Best places for a white Christmas in Europe

Winter wonderland
Remember those dreamy Christmas films we were talking about? The ones where the snow falls perfectly on Christmas day? Well, the chances are there’s zero fake snow required for a white Christmas in Lapland. In fact, the Finnish Meteorological Institute reports that there’s a 90% chance of a snowy Christmas ever year in Lapland. We’ll take those odds, thank you. And, because it’s the home of Christmas, you can even deliver your Christmas wishlist to the big man himself, in person. If you ask us, there’s no better way to make sure it gets there.

Family Fun
When it comes to Lapland holidays, you can take your pick from a day trip, or three-and-four night stays. Our packages include taster sessions such as husky-led sleigh rides and snowmobile sessions, but we always make sure you’ve got some free time to tailor your trip just the way you’d like it. So, once you’ve perfected your snowman, you can take off on an elf adventure tour for some crafts with Mrs Claus, or dash through the snow on a snowmobile safari to Elves Cabin.

Take a look at all the activities on offer in Lapland’s Rovaniemi.

Christmas markets
When it comes to snowy Christmas getaways a little closer to home, Krakow’s one of the best picks. You’ve got around a 50/50 chance of snow falling on Christmas day here, and even if the snow doesn’t show up, the city’s Christmas markets will provide plenty of festive cheer. The main spot is in the Old Town Square, and it’s stacked from side to side with stalls selling everything from handicrafts to mugs of mulled wine. Plus, it’s even open on Christmas day, so you’re sorted for a pre-dinner tipple or two.

Out and about
Once you’ve bagged some goodies at the market, you can set your sights on everything else the city has to offer. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a must-visit, where you’ll head more than 130 metres below the ground to explore works of art crafted out of salt. Yep, you read that correctly, there’s even a cathedral built entirely out of salt which took 70 years to make. A trip to Wawel Castle should also be on your radar – it’s home to a collection of 16th-century Flemish tapestries and paintings from the Italian Renaissance. You can also pay your respects at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, it’s just an over an hour’s drive outside the city.

Find out what else Krakow has to offer.