Parts of Finland can feel like something from a children's fantasy novel, with a blanket of snow falling over the picture postcard trees of the Boreal Forest. If that matches the setting of your child's favourite story, then cheap family holidays to Finland are likely to prove even more memorable. Even if not, a trip to Finnish Lapland is a great option for families with kids of all ages, because of course it offers the chance to meet Santa at home, and play in the snow with some of his elves and other helpers.
If you want to give your children an experience they won't have had before, take them to the north of Finland - the Land of the Midnight Sun. During the Arctic summer, the sun stays above the horizon even at night, for several weeks, and while its glow can be quite pale this far north, it's still enough to give children something to talk about back at school. For an even more eerie experience, visit during the winter when the sun stays below the horizon all day, and you can play around in the snow in twilight conditions while looking upwards for a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
Santa tours will typically include transfers from the airport to your hotel or resort, and as they are often in quite remote locations, this is a convenient option to get your family there on time. An alternative though is to book a family holiday in Helsinki, the southern capital of Finland. June 24th marks Midsummer Eve in Helsinki, and this is another atmospheric occasion. The midnight sun should be overhead, and many local residents travel out into the countryside for the celebrations, which can leave you feeling as though you have the city to yourself.
An itinerary of events makes Helsinki a great place for family holidays in Finland. There are music festivals, starting with Sideways in mid-June and running throughout July to culminate with the Helsinki Festival at the end of August. There are food festivals too, and if you are there in late July you will find yourself in good gastronomic company, as Helsinki is famed for its crayfish, and the new season for the tasty morsels begins just as the summer reaches its peak.
Snow-covered lands lit up by the midnight sun and the home of Santa himself. Beat that for a family-friendly holiday destination! Just try and contain the kids' excitement as they meet reindeer and visit the actual home of Father Christmas. Plus, there's a lot more to Finland too, with a range of family-friendly festivals and a culture geared around inspiring young minds (Finland is home to some of the best schools in the world). So you can be sure the kids will be well looked after during your Finland family holidays.