Embark on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in Lapland

Ciara McKeon • 18 January 2024

Experience Top Winter Wonderland Activities in Lapland

Visit Lapland, the northernmost region of Europe, is a land of breath taking landscapes, vibrant culture, and endless winter adventures. During the snowy season, Lapland transforms into a magical winter wonderland, offering a wide range of activities to suit all interests and ages. From thrilling husky sledding and reindeer safaris to serene ice fishing and snowshoeing excursions, Lapland holidays have something to offer everyone.

Embark on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in Lapland, Reindeer Safari - Blog Post Barters Travelnet

Reindeer Safari

Reindeer safaris offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Lapland's rich cultural heritage. As you ride atop a sleigh pulled by these majestic reindeer, you'll witness the tranquillity of the snowy landscapes and gain a deeper understanding of the Sami people, who have traditionally relied on reindeer herding for their livelihood.


The scenery on a reindeer safari is simply breath taking. The snow-covered forests, the frozen lakes, and the mountains in the distance make for some of the most beautiful photo opportunities you will ever have. Make sure to wear warm clothes and bring your camera!



Embark on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in Lapland, Snowmobile Tour - Blog Post Barters Travelnet

Snowmobile Tour

Snowmobile tours in Lapland are an exhilarating and unforgettable way to experience the stunning winter wonderland of this Arctic region. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a first-time snowmobiling enthusiast, Lapland offers a variety of snowmobile tours to suit all levels of experience. You'll glide across frozen lakes, navigate through snow-covered forests, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path.


Snowmobiling is a popular mode of transportation in Lapland, and a snowmobile tour allows you to experience this local tradition first hand. Lapland is one of the best places in the world to witness the mesmerising Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, which you may be lucky enough to witness on a night tour.


Embark on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in Lapland, Santa Claus Village - Blog Post Barters Travelnet

Santa Claus Village

At Santa Claus Village, you can experience the joy of meeting Santa Claus any time of the year. Santa Claus is available to meet visitors every day of the year, and he's always happy to chat, pose for photos, and answer questions about Christmas. This extraordinary encounter is a timeless experience, filled with warmth, friendship, and the spirit of Christmas.


Santa Claus Village is a year-round celebration of Christmas, with festive decorations, Christmas music, and a cosy atmosphere. You can even send a letter to Santa from his official post office. Whether you're a child or an adult, visiting Santa Claus Village is a truly magical experience that you'll never forget.



Embark on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in Lapland, Snow Hotel - Blog Post Barters Travelnet

Snow Hotel

Lapland is home to a number of Snow Hotels, crafted entirely from snow and ice, creating an enchanting and otherworldly atmosphere. Snow hotels offer a one-of-a-kind experience that you can't get anywhere else. Sleeping in a room made entirely of snow and ice is an adventure in itself, and it's a great way to immerse yourself in the Lapland winter wonderland. They not only provide accommodation but also you can visit amenities such as an Ice Bar, Ice Restaurant or Snow Sauna!


Despite the icy exterior, the staff at snow hotels are known for their warm hospitality and genuine kindness. They'll make you feel welcome and help you make the most of your stay.



Embark on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in Lapland, Husky Safari - Blog Post Barters Travelnet

Husky Safari

Husky sledding is an adrenaline-pumping activity that will get your heart racing and your spirit soaring. As you glide through the snow-covered landscapes, harnessed to a team of eager huskies, you'll experience the exhilaration of riding across the frozen terrain. During your husky safari, you'll have the opportunity to interact with these remarkable dogs, learn about their unique temperament, and witness their unwavering bond with their mushers.


Husky sledding is an integral part of Lapland's rich cultural heritage. You'll learn about the history of husky sledding, the importance of huskies in Sami culture, and the techniques used by mushers to train and care for their teams.


Lapland is a place of magic and wonder, where you can experience the true spirit of winter. From thrilling husky sledding and reindeer safaris to sledding adventures, Lapland has something to offer everyone. With various Lapland package holidays and flights available from Ireland, it is the perfect place to celebrate the magic of the holidays.


