{"id":675,"date":"2025-01-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/?p=675"},"modified":"2025-04-24T08:44:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T06:44:32","slug":"winter-wonderland-5-destinations-where-you-can-ice-skate-surrounded-by-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/winter-wonderland-5-destinations-where-you-can-ice-skate-surrounded-by-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Wonderland: 5 destinations where you can ice skate surrounded by nature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who among you hasn’t seen, at least once in their life, a movie where the main characters skate on wonderful ice rinks in winter? And who among you hasn’t thought, with dreamy eyes, “I would like to do that too!<\/em>“? In this article we will discover 5 destinations where you can ice skate surrounded by nature. <\/strong>First, though, a bit of history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice skating has ancient origins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first “skates” date back to 2000 BC. The blades were made with deer, oxen and horses\u2019 metacarpals,smoothed to slide on the surface of the ice and secured to the shoes with laces. This skating system was more similar to cross-country skiing, since poles were used to move more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The first skates with a metal blade date back to 200 AD.<\/strong> The blade was connected to a wooden base that was tied to the foot. This type of skate was useful to move easier, especially in Northern European countries where, in this way it was possible to cross waterways! In Holland, people used metal skates with wooden soles to cross the frozen canals, as can be seen in Flemish painters\u2019 artwork where skaters are depicted with shopping baskets on their shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to ice skate in Lake Saimaa, Finland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ice skating in Finland is an institution during winter months! The ice skating season varies from year to year, but generally runs from December to March. During this time, you can find professional skaters, hockey players, and even mothers and children on the rinks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lake Saimaa<\/strong> boasts one of the longest ice skating rinks in Finland, which runs through Linnansaari National Park <\/strong>to Punkaharju<\/strong>. There are areas along the route where you can set up campfires to make Finnish coffee, warm up, and dream while watching the snow glisten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oslo, Norway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here you can ice skate on several rinks. You can choose the Spikersuppa Ice Rink<\/strong>, in the city center, surrounded by bars and shops or Frogner Stadium rink<\/strong>, near the panoramic park. But if you are an incurable romantic, in love with nature and not a beginner, you can venture into the forests surrounding Oslo (Oslomarka). Lakes such as Sognsvann<\/strong>, Bogstadvannet<\/strong>, N\u00f8klevann<\/strong>, \u00d8stensj\u00f8vannet<\/strong> and Maridalsvannet<\/strong> freeze during winter! You might also skate under the Northern Lights on the frozen Lake Prestvannet<\/strong>, in Troms\u00f8, above the Arctic Circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to ice skate in Lake Louise, Banff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ice skating rinks in the world. It’s in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, a 2-hour drive from Calgary<\/strong>. And you can drive through the scenic Trans-Canada Highway. The staff at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise takes care of rinks, divided into skating and hockey, and monitors the ice thickness. During the Winter Magic Festival<\/strong> held in Banff in late January or early February, you can admire ice sculptures and light shows on the lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Weissensee Lake, Carinthia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We are in Austria, a few km from the italian border. It is the largest natural ice surface for skating in Europe with its 6.5 km2. A magical setting among the mountains of Gailtal, with its 12 km of fir forests.
Access is from any point on the shore of the lake where, in addition to skating, you can play hockey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lake Bled, Slovenia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An idyllic location, an Alpine lake that is millions of years old and was formed by a huge glacier that flowed down into the valley. Skating on the lake at high speed, with the oldest castle in the background, offers a feeling of absolute freedom! To recharge your batteries, you absolutely must try the famous Bled cake. It’s a traditional dessert made of puff pastry, cream and vanilla cream called Krem\u0161nita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Have you ever ice-skated in winter?!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Who among you hasn’t seen, at least once in their life, a movie where the main characters skate on wonderful ice rinks in winter? And who among you hasn’t thought, with dreamy eyes, “I would like to do that too!”? In this article we will discover 5 destinations where you can ice skate surrounded by nature. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1,4,16],"tags":[9,12,6,17,14],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/skating_pattinare8.jpg?fit=1500%2C1001&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa7uIP-aT","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":380,"url":"https:\/\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/green-planner-10-sustainable-destinations-to-save-the-planet-by-traveling-in-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":0},"title":"Green Planner: 10 sustainable destinations to “save” the planet by traveling in 2024!","author":"Fonte Gaia","date":"24 January 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In a world where resources are limited and the environment is under constant threat, how and where we choose to travel can make a difference, including through a new form of tourism called \"regenerative tourism\".","rel":"","context":"In "Travel Planner Life"","block_context":{"text":"Travel Planner Life","link":"https:\/\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/category\/travel-planning-life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/sos_03.jpeg?fit=1200%2C967&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/sos_03.jpeg?fit=1200%2C967&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/sos_03.jpeg?fit=1200%2C967&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/sos_03.jpeg?fit=1200%2C967&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":104,"url":"https:\/\/fontegaiatour.it\/en\/blog\/10-places-for-an-unconventional-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":675,"position":1},"title":"10 places around the world for an unconventional Christmas!","author":"Fonte Gaia","date":"9 November 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Christmas is coming and what\u2019s the best gift you can ask for? Traveling the world! 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