Finland is Russia's northern neighbor. This state is very popular among tourists for many reasons. The country is beautiful in nature. About which resorts are considered the most visited, read the article.
Why is vacation in Finland popular in winter?
There are many reasons why many tourists choose a vacation in this state. So here they are:
- Beautiful landscape. The relief of Finland is characterized by the presence of hills and mountains covered with snow.
- Skiing. The landscape allows you to take part in various competitions in snowboarding and other winter sports. So, everyone can ski or cheesecake. If you are brave enough, you can take part in a snow safari with a team of sleds, snowmobiles or ATVs. Winter fishing is another entertainment.
- Long snow season. Holidays in Finland in the winter are chosen by many tourists, since the winters are quite warm.
- Developed infrastructure. In this country there are a huge number of museums and amusement parks. Everyone can visit the spa. Holidays in Finland in winter are very popular for another reason. Local hotels and tourist centers are considered very good. The service here is of high quality.
- The ability to travel around the country. Everyone can visit such Finnish cities as Helsinki and Tampere, and this is only a small part of the local tourist "capitals". Well, of course, do not forget about Lapland - a resort where you will get the New Year's mood.
Vuokatti
The journey from St. Petersburg to this resort takes only one day by car or an hour by plane. This popular tourist town is designed for family vacations in Finland in winter. There are ski slopes and lifts. Especially for children created "Magic Carpet" - a tape hoist, the length of which reaches 50 meters. Throughout the year, tunnels operate in Finland for snowboarding and skiing. Various slides, bridges, climbing routes - this is an incomplete list of where you can spend time at this resort.
Residence
Vuokatti is one of those resorts that are suitable for lovers of a comfortable stay. So, on its territory is located the Holiday Club Katinkulta spa hotel. This hotel complex is equipped with a water park, a bathhouse, saunas. Golf lovers can visit it in the summer. There are tennis courts, a gym and badminton courts all year round. Many tourists choose this hotel for a holiday in Finland in the winter. The reviews about this hotel are positive.
Himos
This resort area is very popular among Russians for several reasons. Firstly, Russian-speaking instructors work here, and secondly, beginners can take advantage of four lifts at once. The local mountains are considered the longest and highest in southern Finland.
Tourists can stay in hotels, apartments or cottages located one kilometer from the best ski slopes. All places of residence are equipped with electrical appliances, running water, fireplaces and a sauna. For a fee you can ride a snowmobile or dog sledding, swim in wetsuits or go fishing.
Iso suet
The hotel, surrounded by a considerable number of cottages, is located at the top of the hill. The resort is surrounded by a fabulously beautiful forest. The rooms offer scenic views of the local nature. In their reviews, tourists who stayed at this hotel noted that the landscapes of this resort are very beautiful. In addition, if you are lucky, you can watch the northern lights.
Things to do?
The ski slope is very close to the hotel. If you decide to bring personal equipment with you, you do not have to use transport. Inexperienced skiers, as well as children, should get to the gentle slopes by bus, so as not to get injured while skiing. The smallest skiers can go in for sports in the Lumimaa complex, which is specially equipped for children.
Levy
The category “Best places to stay in Finland in winter” includes a ski center called “Levi”. It is equipped with 45 slopes and 27 lifts. Children can play in the sports town or visit the entertainment center.
What are the most popular accommodation options at Levy? These are hotels, cottages and even apartments. A free shuttle bus runs daily from hotels to the slopes. On the territory of the ski center there are restaurants, a mini-water park, as well as a sports and fitness complex.
Arm
One of the most visited ski centers in Lapland is a 30-minute drive from Kuusamo. The tourist season begins in October and ends in June. The resort is especially popular among snowboarders as well as freestyle enthusiasts. The main ski lift is located very close to the village called Ruka. Other lifts are located nearby. There are 21 of them. Children under the age of 6 years ride here for free.
The resort has a ski school with at least 200 instructors. This is one of the reasons why people choose a city called Ruka for holidays in Finland in winter. Reviews of tourists about this resort contain information that everyone has the opportunity not only to try their hand at winter sports, but also to look at world-class competitions.
