best time to visit santa claus village

The Ultimate Guide to visiting Santa Claus village Rovaniemi

What better way to celebrate Christmas than visiting Santa in his office at Santa Claus village Rovaniemi. Lapland in winter is the ultimate Christmas destination.

The small city of Rovaniemi – located on the edge of the Arctic Circle – is the official home of Santa Claus, it is one of the most magical places in the world.

For young and old this is a must when you are visiting Lapland. We were worried that we would be only 30 year old’s walking around without any kids, but we were definitely not alone. It is definitely a place for everyone, no matter your age.

Santa’s Village is full of hot chocolate, fairy lights, Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, snow and plenty of Christmas cheer.

So, if you’re planning your next Christmas destination why not head to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Finland.

Are you planning a trip to Lapland? Check out this posts to help you plan your trip

The Dreamiest Hotel in the World: Arctic Treehouse Hotel Rovaniemi The Ultimate Guide to visiting Fi nnish Lapland in Winter Taking the Santa Claus Express Train to Lapland Arctic Fox Igloos: A night in luxury under the stars

Hey There……there is a very good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

Winter in Rovaniemi

Whilst winter in Rovaniemi is a dream come to true and the ultimate Christmas destination you need to be prepared for two things! Number one, it is very cold. When we met Santa I mentioned how cold it was (it was minus 8 degrees) and he said it wasn’t cold. Santa things between minus 20 and minus 40 is cold.

Number 2, the day light hours are very limited. Sunrise is at about 10 am and sunset is about 2pm. Luckily, in Lapland, sunrise and sunset last longer than in other countries. We found that it was light from about 8:30 am until 3:30-4pm.

It gets very cold outside and inside it is very warm! I suggest packing lots of layers. Make sure you have a very warm jacket and some sturdy snow boots. Of course, don’t forget your beanie, scarf and gloves!!

Make sure you get some good travel insurance

Part of the excitement of visiting Lapland is participating in snow activities and these can come with some dangers. If you’re me, even just walking around on the ice and snow is a dangerous activity.

So while I would always recommend purchasing some good travel insurance, it is extra important when snow and ice are involved.

Before our four month trip around Europe we purchased travel insurance as soon as we started booking our trip.

World Nomads travel insurance policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities. Get a quote, make a claim, or buy or extend your policy while on the road.

Where is Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi

Although the rumours are that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, he actually lives in his village in Lapland, Finland.

Lapland is located in Northern Finland and the village is located in the business capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi.

To be exact, Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi is located right on the arctic circle.

How to get to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi

The train between Helsinki and Lapland depart several times a day and takes about 11 hours. I suggest taking the overnight train , you board the train just before bed time and you wake up in a winter wonderland. That is of course, if you are travelling in winter!!

Little fun fact, the train from Helsinki to Lapland is called the Santa Claus Express.  You can read more about the Santa Claus Express here.

Matkahuolto  and  Onnibus  are the two main bus services in Finland. They are a great option for reaching Lapland from Helsinki but also for travelling around Lapland from town to town.

Rovaniemi is easily accessed by car. If you don’t have your own car you can  hire a car .

When driving in Lapland be aware of changing weather conditions, especially in winter and the long distances you need to drive.

The drive from Helsinki to The Arctic Treehouse Hotel Rovaniemi is about 10 hours.

Of course, you can also fly to Rovaniemi. Flights between Helsinki and Lapland go daily, flights between London and Lapland depart on Wednesdays and Sunday’s, and flights between Istanbul and Lapland depart Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays.

To Santa Claus Village

If you arrive by train, you are staying at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel or you are in city center of Rovaniemi you can board the Santa Claus Express bus. Tickets are 3€ per person.

Unfortunately, if you land at the airport there is no public transport to the Santa Claus Village, however, you can easily catch a taxi.

Things to do at Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus village is full of excitement, Christmas cheer and it just seems to be constantly buzzing.

On first glance, it appears as though it is one big shopping area, and yes, there are plenty of shops (we will come to that in a moment) but if you look a little harder there is actually so much to do.

Santa Claus’ Post Office

On of the things we found most exciting at Santa Claus Village is visiting Santa’s Post Office. The post office is filled with elves but is still a real working post office.

The cool thing about the post office is that you can see the hundreds of letters that are mailed to Santa from all around the world

Can you see your home country?

Post a letter to yourself for next Christmas

When visiting the post office you have to send yourself a post card. All mail sent from the post office are marked with a special Arctic Circle stamp.

You can also purchase a postcard and put it in a mail box and it will be sent to you next year in time for Christmas.

Buy a few a postcards to surprise your friends and family at Christmas next year.

Visit Santa in his office

You can’t have a Christmas getaway to Lapland without visiting Santa himself. Santa is the real deal, he has his Finnish slippers, the most epic beard I have ever seen and he is so tall. I felt like such a child and sat in awe staring at Santa.

It was such a cool experience, he took the time to chat to us and to ask about our holiday and even wished our country well we were in the midst of horrific bush fire season.

You can visit Santa Claus for free but you will need to pay if you want photos or a video. We paid 40€ an digital copy of our photos and the video of our meeting with Santa.

Cross the Arctic Circle

Ever since I heard that crossing the arctic circle was a thing it has been on my bucket list. I thought to cross the Arctic Circle you would have to go to some remote part of the world.

But, how cool is it that the line of the Arctic Circle runs straight through Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi. The Arctic Circle is marked with a row of lanterns and blue lights.

Snowmobiling

Santa Claus Village also has some bigger activities that you can do such as snowmobiling . There really is something for everyone.

Experience the thrill of speeding through Arctic Circle on a snowmobile. Snowmobile rides start at 55€ for thirty minutes. There are also rides available for children – kids can ride a mini snowmobile for 20€ for 10 minutes.

Husky Safari

A trip to Lapland would not be complete without a visit to the Husky park . If taking a Husky Safari is not your thing you can just take some to play with the adorable Huskies.

However, if you are feeling adventurous you can speed through the arctic forest behind a pack of Siberian huskies. You have the choice of a 500 meter Husky ride or an 8km safari.

