Every year, during the New Year holidays, there is an increased interest among tourists in a country like Finland. And this is not surprising - on Christmas Eve this northern country turns into a real winter fairy tale. Lapland, a region of Finland located in the north of the country, is especially popular with travelers.
Where to relax in Finland for the New Year
Perhaps the best way to spend an unforgettable New Year's holidays in Finland is to rent a private cottage in one of the most colorful regions of the country. Pello, Rovaniemi, Ranua and Kuusamo can be referred to such places, as if specially created for the Christmas holidays, where every adult can feel like a child again, plunging into the unique atmosphere of New Year's miracle and magic. At this time, tourists will find a festive program full of winter entertainment, acquaintance with Finnish traditions and local cuisine.
Pello is a unique place located above the Arctic Circle, which makes it possible to visit both Finnish and Swedish Lapland, the border between which is the Tornionjoki River. This reservoir is home to a large number of salmon and grayling, which makes Pello a very attractive destination for anglers from all over the world.
About 100 km from Pello is the city of Rovaniemi, which should be visited by all tourists vacationing in Finland during the New Year holidays. This region is considered the birthplace of Santa Claus or, as the Finns themselves call it, Joulupukki. Every year, travelers from different parts of the world travel to Rovaniemi for a Christmas fairy tale - during the holidays, exhibitions open here, various concerts and festivals with an interesting entertainment program are held. Also worth a visit is the Santa Claus Village, where you can meet the protagonist of the Christmas fairy tale and his assistants, ride a reindeer sleigh, buy New Year's souvenirs and send a greeting card to friends and family from Santa's main post office.
Not far from Rovaniemi, there is a small village called Ranua, famous for its virgin northern nature. It is surrounded by picturesque forests, where arctic berries - cloudberries, numerous lakes and swamps grow. Also in Ranua is the world's northernmost zoo and medieval magic castle "Mur-mur", where gobies, witches and gnomes live.
One of the most memorable areas in Finland is the city of Kuusamo, often referred to as the gateway to Lapland. Here tourists can have fun with reindeer and dog sledding, skiing and snowmobiling. Ruko Ski Center and Oulanka National Park are in the immediate vicinity of Kuusamo.
The picturesque beauty of the Finnish north in the form of wide open spaces, clean winter air, century-old evergreen trees wrapped in snow covers will not leave anyone indifferent, and if you are lucky, during the New Year holidays you can witness an amazing natural phenomenon - the Northern Lights.
Prices
When planning to spend your winter holidays in Finland, you need to take into account that the prices for vouchers during this period will be quite high, especially if you want to rent a separate house. The cost of renting cottages and rooms in hotels reaches its maximum level during the New Year holidays, so it is important to decide in advance on the purpose of the trip.
If your holiday in Finland mainly attracts you with its unforgettable Christmas markets and festivals, then it is better to book a tour at the end of December.
If the main purpose of your trip is acquaintance with the beauty of Finnish nature, then it is better to plan your trip in the middle of winter, when tourist trips to Finland have already significantly dropped in price.
