The year at a glance
The best time to visit Hemavan depends on what you come for: skiing from late November or December to early May, hiking from around Midsummer (late June) to September, and the northern lights on dark, clear nights in autumn and winter. Hemavan is a mountain village in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, about 80 km south of the Arctic Circle, so light and darkness shape the year as much as snow does.
| Month | What it is usually like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| December–January | Ski season under way, short days, dark nights | Skiing, Christmas and New Year, northern lights |
| February–April | Longer, lighter days, late winter | Skiing, school holidays and Easter, ski tours |
| May | Lifts close, snow melts | A quiet in-between season |
| June–August | Snow-free ground, light nights, mountain huts open | Hiking, Kungsleden, fishing |
| September | Autumn colours, colder nights | Hiking, mushrooms, colours |
| October–November | Darker, first snow | Quiet, northern lights, waiting for the ski season |
Find a place to stay for your trip
Cabins, apartments and hotels in Hemavan – winter and summer.
The search is made on Booking.com.
Daylight and weather
Around Midsummer the sun only dips just below the horizon at midnight, so there is no true midnight sun, but it does not get dark at night. Around Christmas it is the opposite: the sun is up for only about three hours over a clear horizon, and the mountains hide it even more down in the valley. By mid-January the day is already more than an hour and a half longer.
Winters are cold and snowy, and summers are cool. Weather on the fell can be very different from the weather in the village and can change quickly – sunshine and calm by the lift, wind and poor visibility up on the bare mountain. Wind makes it feel much colder than the thermometer shows. Even in summer it can turn cold, windy and wet, so always pack rain gear and a warm layer. More in practical information.
December and January – dark winter
The ski season normally starts in late November or December. New Year is high season. In January the days lengthen quickly, and the weeks after New Year are usually quieter. Dark, clear nights also give you a chance of the northern lights.
Dress for cold and short days: start early, take breaks indoors and carry a head torch. See skiing in Hemavan.
February to April – late winter
As the days grow longer, late winter arrives: more light and time for long days on the slopes or on cross-country skis. This is also when the Swedish school winter holidays (sportlov) and Easter fall, and those weeks are high season.
From late February the mountain huts along Kungsleden normally open for the winter season, which lasts until around the turn of April and May. That makes late winter the time for ski tours on Kungsleden, the King's Trail.
The sun is strong when it reflects off the snow. Bring sun protection and goggles, even when it is cold.
May – between seasons
The lifts normally close in early May. Then the snow melts, the streams rise and the trails on the fell are wet or snow-covered. It is a quiet time in the village – good if you want peace, less so if you want to hike or ski.
June to August – snow-free and light
Around Midsummer it barely gets dark at all. The days stay long and light through July and August, but towards the end of August the nights grow darker.
The mountain huts along Kungsleden open for the summer from around Midsummer. In some years snow lingers higher up into July, so check conditions before you set off. July and August are the time for hiking, day trips and Kungsleden – see hiking.
With the warmth come mosquitoes and blackflies. Bring repellent and preferably a mosquito net, especially if you are camping. There are often fewer mosquitoes when it is windy.
September – autumn colours
In September the mountain birch forest and the fells turn yellow, red and brown. It is a good time for hiking, often with fewer mosquitoes than in summer. Mushrooms such as chanterelles belong to late summer and autumn.
Nights get colder, and in some years the first snow arrives in September. The Kungsleden mountain huts close for the summer from mid to late September, so check the season before planning a multi-day hike.
Under the County Administrative Board's rules for mountain fishing, fishing in flowing water on state-owned waters is banned from mid-September to mid-October, when the trout spawn.
October and November – low season
Late autumn is low season. The days get short, the snow comes, and much of what is open in season is closed or has shorter hours. Check opening times before you travel. Dark, clear evenings give a chance of the northern lights, and the ski season normally starts again in late November.
When is it quieter?
New Year, the Swedish school winter holiday weeks and Easter are high season. The weeks between New Year and the winter holidays, and the weeks after Easter, are quieter. May, October and November are low season.
If you are travelling in high season, book early. See accommodation in Hemavan.
More information
These links go to other organisations' own websites. Season dates are set each year, and the weather changes quickly. Check before you travel.