Reindeer Safari

It is said that there are more Reindeer in Lapland than there are people. Reindeers are really part of Lappish culture and they have been for years. To be me, Reindeers can only be seen on the front of Santa’s sleigh, so of course I had to take the chance to meet some real life Reindeer.

From the middle of Santa’s Village Rovaniemi you can go on a reindeer safari.

If you’re up for a bit of shopping or you’re wanting to pick up some souvenirs then you have plenty of options. There many shops where you can buy Christmas decorations, t-shirts, souvenirs, postcards, chocolate and traditional Lappish items.

Where to stay at Santa Claus Village

If you are after the ultimate Christmas experience you can stay right at Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi at the Santa Claus Holiday Village . There are plenty of accommodation types including cabins including a Sauna, glass igloos and treehouse cabins.

The Arctic Treehouse hotel is located 2 km down the snowy road and is the definition of luxury. We stayed one night at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel and I cannot recommend it enough.

If you are looking for a more budget option – to have a little more money to spend on experiences – I suggest booking a the Arctic Treehouse hotel or Santa Claus village for one night and then a local Airbnb for the rest of your trip.

Is a trip to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi worth it?

If you love Christmas and are looking for an amazing winter wonderland Christmas experience then you can’t go passed Santa Claus Village. It is a magical way to spend the day.

I would recommend to anyone, young or old, to visit Lapland and Santa Claus Village at least once in your life.

Have you been to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi? Let me know in the comments below

Read Next: The Dreamiest Hotel in the World: Arctic Treehouse Hotel Rovaniemi

I'm Fiona, the Australian blogger behind Travelling Thirties. Travel has always been my passion since 2007. I created this site to help inspire you to travel the world. In 2010 I moved from Australia to Scotland with $500 and a one way ticket, no one thought I'd last 5 minutes but I lasted 5 years. I share everything from one day itineraries to travel tips and tricks from Australia to Europe that will inspire you to get out and travel. Some of my favourite countries I have been to are France, Finland, Denmark, and England.

Travel Expertise: Europe Travel, France Travel, Christmas Markets, travel planning, itineraries and travel tips

Similar Posts

Arctic Treehouse Hotel Rovaniemi, Finland: The most beautiful hotel in the world

The Arctic Treehouse Hotel Rovaniemi, Finland is like a slice of heaven on earth. From the moment you check in to the moment you leave you will feel as though you are on cloud 9. Lapland has been a place that has been very high on my bucket list for many years. What a perfect…

Best Lapland Packing List for Winter (2024)

Lapland. One of the most amazing destinations in Europe, if not the world. Lapland is located in the north of Finland and if you know anything about Finland, you know it is cold. When we visited Santa at Santa Claus Village, we said how cold it was. He laughed and said “no dear, -6 degrees…

The Santa Claus Express: Best Train From Helsinki to Lapland

A trip to Europe in the winter, especially at Christmas time, is not complete without a trip to Lapland. Lapland is one of the most magical places I have ever visited and it all began with our night aboard the Santa Claus Express to Rovaniemi. When I ever picture an over night train, my mind…

Finnish Lapland in Winter: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

If you are looking for the Ultimate winter break in a Winter Wonderland you cannot go passed the Finnish Lapland. It is of course the home of Santa Claus and one of the most magical places in the world. Lapland is filled with snow, fairy lights, warm food, igloos, tree houses, husky sleds and snowball…

Honest Hotel Review: Arctic Fox Igloos Ranua Finland (2024)

Staying at the Arctic Fox Igloos in Ranua, Finland was an unforgettable experience! Nestled in the Lapland wilderness, the igloos offered us a chance to get away from it all, to reconnect with nature and each other. We stayed for two nights in January and it was a magical experience – from the snow-covered landscape…

Should You Visit Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi Finland?

Planning a visit to Santa Claus Village Finland but don’t know where to start? Here’s everything you need for visiting this Rovaniemi Christmas Village

A visit to Santa Claus Village Finland was one of our top holiday goals for experiencing Christmas in Lapland . We made the flight for a family trip to the northern capital of Rovaniemi from Canada in December. Our boys were incredibly excited aboutthe chance to meet the Finnish Santa Claus, Father Christmas. But we couldn’t have expected just how special meeting Santa at Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi would be.

Santa Claus Village isn’t the only Christmas attraction in Rovaniemi, but it is no doubt the most famous. Not only is it filled with incredible Christmas attractions, but it’s also home to the Santa Claus Main Post Office. This is where the mail from around the world sent to Santa Claus is sorted and delivered. On top of that, the sheer variety of attractions, and its convenient location make Santa’s Village Rovaniemi a top spot to experience Lapland in a weekend.

When families are looking for the best things to do in Rovaniemi, they will inevitably arrive at Santa Village at some point. Santa Claus Village is not just a Santa Claus experience though. There is far more to this destination than meets the eye. And it may not even be what you expect it to be.

What is Santa Claus Village?

Table of Contents

Santa Claus Village is a Christmas village tour park just north of Rovaniemi Finland in Finnish Lapland. The Santa Village itself is a series of privately run stores, attractions, and accommodations set in a Lapland holiday village setting. The village is not a theme park, and there is no admission to enter Santa Claus Village itself. However, the attractions within are privately and independently run.

Within the Lapland Santa Claus Village are many tour operators offering attractions such as snowmobiling, Northern Lights flights or safaris, reindeer sleigh rides, and much more. There are countless shops offering a range of authentic Lappish crafts, Finnish souvenirs, and cheap knock-offs. The Rovaniemi Christmas village is one of the easiest places to get a taste of Finnish Christmas festivities in a fun and beautiful location.

Where is Santa Claus Village?

Santa Claus Village is in Lapland. It sits right on the Arctic Circle line. This is the southernmost latitude (66° 33) that experiences at least one full day of the polar night during the winter and one full day of the midnight sun during the summer. The Santa Village in Rovaniemi is located on HWY E4 about 10 minutes north of the city center. We rented a car with Hertz Rovaniemi , so we were able to drive ourselves.

