Little-known Arctic city named Europe’s most underrated destination for a white Christmas
SWEDEN’S northernmost city has been named Europe’s most underrated destination for a white Christmas.
Located in Swedish Lapland, Kiruna is a mining town that’s home to just under 20,000 people – and it’s said to be the best place for Brits to experience a white Christmas.
Ferry operator DFDS analysed 23 years of snowfall data across a whopping 164 destinations in Europe.
The operator cross-analysed snowfall data with the least-searched destinations on Google to find the best place to see snow on Christmas Day.
Kiruna, Sweden‘s northernmost city, was crowned the winner with a 70 per cent chance of snow on December 25.
The Swedish city only had 100 Google searches per month, with only 12 per cent of Brits surveyed aware of the Swedish city.
Located in northern Sweden, Kiruna is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination from its deep forests, lakes, rivers and mountains.
The nearby Abisko National Park is ideal for hiking and experiencing the Midnight Sun in summer.
It is also a good destination to see the Northern Lights, which are often visible on winter nights – although its appearance is never guaranteed.
Other attractions include an Ice Hotel and the Esrange Space Centre, which offers insights into space research.
Additionally, Kiruna Church, one of Sweden’s largest wooden buildings, is worth a visit for its beautiful architecture.
Although the location of Kiruna Church is set to change next year when the entire city is relocated two miles south.
Kiruna sits above the largest known deposit of the rare elements, which are used to make electric car batteries and wind turbines – this is roughly 80 per cent of the European Union‘s supply.
However, after years of mining, the land has been deformed and cracks have even started to appearing in the town.
This is why the entire town is set to be shifted two miles away, with each building set to be relocated.
It is hoped that the ambitious project will be finished by 2026, with Kiruna Church set to be moved at some point next year.
Kiruna is also the traditional home of the indigenous Sámi people.
The land of the Sámi people stretches across the very north of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.
Visitors to Kiruna can learn more about the Sámi people through a range of activities like reindeer herding.
Kiruna has its own airport – Kiruna Airport.
Flights from Kiruna Airport only operate to Stockholm, which means Brits will need to change in the country’s capital to reach the arctic city.
Sun Online Travel have found return fares in January from London to Kiruna for £180.
Top 10 most underrated places for a white Christmas
HERE are the top ten most underrated places for a white Christmas.
- Kiruna, Sweden
- Lillehammer, Norway
- Turku, Finland
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Innsbruck, Austria
- Oslo, Norway
- Bergen, Norway
- Brasov, Romania
- Stavanger, Norway
- Lucerne, Switzerland
Meanwhile, these are the six best European cities to visit in 2024.
And this “timeless” European city serves as a great double for Rome.