Add organization

Is it always dark in Sweden in winter (polar night)?

Where polar night happens and what winter days are like elsewhere.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

No, in Stockholm the sun is up from 8:47 am to 2:55 pm in January, and polar night, with no sunrise at all, only occurs in the far north. In Kiruna the sun does not rise around 22 December, but twilight still lasts several hours.

Polar day and polar night in Sweden Illustration of a season wheel with snow, a birch leaf, sun and rain around a red Swedish cottage

Why

  1. According to SMHI, in polar night the sun never rises during the day, and the phenomenon occurs north of the Arctic Circle at about 66.5 degrees north.
  2. According to SMHI, in Kiruna the sun does not reach above the horizon around 22 December, but twilight lasts a number of hours, so it is not completely black.
  3. According to Visit Sweden, the sun in Stockholm rises at 8:47 am and sets at 2:55 pm in January.

Details

SMHI wrote in 2021 that polar night starts in Sweden on 1 December and lasts through December and into January at Treriksröset. In Kiruna the polar night began on 11 December that year, and in Abisko on 6 December. On SMHI's example page, Kiruna had 27 days of polar night.

Tip

In the north, light during twilight depends on weather, snow cover and the moon, according to SMHI, so plan outdoor time with that in mind.

Common misconception

It is dark all day for the whole winter everywhere in Sweden.

What actually happens

Polar night only occurs in the far north, and even there it lasts weeks, not the whole winter. In Stockholm the sun is up for several hours a day in January.

People also ask

  • Is it dark all day in Sweden in winter?
  • What is the polar night in Sweden?

Sources

Information checked on 27 October 2026.

Polar day and polar night in Sweden

  • What should I wear in Gothenburg?

    What to wear in Gothenburg depends on the month, because SMHI's normal mean temperature is about 1 °C in January and about 18 °C in July.

    Checked at:

  • What should I wear in Sweden in March?

    In March, wear a warm jacket and scarf, because SMHI's normal mean temperature is about 2 °C in Stockholm and about 3 °C in Gothenburg.

    Checked at:

  • What should I wear in Sweden in November?

    In November, wear a warm coat and scarf, because SMHI's normal mean temperature is about 4 °C in Stockholm and about 5 °C in Gothenburg.

    Checked at:

  • How many hours of daylight does Sweden get in December?

    Stockholm has about 6 hours of daylight in mid-December, with the sun up from 8:34 am to 2:48 pm on 11 December 2025, according to timeanddate.

    Checked at:
Help