For those with just a day or weekend in Lapland, Santa Claus Village is conveniently located within a 10-minute drive of the Rovaniemi airport. You can get to Santa Claus Village from Rovaniemi by #8 bus from within the city of Rovaniemi . You can find the bus schedule to Santa Claus Village here . Alternatively, you can catch a ride on Santa’s Express which shuttles between the Rovaniemi airport, Arctic Treehouse Hotel, and Santas Igloos Arctic Circle. You find the Santa’s Express shuttle schedule here .

What to See at Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi

Santa Claus Village is easy to get around. But it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming when you first arrive. When you first arrive at the parking lot, you’ll be in front of the entrance to the Safari Center and Christmas House. Santa Claus Village Safari Center is the meeting place for most of the Rovaniemi activities that happen off-site of the Santa Claus Village. This is also where registration for Santa Claus Holiday Village, one of the on-site Santa Claus Village accommodations. Christmas House Santa is on the right as you enter, and the villas for Santa Claus Holiday Village is straight ahead. Nearly all the remaining Santa Claus Village attractions are on the left-hand side as you enter the attraction.

Santa Claus Office

Santa Claus Office in the village is considered the official place to meet Santa Claus in Rovaniemi. The Santa Claus Office building is the main building in Santa Claus Village Finland and it’s impossible to miss. The tall center tower is brightly lit, and the Arctic Circle line runs right through the middle of it. The building has a gift shop, but a large portion of it is dedicated to the experience of meeting Santa Claus in Rovaniemi.

Meeting Santa Claus At Santa Claus Office

Meeting Santa Claus at the Santa Office Rovaniemi is a treat. The lines are long, but they wind through a magical path through caves and Santa’s workshop. Kids will love the little doors and windows along the way. By looking through the keyholes, kids can see Santa’s elves working away building toys and crafts for kids around the world. Each group is given about 5-minutes with Santa in a fantastic North Pole office setting that will make a believer out of anyone.

The Santa Claus Office experience is free of charge, however, the fee for photo and video packages start at $39€. Visitors are not allowed to film or photograph the Santa experience themselves.

Santa Claus Main Post Office

Santa Claus Main Post Office is the “Official” post office of Santa Claus in Finland. The post office offers a place where visitors can send a letter to family back home or around the world with an official Santa Claus Arctic Circle stamp. Many people come to this fully functional post office with their own letters or postcards pre-written from home and get the official Arctic Circle mark for free. Please note that all mail will need the appropriate postage stamp which can also be purchased at the post office.

If you don’t have your own letters though you can purchase a variety of postcards, paper, and envelopes. Prices for postcards start at just 1 €, but you will also need to purchase postage. There is a lot of tables in a pretty setting to sit down and write your own letters to home. Our boys loved having the chance to send mail to their cousins back home to tell them about their experience.

Christmas House Santa

Christmas House Santa is another spot in Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi for visiting Santa. This Rovaniemi Santa experience tends to be for those who don’t want to wait in the line for the Santa experience at Santa Claus Office. Christmas House is a large gift shop that also includes some Christmas exhibitions. These exhibitions show visitors about Christmas celebrations around the world.

Meeting Santa At Christmas House Santa

Christmas House Santa is generally considered the “other” Santa experience at Santa Claus Village. The queues here are much shorter than those at Santa Claus Office. While Christmas House Santa doesn’t have the full experience that Santa’s office does, it has gotten great reviews from those who have visited it.

Similar to Santa Claus Office, there is no fee for visiting Santa Claus. However, if you would like to purchase the photo packages, they start at 30€. You are not allowed to take photos and videos of the experience yourself.

Arctic Circle Husky Park

Going dog-sledding in the Arctic is on many people’s bucket lists. Dog sledding is something we love to do. We’ve done it in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories , and at Mont Tremblant in Quebec . Yes, it smells like dog farts, but it’s also a whole bunch of fun. The Arctic Circle Husky park has a stable 100 Siberian Huskies who are jumping at the chance to race around the trail. The Santa Claus Village husky rides run every day of the year. You can book a shorter 500 m and 2 km (1.25 mile) rides with no prior reservation. If you want to book longer rides, it’s best to book those rides in advance.

Prices for entrance at the time of our visit: 10 €/adult, 5 €/child (4-12 years), family ticket 20 € (1-2 adults + 1-3 children). This included visiting, photographing, and petting of the Huskies. There are additional costs for the sleigh and carriage rides as well as hiking and snowshoeing with the Huskies. You can see some of their other activities here .

Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park is the most popular mini-snowmobile experience and snowmobile safari company at Santa Claus Village. The Santa Claus Village snowmobile park has a mini-snowmobile circuit ride that allows children as young as 4 years old to learn to drive a snowmobile. Our 7-year-old, C, did a more involved experience with Access Lapland while we were looking for things to do in Rovaniemi . But, at 5-years-old, our youngest, D, was too young for that snowmobile experience.

The cost for a 10 minute series of laps around the circuit is 20 €. D was nervous getting on. But, by the time he was finished his first lap, he was trying to coax every ounce of speed out of his snowmobile as possible. Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park also offers longer and more involved Lapland snowmobile experience. These snowmobile adventures range in length from 30-minutes up to full-day programs. You can find their full list of offerings here .

If you have a passion for snowmobiles, you can also check out Santa’s House of Snowmobiles . This is the Arctic Circle Snowmobile museum that showcases the history of snowmobiles in Lapland. Santa’s House of Snowmobiles is at the far end of the park near the Husky Park. In 2019 there was no entrance fee for the museum.

Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh Rides

If you’re looking for animal attractions, Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh Rides is one of the most popular activities in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Santa Claus Reindeer offers 400 m and 1 km sleigh rides with Santa’s reindeer. The longer 1 km reindeer rides take you on a loop through the snow-covered Lappish forests surrounding Santa’s village. The 400 m ride runs on a small track near the edge of the village around some the buildings.

