Winter Wonderlands

Embrace frosty days and starry nights with a magical, snowy getaway

Northern Lights cruise, Norway

Setting sail from Newcastle, Fred Olsen’s nine-night cruise aboard the Bolette takes in some stunning sights of Arctic Norway and, with a bit of luck, the magical Aurora Borealis. You’ll stop in art-nouveau-rich Alesund, where you can enjoy picture-perfect panoramas from Mount Aksla, and enjoy a whole day in Tromsø, with its neoclassical architecture, iceberg-shaped cathedral, and cable car up to Mount Storsteinen. A stop-off at Alta gives an insight into the Sami community, the indigenous people who inhabit Lapland and other Nordic regions, and a chance to see the UNESCO-listed rock carvings of Hjemmeluft at Alta Museum. Finally, a stop in Kristiansund, home to some of Norway’s most iconic modern architecture, rounds off the trip.

Toronto, Canada

Winters in Toronto are synonymous with snow, and the city plays host to plenty of outdoor activities at this time of year, with many indoor exhibitions and restaurants to cosy up in, too. Get your skates on and head to Nathan Phillips Square for a twirl around the ice rink, with City Hall forming the backdrop and DJs providing the soundtrack. From now until 31 December, check out the Distillery Winter Village – the city’s best-known Christmas market held in the trendy Distillery District. Alternatively, the Winterlicious food festival takes place from 27 January-9 February and invites foodies to sample dishes from over 200 of Toronto’s best restaurants. When you want to head indoors, check out the Art Gallery of Ontario. It’s hosting the Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows exhibition, which takes you in from the cold and immerses you in the many facets of Cohen’s creative life.

Chicago, USA

The windy city turns snowy in winter, and from November onwards boasts plenty of attractions and activities for a captivating break. The season kicks off with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, and then Christkindlmarket – the most authentic Christmas market outside of Europe – marks the start of the festive season. Millennium Park is home to two different ice-skating rinks, so you can glide in the shadow of one of the city’s icons, The Bean, while taking in spectacular views of the surroundings. Elsewhere, Lincoln Park Zoo is home to a mesmerising light display, too.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland’s charismatic capital is small but surprising, with enticing museums, sublime scenery and plenty of gastronomic delights. Check out the impressive Hallgrímskirkja church, the Sun Voyager sculpture, the Planetarium, and the Perlan Museum – a great place to get acquainted with all the natural wonders of Iceland. Don’t miss the Harpa arts centre on the harbourside, and – between September and April – you’ve got a great chance of seeing the stunning Northern Lights.

Finnish Lapland, Finland

Tucked away in the remote landscapes of Finland’s Arctic North, the Arctic SnowHotel offers a wintery break like no other, with the chance to sleep on a transparent bed of ice under carved ceilings and snowy frescos. There’s even an option to turn on an aurora alarm service, so you don’t miss any overnight light displays. Days can be spent enjoying a range of optional Nordic adventures, from husky sledding and ice fishing to electric snowmobiles. Or, for those preferring a more sedate stay, try a traditional Finnish sauna or snow sauna, where icy walls provide a wonderfully invigorating contrast to the hot steam.

Words: Jo Chapman.