Finland in July: Exploring a Sunny Month
July is summertime in Finland, and most Finns decamp the cities to holiday beside the country’s many lakes and extensive coastline. If you take a trip to Finland during the sunny month, you will find a considerable crowd at most attractions. The prices for accommodation, especially in the countryside, are also higher. But with a bit of planning, you can still find travel bargains that will help you stay within your budget and experience the seemingly endless days of the Finnish summer.
- Wisam Al Badr
Finland Weather in July
Finnish summers bring a balmy temperature averaging 21℃ during the day and 14℃ at night. Heatwaves occasionally push the mercury into the low thirties across southern Finland. If you go to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland in Northern Finland, you can experience warm days and cool nights, with an average temperature fluctuating between 11.5℃ and 19.8℃.
Very little rain falls in this part of Finland in July, and it is daylight (or close to it) for almost 20 hours each day. Further north, inside the Arctic Circle, it can get quite windy, but the temperatures remain pleasant. In Kalimantan, for example, expect a high of 18℃ and a low of 9℃, with nine rainy days across the month.
For a seasonal overview, check out our guide on the best time to visit Finland.
Weather in Finland in July - Rainfall and Temperatures
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Daily (°C) | -1 | -1 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Avg Nightly (°C) | -9 | -10 | -6 | -1 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 3 | -2 | -7 |
| Avg Daily (°F) | 31 | 31 | 36 | 47 | 59 | 67 | 70 | 67 | 58 | 47 | 36 | 32 |
| Avg Nightly (°F) | 16 | 14 | 22 | 31 | 40 | 49 | 54 | 52 | 43 | 38 | 29 | 20 |
| Avg Rainfall (mm) | 60 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 60 | 70 | 90 | 80 | 70 | 80 | 60 |
| Jun | Jul | Aug | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Daily (°C) | 19 | 21 | 19 |
| Avg Nightly (°C) | 9 | 12 | 11 |
| Avg Daily (°F) | 67 | 70 | 67 |
| Avg Nightly (°F) | 49 | 54 | 52 |
| Avg Rainfall (mm) | 60 | 70 | 90 |
Why Visit Finland in July
Finland picture
A visit to Finland in July will allow you to experience the short Scandinavian summer in all its color and vitality. The fine weather and long days mean you have lots more time to explore the country. Here are some perks and highlights of Finland in July:
- High Summer in the Arctic: Basecamp Oulanka, an eco-resort overlooking Lake Juuma in Lapland, is a great summer base for wilderness adventures. The nearby Oulanka National park is a paradise for naturalists. Spot the local bird and the jubilant wildlife population in their natural habitat.
- Island Life: With over 80,000 islands, Finland has the world’s largest archipelago. In July, many of the holiday homes and cottages across the region are booked solid, but with some planning, you should be able to secure one.
- Party in Helsinki: Celebrate inclusiveness at the Helsinki Pride Festival, held early in July, which features parades, street parties, and all-night raves. The warm Helsinki nights are perfect for people-watching in open-air bars or strolling along the city’s waterfront in the half-light of midnight.
- Explore the Outdoors: Hit the outdoors on one of Finland’s many wilderness trails such as the 250-kilometer Archipelago Trail through the Turku Archipelago. Finland has 41 national parks, so there is no shortage of outdoor activities here. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and cycling are popular activities in Finland in July.
Where to Go and What to Do
With a large proportion of Finland's population on holiday, things can get quite crowded and busy in July. However, the cities are less hectic at this time of year. So July is a good month to explore some of Finland’s charming urban spaces.
You will find the museums and galleries in cities such as Tampere and Helsinki much quieter in July. This is also a good time to visit Turku—often described as the Paris of Finland because of its thriving restaurant and café culture. Music fans can attend the annual Ilosaairock Festival in Joensuu. Many music festivals are held in July, including the five-day Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, the Tangomarkkinat dance festival in Seinäjoki, and the Pori Jazz Festival.
Head to the Arctic Circle, where the daylight lasts up to 24 hours to experience the Midnight Sun. Or, go to Kaunissaari, renowned for its long sweeps of sandy beaches and traditional fishing villages. It can be accessed via a short ferry ride from Kotka, east of Helsinki. Closer to the city, the fortress island of Suomenlinna is a great place to explore old ramparts and cobbled paths in the light of the Midnight Sun. If you go on a Lapland trip, you can hunt for the salmon-colored cloudberries which appear for a short time in July. You could combine a trip to the town of Ranua (the cloudberry capital) with a visit to Kuusamo in the heart of Finland’s Lakeland region.
Even though large tourist crowds could make some of Finland’s locations less desirable during July, by selecting your destinations carefully and making your bookings early, you will still be able to enjoy Finland’s many attractions and natural wonders. With long days and short nights, you will have extra time to explore the land of the Midnight Sun.
If you need assistance planning a trip to Finland in September, feel free to reach out to our local travel experts who can devise a tailored itinerary for you. For a detailed itinerary, check out our guide on how many days to spend in Finland. Or, you can browse through our tours to Finland in July for more information.