So come and experience the magic of Lapland for yourself.

riviera rose new ship

Riviera Travel’s New Ships

by Elizabeth Leonard • 6 May 2026
Riviera Travel’s New River Cruise Ships A Fresh Take on European River Cruising If you’ve been looking into European river cruises recently, chances are you’ve come across Riviera Travel — and for good reason. They’ve built a strong reputation for delivering well planned itineraries, beautiful ships, and an easy, relaxed way to explore Europe. And now, with the introduction of their newest Riviera Travel river cruise ships, that experience feels even more refined. The latest additions to the fleet — MS Riviera Radiance and MS Riviera Rose — mark an exciting new chapter, with MS Riviera Resplendence and MS Riviera Reflection set to follow. Together, they represent a thoughtful evolution of Riviera’s river cruising experience in Europe, bringing a fresh, modern feel onboard while staying true to what makes their journeys so popular. One of the first things you’ll notice is the design. The interiors feel bright, elegant, and contemporary, with a real attention to detail throughout. There’s a sense of space in the main lounge, with panoramic windows designed to make the most of the views, while the dining areas feel refined yet relaxed — somewhere you’ll genuinely look forward to spending time each evening. The cabins are just as impressive. Many feature French balconies, allowing you to fully enjoy the ever changing scenery on a Danube river cruise, a Rhine river cruise, or even a journey along the Douro River cruise route. You’ll also find thoughtful touches like comfortable seating areas, well designed bathrooms, and clever storage that makes settling in feel effortless from the start. Onboard, the layout has clearly been designed with comfort in mind. There are inviting social spaces for a drink or a coffee during the day, as well as quieter corners if you want to unwind with a book or simply watch the scenery pass by. The sun deck is another highlight — an ideal spot to take in the views as you sail through some of Europe’s most scenic stretches.

Ordinary on the Map, Unforgettable in Real Life

by Leonor Resende • 23 April 2026
Not every place makes a good first impression. Some destinations look quiet on the map, unremarkable in photos, and easy to overlook when compared to Europe’s better‑known cities and regions. They don’t promise instant wonder or dramatic scenery, they don’t shout for attention, in fact, they can seem so familiar that you wonder whether they’re worth the trip at all. And yet, these are often the places that surprise us the most. Once you arrive, expectations begin to fall away. You stop searching for highlights and start noticing moments instead: the rhythm of daily life, the way people interact with their surroundings, how time feels different when nothing is urging you forward. Slowly, almost without realising it, the place begins to matter. This is the kind of travel that doesn’t reveal itself all at once, it unfolds through small details, unplanned pauses, and experiences that don’t always fit neatly into an itinerary. By the time you leave, you understand something important: the places that felt ordinary before the trip are often the ones that stay with you longest afterward. Europe is full of destinations like this, quiet, understated places that reward curiosity rather than expectation. These are some of them.
blue danube river

Discover Riviera Travel River Cruises: Itineraries, Excursions & Current Offers

by Elizabeth Leonard • 21 April 2026
Explore Riviera Travel river cruise itineraries across the Danube, Rhine, Seine and Douro, with curated excursions and immersive experiences. Now with €99 deposits, 10% off 2027–2028 sailings and limited-time savings on selected 2026 cruises.

Travel the World’s Biggest Music Festivals

by Leonor Resende • 14 April 2026
At their core, music festivals are more than live performances or carefully curated line‑ups. They are cultural gatherings, temporary communities where locals and travellers come together in shared spaces shaped by creativity, tradition, and emotion. For a few days or weeks, familiar landscapes are transformed, and in that transformation a place reveals how it celebrates, how it communicates, and how it welcomes outsiders.  These moments go beyond what happens on stage. Festivals unfold within real places, not isolated bubbles, and they carry the imprint of their surroundings. The food reflects regional traditions, the rhythms of daily life seep into the schedule, and local values are expressed through art, design, and the way people interact. Whether set in countryside fields, historic cities, or coastal neighbourhoods, festivals offer travellers an unusually intimate way to experience a destination. This is what makes music festivals such compelling entry points for cultural travel. They encourage movement without urgency, discovery without a checklist, and connection without preconception. Rather than following an itinerary, travellers follow a feeling, allowing sound, place, and human connection to shape the journey. In these moments, travel becomes less about where you go next, and more about how deeply you experience where you are.

