Just over half an hour outside Helsinki, the small medieval city of Porvoo holds a charming holiday market that will make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Perfectly-preserved wooden houses and riverside huts dress up for the occasion and cobblestone streets are strung with lights. And when it snows, Porvoo truly becomes a winter wonderland. Here, as in many smaller towns across the country, old-fashioned kick sleds, or potkukelkka, are still a winter mode of transportation. Locals wholeheartedly embrace the season – they ski on the frozen river and stroll through town to shop for gifts, eat in pretty cafes and meet with friends. Christmas in Porvoo officially begins with a ceremony in Old Market Square at the end of November, and there are festivities all throughout December. One is the traditional Christmas market in Old Town Hall Square, where vendors dressed in old-time costumes sell regional crafts and food items. The other is the Christmas Market at the Art Factory, which is more contemporary and focused on design. Whether you visit one or both, Porvoo’s thriving artists community ensures you’ll find something beautiful and locally-made to bring home.
Read more on Visitfinland.com and Visitporvoo.fi
