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Midnight Sun and Polar Night
The Midnight Sun and the Polar Night – two extremes of Lapland’s nature. In summer, the sun never sets and the fell landscape is bathed in light throughout the night; in midwinter, the polar night turns your gaze toward pastel hues, nacreous clouds, and the Northern Lights. In these contrasts lies the magic of Kilpisjärvi: here, nature’s rhythm is felt more strongly than anywhere else, and experiences are born from light, silence, and the wide-open fells.
The Midnight Sun in Kilpisjärvi
In Kilpisjärvi, the Midnight Sun lasts from May 22 to July 25. During this period, the sun never dips below the horizon, and soft daylight continues through the night. In the mountain birch forests of Kilpisjärvi, bluethroats – found here in greater numbers than anywhere else in the world – sing late into the night, and Finland’s only Arctic poppies bloom on the high fells.
Under the midnight sun, Lapland’s nature enters an astonishingly rapid growing season, and the energy of continuous daylight carries far into autumn. In Kilpisjärvi, the Midnight Sun is a time of calm and openness: the light does not dazzle but envelops the landscape in a clear, gentle glow, perfect for hiking, photography, and observing nature.
Polar Night – Northern Lights, Blue Tones and Nacreous Clouds
The Polar Night in Kilpisjärvi lasts approximately from November 27 to January 16. Official dates may vary, as they do not account for the shape of the terrain and surrounding fells. In practice, the sun does not reach the village during this period – although by January 10, it is already possible to climb Saana Fell to witness the sun’s return.
Polar night does not mean complete darkness. During the day, the landscape is washed in blue and pink tones, and the dim light creates a unique atmosphere in the fells. In the evenings, the sky brightens with stars and often with Northern Lights, and the silence deepens. One of Kilpisjärvi’s most extraordinary phenomena appears during polar night: nacreous clouds, visible only a few times each year.
For many visitors, polar night is surprisingly pleasant. Hurry fades away, nature grows still, and even the smallest moments feel meaningful.
Learn more about polar night in our article 5 Reasons Why Polar Night Is the Best Season in Kilpisjärvi.