The Baltics, Scandinavia and Northern Europe are ideal destinations for a family-friendly New Year’s Eve break.
Be dazzled by the beautiful natural phenomenon that’s the Northern Lights, ride dog sleds across the Arctic Tundra, or countdown to the New Year in spectacular cities such as St Petersburg, Riga or Reykjavik.
Sure, it might be ice cold with temperatures dropping well below zero across the region, but the cold weather brings out the best in the locals. You and your family will be well taken care of while experiencing one of the most unique New Year’s Eve holidays anywhere in the world.
Russian New Year Celebrations
Celebrating Christmas and the New Year in Russia is a great way to give the kids two Christmases, because the country is still preparing for its Orthodox celebrations at the start of January.
There are Christmas markets everywhere and Christmas cheer is well and truly in the air. You’ll get to see in the New Year in the grand surroundings of St Petersburg, one of Russia’s most iconic cities.
After celebrating New Year in Russia’s second city, you can take a comfortable high-speed train over to Moscow, the Russian capital. Here you’ll find even more Christmas markets to explore with the family, as well as traditional sights like the Kremlin and Red Square.
Finnish Lapland
Finland makes for a fantastic family-friendly New Year’s Eve break, because Finnish Lapland is the year-round home of Santa Claus.
For young kids, this is a great way to spend the New Year, especially if one Christmas Day wasn’t quite enough for them! Meet Santa Claus in his Lapland village, ride Rudolph’s sleigh through the snow, and enjoy both New Year and Christmas at the same time.
Finnish Lapland is beautiful and you and your family can stay for the duration of your holiday in Finland in a wilderness lodge, experiencing the Northern Lights at night and beautiful, snowy scenery throughout the day.
Swedish Lapland
Lapland is enormous though. If you’re looking for a quieter family getaway over New Year, then look no further than the remote wilderness of Swedish Lapland.
Here, in the icy northern climes of Sweden, the whole family will be amazed by the raw beauty of this untouched part of the world.
But just because it’s remote, doesn’t mean there isn’t comfort or luxury. You can spend New Year relaxing in the unique interior of an ice hotel, enjoying a family meal in a gourmet, wilderness restaurant, or adventuring into the tundra in search of the Northern Lights.
Polar Express Train Journey
If you’re looking for a sightseeing odyssey, then a great family-friendly adventure to enjoy over New Year is a ride on the Polar Express Train.
This excellent train route will take you and your family across Swedish Lapland and into the Norwegian Arctic, giving you the chance to experience the best of these two northerly regions in Europe.
The journey begins in Kiruna in Sweden and ends in Narvik, Norway. Along the way, the family can make the most of dog sledding and snowshoeing activities, enjoy the Northern Lights, and watch endless snowy landscapes glide past from the comfort of the Polar Express.
There are a wonderful mixture of activities to experience and sights to see on the Polar Express train journey, making this a great adventure that all the family can get on board with over the New Year period.
New Year in Riga
However, your family might not be looking for a journey into the wilderness for New Year’s Eve. In which case, there are plenty of city break options awaiting you in the Baltics.
One of the best family-friendly New Year’s Eve breaks can be found in Riga, the understated capital of Latvia. The quiet streets of Riga are a pleasant place to take the family. As well as enjoying all the museums and the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Old Town, there will be some great firework displays and cultural events to see.
There are ice-skating rinks in the capital, markets selling hot food and drinks to beat the chill of New Year and, best of all, it’s not only a family-friendly city but a budget-friendly city too.
New Year in Tallinn
Travel north of Riga, and you can find the equally historic and family-friendly city of the capital of Estonia.
Tallinn is best known for its beautifully preserved Old Town. Over the New Year holidays, the historic centre of this medieval city is transformed into a lively marketplace where you can find delicious food and drinks, and an exciting calendar of cultural events.
Reykjavik
Spending New Year’s Eve in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, is sure to be a hit with all the family. This is the Land of Ice and Fire, and for New Year’s Eve the country lights up the cold darkness with spectacular events and festivities.
Reykjavik goes all out at New Year. After spending the day exploring its great museums or relaxing in style at the world-famous Blue Lagoon, you can enjoy fine dining or a gala dinner and concert in the capital.
But there’s more to a family-friendly getaway in Reykjavik than New Year celebrations. Even with just a few days in Iceland, you’ll be able to see the Northern Lights, travel to the steaming geysers and dramatic waterfalls of the Golden Circle, or explore frozen glaciers and icy volcanoes.
To find out more about our range of unforgettable New Year’s Eve breaks, contact Baltic Travel today, to plan your ideal family-friendly New Year’s Eve adventure.