A Travel Guide to Visiting Lapland in Autumn (Sept, Oct, & Nov)

This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you.

Post overview: This guide breaks down everything you ever wanted to know about visiting Lapland in autumn! I live in Lapland, and this post shares my favorite things to do during fall in Lapland, including festivals, seasonal foods to try, fun activities, and more.

The guide also breaks down the weather for September, October, and November in Lapland, as well as daylight information.

I first wrote this guide in 2018 after an autumn trip to Lapland. I fell in love with the colors and everything to do that I immediately came back and wrote about it. Fast forward 8 years and I now live in Lapland and can confirm that autumn is still my favorite season here.

But… autumn in Lapland can be tough and your expectations need to be managed. That’s why I’m here! I am going to share everything you need to know before visiting Lapland in autumn. I will give you the lowdown on the weather, snow expectations, and daylight. And then I will also share things to do in Lapland in fall (including events and festivals).

Autumn is kind of the calm before the storm here. And the storm is the large number of tourists that visit in the winter months.

Let’s dive right in! If you have any questions about fall in Lapland, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Lapland in Autumn Overview

Typically, the start of autumn is in September. However, in 2026, it seems like it has started in August, so I think we may be in for an early winter. Last year, autumn didn’t start until the latter part of September.

September in Lapland is incredible, with the leaves changing and something called ‘Ruska’. Ruska is the Finnish word for fall foliage and one I use a lot during this time of year (the word is so much prettier than its English counterpart).

There is also milder weather in September, and the daylight situation is still pretty normal. The aurora heightens around the autumn equinox and it is a great time to see more activity (so long as the weather plays nice).

October in Lapland is very transitional. This is when we usually see the first snow. But it rarely sticks and often is just some flurries that never accumulate on the ground. The leaves have fallen off the trees at some point in October (or late September), and the city takes its final breaths before winter sets in.

November in Lapland is a challenging month, in my opinion. It can be moody and foggy and I feel the sun rarely shines. The temperatures get cold, and we often see a snowfall that sticks around then. The first groups of ‘winter’ tourists start arriving, but there is still a lack of activities here. The days get very short by the end of November.

For this guide, I am focusing on a few key places in Lapland: Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Levi, and Kilpisjärvi.

When is it autumn in Lapland?

As someone who grew up in Virginia on the East Coast in the US, I find autumn to be from the end of August until early November here (just based on how the ‘vibes’ are).

The calendar says it is September through the end of November, so I am writing the guide that way. But I think November can be very wintery.

Snowfall in Lapland in Autumn

Yes, we get our first snowfalls during autumn here. But when? It really depends on the year. In 2025, we had a lot of cold weather and snow in November, only for the temperatures to go above freezing and melt the stuff by mid-December. This year I think we will have snow in October (if not the end of September), and it will be a long winter. Let’s see!

Usually snow doesn’t stick until around November in the southern parts of Lapland, but the north may see snow sticking earlier.

Visiting Lapland in September

September is probably my favorite month here (while I think March is the best for tourists). I love the autumn colors and transition into a cozier season.

I can light candles, put on my fairy lights, and businesses that shut for the summer begin opening their doors again. Oh, and the mosquitoes? They are pretty much all gone in Lapland in September.

September Weather in Lapland

Here are the September averages for some of the most popular destinations in Lapland:

• Rovaniemi in September: highs of 13C (55F), lows of 5C (41F); 9 days of preciptation
• Levi in September: highs of 10C (50F), lows of 5C (41F); 9 days of preciptation
• Saariselkä in September: highs of 10C (50F), lows of 2C (36F); 10 days of preciptation
• Kilpisjärvi in September: highs of 9C (47F), lows of 2C (36F); 12 days of preciptation

Daylight during September in Lapland

Like weather, daylight is going to depend on where in Lapland you’re visiting. But generally speaking, September offers one of the most ‘normal’ daylight conditions of the year. Meaning there is day and night.

On September 15, for example, you have 13 hours and 10 minutes of daylight in Rovaniemi and 13 hours and 16 minutes in Saariselkä.

Things to Do in September

Here’s a list of my favorite things to do in Lapland in September, including some festivals and events happening this year:

• August 31-September 6: Väärtipäivät 2026 (Enontekiö)
• September 3-6: International Grand Market (Rovaniemi)
• September 5-13: Rykimät Festival (Salla)
• September 7-13: Rovaniemi Week (Rovaniemi)
• September 11-20: Kino Ylläs autumn film festival (Äkäslompolo)
• September 12: Ruska Marathon (Levi)
• September 12: Night of the Arts (Rovaniemi)
• September 12-13: Harvest Market (Rovaniemi)
• September 19: Arctic Trail Run (Saariselkä)
• September 1-25: daily gold panning at Tankavaara Gold Village (Tankavaara)
• Weekends in September: Autumn Weeks (Saariselkä)

Visiting Lapland in October

October is also a beautiful month there (more toward the start, in my opinion). If we have a late autumn, the colors work their way into the month, but usually this is when the leaves fall from the trees, and the cooler temperatures really take hold. The month is very transitional, but I find it better to visit in October than November.

