Early January 1 January
24°F
Typical afternoon high
39% historical wet-day frequency
Finland · Regional guide
Finnish Lapland & the east
in January.
Is January a good time?
Cold days.
Fewer overnight stays than December.
January averages 22°F afternoons and 33°F seas, with about 11 rain days.
- Afternoons
- 22°F
- Coastal sea
- 33°F
- Visitor demand
- 69%of July peak
Historical Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi regional averages, not a forecast or a measure of queues. Overnight demand compares average stays per day. Covers Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Levi, Oulu and Savonlinna; conditions vary within the region.
Warm-weather match
2.8/10 · scores & prioritiesThis rating uses beach-weather comfort across northern and eastern Finland. It does not assess snow holidays, skiing or northern lights. Sea temperatures describe the coast, not inland lakes.
What matters most?
Weather 50% · Crowds 30% · Cost 20%
#9 of 12 for warm-weather travel · Balanced mix
Warm-weather comfort1.0/10Poor
CrowdsBusy seasonvs its own year; overnight stays do not measure queuesFor its size, one of Europe's busiest this month
CostExpensivefor Europe
Overall combines weather, overnight demand and cost. It does not include sea temperature.
Plan your January
What to expect.
What should I pack?
Afternoons around 22°F (−6°C): a winter coat, hat and gloves. Bring rain gear: about 11 days with at least 1 mm of rain. About 5 hours of daylight.
Can I swim in January?
The sea averages 33°F. Our swimming guide: very cold: wetsuit weather. Your comfort will vary. This is open water near the coast, not a beach-specific reading.
Monthly coastal averages from NOAA, 2011–2025. Sea temperature is separate from the weather and Overall scores.
A typical day: temperatures & daylightAfternoons, nights, sea temperature & daylight Show detailsHide details
About 5 hours of daylight.
The sun rises about 09:58 and sets about 14:42 (local time, mid-month). Mornings start around 12°F (−11°C); afternoons reach about 22°F (−6°C). Expect rain on about 11 days in a typical January.
Typical afternoon
22°F (−6°C)
average daily high, 15 recent Januarys
Night low
12°F (−11°C)
average daily minimum
Sea
33°F (0°C)
very cold; open water near the coast, NOAA satellite record 2011–2025
Daylight
4h 43m
on the 15th, computed from latitude
Early, middle or late?
Early or late January?
Early and late January have similar afternoon averages. The afternoon high averages 24°F on the 1st, versus 22°F on the 31st.
Mid January 15 January
21°F
Typical afternoon high
34% historical wet-day frequency
Late January 31 January
22°F
Typical afternoon high
39% historical wet-day frequency
Historical daily averages from 2011–2025, smoothed over two weeks. A seasonal pattern, not a forecast. This does not establish which week has the lowest prices or fewest visitors.
Daily calendar & holiday datesJanuary 2027 · historical weather & dated holidays Show calendarHide calendar
January 2027 calendar
Weather shows historical patterns, not a forecast. Holidays and events use the dates shown for 2027.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 124° | 223° | 323° | ||||
| 423° | 522° | 622° | 722° | 821° | 921° | 1020° |
| 1120° | 1221° | 1321° | 1421° | 1521° | 1621° | 1721° |
| 1821° | 1921° | 2021° | 2121° | 2222° | 2322° | 2422° |
| 2522° | 2622° | 2722° | 2822° | 2922° | 3022° | 3122° |
Afternoon high rain likely (25%+) local school holidays public holiday event
School-holiday dates for January 2027 aren't available in our data yet. A day without a school marker doesn't mean schools are open.
Afternoons hold at about 22°F (−6°C) all month. The chance of a wet day runs 34–40%.
Elsewhere in January 2027, the share of people living where schools are out on a typical day: Germany 21%, Spain 24%, Italy 20%, Poland 17%. (School holidays: OpenHolidays, ODbL.)
Crowds and cost
Visitor season
Will it be busy?
Busy season. January averages 69% of July's overnight stays per day. Fewer overnight stays than December.
