5 best places for a white Christmas

There’s nothing quite like waking up to a white Christmas – whether you’re a fan of snowball fights or just curling up in front of a fire while the flakes descend outside. Though snow can be rare and unpredictable, you don’t have to be at the whim of the weather if you want to wake up to a white blanket outside your window on Christmas morning. Here are five destinations where you have a high chance of a white Christmas.

Helsinki, Finland

Finland is a great bet for some seasonal snow, and when December rolls around Helsinki becomes a beacon of Christmas cosiness. Lights and decorations drape ornate city streets filled with Christmas markets and carol concerts. There’s a high chance this picturesque city will see snow dusting its streets and rooftops, so get ready to wrap up and crunch along the pavements.

Tignes, France

Sitting atop of a mountain, you’re guaranteed to see snow. Thanks to its high altitude, the ski resort of Tignes offers Alpine views with a whole lot of powder to enjoy. Grab a pair of skis and take to the slopes or just wander around and enjoy the bite of that chilled mountain air.

Moscow, Russia

Moscow sees an average of 18 days of snow in December but the city can be covered from as early as November. Seeing the parks and churches of this grand metropolis when they’re draped in thick sheets of pristine snow is a sight straight out of a fairy tale. Temperatures will be pretty bracing, so really wrap up.

Sapporo, Japan

As one of the most sparsely populated parts of Japan, the island of Hokkaido has a wild and rural feeling that’s a world away from a large part of the country. It’s also a little colder and Sapporo, the island’s largest city, makes a great base for snow spotting, especially if you head out to the forests that lie slightly further north. The city hosts a Snow Festival in February, if you can wait until then.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow’s elegant spires and cobbled squares are even more enchanting than usual when coated with snow. And from December onwards, there’s a good chance you’ll see Poland’s cultural hub swathed in a covering of glittering snowflakes.