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Lapland

Lapland casts a powerful spell: there's something lonely and intangible here that fills it with Arctic magic. The midnight sun, the Sámi peoples, the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and roaming reindeer are all components of this – as is Santa Claus himself, who ‘officially’ resides here – along with the awesome latitudes: at Nuorgam, the northernmost point, you have passed Iceland and nearly all of Canada and Alaska.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Snow Chapel at LumiLinna Snow Castle in Kemi, Finland.

    Lumilinna

    Lapland

    Few things conjure fairy-tale romance like a snow castle. First built in 1996 as a Unicef project, this is a Lapland winter highlight and a favoured…

  • Arktikum

    Arktikum

    Rovaniemi

    With its beautifully designed glass tunnel stretching out to the Ounasjoki, this is one of Finland’s finest museums. One half deals with Lapland, with…

  • Pilke Tiedekeskus

    Pilke Tiedekeskus

    Rovaniemi

    Downstairs in the Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest and Park Service) building next to the Arktikum, this is a highly entertaining exhibition on Finnish…

  • Alariesto Galleria

    Alariesto Galleria

    Northern Lapland

    Above the tourist office, this gallery displays paintings by famous local artist Andreas Alariesto (1900–89), who depicted traditional Sámi life in an…

  • Kevo Strict Nature Reserve during autumn.

    Kevo Strict Nature Reserve

    Northern Lapland

    Some of Finland's most breathtaking scenery is within the 712-sq-km Kevo Strict Nature Reserve along the splendid 40km gorge of the Kevojoki (off-limits…

  • The Auttikongas Forest in the municipality of Rovaniemi in Finland.

    Auttiköngäs

    Lapland

    The highlight of this protected old-growth forest, 80km southeast of Rovaniemi off Rd 81, is the 16m-high Auttiköngäs waterfall. It's reached by a 3.5km…

  • Arctic Snow Hotel reindeer at Rovaniemi's Arctic SnowHotel is in Lapland, Finland. Deepa Lakshmin/Lonely Planet.

    Konttaniemen Porotila

    Rovaniemi

    Meet reindeer (including adorable calves in season) and find out about their life cycle at this reindeer farm 7km northwest of Rovaniemi. Tours complete…

  • Santa Claus Village

    Santa Claus Village

    Rovaniemi

    The ‘official’ Santa Claus Village is built atop the Arctic Circle marker, denoted by a line painted on the pavement (Arctic Circle certificates cost €4…

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Neuschwanstein, Germany - 1 February, 2019: Beautiful view of world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany Beautiful view of world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, the nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival palace built for King Ludwig II on a rugged cliff near Fussen, southwest Bavaria, Germany 1177375283 neuschwanstein, landscape, view, landmark, beautiful, alps, famous, alpine, royal, bavarian, tale, european, german, destination, hohenschwangau, amazing, attraction, building, scenic, scenery, panorama, ludwig, king, schloss, swanstone, popular, world, romantic Beautiful view of world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, southwest Bavaria, Germany.

Festivals & Events

14 of the best places to go in Europe in winter

Sep 15, 2024 • 14 min read

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