Santa Claus Reindeer offers longer, more in-depth experiences at their other location just south of Rovaniemi. You can see their other tours here . The experiences there are much closer to the Lapland reindeer sleigh rides that we did near the town of Saariselka during our Christmas in Finnish Lapland tour . If there is no snow, the Santa Claus reindeer experience runs on wagons rather than sleighs. However, during the summer months, there are no rides. However, it is still possible to meet the reindeer for a small fee.

Other Things To Do At Santa Claus Village Finland

The above are the top things to do at Santa Claus Village Finland, but there are more things to check out as well. Here are some other Santa Claus Village things to do that you might want to consider depending on how much time you have in the area.

Santa Claus Village Lapland Shopping

Santa Claus Village Lapland is primarily set up like an outdoor mall. It’s a pretty mall, but it’s still a mall. Every corner of Santa Claus’ village has been converted into a trinket shop, store, or gift shop. While this does take away from the intimacy that many people are hoping for when they visit Santa’s village, it also makes for some excellent shopping. There is no better one-stop shop for Lapland souvenirs.

You can find everything from handmade knives, antler crafts, t-shirts, artwork, and much, much more in the shops at Santa Claus Village. But, buyer beware. For every authentic Lappish handicraft for sale here, there are 5 cheap knock-offs. If you are looking for something special, make sure you talk to the shopkeepers.

Snowman World Winter Zone

Snowman World Winter Zone has been dubbed the best playground in Santa Claus Village. This winter wonderland is packed with ice slides, snow tubing, ice skating, and lots of snowmen. The 25€ admission to Snowman World gives you access and equipment for all of the activities. Children under 3 are free of charge. The entrance fee to Snowman World also includes access to the Instagrammable ice bar and ice restaurant that are filled with beautiful ice and snow sculptures. You can see all of their attractions here .

SantaPark is a proper theme park set up as the “official workshop for Santa’s Elves”. Where Santa Claus Village is a mall, SantaPark is an immersive Christmas-themed experience that shouldn’t be missed. We spent more time at Santa Park than we did at Santa Claus’ village and had a blast.

From Santa Claus Village it’s just a short drive to SantaPark. And there are regular shuttles to SantaPark as well.

Crossing The Arctic Circle Again And Again And Again

We’ve crossed the Arctic circle countless times. But there’s always something thrilling about crossing this invisible border. Because the Arctic Circle runs right through Santa Claus Office in Santa Claus Village, you can cross as often as you would like. The line is well lit with a series of posts topped by a blue string of lights. But you still couldn’t miss it. Just look for all the families photographing themselves jumping or running across it!

Where To Stay At Santa Claus Village

Because of the Lapland Santa Claus Village’s proximity to Rovaniemi, it’s very easy to stay in the city and make a day trip out to the park. However, if you want to make the most of your Santa Claus Village experience, there are a few unforgettable places to stay in Santa Claus Village that are worth experiencing. Plus, you’ll have the added bonus of being able to explore the village at night when no one is around, but the lights and music are still playing.

You can also check out our full list of the best hotels for families in Rovaniemi here .

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

One of the unique hotels near Santa Claus Village is Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle. These glass-roofed accommodations offer the chance to experience the Northern Lights in Lapland. If you’re an insomniac, you can stay here in the summer as well. You can check out the prices and availability of Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle  here .

Santa Claus Holiday Village

For those looking for a cozy Arctic experience, Santa Claus Holiday Village is the place for you. Santa Claus Holiday Village offers a selection of cottages and suites that are perfect for couples or families looking for Santa Claus Village accommodations. You can even schedule a visit from Santa to drop gifts off to your cottage. You can check the prices and availability of Santa Claus Holiday Village here .

Snowman World Glass Resort

Snowman World doesn’t just offer a great winter park at Santa Village Lapland. They also offer gorgeous luxury Lapland accommodations. Their glass-walled apartments give amazing views of the Arctic skies. You can even chill out in one of their hot tub units to enjoy the Aurora. The superior rooms include a living area, kitchenette, upper loft with glass-ceiling and a private hot tub and sauna. You can check the pricing and availability here .

Where To Eat At Santa Claus Village

There are a lot of great options for food at Santa Claus Village. We had a load of leftovers so opted for a winter picnic lunch. But there is food for nearly every taste. Rakas Restaurant and Bar is a popular spot selling local Scandinavian dishes. You can check out their menu here . If you have a big appetite, you can eat at Nova Skyland’s lunch buffet .

For those who opt to visit Snowman World, a pricey, but unforgettable restaurant is the Snowman World ice restaurant . There are few places more beautiful. Otherwise, you can visit the Santa Claus’ Salmon Palace in the wooden teepee near the Santa Claus Village parking lot (near the sign with all the city distance markers) to pick up some fire-grilled salmon dishes. They don’t offer much variety, but they are experts at what they do make.

When Is The Best Time to Visit Santa’s Christmas Village?

Santa Claus’ Christmas Village is open year-round. It has the busiest season at the Christmas Holidays. However, Lapland is a beautiful year-round destination, so expect crowds throughout the year. There is no bad time to visit here, although if you have specific expectations, you may want to schedule around those.

For viewing the Northern Lights, the best time to visit is October-November and March-April. The rest of the year is either too bright or generally cloudy. If you want the full-on winter-Christmas experience, head to Santa’s Village in December-January when temperatures drop and the snow has had a chance to accumulate. If you aren’t a winter person or are coming from a destination that doesn’t experience the deep chill of Arctic winter, you may feel more comfortable here during the summertime when temperatures can reach the mid-30s (Celsius) and the sun stays up deep into the night.

Final Thoughts On The Lapland Christmas Village

Santa Claus Village is a beautiful place. It’s set up as a magical village, and on the surface, it pulls that off. The village is spacious, bright, filled with fun sounds and music, and beautifully lit. There are some great attractions here that make it very easy for people to get a good taste for what the amazing Lapland activities and culture are like.

Santa Claus Village doesn’t offer the most extensive version of each attraction. But, if you are looking for one place where you can do it all as stress-free as possible, this is the place for you. There is simply no other Christmas village in Lapland where you can do this much this easily.

