Rovaniemi, Finland

No other location makes more sense for December visitors than Rovaniemi, which is known as Santa Claus' official residence. The Santa Claus Village is a magical location four kilometers south of the Arctic Circle that feels like a mix of an amusement park and an arctic wonderland.

The area of Rovaniemi is a popular destination for northern lights tours. Here, you can view about 200 aurora borealis displays annually, which is among the highest numbers in Scandinavia. Even if you miss the northern lights, Rovaniemi experiences a magnificent period of Polar Twilight (rather than Polar Night), during which the sun will still rise for a few hours each day. These months are covered in bluish, dazzling snowdrifts, giving both the natural world and man-made buildings a wonderful look. Snowshoeing through snow-covered woodlands is ideal in the Ounasvaara recreational region near the town while swimming in the wintertime beneath the midnight sun is popular at Ounaskoski Beach. When you need to spend time indoors, Rovaniemi has a ton of icy distractions to choose from, including a snow restaurant, an ice hotel, ice slides, and castles. There's also the Arktikum Science Museum for a more comfortable break.