Ylläs Resort
The largest Finnish ski resort is located beyond the Arctic Circle. There are at least 1000 comfortable cottages and hotels here. Tourists who choose local hotels to stay in their reviews note the high professionalism of the staff, as well as the friendliness and responsibility of the workers.
Ski lovers will be able to ride on special tracks, equipped in the best way. You can try your hand at 63 slopes of varying difficulty. The largest of them has a huge height, reaching 718 meters. The length of the longest descent is 3 kilometers. The resort is constantly working with Russian-speaking experts who can help you in solving various issues.
If you want to try something exotic, you can visit the open-air Jacuzzi, located at the top of the hill. The sauna here is also unusual. She is in the cabin of the funicular.
Snow village
What other recreation centers in Finland are very popular in winter? Of course, this is “Snow Village”. This resort is considered a northern exotic, as it is located beyond the Arctic Circle. But this is not the only reason why the "Snow Village" is increasingly chosen for recreation.
Every year, at the beginning of the tourist season, Chinese craftsmen come here. Together with their colleagues from Finland, they create snow masterpieces that adorn the resort throughout the winter.
At a local hotel, you can stay in rooms with beds made of ice. So that you do not freeze, you will be given special sleeping bags. All rooms are original decorated. However, there is a minus at the local hotel. This lack of toilets, showers and other amenities in the rooms, which, of course, is noted in the reviews of tourists. However, the picturesque views and the beauty of local nature completely block this small drawback of hotels located in the "Snow Village".
Holidays in Finland in the winter at this base are organized in the best way. So, in order for tourists not to freeze, the hotel has a bar. In it you can not only warm up, but also try new drinks, such as blueberry vodka, and dishes of national Lapland cuisine.
Santa Claus Village
Many families prefer a holiday in Finland in winter with children. Reviews of local entertainment centers designed for young travelers are only positive. Especially popular is the village of Santa Claus, which impresses all tourists. Here is a huge Christmas tree and figures made of ice. The local museum tells about the Arctic nature and the indigenous people of the north.
Santa's office is another highlight of the Santa Claus village. In the office, the guys are met by gnomes and elves. For a fee, you can take a photo with Santa Claus and get souvenirs. Wonderful mail works here too. So, directly from Finland, you can send relatives and friends greeting cards with the seals of Santa Claus. Everyone can ride in reindeer sledding.
What to prefer?
In Finland there are a huge number of resorts, in each of which tourists can choose the most convenient way of accommodation. Some travelers prefer comfortable hotels, from the rooms of which there are picturesque views of the snowy forest.
However, there is another option for where you can stay with children during their holidays in Finland in winter or without them. These are cottages located right in the middle of the forest. Spacious houses, consisting of one or two floors, are very modernly equipped. At the disposal of vacationers are spacious rooms with a sauna, a fully equipped kitchen, several bedrooms. The living rooms have fireplaces, near which you can spend time with your family or friends. Of course, not all cottages are located in the forest. If you wish, you can find a great house, located in the resort village.
Weather
Finland is located in northern Europe, a third of the state is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The day lasts several hours, from 10.00 a.m. to 15.00 p.m. The influence of the Gulf Stream affects temperature, however, it cannot be said that Finnish winters are cold. They are moderate. On average, the temperature of the coldest month is from -14 to -12 degrees Celsius in the northernmost points of the country.
The air in Finland is dry, so the cold is easily tolerated. The formation of snow cover begins in December, lasts until April in the southern regions of the state. In the northern part, snow lies until May. Since holidays in Finland in winter are often accompanied by westerly winds, when choosing outerwear, you should give preference to windproof models.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Finland.
- By plane. To get to this state, you should make a flight on the route "St. Petersburg - Helsinki" or "Moscow - Helsinki". An average ticket costs 3,600 rubles. If you book in advance, about a month before departure, their cost will be 2700 rubles.
- By train or ferry. For example, from Moscow the express train "Leo Tolstoy".
- By bus. For just 500 rubles you can get from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.
A very developed transport system operates inside the country, therefore, problems with movement around the state usually do not arise. Most often, bus routes are preferred, although the main cities are connected by rail.