The month in detail
What to expect in January
Winter in Lapland is cool (-8.0°C during the day). Days are short (0.1h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 38.0% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
January ranks 10 out of 12 months in Lapland. Compared to December: −3°C daytime.
This month's conditions
What it's like in January
Feels like
dry air
-13°
Daylight
3.5h of daylight
Air quality
good
AQI 26
Compare
Is January the right month?
The best month in Lapland is July (4.5/10), 3.9 pts higher than January.
Context
Our verdict
Lapland is the circumpolar region covering the north of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. The most accessible touristically: Finnish Lapland around Rovaniemi (capital).
Book
Plan your trip
Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.
Stay
Hotels & rentals · Lapland
Expedia →
Activities
Tours, tickets, experiences
See ↓
Flights
Multi-airline comparator
Kiwi →
🎟️ Activities & tours · Lapland
GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation
Practical info
What you need to know before you go
Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a subarctic stay.
Country · Finland
🗣️LanguageFinnish
💶CurrencyEuro (€)
🚗DrivingRight-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5
💰Cost of living ⓘExpensive · 4/5
🌡️ Climate
🌍Climate typeSubarctic oceanic
📈Climate trendData unavailable
🔥Hottest monthJuly · 18°C
❄️Coolest monthJanuary · -8°C
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘAugust · 55%
🌌 Subarctic stay
🌌Northern lights ⓘSept → Mars
☀️Midnight sun ⓘJuin (~21h)
🌬️WindVery frequent
🛂VisaSchengen · 90 days
Explore
Other destinations in January
If January doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.
Location
Where is Lapland ?
Global position + regional geographic context.
🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
FinlandSubarctic oceanic climate with a 4.5 → 0.6 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
68.44°N · 27.42°E
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Lapland?
July is the best month with 18.0°C highs, 11.0°C lows, 6.6h of sunshine and 46.0% rainy days.
How many hours of sunshine does Lapland get in July?
Lapland averages 6.6 sunshine hours per day in July. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 4.3/10.
What is the rainiest month in Lapland?
January is the most unfavourable month with January has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.
What are the temperatures at night in Lapland in July?
In July, overnight lows reach 11.0°C, while afternoon highs average 18.0°C.
Is Lapland good in winter?
In winter (December-February), Lapland scores 0.6/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains July with a score of 4.3/10.
When should you avoid Lapland?
January is the most difficult month to visit Lapland, with January has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.