BE-YULE-TIFUL
Ryanair launches flights to ‘dream’ winter destination with return journeys from £51
Plus, other places around the world that are best to visit at Christmas time
RYANAIR has announced its schedule for flights to a popular winter holiday spot full of "magical experiences" for the family.
From Sunday 27th October, the airline will be putting on flights to Lapland-Rovaniemi, with five return flights per week from London and two return flights a week from Liverpool.
3
3
Return journeys from London Stansted in early November are available from as little as £51.
Lapland is the famous winter wonderland with snow-covered forests, husky and reindeer rides, and ice hotels – not to mention being the 'home' of the Santa himself.
Flights to the Finnish airport situated within the Arctic Circle take three hours and 30 minutes.
Ryanair’s Head of Communications, Jade Kirwan, said Lapland is every kid's (big and small) dream "with magical experiences that you will share with your family forever, including miles of glistening snow, reindeer and husky rides, snowball fights, chasing the northern lights, adventuring Christmas-themed parks and of course, a special visit to the big man himself and his jolly team of elves".
Read more on Ryanair
She added: "It’s never too early to start your Christmas planning, especially when it means getting ahead of the flock to secure the best fares available, so make sure to visit Ryanair.com today and book your once in a lifetime trip to Lapland this Winter.”
Lapland is covered in snow and ice from November to late May, making it the ultimate place to visit to get into the festive spirit.
There's a wide range of winter outdoor activities visitors can get involved in, including reindeer and dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing and snow shoeing.
It's also one of the best places to see the northern lights, which appear December through to March.
Most read in News Travel
December and January are said to be the most ideal time for seeing the lights.
Lapland is home to the only indigenous people in Europe who, for at least 5000 years, have inhabited the Arctic.
This is what I do as a Lapland Ranger for Christmas
They're known as the Sámi and there are plenty of opportunities to experience their culture and traditions.
It's also home to unique attractions like - the official home town of Santa Claus.
Here, there's the chance to meet Santa in Santa's Workshop Village, you can cross the Arctic Circle, which is marked in the centre square of the village, and you can also catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
There's no entry fee for Santa Claus Village and you can also meet Santa and his elves every day of the year for free.
'I visited Finnish Lapland and I was lucky enough to see the northern lights'
Travel reporter has visited Finnish Lapland twice...
Lapland spans across the northern tip of Norway, Sweden and Finland, meaning it's not somewhere you visit just once.
I've been fortunate enough to visit Finnish Lapland twice, with my most recent trip taking place last December.On my whistle-stop tour through Finland, I managed to squeeze in an afternoon in Rovaniemi.
Home to the world-famous Santa Claus Village, there's lots to keep families entertained from meet-and-greets with the big man himself to husky rides through the Finnish countryside.
Its biggest draw certainly has to be the prospect of seeing the Northern Lights.
Spotting the Northern Lights is never promised - it is a natural phenomenon after all - but holidaymakers head to Lapland with the hope they'll be able to glimpse the Aurora.
Even with the light pollution, I was lucky enough to watch the lights dance in the sky above the city. It's an experience I will never forget.
For a truly unique experience when you visit Lapland, you can stay at the .
Each room at the hotel is carved with a unique design and decorated with ice art and coloured lighting.
And guests sleep on frozen beds covered with reindeer skins and fleeced-lined sleeping bags.
If the cold isn't for you, its glass igloos are heated with 360-degree glass roofs and views of the sky.
The hotel also has the only snow sauna in the world, with snow walls and a humid steam room.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Christmas towns to visit around the world
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany - The town has multiple Christmas markets, including the traditional Reiterlesmarkt, which dates back to the 15th century. There's also the Christmas Museum that explains how Christmas was celebrated in Germany in the past, and how customs developed in different regions.
North Pole, USA - a Christmas-themed town that celebrates the holidays year-round. The town is decorated with candy cane-shaped street lights, and residents leave holiday decorations up all year.
Strasbourg, France - it;s known as the 'Capital of Christmas' because of its annual Christmas market, which is one of the oldest in Europe.
Santa Claus, USA - Santa Claus, Indiana is a town that celebrates Christmas all year long because of its name, its holiday-themed attractions, and its post office. The town was originally named Santa Fe, but was renamed Santa Claus in 1856 when the government rejected its post office application due to a naming conflict with another Indiana town.
Mousehole, Cornwall - Christmas in Mousehole, Cornwall is marked by the village's famous Christmas lights. A local tradition that begins with the gradual turning on of the lights from December 12–17th. The lights illuminate the harbor and village, and are a popular attraction for thousands of visitors each year.
And there's an optional service to wake guests during the night if the northern lights appear.
Prices for a one night stay at Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos start from £183.
3
Topics