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    What is polar night (kaamos) in Finland?

    Where polar night happens, how long it lasts and what the light is like.

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    Short answer

    Polar night, kaamos in Finnish, is the period in the far north when the sun stays below the horizon all day. In the northernmost corner of Finland it lasts up to 51 days, around December and early January. It is not pitch dark: there are a few hours of blue twilight around midday, and snow reflects the light.

    Weather & Seasons

    Why

    1. The Finnish Meteorological Institute says polar night lasts up to 51 days in the northernmost corner of Finland.
    2. Visit Finland says the sun does not rise at all for the first weeks of January in northern Lapland.
    3. According to Visit Finland, the polar night settles over Lapland from around November.

    Details

    Further south, around the Arctic Circle, the sun still rises briefly. In southern Finland the shortest day is about six hours long.

    Tip

    Plan outdoor activities for the light hours around noon, and use the long evenings for aurora watching and sauna.

    What may differ

    The exact number of days without sunrise depends on how far north you are and on the terrain around you, such as fells blocking the horizon.

    Common misconception

    During kaamos it is completely dark for weeks.

    What actually happens

    The sun stays below the horizon, but there is twilight around midday, often in deep blue and pink colours.

    People also ask

    • Is it dark all day in Lapland in December?
    • When does polar night start in Finland?
    • Does Rovaniemi have polar night?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the forecast of the Finnish Meteorological Institute before you travel.

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