New Year holidays in Finland

Winter holidays abroad? What helps you say yes? Wealth of new impressions, active rest, clear logistics of movements and hospitable atmosphere.

What a country like this has to offer FinlandFor a winter holiday during the New Year holidays?

Finland is our climate twin. It would seem that all the Finnish beauty: snow-capped pines, northern lights and even the main New Year attraction - the village of Santa Claus can be seen in Russia. The harsh winter and polar nature will not surprise us.

A holiday in Finland has its trump cards

First, the similarity of weather conditions is a plus for health. The absence of a sharp transition from the cold to the heat and back will benefit after leaving the holiday regime.

Secondly, to have time to see and try everything and even more, you need an established tourist infrastructure that will allow you to combine the interests of all family members. And here Finland will give a hundred points ahead of many tourist destinations.

Combine in one round cruise for the Arctic Circle, overnight stay in a snow castle, spa treatments and rest in the water park, acquaintance with modern and classical art, immersion in the world of national mythology and crafts - all this is possible during the winter holidays in the country of Suomi.

At the same time, both rest and movement takes place in the most comfortable conditions, in a friendly environment for Russian-speaking tourists. Important point: regarding the safety of tourists, Finland is confidently among the leaders.

Options for family holidays in the New Year holidays

A must for families with children is Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. To visit this Christmas tale should take a few days.

In the office of Santa Claus you will have a personal meeting with the good wizard (during the New Year holidays you will have to stand in line). The famous Santa Mail leaves touching feelings, here emotions capture both adults and children.

In Rovaniemi are Elves Park and the Ice World of the Snowmen, where you can ride cheesecakes.

There are many souvenir shops in the village, each of which will have to linger. There are farms where you can get acquainted with charming husky and reindeer and ride in a dog or deer sled.

Near Rovaniemi there is also a wonderful educational center "Arktikum", which contains a lot of interesting exhibits dedicated to the natural world of the North and the culture of its peoples.

By the way, you can meet Santa in the town of Kuhmo, a quiet resort very close to the Russian border. There are opinions that the program in Kuhmo is more “piece” and soulful.

For kids, you should choose one of the spa hotels with water parks. Many of them, such as the Caribia water park in Turku, offer exciting animation programs.

If you do not follow the lead of a mass pilgrimage to Santa Claus, you can choose a super comfortable holiday in a resort hotel, for example, in Vuokatti.

Accommodating in a hotel in Vuokatti, you can not only enjoy riding on the beautifully equipped slopes, but also relax in the tropical pool, as well as take children to Superpark (formerly famous Angry Birds Park).

By the way, the New Year hotel program in Vuokatti includes a visit to Joulupucca, so to celebrate the New Year according to all the rules will be right at the resort.

There are many ski resorts in Finland, for recreation with children, a resort for skiers and snowboarders Iso-Suyote is recommended, with a large children's complex SnowWorld. Good for children and resorts Yullas and Laais-Laayavuori.

Interesting seaside town of Kemi. In Kemi, you can visit a unique snow castle, which is rebuilt every year without repeating the interior design. The castle has rooms for accommodation, a concert hall and a restaurant with real dishes of Finnish cuisine.

Also from Kemi you can make a 4-hour cruise on the icebreaker "Sampo" beyond the Arctic Circle and get a personal certificate of this.

And how do you like the night under the transparent dome of a glass needle with the opening panorama of the Northern Lights? You can admire the northern nature in the new designer apartments Snowman World Glass Resort.

If the growth of the child exceeds 120 cm, you can risk extreme entertainment: swimming in ice in special wetsuits. And you can take a course of ice climbing on the ice waterfall Corowoma. Both types of activities can be booked when living in Rovaniemi. To the taste of teenagers will have a safari on snowmobiles.

During the winter holidays, we combine the pleasant with the useful and visit the wonderful educational centers of the country, for example, the center of Finnish science "Eureka" in Vantaa, near Helsinki. Visit the Fazer chocolate empire in Vantaa. Excursion programs are designed for about 1 hour, among them there are educational programs.

On the New Year holidays in Helsinki is a pancake week. The Russian delicacy was loved by the Finns and became part of the national cuisine. Thick golden pancakes can be tasted at Grandma Troll in Rovaniemi.

"Gentlemen's kit" for a winter visit to the capital

Finland with children: the amusement park "Linnanmäki", the unique Sea Center Sea Life, festive master classes in the open museum on the island of Seurasaari (organizers advise to take a flashlight with you, as well as a plate with a spoon), the city skating rink opposite the central railway station, Kivikko Park, the festival of light (held in early January), skiing from the mountains in the parks of the city, for example, in the ancient central Kaivopuisto. After an active day in the fresh air will warm excellent cocoa in the cafe Ursula.

How to treat yourself to gourmets and shopaholics?

Finland is famous for high quality food. One of the most popular chains among residents of Finland is the Prisma hypermarket. Fans of all things natural should find the shops of the chain Punnitse & Saasta.

Buying goodies, it is worth considering that the duty is not charged for goods weighing up to 50 kg for a total amount of up to 1500 EUR. It is allowed to export up to 3 liters of wine.

Text: Anastasia Scherer