Overnight stays across Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi do not measure queues, day visitors or congestion at individual sights. For its size, one of Europe's busiest this month.
Accommodation price season
Will it be cheaper?
Well above usual.
For a Lapland budget, start with the local figure: the 2024–2025 January accommodation average was €218 in Lapland, versus €171 across northern and eastern Finland, per occupied unit per night. Includes VAT and multiple accommodation types; historical averages, not booking quotes. Sources and scope.
Wider region: northern and eastern Finland
€171
2024–2025 monthly average; accommodation revenue per occupied unit per night; not a current booking quote. +21% vs this region's usual month.
Finland as a whole
Above EU average
2024 restaurants and hotels price level: 127 where the EU average is 100. A relative index, not a room rate.
Statistics Finland 11ix covers hotels and other registered accommodation, including VAT. Units and coverage.
Year-to-year variation
How much does January vary?
Across the recorded years
In the 15 years from 2011 to 2025, the month's afternoons averaged between 13°F (−11°C) and 31°F (0°C); in 7 of them they were within 3°F (1.5°C) of the typical 22°F (−6°C). Rain days ranged from 5 to 17; half the years had 9–13.
Rain days in each January
Rain days
11
at least 1 mm, typical year; about 15 in a wet year
Mostly sunny days
1 of 31
cloud cover under 30%
Years with a 95°F+ day
0 of 15
no January in the last 15 years had a day at or above 95°F (35°C)
Good weather days
0 of 31
rated very good or better
See every recorded JanuaryHistorical monthly averages, year by year Show detailsHide details
| Year | Afternoon high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 19°F | 13 |
| 2012 | 20°F | 11 |
| 2013 | 22°F | 10 |
| 2014 | 19°F | 5 |
| 2015 | 22°F | 16 |
| 2016 | 13°F | 9 |
| 2017 | 26°F | 8 |
| 2018 | 25°F | 11 |
| 2019 | 17°F | 11 |
| 2020 | 31°F | 17 |
| 2021 | 20°F | 13 |
| 2022 | 23°F | 11 |
| 2023 | 28°F | 14 |
| 2024 | 14°F | 8 |
| 2025 | 24°F | 11 |
Checked against 91 local weather stations. How we check
Compare dates
December, January
or February?
| Typical conditions | Dec | Jan | Feb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 28°F | 22°F | 24°F |
| Sea | 36°F | 33°F | 32°F |
| Rain days | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Overnight demand | 93% | 69% | 91% |
December: Warmer afternoons, warmer sea and more rain days than January. More overnight demand. December guide →
February: Warmer afternoons and fewer rain days than January. More overnight demand. February guide →
Overnight demand measures accommodation stays, not queues. Sea temperatures are monthly coastal averages.
Compare any of the 12 monthsChoose another month and compare it with January Show comparisonHide comparison
Yellow marks the top three months on the Balanced mix. January stays as your reference.
April to May and October to November have fewer overnight stays than January, with a similar or higher Weather score.
Your comparison
January or December?
Overnight stays are 93% of the busiest month.
Historical regional accommodation revenue (2024–2025 monthly average): €227 per occupied unit per night. An average, not a booking quote. For a Lapland budget, start with the local figure: the 2024–2025 December accommodation average was €299 in Lapland, versus €227 across northern and eastern Finland, per occupied unit per night. Includes VAT and multiple accommodation types; historical averages, not booking quotes. If dates are flexible, also price-check November (local average €201); confirm snow conditions and activity dates separately.