Have you ever visited Santa Claus Village in Lapland? Tell us about it in the comments or swing by our Facebook Page and share a photo of your trip. We would love to share in your travels!

Disclosure: This post was made possible by the support of Visit Rovaniemi . Our views remain our own. Wandering Wagars is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

You May Also Like To Read:

Pin This Post For Later:

Susan Decoteau-Ferrier

Thursday 31st of January 2019

This looks absolutely magical, especially for kids!!

Kevin Wagar

It is certainly a thrill for families. Although there were many couples traveling through as well!

Lara Dunning

Wednesday 30th of January 2019

This sounds like a kids Christmas paradise! I'd love to do the reindeer and husky rides. Totaly family bucket list experience.

It's a winter wonderland Lara!

James McDonald

Wednesday 16th of January 2019

We were there between 19-23 Dec18. Absolutely amazing place to see and even better as it started to get dark. My 6yr old twins loved it and Santa too time to speak properly with both of them. Happy Memories made for life with my kids. The only thing we never seen was the Northern lights. I recommend going into the Moomin Castle as it has brilliant things to see. If I was to try and sum this place up in 1 word it would be "MAGICAL" . McDonalds from Scotland. Thanks Santa.

Astrid Vinje

Tuesday 15th of January 2019

Ooh, what a cool place! It reminds me of this town called Leavenworth, right near Seattle in the United States! I'm glad that it's open all year round. It's a great way to keep the Christmas spirit alive.

It definitely has the feel of Leavenworth. It's all about keeping that Christmas magic going year-round.

How exciting! Would have been such a thrill visiting this as a kid. Now I hope to take my daughter there some day!

If you love a day of fun-filled activities and you don't mind a little bit of cold, your whole family will love it!

Privacy Overview

Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi – A Complete Guide

Posted on Last updated: 8 March 2024

Categories Finland

Known as Santa’s official North Pole residence, Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is full of Christmas magic. Here’s the info for visiting.

Table of Contents

How To Get To Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village is located about 8 km north of the capital city of Rovaniemi in Finland.

Most people choose to use public transport or book tours whilst visiting Finland, especially during the winter.

Bus number 8 runs regularly from Rovaniemi Railway Station to Santa Claus Village.

The journey takes about 20 minutes and a one way ticket is €3.60 adult/€1.80 child.

You can buy your tickets on the bus from the driver.

A taxi from Rovaniemi to Santa Claus Village will cost you around €25 – €30 euros.

If you do fancy driving yourself around, car hire is available at the airport and also in Rovaniemi. The drive is only 10 minutes from Rovaniemi along the main E75. There is free car parking when you arrive.

For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are lots more tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.

One of the more popular tours that takes you to Santa Claus Village is Rovaniemi: Reindeer, Huskies & Santa Claus Village .

Santa Claus Village Entrance Fee

It is free to visit Santa Claus Village.

There are various fees for different experiences in the village.

Santa Claus Village Opening Times

Monday – Sunday: 9am to 7pm.

Best Time To Visit Santa Claus Village

The perfect time to Visit Santa Claus Village and enjoy the most activities, is when there is snow on the ground and you can get the full magical experience.

Snow usually falls in Finland between the end of November and Mid April.

Obviously Christmas time is a great time to visit for a real Christmas vibe, although I’m pretty sure Santa Claus Village maintains a Christmasy feel all year round.

Also, the Christmas holidays are going to be the busiest time to visit Santa Claus Village, so you may want to avoid this time if you don’t like crowds.

Although the sledding activities are not available in the summer, there are still plenty of outdoor rides and activities available.

If you are hoping to see the Northern Lights whilst you are there, they are usually visible between late August and early April.

What To Pack

Photography Camera

Reusable Water Bottle

Knit Gloves

Best Things To Do At Santa Claus Village

You can’t go to Santa Claus Village and not meet the man himself.

It’s honestly one of the best things to do in Rovaniemi and people fly from all over the world to experience it.

Head for Christmas House where admission is free and you can sit and have a chat with the jolly big man.

Also, if you are very good, one of his friendly elves will happily take a photo to capture the moment. A great keepsake of this ‘once in a lifetime’ meeting!

Meet Mrs Claus

To see Mrs Santa Claus, you just pop across to the nearby beautiful, Christmas Cottage, located in the Reindeer Resort.

Surrounded by jolly elves, Mrs Santa Claus enjoys greeting visitors of all ages and sharing her stories about lapland.

If you like meeting the elves the Elf Hat Academy in Santa’s Village might also be fun, especially for children and the young at heart!

Mrs Santa Claus is available to meet with you daily from 1st November to 31st March between 11am and 5pm.

Meeting Santa Claus and Mrs Santa Claus is not to be missed and a fun thing to do whilst visiting the Santa Claus Village.

Visit Santa Claus Main Post Office

Also, don’t miss the Santa Claus Main Post Office. The perfect place to buy a souvenir or sit and write greetings to send home – whatever the time of year!

Once you have chosen what to send and written your messages, the Postal Elves will post your mail for you!

Moreover, if you visit in the summer and want your messages to be held until Christmas, the Postal Elves will put them into a special post box. They then get posted close to Christmas.

Stamped with the special Arctic Circle postmark, I’m sure your friends and family will love receiving your Christmas greetings.

Feed Santa’s Reindeer

Getting up close to these beautiful, gentle animals is an absolute treat. Certainly one of the best things I did during my stay in Rovaniemi.

Costing €5, the visits are available non-stop throughout the day and do not require any pre booking. For this, you get to meet the reindeer and their calves, pet them and feed them.

Reindeers favourite food is lichen and they are very happy to let you feed them this and take photos.

In addition, a friendly and knowledgeable guide will chat to you about the reindeer and reindeer herding.

So, don’t miss out on this lovely activity whilst visiting Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

Additionally, if you enjoy meeting the local wildlife, the Ranua Zoo and Wildlife Park in Rovaniemi is home to lots of arctic animals. All of whom live in a beautifully authentic and spacious environment.

