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Winter is coming, and as temperatures drop and the days get darker and darker, we know you may already be thinking about your next sunny holiday – preferably somewhere in the warm, tropical Caribbean.
If you’re looking for it beat the winter bluesThere really is no better place than Cancun and its glitzy resort areas.
However, if the freezing temperatures don’t deter you, you’re more of the cultural type and are actively looking a white winter at a unique destination further away from home, then maybe this incredible Scandinavian country you should go to:
Why Nordic Finland is incredible in winter
Located in the far northeast of Europe, Finland is one of those unusual countries best experienced in cold weather.
Although summers in the Scandinavian states are pleasantly warm and you certainly don’t feel like you’re freezing if you step outside for more than five minutes in June, there really is There’s nothing like Finnish winterswhen snow covers the cities in Scandinavian style, the Northern Lights dance in the pitch black night sky, and the sauna culture is at its peak.
Finland may be a great destination all year round, but as unusual as it sounds, it really comes alive in the colder months.
This is why:
Helsinki is perfect for solo travel
Helsinki may not be the most obvious choice for a European city break, especially in winter, when most Americans traveling across the pond flock to Spain, Portugal and just warmer destinations in general.
A lesser known fact among country hoppers in Europe at that time of year is that nowhere else can you feel this better cozy Christmas atmosphere then the overlooked capital of Finland.
The pearl of the Baltic Sea is the proud home of the Helsinki Christmas Market, one of the oldest and largest in Europe, where tourists are welcome to sample reindeer meat, salmon pastries and savory pancakes, among other Scandinavian delicacies that they can’t easily find in imports find part of their local market at home.
To walk colorful Huvilakatu street with an Espresso Café caramel hot chocolate in hand, they can shop for souvenirs in the numerous Christmas shops and admire stately Scandinavian-style buildings.
Other sights include Helsinki’s Christmas tree, which is ceremonially lit every year in Senate Square, the city’s striking whitewashed cathedral, and the central Jugend-Art Noveau district.
See the Northern Lights in Lapland
Finland may not be every American’s favorite choice for hunting the Northern Lights, with Alaska and Iceland easily taking the lead in bookings, but it is still among the top European countries. top hotspots for aurora observations.
More specifically, the historic ethnoregion of Lapland, which lies largely north of the Arctic line, close to the borders with Sweden and Norway, is your best bet to witness the elusive light show.
Lapland is best known for its indigenous culture, as it is home to the Sami peoplea group of historically nomadic people who have lived for more than 10,000 years in a challenging environment, a rich cuisine, and of course: breathtaking Arctic nature.
Traveling through Lapland will give you breathtaking views of picturesque frozen lakes, painting-like and brightly colored, lonely houses against the dramatic backdrop of snow-capped pine forests.
Popular activities include dog sledding in the snowy hinterland as you chase the aurora, and visiting traditional Sami settlements and camps.
Tourists also have an abundance of unique places to choose from when visiting Lapland, from spa resorts to resorts Rovaniemithe regional capital and largest city, to remote igloo hotels in deep Lapland, under the dancing lights.
Oh, and in case you didn’t know, Lapland is where the legend of Santa Claus comes from.
Needless to say, the good-hearted, bearded Northern man is being celebrated throughout the frigid hinterland, with local homeowners decorating their wooden porches with Christmas decorations in anticipation of his arrival.
Santa Claus villagea winter theme park just a 7-minute drive from central Rovaniemi, home to Santa’s office, home of snowmobiles, and which crosses the actual Arctic Circle line, makes Lapland all the more of a bucket list destination.
Experience the Finnish sauna at its peak
Finally, winter is definitely the best time to dive into Finnish sauna culture. After all, the practice of sauna was invented several centuries ago on the territory of modern-day Finland.
An intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, the Finnish sauna is tthe country’s main tourist activityand it seems to be as inherent to Finnish nation building and psyche as a national anthem, a flag and a national language would be.
No joke.
In every residential building you enter, every house, every flat, you will find a built-in home sauna, not to mention the hundreds of public saunas spread across major cities such as Helsinki, Tampere and Turku.
@loylyhelsinki Finns love their sauna💙 We also love saunas at Löyly – that’s why we have 4 different ones 👀 ##löylyhelsinki##loyal##Helsinki##solarsauna##Finland##Suomi##fyp##sauna##saunatime ♬ original sound – kardashianshulu
The concept of a Finnish sauna involves taking a dip in the icy Baltic Sea – which is why winter is ideal for visiting Finland – and then going back inside a steam room to seek some solace from the icy cold.
It’s the extremes on both sides of the experience that make it worth it: you’re too hot being boiled alive in a 100 degree cell, or you’re standing outside with a strong north wind blowing – a pint of black beer from the tap in hand to keep you warm and happier naturally.
And believe us when we say it feels amazingly rejuvenating, and it’s the best feeling when you step into a smoking sauna after being out in the cold, and vice versa.
How to get to Finland this winter?
This winter, Finnair will offer nonstop flights to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL) from Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles and New York-JFK, making it easy for Americans to reach the Scandinavian country.
If you’re thinking of a multi-country trip, you’ll be happy to know that Helsinki has flight connections several popular European winter destinationsincluding Paris, London, Prague and Budapest, as well as ferry connections to at least two other countries: Sweden and Estonia.
Traveling by ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia’s medieval capital, takes just two and a half hours, making it a feasible day trip for tourists staying longer in Helsinki.
By combining Finland with a trip to the Nordic country of Sweden, Americans can travel to the… overnight Tallink ferrytraveling a total of 18 hours, calling at the cruise port in Stockholm, where they can also board return flights to the United States.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
