Rovaniemi, Finland: The Most Epic Snow Holiday

Coming from Australia where December is known for being extremely hot and 30+ degrees we decided long ago that one year we would go away for a White Christmas to experience snow. 2016 was that year!

8 months of planning and pre-booking the conclusion was we would go to Finland. We wanted somewhere that would guarantee snow and having done a lot of research of different countries we knew this was the place we wanted to visit.

I chose to go to Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it’s a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights.

It took us a long time to get there- four planes to be exact- but it was worth it. Here I've gathered together my top 5 experiences in this beautiful town.

1. Husky Sledding

The most magical outdoor activity I think I've ever experienced. There are a number of husky farms in Rovaniemi. These dogs are incredible! When we arrived, they were all harnessed up and ready to go, jumping around and barking. We got a quite demo on how to stop and start and then we were off! With a pack of five dogs and one wooden sled, we trekked 14kms through the beautiful, white forest. Along the way it started snowing which just added to the magic of it. By the end of the one hour trip, the dogs looked like they wanted to go again. Apparently they can run up to 70kms a day. This was child's play! Try and book a morning time slot so you get to see the forest in some light.

2. Snowmobiling through the Forest

We booked a one hour snowmobiling tour with a company on our last day in Rovaniemi and I'm so glad we did! What we didn't realise was that the tour was just for the three of us so it was very private. This particular activity left me in awe. It legitimately felt like we were driving through Narnia. Whether you like going slow or fast- the tour guides are very accommodating. 

3. Reindeer Ride and crossing the Arctic Circle 

You can't go all the way to Finland and not see a reindeer. They are such beautiful animals that actually out number the locals. On Christmas Day we booked a Santa Claus safari where we snow mobiled across an iced lake to this wooden farm. There we got on board a sled and took a reindeer ride around the property. There are a number of reindeer farms across Rovaniemi where you can book these activities. 

4. View the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are a natural phenomenon that people all over the world have on their bucket list to see in their lifetime. Finland is one of the best places to see them. Don't pre book a safari or experience because there are no guarantees. The best thing to do is ask your concierge each day if they think they'll be on show and the best place to view them.

5. Santa Claus Village and the Ice Restaurant 

Ah Santa Claus Village! One of the most surreal places I've visited. Here you can visit Santa, post him your Christmas wish list at the main post office, dine in an ice restaurant, shop, and ride reindeer. If you have a vision of what the North Pole should look like, then this is it. On the 23rd of December each year, you can watch Santa depart for his mission; a very special moment for children and adults of all ages. 

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Day 10: Rome

Rome; our final destination! I must say, it was the nicest hotel we've stayed in the whole trip. 

We started by trying to navigate our way on the train line. To be fair, it was actually quite self explanatory because there were only two lines- a red and blue. 

We had booked in to do a tour of the Colosseum before we left home so we got off at Colloseo. It's quite incredible that you step outside of the train station and this incredible monument is right there in front of you. We arrived an hour early to make sure we found our group in time, but after 75 minutes of searching and asking we had no luck. We contacted our travel agent who then informed us it must be a scam- very good travel agent....naht.

We were petty bummed but instead of letting it get to us, we went to this gorgeous coffee shop right outside the Colosseum, sat outside, had coffee and cake and everything was all better. 

We got on the train and explored Rome. It's an odd city really- on one side you have the old ancient ruins and on the other you have modernized infrastructure. For me, it didn't feel as authentic as the other Italian places I'd visited. We saw the Trevi Fountain where I had my Lizzie McGuire moment of throwing a coin in to the water and the Vatican which it was very beautiful. 

On our way home on the train- one stop from our hotel- I got mugged and had my wallet stolen after a group of girls surrounded me on the train and fled with my belongings. It was pretty traumatic and it shook me up quite a bit but I was thankful it was our last day in Rome, so not having my credit cards and cash wasn't too much of an issue. 

All in all, Rome didn't really treat us very well. It was our final stop and I'm glad I saw it but I won't be going back there. There are too many other beautiful places to see!

I'm excited for my next adventure in December when I'm off to Dubai, Finland and London. 

Keep reading for more!

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Day 9: Orvieto

Today we said goodbye to Venice and hello to Orvieto. Sitting astride a volcanic plug of rock above fields streaked with vines, and olive and cypress trees Orvieto is visually stunning. We took the funicular up to the top and had a lovely wander through the cobbled lanes. This small town is about 90 minutes from Rome and a place that's great to see. For us, it was a nice stop over to break up the trip from Venice to Rome.

We walked to the old-town hilltop to see the Duomo di Orvieto which is a large 14th-century Roman Catholic cathedral. A must see! We then drove down to our final destination of Rome. Arriving late we went straight to bed to be ready for our first full day in ROMAAAA.

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Day 8: Venice

Our first proper day in Venice!

We got up early and accidentally went to the wrong breakfast area and ate leftovers from a previous group. Woops/ewww.

It was cold and rainy today, so everyone rugged up, and we made our way to the tram to head into the main part of Venice. After 15 minutes we arrived! It was just as I imagined. Little bridges were arched over narrow canals, gondolas were docked next to tall, colorful buildings and men raced around with trolleys shouting 'Attenzione, attenzione!'.

We had a guided tour (in the rain) which wasn't ideal but we learnt all the history of Venice. We walked over the Bridge of Fists. It has five small footprints on it. Apparently men would go there to have organised fist fights and try to push their opponents into the canals. It got banned after men started bringing knives to the fights!