The Ultimate Malta travel guide: Top Attractions & Hidden Gems

by Kelly Collins • 1 April 2026
Malta is one of those places that completely catches you off guard, in the best ways imaginable. For such a tiny island nation, it packs more beauty, history and “wait, why does nobody talk about this?!” moments than seems fair. One minute you're wandering through golden stone streets that look straight out of a period drama, and the next you're floating in shockingly blue water, wondering why it isn't illegal for the sea to look that good. It’s the kind of destination where the big attractions blow your way, but the hidden corners are what quietly steal your heart This guide is here to walk you through Malta the way a fellow traveller would, with honest insight, friendly advice and all the info you need to make your trip effortless and unforgettable

Find Your Perfect Holiday Based on Your Personality

by Leonor Resende • 27 March 2026
Choosing a holiday is more than deciding on a place to visit, it’s choosing the version of yourself you want to step into for a little while. Some people come alive on high mountain trails, others find their joy floating in warm turquoise seas. Some feel energised exploring new cultures, while others crave nothing more than sunshine, good food and the simple luxury of slowing down. Travel isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. It’s personal. It’s emotional. It’s a reflection of you. And that’s why the best holidays aren’t picked at random, they’re chosen by discovering what kind of traveller you truly are. Are you the adventurer? The luxury seeker? The family memory‑maker? The culture lover? Or the dreamer ready to explore a far‑flung corner of the world? When you match your personality to the right holiday style, something magical happens: the anticipation grows, the excitement builds, and suddenly the journey feels like it’s already begun. So let’s dive in. Let’s explore the escape that suits your spirit, the holiday that feels like it was created with you in mind. Your perfect match is waiting…and it might just surprise you.

The Rise of Fitness Tourism: Why Irish Travellers are going abroad for races & events

by Kelly Collins • 25 March 2026
If you have noticed more Irish people swapping sun loungers for start lines, you are not imagining it. Fitness tourism, sometimes called race-cation have become one of the fastest growing travel trends for Irish holidaymakers. From destination marathons to HYROX events abroad, more of us are choosing to travel with a purpose, challenge ourselves in new cities and come home with a medal rather than just a tan. And the numbers back it up. Global marathon participation rose 9% last year, with runners increasingly choosing races based on location rather than proximity to home. HYROX, too, has exploded on social media, giving travellers a whole new kind of event to plan trips around So what's behind Ireland's growing love affair with fitness-focused travel? Let's break it down. 

Top 6 Travel Destinations with Direct Flights from Cork Airport for 2026

by Leonor Resende • 25 March 2026
Imagine Cork Airport not as a terminal, but as a hallway lined with doors, each one opening onto a completely different world. Behind one door: golden beaches warmed by the Canary sun. Behind another: cobblestone streets, cafés buzzing with conversation, and the soft glow of city lights reflecting off canal water. Further down, a hidden gem on the Adriatic coast invites you to slow down, wander, taste, and explore. No matter what type of traveller you are, sun chaser, culture seeker, foodie, or adventurer, Cork’s direct flight network now connects you to the places you’ve been dreaming about. Here are six of the most inspiring destinations you can reach in just one flight. Step through any door you like.
Rocky coastline with green mountains meeting the blue ocean under a bright sky.

Madeira: The Island That Feels Like Five Destinations in One

by Leonor Resende • 12 March 2026
When most people think of island holidays, they imagine one thing: golden sandy beaches and long, lazy days by the sea, but the Portuguese island of Madeira is unlike any other. In this destination, you can experience landscapes and activities that feel like travelling across several destinations.  One moment you’re wandering misty mountain peaks shrouded in clouds, the next you’re swimming in volcanic pools, and by evening, you could be savouring world-famous wine while watching the sun dip into the Atlantic. Madeira is nature, adventure, culture, and relaxation all in one compact island. Here’s why it’s a destination you simply cannot miss.
Open suitcase with hat, sunglasses, headphones, camera, phone, and clothing on a bed.

Where to Travel in Summer 2026 in Europe

by Leonor Resende • 5 March 2026
Summer 2026 is just around the corner, and travellers are already dreaming of sunny beaches, cultural getaways, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're planning a short city break, a family holiday, or a luxury escape, knowing which European destinations are trending this year can help you plan the perfect getaway. From the postcard-perfect cliffs of Santorini, Greece, to the medieval charm of Dubrovnik, Croatia, the rustic beauty of Calabria, Italy, the cultural energy of Bilbao, Spain, and the year‑round sunshine of Tenerife, Europe is full of extraordinary places waiting to be explored this summer. In this guide, we’ll take you through some of the hottest destinations of 2026, complete with insider tips, must‑see attractions, and ideas to help you plan the perfect summer getaway.