Read the December guide →| Typical conditions | January | December |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 22°F | 28°F |
| Nights | 12°F | 19°F |
| Sea | 33°F | 36°F |
| Rain days | 11 | 15 |
| Visitor season | Busy season | Peak season |
| Warm-weather match / 10 | 2.8 | 2.1 |
| Month rank | #9 | #12 |
Every month, in detail Show detailsHide details
| Month | Overall | Rank | High | Low | Sea | Rain days | Weather | Visitor season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.8 | #9 | 22°F | 12°F | 33°F | 11 | 1.0 | Busy season |
| February | 2.2 | #11 | 24°F | 13°F | 32°F | 9 | 1.0 | Peak season |
| March | 2.5 | #10 | 32°F | 19°F | 32°F | 7 | 1.0 | Busy season |
| April | 3.0 | #6 | 43°F | 27°F | 33°F | 8 | 1.0 | Moderate season |
| May | 5.4 | #4 | 56°F | 40°F | 37°F | 7 | 3.4 | Low season |
| June | 5.8 | #2 | 66°F | 50°F | 51°F | 10 | 5.6 | Busy season |
| July | 5.4 | #3 | 71°F | 55°F | 61°F | 12 | 6.6 | Peak season |
| August | 5.9 | #1 | 67°F | 51°F | 61°F | 12 | 5.6 | Busy season |
| September | 4.5 | #5 | 57°F | 44°F | 56°F | 10 | 2.6 | Moderate season |
| October | 3.0 | #7 | 43°F | 34°F | 47°F | 11 | 1.0 | Moderate season |
| November | 3.0 | #8 | 34°F | 26°F | 41°F | 11 | 1.0 | Moderate season |
| December | 2.1 | #12 | 28°F | 19°F | 36°F | 15 | 1.0 | Peak season |
Elsewhere in Europe
Warm-weather alternatives in January
These comparisons use warm-weather comfort, not snow or skiing conditions. Finnish Lapland & the east's warm-weather comfort ranks 74 of 77 beach regions this month. These beach regions outside Finland have clearly better warm-weather comfort on your dates, nearest first, each compared with Finnish Lapland & the east.
Liguria & the Cinque TerreItaly · about 1620 miles
Poor weather (2.1): 31°F warmer afternoons, 3 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
AbruzzoItaly · about 1690 miles
Poor weather (2.4): 30°F warmer afternoons, 3 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
French Riviera & ProvenceFrance · about 1690 miles
Fair weather (3.2): 32°F warmer afternoons, 5 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
Amalfi Coast & NaplesCampania · Italy · about 1770 miles
Poor weather (2.5): 34°F warmer afternoons, 2 more rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
BasilicataItaly · about 1780 miles
Poor weather (2.2): 30°F warmer afternoons, 2 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
How we knowSources, regional scope & scoring method Show detailsHide details
The Finnish series covers hotels, cottages and other registered accommodation with at least 20 beds or electrical caravan pitches. A rental unit may be a room, a cottage or an electrical pitch. Prices include VAT. Accommodation coverage.
It's busy season, 69% of the busiest month and about average for the year. That means about 23,000 overnight visitors on a typical January night across the region, 41% of them from Finland itself. Rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor add up to 9,000 more: 40 for every 100 counted above. Some are the same properties counted twice.
| Climate suitability (HCI:Beach, 0–100) | 30 |
| How our weather was checked | 91 open weather stations in this region, January and July: afternoon highs typically within 1°F (0.1°C), night lows within 1°F (0.6°C). |
| Tourist nights per 1,000 residents per day | 18 |
| Busiest month here | July · 26 |
| Visitors as share of people present | 1.8% |
| Rank among Europe's regions this month | 91st percentile |
| Domestic share of nights | 41% |
| Platform rental nights per 100 counted nights | 40 |
| Visitor share if every platform night were extra | 2.4% |
| Population used | 1.3 million |
| Statistical region | FI1D · Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi |
Crowds: Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation, by month and NUTS 2 region, 2024–2025 average. Overnight visitors per night is the month's nights divided by its days; the per-1,000 figure is Eurostat's, against each year's population. Platform rentals: Eurostat nights booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor, 2024–2025 average, shown separately because some properties are in both counts. Weather: Holiday Climate Index computed from ERA5 reanalysis with daily highs, night lows and rain days corrected from open national weather-service station records, 2011–2025, population-weighted to the region; day-by-day figures are the same data averaged by date. Heat and rain odds are counted across those years. Sunrise and sunset: NOAA solar equations, local time. Prices: Eurostat price level index and HICP, national; the first figure is regional (Statistics Finland, StatFin 11ix: average room price per occupied room (incl. VAT)). Full method · this region's data.