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Lapland, Finland · Subarctic oceanic

Lapland in December: go or not?

Tough period. Lapland in December only reaches 0.6/10.

📅 Data updated: October 2026 🛰️ ERA5 · 10 years 📍 68.44°N · 27.42°E
⚡ This month's verdict
Avoid
Lapland · December
0.6
-10–-5°
Temperature
36%
Rain
0h
Sun
❄️ Subarctic🌌 Auroras🌬️ Frequent winds
Photo : Judith Prins via Unsplash
The month in detail

What to expect in December

Winter in Lapland is cool (23°F during the day). Days are short (0.0h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 36% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.

December ranks 12 out of 12 months in Lapland. Compared to November: −5°F daytime, 6 pts more rainy days.

This month's conditions

What it's like in December

Feels like
dry air
-10°
Daylight
1.0h of daylight
Air quality
good
AQI 27
Compare

Is December the right month?

The best month in Lapland is July (4.5/10), 3.9 pts higher than December.

See July →See all 12 months →
Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

🎟️ Activities & tours · Lapland

GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation

See all →
Affiliate link · GetYourGuide
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 · 64°F
❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 18°F
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘAugust · 49%

🌌 Subarctic stay

🌌Northern lights ⓘSept → Mars
☀️Midnight sun ⓘJuin (~21h)
🌬️WindVery frequent
🛂VisaSchengen · 90 days
Location

Where is Lapland ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
Finland
Subarctic 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 64°F highs, 52°F lows, 6.6h of sunshine and 43.0% 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?
October is the most unfavourable month with October 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 52°F, while afternoon highs average 64°F.
Is Lapland good in winter?
In winter (December-February), Lapland scores 0.7/10 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?
October is the most difficult month to visit Lapland, with October has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.