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Best time to visit Sweden: month by month
Short answer
June to August is best, with highs of 21–22°C in Stockholm and nearly 20 hours of daylight around Midsummer. May and September are cooler at 15–16°C and calmer. Winter is dark and cold, with highs around 0–2°C in Stockholm and far colder in Lapland, where it is northern lights season.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1°C | -3°C | 13 | low |
| Feb | 2°C | -4°C | 8 | low |
| Mar | 6°C | -3°C | 7 | low |
| Apr | 9°C | -1°C | 6 | low |
| May | 15°C | 5°C | 10 | medium |
| Jun | 22°C | 11°C | 11 | high |
| Jul | 22°C | 13°C | 12 | very high |
| Aug | 21°C | 13°C | 15 | high |
| Sep | 16°C | 9°C | 7 | medium |
| Oct | 11°C | 5°C | 11 | low |
| Nov | 5°C | 1°C | 9 | low |
| Dec | 0°C | -5°C | 11 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from 6°C in March to 15°C in May, with lows from -3°C to 5°C; long days return quickly.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Highs of 21–22°C, lows of 11–13°C and long light evenings; 11–15 rainy days a month, often showers.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Highs of 16°C in September fall to 5°C in November, with 7–11 rainy days and autumn colours.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Highs of 0–2°C and lows of -3 to -5°C in Stockholm, short days and snow; much colder in the north.
Events worth planning around
- Midsummer (the Friday between 19 and 25 June), with maypoles and dancing.
- Lucia, candlelit processions (13 December).
- Walpurgis Night bonfires (30 April).
- Crayfish parties (kräftskiva) (August).
- Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm (10 December).
When to avoid
November is grey and dark. Midsummer weekend empties cities and closes many shops.
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Common questions
When is the best time to visit Sweden?
June to August for warm days and long light; December to March for snow and northern lights in Lapland.
When is Midsummer in Sweden?
On the Friday between 19 and 25 June, celebrated with maypoles, herring and dancing, mostly in the countryside.
Is Stockholm dark in winter?
Yes, about 6 hours of daylight in December. Lucia celebrations and Christmas markets brighten the season.