Finland

Finland's far north, Lapland, is the storybook Arctic. Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle, is the official home of Santa Claus, where you can cross the magic line, meet Santa and post a letter from his post office. Beyond the town, the snow-blanketed wilderness is the stage for husky-sled and reindeer-sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris and nights spent watching the Northern Lights from glass igloos and aurora cabins. Helsinki, the design-led seaside capital, makes a cultured start or finish with its cathedral, market square and island fortress of Suomenlinna. From late September to March the aurora is the headline act, while the deep winter adds frozen lakes, ice-fishing and the genuine Finnish sauna culture — making Lapland one of the world's most magical cold-weather escapes.