Take A Reindeer Sled Ride

During the winter months, it’s possible to have the magical experience of a reindeer sled ride through the snow covered trees at Santa Claus Village.

Prices vary depending on the length of your ride. This is great if you are on a budget as you can opt for the shorter ride to save money but still get to enjoy the experience.

It’s also possible to get a reindeer driving license and a certificate of crossing the Arctic Circle. A great souvenir of your ride and visit, especially for all the families with young children.

Other activities available at Santa Claus Village include, husky sled rides, snowmobile rides, a Magic Train ride and much more.

Visit The Moomin Shop

Santa Claus Village has a variety of shops selling handicrafts, popular Finnish brands as well as a shop selling everything Moomin!

The Moomin Shop was a real treat for me, as I am somewhat of a fan of this cute little troll family that have large noses.

These lovable characters are featured in a book series and also a comic strip by Swedish-Finn writer and illustrator Tove Jansson.

The Moomin shop in Santa Claus Village is overflowing with Moomin toys, mugs, stationary, gifts and everything Moomin. There really is something for everyone.

So, if you are a Moomin fan like me, a visit to the Moomin shop has to be one of the highlights Santa Claus Village.

Learn About The Arctic Circle

The Arctic Circle is an imaginary circle around the North Pole and the northern most part of the planet.

It covers parts of eight different countries – Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States.

To learn more about the Arctic circle and get yourself a photo actually crossing the geographical line, just go to the front of Santa Claus’ Office!

If you prefer everything arranged for you, the Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle tour takes you to meet Santa Claus, cross the Arctic Circle line and enjoy a Lappish-style buffet lunch.

Also, you are really interested in learning more about this are the Arktikum Museum in Rovaniemi is a great option.

Dine In An Igloo

For a unique dining experience you can have dinner in one of the cosy glass igloos, located on the terrace of the Three Elves Restaurant.

The igloos are available to book from the beginning of September to the end of April every day, at 2pm, 5pm and and 8pm. (Maximum stay 2.5 hours.)

The restaurant serves a variety of local food, including reindeer burgers, grilled salmon, beetroot/cauliflower stew. As well as some delicious desserts like Lapland squeaky cheese or chocolate fondue.

With great views of the starry night sky, you might even get a glimpse of the famous Northern Lights whilst enjoying your meal.

There are also plenty of cosy restaurants and bars to stop and enjoy some delicious local food and drink.

Where To Stay In Rovaniemi

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

Santa’s Igloos offer stylish glass-roofed igloos by the Arctic Circle, 5 miles from central Rovaniemi. WiFi and parking are both free.

All air-conditioned igloos at Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle have a private bathroom with a rain shower. For extra comfort, sleeping masks, bathrobes and slippers are available. A flat-screen TV and electric kettle are also on offer in the rooms.

Each igloo comes with a tablet through which guest can contact the reception and receive Northern Lights alarms.

Breakfast is available daily at the property.

Arctic Light Hotel

This boutique hotel is 5 miles from Rovaniemi Airport and Santa Claus Village. It features bright, ultra-modern rooms with individually themed décor. WiFi and parking are free.

A flat-screen TV, minibar and tea/coffee facilities are standard at Arctic Light Hotel. Bathrobes and slippers add extra comfort, and some rooms have their own kitchenette. Each room has a private bathroom with a hairdryer and a bath or shower.

Facilities at Arctic Light Hotel include a sauna, a terrace and a lounge bar. Finnish-American TV chef Sara La Fountain creates the healthy, energising breakfast. Staff at the 24-hour reception will gladly recommend local restaurants, attractions or activities.

Motelli Rovaniemi

Located in Rovaniemi, Motelli Rovaniemi provides air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. With barbecue facilities, the property also features a garden. The property offers a shared lounge.

The units at the motel come with a flat-screen TV. Rooms are complete with a private bathroom and shower, while certain rooms at Motelli Rovaniemi also feature a terrace. All guest rooms will provide guests with a kitchen.

The accommodation offers a sun terrace.

For more places to stay in Rovaniemi, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com .

Planning Your Trip

Book your flight.

Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight.

They search websites and airlines around the globe to find you the best possible routes and prices.

Book Your Accommodation

Use Booking.com to find the best accommodation deals.

They consistently return the cheapest rates on everything from guesthouses to hotels for all of your budget needs.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Use SafetyWing to find the best travel insurance for you.

They provide travel and medical incident insurance built specifically for digital nomads.

Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations.

Book Your Tours & Activities

Use GetYourGuide to book your activities in advance.

They sell the best tours, excursions and activities to attractions around the world.

Conveniently book, download and access your tickets on the move all from your mobile.

Book Your Rental Car

Use RentalCars.com to find the best deals on rental cars in the area.

They compare all major car rental companies and allow you to easily book the perfect vehicle for your trip.

Buy Those Last Minute Bits

Use Amazon to buy everything you need for your adventure.

They offer next day delivery and you can use my travel packing checklist to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

Pin It For Later

• Adventurous

Perfect Day Trip to Sai Kung

Our Thrilling Icebreaker Sampo Cruise Experience

Suicide Cliff & Kowloon Peak Hike Ultimate Guide

My Epic Day Trip to Shifen Old Street Taiwan: Flying Lanterns and Shifen Falls!

Full Taipei Itinerary in 3 Days: Unlock the City’s Charm!

7 Best Night Markets to Visit in Taipei

11 Creative Date Ideas in Hong Kong to Impress Your Partner

The Perfect Elephant Mountain Taipei 101 Hiking Guide

Best Day Trip from Tokyo to Mount Fuji: DIY Guide

I went to a Capybara Cafe in Tokyo! Full Review of Cafe Capyba

10 Epic Team Building Activities to do in Hong Kong 2024

Cool Team Building VR Experience in Hong Kong 2024

8 Elegant Bridal Shower Ideas in Hong Kong

How to take the victoria peak tram hong kong.

