what time does it get dark in lapland in winter?

The short answer: in Levi, Finnish Lapland, it is dark by around 15:00 to 15:30 through December and early January. Between roughly 10 December and 2 January the sun does not rise at all, but there are still about five hours of twilight in the middle of the day, from about 09:30 to 15:00, and the best light sits between 11:00 and 14:00. By the end of March the sun sets after 20:00.

date	sunrise	sunset	twilight (civil)
1 december	10:56	13:24	09:00 – 15:15
10 dec – 2 jan	no sunrise	polar night	09:35 – 15:05
15 january	10:55	14:07	09:15 – 15:50
1 february	09:40	15:31	08:25 – 16:45
15 february	08:41	16:32	07:40 – 17:35
1 march	07:42	17:27	06:45 – 18:25
31 march	06:37	20:16	05:35 – 21:15

If you are planning a winter holiday in Lapland, you may be wondering how dark it actually gets.

In Levi, Finnish Lapland, December is the darkest time of winter. There are only a few hours of natural light around the middle of the day, and during polar night the sun does not rise above the horizon at all.

But that does not mean it is completely dark all day.

There is still Arctic twilight. With snow covering the forest and reflecting whatever light there is, it can be much brighter than you might expect.

what time does it get dark in lapland in december

In Levi, it starts getting dark very early in December.

At the beginning of the month the sun is above the horizon for only a short time. As December progresses, Levi enters polar night, and the sun no longer rises at all.

There are still around five hours of twilight and natural light around the middle of the day, from about 09:30 to 15:00.

The sky brightens gradually through the morning, with the best natural light usually between 11:00 and 14:00. By 15:00 it is going dark again, and by 15:30 it is night.

So if you are imagining twenty four hours of complete darkness, do not worry. That is not what December in Levi feels like.

is lapland dark all day in winter?

No. Lapland is not completely dark all day in winter.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about visiting in December.

During polar night the sun stays below the horizon, but there is still twilight. On a clear day the sky turns through blue, pink, purple and orange around the middle of the day.

Snow reflects all of it, which makes the forest and the landscape feel much brighter than the numbers suggest.

It is difficult to explain until you have stood in it. It feels more like a very long sunrise and sunset than a day without light.

what is polar night?

Polar night, kaamos in Finnish, is the period when the sun does not rise above the horizon.

In Levi it runs from around 10 December to 2 January. After the winter solstice the light starts returning, and the days lengthen noticeably as winter goes on.

We have written about what those weeks are actually like to live through in polar night in lapland, explained simply.

how many hours of daylight does lapland get in winter?

The amount of daylight changes a great deal depending on the month you visit.

December is the darkest period. Around Levi you can expect roughly five hours of twilight and natural light during the darkest part of winter, from about 09:30 to 15:00.

January is still dark and very wintry, but the light returns surprisingly quickly. You notice longer days every week as the month goes on.

February has considerably more daylight. It is one of our favourite parts of winter: enough daylight for snowmobiling, husky safaris and snowshoeing, and evenings that are still properly dark.

March feels completely different from December. Long, bright days (the sun sets after 20:00 by the end of the month), plenty of time outdoors, and a landscape still fully under snow. The nights are still dark enough for the Northern Lights when conditions are right.

If you want the longer version of how each month feels, when to come north walks through all four.

does the sun rise in lapland in december?

It depends where in Lapland you are, and when in December you visit.

Lapland covers a large area, and daylight hours in Rovaniemi are not the same as daylight hours further north.

Here in Levi the sun still rises briefly at the start of December, for about two and a half hours around midday on the 1st. From around 10 December it stays below the horizon until 2 January.

This is why it is worth checking daylight hours for the exact place you are going, rather than treating Lapland as a single destination.

is december too dark to visit lapland?

Not at all.

December is one of the most atmospheric times to be in Finnish Lapland.

