Polar Night in Levi
The blue moment, long twilights and the best time for northern lights
Polar night — kaamos in Finnish — is the period when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all. Levi lies roughly 140 km north of the Arctic Circle, and here the polar night lasts about three weeks around the middle of December.
The most common misconception: polar night is not pitch black. Around midday there are several hours of twilight, and the snow reflects every bit of light back. The famous blue moment turns the fells and forests deep blue in a way photographs never quite capture. After the blue hours of polar night it is good to return to a warm place with your own sauna — see accommodation in Levi.
Polar night is Levi at its most atmospheric — see our available apartments for December.
When is the polar night in Levi?
At Levi's latitude the sun stays below the horizon from roughly mid-December until around New Year. The exact dates shift by a few days from year to year, so don't pin your trip to one specific date.
- •Levi: polar night lasts about three weeks in December.
- •Utsjoki and Finland's northernmost tip: clearly longer, close to two months.
- •Rovaniemi: practically no true polar night — the sun just barely clears the horizon.
Daylight in December: typically 3–5 hours of twilight and blue light around midday — enough to be outdoors comfortably without a headlamp.
The blue moment
The blue moment is the signature of the polar night. The sun is below the horizon, but light refracts through the atmosphere and the whole landscape — snow, snow-laden trees, the fell slopes — takes on a blue tone. The light is even and shadowless, which is exactly why photographers love it.
Best time: roughly 10am–2pm in December. The blue is strongest just before and after midday, and it keeps changing — half an hour later the landscape already looks different.
Polar night and the northern lights
Polar night is the best possible time for auroras: there are simply more dark hours, so more chances to see them. The polar night itself doesn't create auroras — those depend on solar activity and cloud cover.
What to do during the polar night
Skiing on floodlit slopes
The slopes run as normal — Levi's floodlit pistes work in polar night just like any other time, and skiing under the lights is an experience of its own.
Trails and snowshoeing
There are plenty of lit cross-country tracks, and skiing through snow-covered trees in the twilight is about the calmest thing you can do in Levi.
Safaris
Husky and reindeer safaris and snowmobile tours run through the polar night too — the twilight only makes them more atmospheric.
Sauna and hot tub
A dark evening, a warm hot tub and a starry sky is the reason many guests come back to Levi in December.
Christmas atmosphere
December is the heart of Levi's Christmas season: markets, lights and events all fall right into the polar night.
An honest local note: polar night is not depressing for a visitor. On a short trip it's mostly exotic, and locals live completely normal lives — work, hobbies, shops open as always.
How to dress and cope
- •Layer up: wool next to skin, an insulating mid layer and a windproof shell. Cotton stays wet and won't keep you warm.
- •Get outside during the midday twilight — natural light does you good even when the sun doesn't rise.
- •A vitamin D supplement is a standard recommendation in Finland during the dark season; worth remembering on a longer stay.
- •Carry a reflector or a headlamp: village roads are lit, but the edges are dim.
Frequently asked questions
Where to stay during the polar night
Our apartments are in Levi centre and close to the slopes, so you won't be driving dark roads in the evening. December weekends and the Christmas holidays book up early.
The information on this page is intended as general tips and inspiration for planning your Levi holiday. Availability, prices, opening hours and business details may change without notice. We recommend verifying current information directly with service providers before making any bookings. Leville.net is not responsible for third-party services or any changes to their offerings.