How to Have an Epic Tram Party in Hong Kong 2024

Hong Kong Temple Street Night Market Ultimate Guide

The 9 Best Hong Kong Street Foods and Where to Find Them

List of interesting halal restaurants in hong kong 2024.

Unique Buffet Experience in a Revolving Restaurant in Hong Kong

Best halal chinese food in hong kong 2024.

Fa Yuen Street Market: Open-air Market at the Heart of Hong Kong

Mong Kok Ladies Market: 12 Must-See Items When Visiting

Mong Kok Flower Market Ultimate Guide by a Local

Where to buy cheap travel backpack in hong kong 2024.

How to Sell Second-hand Things in Hong Kong Using Carousell

14 Tips When Buying on Carousell in Hong Kong 2024

Best art supply stores in hong kong 2024.

• Airport Lounges

Ride the World’s Longest Escalator in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong

The Perfect Day Trip to Tallinn, Estonia from Helsinki

Dadaocheng Taipei: A Glimpse to Taiwan’s History

Santa Claus Village Ultimate Guide For First-Timers

10 Best Things to Do in Saariselkä, Lapland

Let's visit the home of santa claus.

Santa Claus Village

Table of Contents

Visiting Santa’s home is every kid’s dream, and thankfully this can become a reality by visiting the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi! For those unaware, this is the official residence of Santa Claus, where you can meet him in person, send letters from his post office, ride on his reindeer sleighs, and enjoy many other festive activities.

In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about visiting Santa Claus Village. This should equip you with all the information you need to plan your perfect trip and make your Christmas dreams come true!

1 What is the Santa Claus Village?

The Santa Claus Village is a theme park and resort located about 3 km away from Rovaniemi Airport or 8km from the city center. It was founded in 1950, when Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the US president, visited the area and wanted to see where Santa Claus lived. A cabin was built for her visit , which marked the spot of the Santa Claus Village. Since then, the village has grown into a popular tourist attraction that attracts over half a million yearly visitors.

The Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year, from 10 am to 5 pm (or 6 pm in the summer). It is divided into several areas, each with its own attractions and services.

2 How Much Does it Cost?

Entry to the Santa Claus Village is completely free. However, expect to pay for every activity that you do. This can obviously quickly add up, so set a budget in mind and spend wisely!

Looking back at our credit card bill, we spent a total of €97 on the day for two people . This is definitely on the cheaper side of things. Nevertheless, our day felt magical because it was snowing continuously and the overall atmosphere felt very Christmassy!

A husky mushing tour is a must-do activity – it’s honestly so much fun and well worth the money (trust me). If you don’t already have a separate mushing package booked with your hotel, I would strongly recommend you do this 30-minute husky mushing tour at the Santa Claus Village. It is the best-priced tour I’ve managed to find that covers a good amount of distance.

We didn’t opt to do the Husky Mushing at the Santa Claus Village because we had already pre-booked a 1.5-hour package for €135 per person at our next hotel, Guesthouse Husky. Additionally, we managed to save money by petting and seeing the reindeer up close for free by following a simple trick (see below)!

3 Getting There and Luggage Storage

Transportation.

We went directly from Rovaniemi Airport to the Santa Claus Village. Taking the bus would’ve cost €16 so we opted to take a taxi, which was slightly cheaper but easier to manage with all our luggage. When returning to the city at night, we took the bus from the Santa Claus Village bus stop back to the town centre.

Make sure to take note of the bus schedule!

Luggage Storage

Luggage storage is available on-site at the Santa Claus Gift House or the Santa Claus Office (pictured below). Expect to pay between €4 to €5 per piece stored.

If you opt to store your luggage at the Santa Claus Office, you will have to lug your suitcases up a flight of stairs since there’s no elevator.

4 Activities at the Santa Claus Village

Santa claus post office.

One of the most iconic features of the Santa Claus Village is the Santa Claus Post Office , where you can send letters and postcards with a special Santa Claus stamp. You can also buy souvenirs, gifts, and Christmas decorations from the shop.

Lots of postcards to choose from! We picked one up for €3.5.

Postcards posted from the Santa Claus Office have a special Arctic Circle postmark that’s not used anywhere else in the world!

After writing our postcard, we dropped it off at Santa’s Mailbox. Postage costs €2.5, and we ended up receiving out specially marked postcard about 2 weeks later back home in Hong Kong!

The post office is run by Santa’s elves, who are always happy to help you with your mail. You can also see the huge pile of letters that Santa receives from children all over the world, and maybe even spot your own letter among them.

Meeting the Reindeers

Going into the Santa Claus Village, one of the main things we wanted to do was to pet and see the reindeer. However, this all costs money. The cheapest sleigh ride would have set us back about €50 for the two of us, and it only covered a short 400m distance.

Instead, we made our way over to the Reindeer Sleigh Ride area and walked across the bridge to the other side. From here, you can freely pet and take photos with the reindeer!

We decided to spend our budget on a husky safari instead, which is a lot more fast-paced and exciting than a slow reindeer stroll!

Husky Mushing Rides

A must-do activity at the Santa Claus Village is taking a husky sleigh ride through the snowy forest. You can choose from different lengths and routes, depending on your preference and budget.

As I mentioned above, this is the best bang-for-buck husky package offered at the Santa Claus Village. If you need to choose between the husky ride and the reindeer ride, go with the husky one since it’s way more fun!

The Official Arctic Circle Line

Snap a pic at the official Arctic Circle line! One second you’re in the Arctic, the next second you’re not!

Snowmobile Rides

If you are looking for more adventure and speed, you can also try a snowmobile ride at the Santa Claus Village. You can rent a snowmobile and drive it yourself, or join a guided tour with a professional instructor.

You can explore the surrounding area and feel the thrill of riding in the snow. The prices vary depending on the duration and the number of people, but you can expect to pay around 100 euros per person for an hour-long ride.

Meeting Santa at the Christmas House

Of course, the highlight of any visit to the Santa Claus Village is meeting Santa Claus himself at the Christmas House . You can enter his office, where he greets visitors every day, and have a chat with him. You can tell him your wishes, ask him questions, and take photos with him. You can also get a video recording of your meeting as a souvenir.

