If you are looking for a holiday a bit different than usual, why not consider visiting Lapland? Lapland or Sapmi is an area which overlaps parts of Norway, Finland, Sweden and also includes the Russian Kola Peninsula. It is truly a real Winter Wonderland! In Rovaniemi you can even visit Santa Claus or cross the Arctic Circle. We decided to visit the less touristic part of Finnish Lapland “Yllasjarvi” and to leave Rovaniemi for another time.
We started our trip in Helsinki - a trendy waterfront city with some Russian influences - offering broad boulevards, fancy cafes and nice restaurants (there are even 5 restaurants with Michelin stars in Helsinki). What strikes you straight away when you arrive in Finland is that it is cold, very cold :-) Luckily we had blue sky and very sunny weather which made it a bit easier to handle. Helsinki is a paradise for art lovers but is - with is many designer shops - also the place to be for shopaholics. Shopping mall Stockmann is definitely a MUST for shopaholics.