We made our way to San Marcos square where we walked into the most beautiful lace store. We sat down and had a demonstration on how they make lace. I bought my family this Christmas tablecloth which would take 5 months to carefully hand make. Surprisingly it only cost 50 Euros. The government subsidies lace makers to keep the tradition going.

After the lace demonstration we walked over to the gondolas where we had our very own 30 minute gondola ride! It was perfect, the rain stopped and the sun came out. It went through the Grand Canal and down little narrow streets with towering buildings. It was absolutely gorgeous and something I won't forget. Next stop was lunch. We all had our own pizzas which we devoured, then spent the rest of the day getting lost in the streets of Venice. One thing to remember is that you can't follow a map in Venice. The streets twist and turn and it's impossible to know where you are. If you need directions, follow the signs and you should be ok.

We went to the Accademia gallery and onto a super posh hotel where we heartily ate cake and coffee while being served by Italian men in white suits. That night, instead of going out to dinner we went to the supermarket, picked up a few rolls and had a TV dinner. Day well spent in my opinion!

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Day 7: Travel Day to Venice

On day 7 we headed out early on the bus and had a few destinations to see before we arrived at Venice.

Our first stop was Lake Garda. We took a boat across the water and the weather was glorious, beautiful and sunny. We only had a short stop over in Lake Garda so we had lunch (best omelette and fries ever) outdoors. Then we wandered the gorgeous streets. They're narrow walkways with lovely shops. I got myself a hazelnut gelato and strolled through looking in awe. If I had the choice, I would've loved to stay there a few days and relax on the beach by the lake.

Lake Garda

Our next stop was Verona. It was stinking hot but we walked to the Roman Arena where they used to have proper fighting battles. Built of pink-tinged marble in the 1st century AD, Verona's Roman amphitheatre survived a 12th-century earthquake. We then walked through the amazing shopping strip where there were designer stores and high end boutiques, suitable for everyone with different budgets. At the end of the shopping strip is Casa di Giulietta or Juliet's House where tourists flock to see the balcony where Juliet stood while Romeo declared his love. Inside the house is a small museum and in the courtyard is a bronze sculpture of Juliet – people rub her right breast for luck. But the ultimate in romantic gesturing is the many love notes stuck on the walls and doors in the entrance to the courtyard. If you can find space, leave your own little love note!

Verona

After Verona, we made our way to Venice. The area we are staying in isn't the nicest- apparently it's where the local resident's live- with the main, iconic part of Venice about 15 minutes away. After a full day of sightseeing we had a group dinner and had an early night. What a day!

Juliet's Balcony

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Day 6: Cinque Terre

There is something truly magical about Cinque Terre. We had a full day here and it was beyond beautiful. Cinque Terre (meaning five lands) is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the five towns, colorful houses and vineyards cling to steep terraces, harbors are filled with fishing boats and trattorias turn out seafood specialties.

Riomaggiore

The five towns are:
Riomaggiore
Manarola
Corniglia
Vernazza
Monterossa

From La Spezia we took the train to each of the towns starting at Riomaggiore. Each stop is only a 2-3 minute train ride, but you can hike in between towns if you're feeling up to it. Considering we only had one day we decided against that, plus it was over 30 degrees and hot! We wanted to visit each village and spent about an hour in each place. My favourite was Manarola, built on a high rock 70 metres above sea level, and is in my opinion one of the most charming and romantic of the Cinque Terre villages. If you want that iconic photograph, Manarola is the place to get it.

Manarola

Each town is different and each worth seeing. If you're after a day lying on the beach, then head to Monetrossa. This is definitely the most 'touristy' of the towns but you can hire a sun lounge and have gelato all day, so it makes for a good day out. 

We stopped at Vernazza, a small fishing village, for lunch and if you like seafood, this is the place to be! Restaurants overlook the beautiful water but it can be a bit pricey so make sure you look at the menu before you sit down.

Manarola

Cinque Terre has been on my bucket list for a while now and I'm so pleased to be able to tick it off. To think people live in such a beautiful place is kind of hard to comprehend and I would definitely go back. If you can afford it, stay in one of the villages and experience their lifestyle. 

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Day 5: La Spezia

La Spezia

 Today we made our way to our next destination, La Spezia, saying goodbye to Florence. Our first stop along the way was Lucca, a city on the Serchio river in Italy’s Tuscany region. It’s known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic city center and its cobblestone streets. It's one of the only towns not to be destroyed in WWII, because of the four kilometre wall surrounding it. We had a guided walking tour, and lunch inside the old gladiator circle, plus cup fulls of gelato (totally necessary every day in Italy) Lucca is a seriously beautiful small town but I would recommend just a day trip.

Lucca

We then drove about 20 minutes to Pisa, where we saw the leaning tower. I found Pisa a bit confronting. On one side you see the beautiful leaning tower with the cathedral and then you turn 180 degrees and see hundreds of vendors selling illegal goods. We were only here for about half an hour but it was still worth seeing. Everyone you look tourists are trying to get the perfect picture, it's quite funny.

After Pisa, we drove to our final destination of the day, La Spezia. Located midway between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts the arsenal of the Italian Navy. It is important for its museums, for the Palio del Golfo, and for the railway and boat links with Cinque Terre. We stayed here because it was a lot cheaper than staying in one of the towns of Cinque Terre and the train was only a 5 minute walk from our hotel.

Pisa

We had a group dinner at one of the local restaurants where we scored a delicious three course meal of ravioli, calamari and tiramisu. YUM!

Leaning Tower of Pisa

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