Knee-deep: top snowiest cities in Europe

In recent years, the Ukrainian has seen less and less snow. And for kids to go sledding, you need to go closer to the mountains. Despite the rising global warming, there are still locations where you can enjoy winter activities and "fluffy" landscapes. To know where to go to see a real fairy tale, read below.

Reykjavik, Iceland

The largest city in the country. It is located opposite Mount Esja, the peak of which is covered with snow almost all year round. In winter, the average temperature ranges from -10°C to 2°C.

Interesting fact: in cold weather, daylight hours last only 4 hours.

The location is special because you can see the Northern Lights here. To do this, you should take into account the clear, dark sky and the absence of light pollution. It is best to go outside the village, for example, to the Thingvellir National Park.

We recommend visiting the thermal pools. There are more than 17 of them in Reykjavik. The most popular is the Blue Lagoon. Don't miss the Christmas market either. Here tourists can buy handmade products and even woolen sweaters.

We also recommend visiting the Hallgrímskirkja Lutheran Church, which was built from 1945 to 1986. The height of the church reaches 73 meters. When designing the church, architect Guðjón Samúelsson was inspired by the basalt columns that can be seen when lava solidifies.

Helsinki, Finland

Located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The average temperature from December to February ranges from -13°C to 0°C.

Interesting fact: the symbols of the city are the oar and the maple tree.

We recommend starting your trip with traditional saunas. There are more than 3 million of them in the country. One of the most popular is Kotiharjun. It was built in 1928.

Next, head to the Suomenlinna Fortress. It looks like a star. The building served as the base of the Swedish Navy. By the way, in winter, the attraction is surrounded by the frozen sea.

You can also taste traditional dishes: Poronkäristys, sautéed reindeer with lingonberry preserves and Karjalanpiirakka, a pie.

Also, visit the Christmas market, which is radiating coziness on the market square. Here you can buy souvenirs, Christmas tree decorations, handmade products, etc.

Do you want to see real reindeer? Then go to Nuuksio National Park. It is located 30 kilometers from the capital. There is a farm where the horned animals live.

Rothenburg am Tauber, Germany

A town in the district of Middle Franconia. The average winter temperature ranges from -5°C to 4°C.

Interesting fact: the name of the settlement translates as "Red Fortress on the Tauber".

The first thing tourists should do is visit the Christmas Museum. Here you can see how the art of Christmas tree decorations and souvenirs developed. The building houses postcards, Santa Claus figurines, and candlesticks. There is also a collection of Nutcrackers: from miniature to large. The largest one is 3.8 meters high. Here you can also see what old Santa Claus toys look like. There is no such exhibition anywhere else in the world.

We recommend taking a walk around Plönlein Square. It resembles an ancient small neighborhood with half-timbered houses.

Also, visit the popular shop of the German Christmas toy factory Käthe Wohlfahrt.

And, of course, try the traditional Rothenburger Schneeball deep-fried pastry with powdered sugar. It looks like a snowball.

Tallinn, Estonia

The capital and main port of the country. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. Interesting fact: the city was first mentioned by the Arab geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi in 1154 in his work The Book of Roger.

Winters here are moderately cold with snowfall. The average air temperature ranges from -1°C to -4°C, dropping to -9°C at night.

Back in 1441, the first city Christmas tree was erected here. Tallinn also hosts a Christmas fair every year. Here, tourists can buy original woolen products, jewelry, and wooden items.

Also, take a walk in the Rotermanni neighborhood. It was built on the basis of old abandoned factories. During Advent, various New Year's installations are set up here.

Oslo, Norway

The city is located in a continental climate zone, so it is cool here even in summer. In winter, the average temperature ranges from -7°C to 0°C.

Not far from Oslo is the Holmenkollen ski resort. Here you can see one of the oldest ski jumps in the world. It was built in 1891. The complex has trails of different levels of difficulty: for both beginners and professionals.

Also, visit the Christmas market. Here you can buy sweets, souvenirs and meet Santa Claus. We also recommend trying traditional Norwegian dishes: Pinnekjøtt, Fårikål or Fiskesuppe.

Choose a destination and feel the fairy tale!

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!