What happens to “Santa Claus’s hometown” when, well, Christmas is over? Luckily, quite a lot! While Christmas itself might be done and dusted, Rovaniemi in January is still very much in the festive spirit… and will be for the next few months. With the line for the Arctic Circle running through Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi…
A trip to Finnish Lapland is expensive, so you’ll want to be sure you’re timing it perfectly so you can have the Arctic experience of your dreams. And if you’re trying to decide what the best month to visit Rovaniemi in the winter is, I’d argue that February is a seriously strong contender for the most…
I just keep returning to Helsinki in winter, and on my last visit, I finally checked out Suomenlinna. While the rest of Helsinki felt like it was beginning to defrost, winter still felt like it had its hold on Suomenlinna just a little bit longer, with frosty chunks of ice bobbing on the surface of…
Visiting Helsinki in March is like catching it a bit off-guard, halfway between its winter slow pace and its spring awakening. The snow and ice haven’t fully given up their grasp on the city, but it looks more and more out of place as the days get brighter and longer. While I sang my praises…
Seeing the aurora borealis is one of the most common bucket list items out there — and Finnish Lapland is one of the best places to do it… and in response to that, there are lots of glass igloos all around Lapland, offering you the chance to see the aurora from your room. In addition to…
If you’re planning a trip to the Nordics in winter, you may be a little overwhelmed when it comes to what to pack for Lapland. Between the freezing cold weather and outdoor activities you’ll be doing, you’ll need to pack smartly in order to have a good time. You’ll need the right combination of clothing…
Tampere is the Sauna Capital of Finland… and therefore the world! Here’s what to do there (saunas + more!)
If Lahti was in any other part of the Nordics, it’d surely get a lot more attention, but Finnish cities with the exception of the capital seem to coast under the radar. It’s as if most people’s knowledge of the country stops after Helsinki and Finnish Lapland (with its ‘capital’ in Rovaniemi). But in between…
Northern Europe is where I’m meant to be in the summer. Calm streets not taken over with tourists like Western and Central Europe, sunny days with cool breezes, and sunlight that almost never ends? Consider me converted. I spent a week exploring Finland in June over Midsummer and it was one of the best times…