Husky safaris, reindeer experiences, snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing all continue through the month. Lapland is built around winter conditions. Trails and activity sites are lit, and local guides are entirely used to working in the dark months.

You do not need to fit your whole holiday into the few hours of natural light.

The darkness is part of the experience.

what is the best time of day for activities in december?

For anything where you want to see the snowy landscape, we suggest late morning and early afternoon. That is when the natural light is at its best.

The darker hours are for Northern Lights, the forest sauna, the hot tub, dinner, and long evenings in the forest.

It is less about worrying over short days, and more about planning the day around them.

is december good for the northern lights?

December gives you plenty of hours of darkness for potential Northern Lights viewing.

But darkness alone is not enough. Visibility depends on solar activity, cloud cover and local weather.

December is also not the only month for the aurora. February and March give you considerably more daylight while keeping dark evenings and nights.

If the Northern Lights matter to you, staying several nights is more useful than choosing the darkest month. Our guides to when to see the aurora and where to stay in levi for the northern lights go further into both.

december or february in lapland?

This is a question we get a lot.

December is a good choice if you want the Christmas atmosphere, very short days, long dark evenings, and the experience of polar night.

February is better if you want more daylight for activities while still having deep snow, proper winter conditions and dark evenings.

March suits you if you prefer longer, brighter days and more time outdoors, with plenty of snow and nights still dark.

There is no single best month. They genuinely feel very different.

what polar night feels like at sixty eight north

Sixty Eight North sits in our own private forest, around fifteen minutes outside Levi village.

Winter darkness feels very different here than it does surrounded by streets, shops and buildings.

During the day you can watch the Arctic light change through the trees. As darkness comes in, the forest goes quiet and the sky becomes the thing you notice.

Our forest cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows, so even in the darkest part of winter you stay connected to what is happening outside.

And when the sky is clear, you step out of your door and look up.

We chose a location away from the centre of Levi deliberately, because we wanted our guests to have this side of Lapland too.

frequently asked questions

What time does it get dark in Lapland in December?

In Levi it is dark by around 15:00 to 15:30 in December. Around the darkest part of winter there are roughly five hours of twilight and natural light in the middle of the day, from about 09:30 to 15:00, before darkness returns.

Is Lapland completely dark in December?

No. Even during polar night there is natural twilight around the middle of the day. Snow reflects the available light, which makes the landscape brighter than most visitors expect.

How many hours of daylight does Levi get in December?

During the darkest part of December, Levi has roughly five hours of twilight and natural light, from about 09:30 to 15:00. During polar night, from around 10 December to 2 January, the sun itself does not rise above the horizon.

When is polar night in Levi?

Polar night in Levi runs from around 10 December to 2 January, when the sun stays below the horizon all day. Twilight still lights the middle of the day.

What is kaamos?

Kaamos is the Finnish word for polar night, the period when the sun stays below the horizon during winter in northern Finland.

Is January dark in Lapland?

Yes. January still has short days, particularly at the start of the month. Daylight increases quickly as the month goes on.

Is February dark in Lapland?

February has much more daylight than December, but the evenings and nights are still dark. That combination makes it a good month for daytime winter activities and Northern Lights at night.

Can you see the Northern Lights during polar night?

Yes, when aurora activity, cloud cover and weather all cooperate. Polar night gives you plenty of darkness, but the Northern Lights are never guaranteed.

when should you visit levi?

Do not choose your month on daylight hours alone.

December, January, February and March each offer a different winter. December gives you polar night and the Christmas atmosphere. January brings deep winter and returning light. February balances snow, daylight and dark evenings. March brings long, bright winter days.

And if you are worried December will simply be too dark, it is probably not what you are imagining.

Lapland in December is not twenty four hours of darkness. There are a few hours each day when the snow, the forest and the sky come alive with Arctic twilight.

Then the darkness returns. That is part of experiencing winter here.

If you are still working out how long to come for, how many nights should you stay in levi is the next thing to read.