During Christmas time, thousands of people take the opportunity to travel with their family!
There is one country that takes Christmas to another level. The happiest country in the world for 6 consecutive years, Finland is one of the best countries to bask in the Christmas spirit!
From Santa Claus Village to Northern Lights, there is a certain magic being there. Take a trip out to Finland, rediscover the Christmas magic, and explore Finland and its many activities.
Santa Claus Village
@christmas.moments1 Christmas in Lapland . . . #santaclausiscomingtotown #santaclausvillagelaplandfinland #finland #lapland #santashouse #christmas #magic #magicchristmas #christmastree #christmasdreaming #christmas2023 ♬ last christmas – 🫶🏼
In Rovaniemi, Lapland, located in the northern part of Finland, Santa Claus can be found all year long at Santa Claus Village. It is the perfect place for your children to talk to Santa and take memorable photos with him!
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Visit the village to see where Santa goes to work and check out the main post office where Santa receives letters from around the world. You can also learn to be Santa’s helper at the Elf’s academy and visit the reindeer and husky farm.
@elvesofsantaclausoffice 🎄🎁The Christmas season 2023 is now officially OPEN!🎁🎄 #SantaClausOffice #SantaClausVillage #VisitRovaniemi #ArcticCircle #Rovaniemi #Lapland #VanillaTheElf #Christmas2023 ♬ All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
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Santa Claus Village is the perfect place for families with children to visit to feel the magic!
Arctic Circle
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While you’re in Santa Claus Village, there seems to be a line that cuts the park in half. That is the line that dictates the start of the Arctic Circle!
@laagjud110 Arctic circle ❤️ #finland #rovaniemifinland #santaclaus #santaclausvillage ♬ Winter Wonderland – Bing Crosby & London Symphony Orchestra
Around winter, the Arctic Circle experiences polar nights. The winter polar nights are days where the sun will not rise above the horizon all day! This means that during the midday, the sky will be as dark as the night sky, a surreal experience that only happens in the Arctic Circle in winter. During the summer, the exact opposite happens, where you will see the sun all day, also known as themidnight sun!
@healingthescenery Finland in the polar night is shocked in the end.come @your friends to see the #healingscenery #Finlandinthepolarnight ♬ original sound – zxh
Don’t worry about missing out on sunshine throughout the rest of your trip! In the capital city, Helsinki, located down south, you’ll still be able to enjoy the sun during winter. Even on the shortest day, you’ll get to bask in its warm glow for a delightful 6 hours!
Experience the Northern Lights!
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While you are still in Santa Claus Village, there is a greater chance of catching the Northern Lights! Being situated close to the Aurora Belt and the Arctic Circle, the northern lights will be intense and frequent!
There are several operators in Santa Claus Village that organises Northern Lights hunts, bringing you to the absolute best places that lets you see the Northern Light in all its glory!
If you intend to stay in Lapland, choose a hotel that is built for the northern light. Especially those with glass dome ceilings or huge windows that allows you to watch the northern lights while lying in bed.
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Sami Culture
While you are in Lapland, visit Finland’s and Europe’s only recognized indigenous people, the Sami.
Consisting of 80,000 people, Sami is a tribe of indigenous reindeer hunters that roam Norway, Sweden, Russia, and Finland. The Sami have lived in the Sapmi area long before borders were drawn.
Visit the Sami museum to learn more about their culture or take a tour with a Sami into their village and witness firsthand how they cope with the unforgiving climate every single day.
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Helsinki Christmas Market
@mexinfin What is your favorite Christmas food? 🥰🇫🇮🎄 #mexinfin #fyp #ruoka #christmas #market #christmasmarket #suomi #finland #visitfinland ♬ Holly Jolly Christmas – Michael Bublé
The oldest and most popular Christmas market in the capital, Helsinki Christmas Market is the place to be during Christmas. It runs from 1st of December until the 22nd of December. With over a hundred stalls offering a wide range of hand-crafted gifts, unique ornaments, and local delicacies like Mulled Wine (glogi), Reindeer Stew, and Christmas porridge, and more.
Every evening, Santa Claus will make a delightful appearance at the market, eager to meet everyone and capture memorable photos! Right in the heart of the market, you’ll find an enchanting old-fashioned merry-go-round, inviting children to play and evoking a sense of nostalgia for adults.
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If you don’t plan to visit Helsinki, there are many more Christmas Markets throughout the country. Porvoo, Turku, and Tampere are some of the other popular festive markets.
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Finnish Sauna
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Finnish Saunas are a part of the culture in Finland, being considered a necessity instead of a luxury. As winters are often below 0°C, this is one of the best ways to warm up.
When visiting, most hotels or sauna houses may ask guest to be naked with a towel and to clean themselves before entering the sauna. This is a completely normal practice in Finland, and most will not be shy! However, there are places that allow guest to be in a swimsuit instead if you are not comfortable.
There are a lot of benefits of Finnish Sauna, like detoxifying, improved breathing, improved immune function, and others to name a few.
After the sauna, many locals will take a dip in cold water or roll in fresh powdered snow to cool down. Some may even go back into the sauna again! Follow along for the true Finnish experience!
@pinjamari.jirout Would you go? 😉 #finnish #finnishspa #finnishculture #avanto #iceswimming #icedipping #wintersport #winterswimming ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim
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Visiting Finland will be an experience like no other, they are the happiest country in the world for a reason!
