I fell in love with Finland at first sight, writing this Portrait of Helsinki in Winter. Also see our guide to 17 reasons to love Helsinki, and our detailed 4-day Lapland itinerary, including the moment we sqw the Northern Lights.
Choosing where to stay in Lapland is half the fun. The region is filled with unique places to sleep, from glass igloos and aurora cabins to snow hotels and fairytale woodland chalets. And many are created with families in mind. Here’s my guide to the most magical places to stay in Lapland, whether you’re dreaming … Read more
Lapland in winter is without a doubt one of the best family destinations in the world. It’s the stuff of childhood dreams, and it doesn’t all have to be about Santa. It’s a place that often feels like walking through a real-life winter fairytale and it easily enchants kids and adults of every age. We’ve … Read more
Lapland prices span a huge spectrum. You can do it somewhat affordably with apartment rentals, self-catering and a handful of key activities, or go full luxury and enter the world of glass igloos, private Santa meetings and luxe wilderness lodges. And of course there’s the middle way, balancing value stays with a handful of unforgettable … Read more
Your complete guide to creating a magical, stress-free Lapland trip with kids. If Lapland is on your family travel wish list, I can confirm it’s every bit as magical as you imagine. Frozen forests, reindeer trotting through the snow, cosy cabins lit by twinkling lights, and the real-life Santa waiting to greet wide-eyed little ones. … Read more
Meeting Santa in Lapland is one of those childhood dreams that feels almost mythic, and it’s one that tops many family bucket lists. But once you start planning that dream Lapland trip, it quickly becomes clear that there isn’t just one way to meet Santa there. From free walk-in encounters to carefully choreographed forest journeys … Read more
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland is known as the official home of Santa Claus – and it’s one of the most talked-about stops on a Lapland itinerary. But what exactly is it, and is it worth visiting? My pre-research painted it as a Marmite experience: a place some people love and others are keen … Read more
The Northern Lights Village Searching for Santa experience has become known as the gold standard for visiting Santa in Lapland. But is it as good as it looks? And is it worth the hefty price tag? I deliberated heavily over whether or not to do it on our trip to Lapland, doing plenty of research, … Read more
The first time I had to pack for an extreme cold weather trip, I felt like I was learning a different language. While there are lots of Lapland packing tips online, it still felt like there was a lot to get my head around in terms of exactly what to bring and how much. I … Read more
We love all sorts of family travel – from annual holidays in classic seaside towns to epic bucket list trips that broaden everyone’s horizons. For this post, we’re focussing on the latter. We’ve done many of these sorts of trips ourselves – I’m a big believer in a ‘carpe diem’ approach to life so try … Read more
Some of the best trips we’ve ever done have been in winter – and not to sunny climes, but to full-on wintry landscapes where you can embrace the coldest season. One of my favourite things is to get cosy and there’s no better time for it. If snowy scenes and cuddling up with a hot … Read more