are plenty of tourist activities open all year round. The most famous is, of course, the year-round SnowCastle, which is pleasantly mild in winter if there is freezing outside and you can cool off in the summer heat. The Experience Factory Lappari  is also open almost daily, with activities for everybody: sports, entertainment and play. The exhibition and museums The Historical Museum of Kemi, The Provincial Museum of Tornio Valley, Arctic Gems & Comics, Aine Art Museum and Kemi Art Museum are open all year round. You can shop in many ways: clothes, furniture, cars and even houses can be bought in Sea Lapland every day of the year. You can take a Fatbike with or without electricity at any time and drive for adventure. The hovercraft allows you to explore the sea and the Bothnian Bay National Park by sliding over the ice or water. The adorable farm animals are around the players in a unique Farm Escape Game.

Winter

This polar night is called ‘kaamos’ in Finnish. Kaamos doesn’t reach Sea Lapland, there’s few hours of day light around noon. Winter solstice around Chistmas is the shortest day of the year. After that the day light time gets longer every day.

In the winter from December to the end of March you can do several activities on  the ice of the sea or rivers. The best known and most unique experience is a cruise on Icebreaker Sampo. Other great experiences provide snowmobiling or Fatbike on the ice, ice skating, snowshoeing, kick sledding, ice fishing or netting, as well as skiing and just walking on the ice.

The traditional winter destination of Sea Lapland is the annual SnowCastle, which is open from the end of January to mid-April. SnowCastle has wonderful snow and ice sculptures according to a changing theme, SnowRestaurant and SnowHotell, where staying overnight is a memorable experience for sure. In the winter of 2021, the SnowCastle will not be built due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In winter, you can also go reindeer riding, take various snowmobile safaris and husky safaris, snowshoe or ski in the woods. Traditional winter activities such as sledding, ice fishing and snow sculpting can be done on your own or as a guided program. There are a total of 400 km of cross-country ski trails and 35 ice skating rinks, as well as 250 km snowmobile trails. Sea Lapland’s own ski center Kalli can even be rented for private use or to spend a fun day with local children. Northern lights can be seen from September to April in the clear sky, preferably in the woods or at sea, guided or on your own.

Spring

In May you can admire the changing season when the ice melts away from the rivers with the powerful sound of the river flow. River ice falls into the sea as the weather warms and the ice begins to melt, detaching from the shores and cracking. All the waters of Lapland’s rivers flow through Sea Lapland into the Bay of Bothnia, and in the spring melting snow also flows into the rivers, so floods are a phenomenon every spring. The hydropower-producing Kemijoki river also offers magnificent waterfalls in the spring, when the dams are opened to allow water to reach the sea quickly.

As the snow melts, the grass begins to turn green and the first spring flowers, blue anemones and tulips bloom beautifully. Migratory birds returning from the South can be admired in the sky and listen to their singing. There are also several resting places for the birds with bird towers for watching them.

Summer and Autumn

Although the Midnight Sun only shines above the Arctic Circle, nights are white all over the country. Late at night, the sun briefly dips beyond the horizon before rising again, blurring the boundaries between fading night and dawning day.

In Summer there are plenty of water activities on offer in Sea Lapland. Cruise to the Bothnian Bay National Park on a fast motorboat or tranquil sailboat. Explore the interesting history of the nearby islands with the friendly sheep or go kayaking on the sea or one of the rivers. Go fishing, have water sports or try white water rafting. There are several wonderful guided nature trails in Sea Lapland, a total of 300 km. You can get around them with or without a guide.

On the moose safari, you can see the magnificent forest giants in the nature. The magnificent churches are open in the summer, the most special attraction in the churches is the mummy from the 17th century in the old church of Keminmaa.

The midnight sun gives you endless energy in June and July, after which you can start refueling with the berries and mushrooms of the earth. Cloudberries are picked in July, bilberries in August and lingonberries in September. Autumnal Lapland is the best place in Finland for witnessing “ruska” – a short period when all the foliage turns into bright colors like red, yellow and orange. Ruska is usually mostly yellow in Sea Lapland. In September, it is also possible to see the northern lights in the dark sky as the day shortens day by day.