Best time to visit Sweden for skiing
Hit The Slopes When They Are The Best
Introduction
Knowing when to visit Sweden for your next ski holiday is paramount to get the best experience of your life. Do you fancy a mid-winter experience with low temperatures, or would some skiing in the midnight sun get your attention? Learn more about the times of the year by reading further.
December to January
Most ski systems, except the ones furthest north, aim at opening sometime in December. The exact date usually varies depending on the weather and the amount of snow. It is good to remember that this early in the season, the snowpack can often be relatively thin, and the temperatures often drop to around -20 to -30 degrees Celcius. The amount of daylight this time of the year is quite limited, even if you are in the southernmost ski systems. On the other hand, if you visit the area of Abisko, it will be dark around the clock up here.
If you visit during this time of the year, pick a destination that offers skiing and other things to experience. That way you have something to do if the skiing is too cold.
February to March
February and March is the time when skiing gets interesting with a thicker snowpack and more daylight. It is cold, and enough snow to ski off-piste, so you can expect to find cold snow and powder. The northernmost systems open up now as they are getting some light. You can still expect to have some winter storms with lots of wind.
April
April is the favorite ski month for most Swedes as we enter” the fifth season,” which is” spring-winter.” Now days are longer than the night, so plenty of sunshine welcomes the inhabitants compared to the darkness a few months ago. The cold nights and the warm days usually make the snowpack safer for off-piste skiing, and people can sit outside on a sofa to enjoy the warmth. It is not uncommon for people to go ski touring in their base layers. Plenty of water and an extra pair of sunglasses are recommended.
Most smaller ski resorts may struggle with having enough snow by mid-April, and the southern/middle ones usually close on the 30th. The northern ones tend to stay open a bit longer.
May
Spring is taking its toll on the snowpack. Long days combined with a much warmer temperature means that the melting goes quickly. In the southern systems, they generally do not have any snow left at all. Around Åre and north, there may be snow depending on the weather the last few weeks, but since most of the systems are closed, you are now bound for ski touring.
Summary
Whether you like the cold” mid-winter” experience around Christmas and New Year’s Eve or want to try skiing in the so-called fifth season, going to Sweden is a good choice. Just make sure you pick the correct destination for the right time. Early season the northern ones are closed and dark, while late season, the southern ones will be closed.
Bydalen: The 5th Largest Ski Resort in Sweden
Perhaps because it is a strategic location just an hour from Östersund or because it is one of the best ski areas in the eastern part of the Swedish-Norwegian mountain range. That means when the precipitation comes from the east, this is where it all deposits. Bydalen is not run by a big corporation with many greedy shareowners, which means they can run things like they want to – not according to what gives them the most money.
Åre: The Ski Capitol of Scandinavia
The largest ski system in Scandinavia offers plenty of opportunities to ski well-groomed pistes and powder – the resort has everything you need for both the party people and the family. Åre has long been the go-to place for everyone looking to experience a glimpse of Scandinavian ski culture with a lovely village vibe. This is the place to go if you value good hotels and excellent cuisine. If you want to experience many different activities, Åre has got you covered. If you prefer a big mountain off-piste, there is that. Welcome to Åre and see for yourself.
Kittelfjäll: The Powder Village
Powder ski resorts have their charm. Usually, they are a bit slumbering, and there is not much else to do unless it’s snowing heavily. Often you can ask yourself, ”What do people work with around here?” or ”Do people live here all year?” but the slumbering townfolks wake to life when the powder conditions strike – and in Kittelfjäll, the chance of skiing excellent snow excels!