Winter Walks in Western Europe

Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall and see Skógafoss, which has a Viking legend dating back to the year 900, then check out Thingvellir National Park's rock formations. At Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, there's an optional Vatnajökull glacier hike with ice cave exploration for around 14,500 ISK.

Spend two full days in Helsinki checking out the capital's art and design scene, then board an overnight sleeper train to Rovaniemi where you'll take a three-hour icebreaker cruise through Bothnian Sea ice and stay in panoramic design cabins at Vaattunki Wilderness Resort deep in Lapland.

This 5-day private winter trip in Rovaniemi includes a 10km husky safari through Lapland's snowy wilderness, and you'll cross the Arctic Circle at Santa Claus Village where you can meet Santa in his office and send postcards with the special Santa stamp. Optional activities like snowmobiling, ice fishing, and snowshoeing let you check out the Arctic landscapes at your own pace.

Ruka in northern Finland has 39 ski slopes and 240 km of groomed trails, making it one of Scandinavia's top ski resorts. You'll stay at Veskaranta Sky View Village near Kuusamo airport with hourly ski bus access all winter, and the trip includes a 10 km husky safari through snowy forests, a 20 km snowmobile ride, and evening Northern Lights hunts.

This self-guided winter road trip takes you 200 km north of the Arctic Circle to see the famous Trondenes Church in Harstad and hike trails like Gangsåstoppen for wide fjord views. The European highway E10 connects the Lofoten Islands, with stops at the fishing village of Henningsvær spread across eight islands and the 2.5-kilometer Trollfjord. You'll stay in traditional red fishermen's stilt houses and hunt for Northern Lights at Uttakleiv Beach, where turquoise waters meet fine sand.

Western Europe's popular winter walking destination offers 6 nights in Matrei am Brenner, with guided hikes through Tyrol's valleys averaging 3-4 hours daily. Trek the 13km Gschnitzer Valley Trail, ascend 350m from Koppeneck to Maria Waldrast monastery, and celebrate New Year's Eve with traditional lantern walks. Lake Obernberg's fairytale meadow makes for a great hike, and you'll also tackle Innsbruck's Nordkette slopes (400m ascent), then complete the trip with a 600m climb to Peeralm in Navistal, all with snowshoes and poles provided.