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Arnarstapi fishing village: tranquil in winter
In summer, Arnarstaspi is a vibrant fishing village in western Iceland, but in winter it becomes incredibly quiet, everything seems much calmer. My three friends and I went to the only cafe still open in the village and enjoyed a warm cup of hot chocolate with a slice of freshly baked apple pie. Inside the cafe, there were only three of us.
My primary purpose for coming here was to see Gatklettur – Arch Rock, a natural cliff eroded by the sea into a stunning archway standing precariously in the middle of the ocean. I also fell in love with Stapafell Mountain and its white house. This scene is the easiest way to recognize that you've arrived in Arnarstapi. But winter blankets the mountain in beautiful colors, making it more vibrant than anything I've seen in photos online taken in spring or summer.
While you're here, take a stroll along the coast to admire the basalt columns formed by volcanic activity, standing majestically against the shoreline. And don't forget to see Bárður Snæfellsás, a rock formation nestled in the wilderness, seemingly guarding the land.
If you venture a little further, be sure to visit Hellnar Church – a place with a stunning landscape where man-made architecture and nature blend harmoniously.
Porvoo coloring in the snow
Located just 50 kilometers from Helsinki, Porvoo is one of Finland's six medieval cities. It's a beautiful place to experience the Nordic winter with its colorful houses against a backdrop of white snow, surrounding forests, and exciting ski slopes. You can easily book an Onnibus ride online and reach the city in a 50-minute journey. If you book early, you only need to pay 2 euros for a round trip.
The area around Porvoo has a long history with settlements dating back to the Stone Age. However, the city itself didn't begin to be established until 1380. This charming little town of Porvoo is built in the style of Northern European countryside architecture, with single-story houses or, at most, houses with an additional upper floor. Against the backdrop of white snow, the brightly painted wooden houses—a riot of colors from orange, yellow, red, and blue—make the town even more striking.
The name Porvoo comes from the Porvoonjoki River, which flows through the city. In winter, the river freezes over and is covered in so much snow that you can easily walk from one bank to the other.
Crossing to the other side of the river offers the most beautiful panoramic view of Porvoo, including the charming little houses and Castle Hill, where the large Porvoo Cathedral stands. The other side also features a forest surrounding Porvoo; visit and experience what it's like to be "lost" in a Nordic forest. However, because the forest is sparse, you'll easily find your way out.
Aurora Borealis hunting in Iceland
The Northern Lights are a fantastic "specialty" to experience in the Nordic countries, especially Iceland. If you're lucky, you'll witness the magical, beautiful band of light stretching across the night sky; just one glimpse is enough to show me how magnificent and breathtaking nature truly is.
Hunting for the Northern Lights was a thrilling and memorable experience. For the first four nights, the conditions for viewing the aurora borealis were almost hopeless, with clouds, rain, and snow obscuring the view, and the KP (Knowledge Points) for aurora viewing weren't very favorable either.
In Reykjavik, there are Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) hunting tours starting at 8 PM and ending at 10 PM. These tours guarantee you'll see the lights before payment is collected. If you book a tour, they will cancel it if the weather is unfavorable and reschedule it for another day. If you don't see the Northern Lights when you book the tour, they will arrange another trip the following day, and so on. If you have to fly the next day, the tour company will send you a valid voucher so you can take the tour whenever you return to Iceland.
On the penultimate night, just as we were boarding the vehicle for our aurora hunting trip, a friend in the group spotted something to the right of Keflavik airport, and the whole group immediately ran in that direction. And there it was, the aurora borealis appeared overhead.
Iceland has the lowest winter temperatures, making it ideal for viewing the Aurora Borealis. This is because the Gulf Stream, which flows through the country, causes very low winter temperatures in the capital Reykjavik, with the coldest days reaching a maximum of -15°C.
Iceland is a frequent sighting location for the Northern Lights, boasting a high KP (Kilometer Mark of Light). The conditions for viewing the aurora borealis in Iceland are also ideal due to its sparse population and low light pollution, meaning that even within cities, the aurora can be seen if the intensity is high. Iceland also has some of the world's strongest winds, resulting in constantly changing clouds and clearer skies compared to other countries.
Tallinn, the beauty of the Baltic winter.
Tallinn, a relatively unknown name on the travel map for many European tourists, is located in Estonia – a Nordic country very close to Finland. From Helsinki, it's just a 2-hour ferry ride on the VikingLine to Tallinn (book ferry tickets at https://goo.gl/dX3UmN). From Tallinn, you can take a 4-hour train or bus ride to Riga (Latvia) or a 7-hour 30-minute ride to St. Petersburg (Russia).
Tallinn has a population of just over 400,000, and it seems people aren't used to having so many tourists. When I arrived at EHE Hostel, a cheap hostel in the north of the city, the receptionist exclaimed, "Where are you from? Vietnam? What are you doing in this cold Estonia?" Indeed, Tallinn is cold, sometimes even colder than Finland when it's not sunny and the wind is strong. But that doesn't mean I hate the city. Beautiful and captivating are the two words I would use to describe Tallinn in winter.
Tallinn is Estonia's main political, financial, cultural, and educational center. Often referred to as the Silicon Valley of Europe, it boasts the highest number of entrepreneurs per capita in Europe and is home to many international companies, including Skype. The city is also the headquarters of the European Union's IT agency, providing global cybersecurity support, including NATO's Cyber Defense Centre. It was named a European Capital of Culture in 2011, along with Turku in Finland.
Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You could spend over three hours strolling around without getting bored, as every street corner and building has English-language signboards telling you countless stories about Tallinn. Don't forget to visit the cafes in the Old Town, sip a hot chocolate, and relax in the heart of this tranquil, uncrowded European town.
Celebrate Christmas in Reykjavik
There's something subtly chilly yet warm about the heart of Reykjavik. Walking down Skólavörðustígur shopping street, the temperature is near 0°C; just holding your hand out is enough to make your whole body shiver. Yet, Iceland's capital has warm spaces amidst the winter streets that evoke feelings of pure delight.
The warmth came from above and from both the left and the right. Christmas lights shone brightly. Unlike the flashy, colorful decorations in Asian countries, all the ornaments remained true to the warm yellow color, wrapped around the Christmas trees above the houses or around the bells hanging in the street.
Christmas in Reykjavik is lively but not chaotic. Shops stay open until 10 pm, and both locals and tourists mingle, creating a truly vibrant festive atmosphere.
I wonder what people here do in winter besides sipping cappuccino, reading a good book, and cuddling with their loved ones. Sunrise at 11 am and sunset at 3 pm usher in the night, but that doesn't make this place as desolate as I imagined.
I am happy to be here right now, experiencing a true Christmas season with its blend of cold and wonderful warmth. Everything is enough to fill my young soul with the eagerness to live many more days, months, and years, to experience this fleeting life.
If it snows on December 24th, you will have good luck throughout the coming year, and I was fortunate enough to experience a heavy snowfall across the Icelandic capital.
Ancient Riga and a magnificent snowy night.
If you're familiar with Renaissance architecture, you'll need to visit Riga, the capital of Latvia, known as the city of Art Nouveau. More than a third of the buildings in central Riga are Art Nouveau structures built during the economic boom years, approximately between 1904 and 1914.
Previously, the city retained medieval architecture with many relatively simple stone buildings. But as the economy developed in the early 20th century, the city advocated for Art Nouveau architecture and completely removed the city walls surrounding Old Riga.
For those unfamiliar with Art Nouveau, here's some additional information. It's an art movement that emerged between 1890 and 1910. This style drew inspiration from the curves of nature, such as trees and flowers. These details were incorporated into houses and interiors.
Besides Art Nouveau architecture, you can also find reconstructed buildings such as the House of the Blackheads, built in the 14th century but bombed by the German Army in 1941. This building was later restored in the 1990s and remains a symbol of Riga.
Riga is at its most beautiful at night, when the streets are illuminated with decorative lights that resemble angel wings and twinkling starlight. Amidst the snow, Riga becomes even more stunning and magnificent.
Jökulsárlón, a giant glacial lagoon
Located at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, Jökulsárlón lagoon developed into a large lake after the glacier began retreating from the Atlantic edge. The lake has since grown at varying rates due to glacier melt. As the largest ice lagoon in Europe, it is one of Iceland's natural wonders and a must-see destination.
With an area of approximately 18 km2, in 2009, Jökulsárlón was certified as the deepest lake in Iceland with a depth of 248 m. It has been chosen as a filming location for famous movies such as Batman Begins, James Bond, and Lara Croft.
If you look here and think no animals could survive, you'd be greatly mistaken. The lagoon teems with fish and seals. While you're here, don't forget to visit Crystal Beach nearby to see the icebergs stuck on the black sand. In winter, the white snow on the black sand makes the scenery even more captivating.
If you've been to Iceland, be sure to visit Jökulsárlón to understand why it's called the Island of Ice.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Visa:All of the aforementioned countries are part of the Schengen Area, allowing you to travel throughout the winter in Europe with just one visa, visiting 26 countries within the Schengen Agreement.
Trip:Traveling to Europe in winter is much more comfortable because airfares are cheaper than in spring or summer. Destinations that often have low fares include Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Oslo, as these require layovers rather than direct flights. If you want to go to Iceland, you will have to take another flight with WOW Air or Icelandair.
Prepare your luggage:
1. Aurora Borealis Prediction Application
- Use a basic weather app: check the weather beforehand because rain, snow, or heavy clouds won't be ideal for seeing the aurora borealis. If the forecast predicts fog or snow, you should pack your bags and go to bed; don't waste your time.
- The Aurora app checks the intensity of the aurora borealis: If the KP index reaches 3, you can track the aurora borealis. This app also has a map to track where the aurora band is moving across the Earth.
2. Wear warm clothing.
- The three-layer rule: a layer close to the body, a layer of wool, and a windproof layer. If your clothes aren't warm enough, you should wear a few more layers.
- Warm gloves: essential because cold outdoor conditions will make you shiver and prevent you from being ready for the photoshoot.
- Wool hat: keeps the head and ears warm, as these areas are the most susceptible to heat loss.
- Warm water: Bring a thermos of hot coffee or tea to help regulate and maintain your body temperature.
3. Photography equipment: DSLR camera or smartphone that takes good photos in low light (you can certainly use your smartphone for long exposures, but I don't recommend it as the resulting photos won't be sharp or beautiful enough); tripod; flashlight or flashlight from your phone; power bank for both camera and phone.
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