5 winter wonderlands for the perfect white Christmas
CHRISTMAS is just over a month away and with it comes the beauty of Christmas decorations and bright lights. Most cities are already preparing.
If you’re looking to spend your Christmas in a winter wonderland, here are some beautiful white Christmas destinations.
Lapland, Finland
Known as the home of Christmas, here you can visit Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi. There are amusement parks with staff members dressed up as elves and family fun reindeer sleigh rides as well as the chance to meet Father Christmas himself.
A Christmas in Lapland includes the opportunity to enjoy endless snowfall and one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, the aurora borealis.
There are plenty of activities and attractions at this winter wonderland, including skiing, ice-carting, and visiting Wolverine Fell Wilderness and Nature, Igloo Village Kakaslauttanen and the snow village at Lainio.
Where to stay: Book a stay at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel in the heart of Arctic nature, a blend of luxury, local Lappish traditions and modern Scandinavian design. The panoramic views from the windows provide impressive spectacles of the forest and Arctic skies: the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun can be admired from your bed. Bruges, Belgium
If you’re in the mood for a fairytale Christmas, consider Bruges. The medieval city lives up to its enchanting reputation as snow covers its historic cobblestone streets and winter marketplaces pop up, bringing Christmas cheer to every corner of the city.
The city hosts an annual Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival from November to January, which allows visitors to explore incredible ice-made artworks.
Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while visiting the annual Christmas markets where an ice-skating rink and market stalls are brimming with activity.
Where to stay: Hotel De Orangerie, a former Carthusian convent dating from the 15th century, is a luxurious and romantic boutique hotel in the historic heart of Bruges. Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Home of the Icehotel, this is worth the visit. As a Christmas destination, it
offers a magical white landscape and incredible northern lights, and you can partake in wilderness experiences like husky dog sleighing and ice sculpting.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feature special events, including a visit from Santa and a concert in the village church, which dates back to the 1600s.
Where to stay: The Icehotel is in far northern Sweden and puts on a special show for Christmas. It’s creatively redesigned and reborn each winter and the accommodation ranges from standard ice rooms to elegant art suites. The Ice rooms have decor and beds made of ice.
Prague, Czech Republic Praguers are known for creating an unforgettable Christmas experience for visitors. The festive season mood begins with Advent, which is when the city and its squares are festively decorated.
The city also offers Christmas markets to enjoy.
Prague is famous for its cuisine. At Christmas, visitors can look forward to such traditional Czech food as barbecued pork, blood sausages, Czech muffins, conkers, beer, mull, mead and other gastronomical specialities from Old Czech cuisine, and Christmas carols are sung every day by performers.
Where to stay: In the heart of Prague’s Lesser Town, right below Prague Castle and a few steps from Charles Bridge, is the Augustine, A Luxury Collection. This hotel is described as the quintessence of Prague’s history, character and beauty.
Megève, France
During the festive season, the French ski resort of Megève in the Auvergne-rhône-alpes looks like a Christmas card. It features an icesculpted nativity set, Christmas lights and the jingle from horse-drawn sleighs adds to the charm.
The village was built around a medieval church, w here there is an enormous Christmas tree adorned with Swarovski crystals, and is perfect for the traveller who is all about skiing.
Megève has particularly scenic ski runs past wooden chalets and cosy mountain restaurants.
Non-skiers can peruse the boutique shops, indulge in a spa treatment or learn how to pirouette across the ice-skating rink.
The resort is renowned for its fine dining. Choose from over 80 restaurants for your Christmas meal (book ahead). It’s also one of the least crowded ski resorts at Christmas.
Where to stay: Les Chalets du Mont d’arbois, for a dedicated kids’ club and amazing intimate spa. It’s the perfect, luxurious mountain base for skiers looking to access Megève’s 445 kilometres of piste.