4 Reasons to Experience Winter in Rovaniemi in March

March is actually our snowiest month. There is a lot of snow on the ground – sometimes well over a metre in many places. Mid-March to April is a time of change and renewal in Lapland. You get the best snow of the winter as it has now been falling for up to six months. These are the perfect conditions for winter activities – such as husky and reindeer sledging, snowmobiling, hiking and all kinds of skiing holidays, as the trails and slopes are at their best.

And in case you were wondering about the temperatures: Yes, they are warmer! In Rovaniemi, we leave behind the typical -20°C (-4°F) to welcome March temperatures ranging from -2°C (28°F) to -13°C (9°F).

Conventional wisdom holds that winter is the best time to see the Northern Lights. It’s certainly a good time, but not the best! In fact, the statistics prove it: Geomagnetic storms, an astronomical phenomenon that causes auroras to appear in the skies of the Earth’s polar regions, occur more frequently around the two equinoxes (March and September), almost twice as often. Several scientific models, such as the Russell-McPherron effect, explain this equinoctial peak in auroral activity.

When it comes to hunting the northern lights, the second most important thing you need is a clear sky. Again, statistics show that spring in Rovaniemi is less cloudy than winter. Just to give you an example, for the period between 2019 and 2023, March on average had almost twice as many nights with clear skies as January.

But let’s put science aside and trust the locals, who will tell you that the best time to see the Northern Lights is in March. The skies are clearer, the aurora more frequent and, of course, the warmer weather makes for a more comfortable viewing experience.

From December to February, Rovaniemi experiences its highest level of tourist traffic. It can be quite challenging to book accommodation and activities, as the most popular hotels, restaurants and tour operators are fully booked or crowded with people. In March things start to cool down and the city resumes its peaceful course.

Spring is also one of the cheapest seasons to visit Rovaniemi. You can often get your flight tickets for half the price, and other things like car rental and accommodation are cheaper too. (Well, that could change if everyone decides to come in March 🤪).

However, if you dream of seeing the real Santa Claus, December is probably the right time to do so. But you should know that the Rovaniemi Santa Claus Village is open all year round and in spring there are no long queues to meet the legendary character! All the Christmas spirit and magical snow-covered landscapes are still there.

As part of the Arctic Circle, Lapland experiences a unique winter solstice in December: the earth is tilted so that the North Pole faces away from the sun, resulting in 1 or 2 hours of daylight in Rovaniemi. From then on, the length of the day increases over time, and by the time we reach the spring equinox in March, day and night are almost equal. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the beautiful outdoors.

The sunny March days here are unique and mesmerising. The crisp white snow reflects the sunlight and sparkles like a myriad of stars. Imagine spending a day hiking or snowmobiling through breathtaking Arctic forests, sledding on a husky farm, enjoying a Lappish barbecue in a laavu, witnessing the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen and ending the day with a relaxing traditional sauna.

With better snow conditions, warmer temperatures, lower travel costs, better chances of seeing the Northern Lights and longer hours of sunshine, we can all agree that March is also a very good time to visit Rovaniemi and experience Lapland’s winter scenery. Give it a try and enjoy your stay!