The best time to visit Helsinki is in the long, light summer months, from May to August, when the sun barely sets. The waterfront is buzzing with life, and there’s an air of celebration in the city.
Helsinki lies on the south coast of Finland and has a Baltic climate, with bitterly cold winters and mild summers. Snow lies on the ground most years from December to April. In contrast, summer can be surprisingly hot, with temperatures reaching a blistering 82°F (28°C).
Finns are known for embracing the outdoors, whether it’s heading north to Lapland in winter for skiing and aurora-chasing or sitting around campfires on the beach in summer as the sun barely skims the horizon. As such, there are plenty of good months to visit Helsinki, depending on what you want to do.
Visiting Helsinki By Season
Summer
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June, July, and August bring warm weather, often clear skies, and long, light days. Around the summer solstice in June, the sun will rise before 4 am and set after 11 pm. July is the warmest month, with average temperatures of 64.4°F (18°C), although daytime highs can be much more intense during a heatwave. June and July are arguably the best time to go to Helsinki for warm, dry weather.
While the city receives surprisingly little precipitation, August is statistically the wettest month, with 3.1 inches (80mm) of rain, so come prepared for the occasional shower.
By August, the sea has reached a high of a bracing 63°F (17°C), but plenty of Finns swim nonetheless. This is a great time to try a sauna, heating up in a log cabin, and then plunging into the sea or one of the many lakes.
Fall
September is still a good time to visit Helsinki; around now and into October is called ruska, when the trees in the forests that surround the city assume their autumnal hues of orange, yellow, and red. But the nights begin to close in as fall progresses.
By November, Helsinki receives just one hour of sunlight per day, on average. Temperatures drop from a daily average of 53.5°F (12°C) in September to a chilly 35.3°F (1.8°C) by November. On the coldest November nights, the mercury can plunge to 15.5°F (-9°C) and the first snow may fall.
Winter
Winters in Helsinki are bitterly cold. The sea often freezes, and you’ll see icebreakers carving a path through the harbor for the ferries. December and January can bring significant snowfall; December receives 2.6 inches (65mm) of precipitation and has average temperatures of 29.6°F (-1.3°C).
Despite the cold, the streets and waterfront are bright in December with the lights of advent markets. Out of the city, there’s a chance of seeing the northern lights dancing in the sky.
Spring
Sibelius Monument
Helsinki is still chilly in March, but as spring moves on, the snow melts, wildflowers come into bloom, and locals begin to emerge from their sense of winter hibernation.
May 1 is Vappu, a nationwide celebration of the end of winter. By now, Helsinki is basking in an average of nine hours of sunshine daily. Temperatures are still cool, averaging 50.6°F (10.4°C), but there’s very low rainfall. From May, the city gets an average of nine sunshine hours daily.
When Is Rainy Season?
August is an anomaly in Helsinki as it’s statistically the wettest month, with occasional showers. But this is still one of the busiest months for tourism.
Otherwise, Helsinki receives the most precipitation from October to January, much of it falling as snow. March is a less attractive month to visit as the snow turns to slush—but on the other hand, this is one of the best months to spot the northern lights, away from the lights of the city.
When Is High Season?
Helsinki
High season in Helsinki is the “White Nights” period, from mid-May to early August. During this time, it never really gets dark, even around midnight. Finns celebrate the summer with trips to the islands, hiking, kayaking, and berry picking. Helsinki can even feel quiet on weekends as locals have decamped to their lakeside cabins, leaving the capital city to its many visitors.
When Is Shoulder Season?
Shoulder season in Helsinki is either side of the summer peak, so the months of May and September. Both are a pleasant time to visit. May is especially exciting as May 1 is Vappu, one of the biggest national holidays, with the end of winter celebrated with fireworks, drinking, feasting, and general merriment. In September, mushrooms and berries are in season, as is game meat, making this a great month for gourmands.
When Is Low Season?
October and November are the lowest season months in Helsinki. The long days of summer are over, but the snow has not yet fallen, and the nights are closing in. Although January and February are colder and darker, these are busy months for winter sports and as such, are not considered low season.
Read: Best Things to Do in Helsinki
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