I also recommend visiting Lapland in October for those who want to see the northern lights in Lapland but without heavy snow. I would just recommend booking a tour to do so from your respective base, as cloud cover is high in October and it may require a little bit of hunting.

October Weather in Lapland

Here are the October averages for some of the most popular destinations in Lapland:

• Rovaniemi in October: highs of 5C (40F), lows of -1C (30F); 10 days of preciptation
• Levi in October: highs of 3C (37F), lows of -1C (30F); 9 days of preciptation
• Saariselkä in October: highs of 2C (35F), lows of -4C (24F); 11 days of preciptation
• Kilpisjärvi in October: highs of 2C (35F), lows of -3C (26F); 14 days of preciptation

Daylight during October in Lapland

Like weather, daylight is going to depend on where in Lapland you’re visiting. October, like September, has a pretty decent number of hours of daylight and of night. It feels very balanced until the end of the month when the shorter days really become noticeable.

On October 15, for example, you have 9 hours and 35 minutes of daylight in Rovaniemi and 9 hours and 22 minutes in Saariselkä.

Things to Do in October

Here’s a list of my favorite things to do in Lapland in October, including some festivals and events happening this year:

• October 2: Levi Ski Resort opens (Levi)
• October 22-25: Jutajaiset folk festival (Rovaniemi)
• October 25: Countdown to Christmas (SCV in Rovaniemi)

I will be filling this in further as more events are shared across the region. There are fewer events as tourism starts up in Lapland.

Visiting Lapland in November

November is Lapland’s most unpredictable month, in my opinion. Some years it is frigid (2025, for example) and there is a fair amount of snow. Other years there is no snow and a late start to winter. Naturally, the further north you go in Lapland, the more signs of winter you will see.

I often find November foggy and grey. I tend to book my last trip south before winter during the month of November because grabbing a flight out of here is still pretty affordable before the winter tourism begins.

Another thing to note about visiting Lapland in November is that most winter tours do not operate yet. Snow activities usually haven’t started, and while they may start by month’s end, it is completely dependent on the snow’s arrival.

November Weather in Lapland

Here are the November averages for some of the most popular destinations in Lapland:

• Rovaniemi in November: highs of -1C (31F), lows of -6C (21F); 10 days of preciptation 
• Levi in November: highs of -2C (28F), lows of -7C (20F); 8 days of preciptation
• Saariselkä in November: highs of -3C (26F), lows of -10C (14F); 9 days of preciptation
• Kilpisjärvi in November: highs of -4C (25F), lows of -11C (12F); 12 days of preciptation

Daylight during November in Lapland

Welcome to short days! November is when the days really become short, and by the end of the month, it is rather dark all across Lapland.

On November 15, for example, you have 5 hours and 43 minutes of daylight in Rovaniemi and 4 hours and 59 minutes in Saariselkä.

Things to Do in November

Here’s a list of my favorite things to do in Lapland in November, including some festivals and events happening this year:

• November 11: Posio’s 100th anniversary (Posio)
• November 13-15: World Cup Levi (Levi)
• November 29: Christmas opening at Taivaan Tulet Square (Kemijärvi)

I will fill this in as I learn about more events and as dates are released for ones later in autumn. There are fewer events as tourism starts up in Lapland.

Where to Stay During Autumn in Lapland

One of the perks about visiting Lapland during autumn is that resorts are open and discounted. Heavily discounted. You can stay at a glass igloo resort or a northern lights hotel for a fraction of the price you’d pay in winter.

Here are my favorite glass igloos and northern lights hotels across Lapland to consider:

• Apukka Resort (I love this place and even go to their restaurant to eat without staying)
• Aurora Village Ivalo (lovely family-owned place with a lot of nature around the cabins)
• Northern Lights Village Saariselkä (I really like this resort and their lodge is super cozy – the igloos felt like they were spread out enough, too)
• Northern Lights Village Levi (same as Saariselkä; loved this property so much!)

Lapland in Fall FAQ

Here are my replies (from a local’s POV) to frequently asked questions about visiting Lapland this fall season.

Do you have any questions about visiting Lapland in autumn? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!