Unfortunately, a photo with Santa will set you back by €30 !! That’s simply too much for us, so we had to pass up on this opportunity 🙁

5 Explore Around and Take Photos

Not everything has to be a paid activity. We spent a good amount of time roaming around, enjoying the atmosphere, and taking photos!

6 The Best Food to Get at the Santa Claus Village

After enjoying all the activities at the Santa Claus Village, you might get hungry and want to try some of the local food. There are several restaurants and cafes in the village, offering a variety of cuisines and dishes. Here are some of the best food options to get at the Santa Claus Village:

Santa’s Salmon Place

This is a cosy wooden hut near the end of the park , where you can watch the chefs prepare fresh salmon on an open fire. Spoiler alert, this was the best salmon I’ve ever tasted! It’s no wonder that there was such a long line to get in!

The Salmon is cooked over a wood fire and continuously rotated for about 15 to 20 minutes.

It’s then served with a potato salad, bread, and butter. You can also order tea, coffee, or soft drinks. I think each Salmon dish was about €24, and we also got a cheese dish with jam to go with it which came to a total of €56 for the both of us . The salmon pieces are huge!

The flavour was honestly amazing! Highly highly recommend!

This is a traditional Lappish restaurant, where you can taste some of the local delicacies, such as reindeer meat, fish soup, cheese bread, and berry pie.

You can also try some of the local drinks, such as cloudberry wine, blueberry liqueur, or Laplandia vodka. The restaurant has a rustic and cozy interior, with a fireplace and a live band playing folk music.

7 Where to Stay in Rovaniemi?

I’d recommend staying more than one day in Rovaniemi, as there’s more than just the Santa Claus Village to explore. Accommodation-wise, you can choose everything from hotels and hostels, to apartments and cottages. Here are some of the best places to stay in Rovaniemi:

Santa Claus Holiday Village

The Santa Claus Holiday Village is the most convenient and comfortable option, as it is located right next to the Santa Claus Village. You can stay in a cozy wooden cottage, with a private sauna, kitchenette, and terrace. You can also enjoy the facilities of the holiday village, such as a restaurant, a bar, a spa, and a souvenir shop. The price is around 200 euros per night and varies based on seasonality, breakfast inclusion, and airport transfer. Check out the latest pricing below:

Scandic Rovaniemi City

The Scandic Rovaniemi City is a stylish and modern hotel that’s located in the centre of Rovaniemi. You can stay in a spacious and elegant room. You can also enjoy the facilities of the hotel, such as a restaurant, a lounge, a gym, and a sauna. The price is around 250 euros per night for a double room, including breakfast and wifi. Once again, the price depends on the season.

Hostel Cafe Koti

Hotel Cafe Koti is a budget-friendly and cozy option, located in a renovated old building in the centre of Rovaniemi. You can stay in a dormitory or a private room, with a shared bathroom and kitchen. You can also enjoy the facilities of the hostel, such as a cafe, a bar, a terrace, and a sauna. The price is around 40 euros per night for a dorm bed, or 100 euros per night for a double room, including breakfast and wifi.

8 Santa Claus Village vs Santa Park

If you are wondering whether you should visit the Santa Claus Village or the Santa Park, or both, here are some of the main differences and similarities between them:

Our Verdict

The Santa Claus Village is a wonderful place to visit for anyone who loves Christmas and wants to see Santa's home. You can enjoy a variety of activities, such as sending letters from his post office, riding on his reindeer sleighs, or driving a snowmobile. You can also find some of the best food options at the village, such as fresh salmon or reindeer meat. You can stay in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, and choose from a range of accommodation options, from cozy cottages to modern hotels.

• Unique and fun experience
• Magical atmostphere
• Can get costly quite quickly

Review Breakdown

• Uniqueness 0
• Activities offered 0
• Value for money 0

Hi, I'm Elliot, a seasoned hiker and chillandexplore.com co-founder. I've hiked and traveled the world for over a decade, but Hong Kong's diverse and stunning trails are amongst my favorite. On my blog, I share my stories, tips, and visuals from my Hong Kong hikes and other adventures. Remember, life is too short to stay in one place, so chill and explore!

Related Posts

Dadaocheng Taipei: A Glimpse to Taiwan's History

Recommended

The 7 Best Things to do in Mong Kok

Mong Kok Sneaker Street: The Ultimate Guide for Shoe Lovers

Popular stories.

Shek O Beach – Everyone’s Favorite Beach in Hong Kong

Average score, about chill & explore, policies & disclaimers.

© 2024 Chill & Explore

• Experiences

Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle

Magical year-round Christmas Experience in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Rovaniemi is The Official Hometown of Santa Claus , and therefore it is only natural that there is also a small village full of magical Christmas atmosphere in the Arctic Circle.

You can spend a memorable day visiting Santa Claus Village or stay overnight. Santa Claus Village is one of the main attraction and place to visit in Rovaniemi, Lapland.

3 facts and tips

• Did you know? Santa Claus Village is visited by more than half a million people every year
• Where is it located? Nearby Rovaniemi City Centre, about 8 km from center at the Arctic Circle .
• How to get to the Santa Claus Village? Bus 8 is taking visitors from City Centre to the Santa Claus Village. Many tours also include a pick-up.

All year round Christmas feeling

The Arctic Circle’s wide range of services has something for all ages and different travel budgets. Please note that not all services are open all year round and some of the activities or services only work during the snowy season or only during the Christmas season.

Santa Claus spends his time in Santa Claus Village year-round and welcomes visitors every day.

Wake up your Christmas spirit

A leisurely stroll through the beautifully lit and decorated Santa Claus Village square while Christmas carols are playing, will surely bring a smile to your face and guarantee that the Christmas spirit will take over. Wander through the alleys to look and admire, stop at the restaurants and cafes serving local delicacies or stop by the boutiques to admire Finnish design and handicrafts.

For all lovers of the Christmas magic, a visit to Santa Claus Village is a dream come true.

4 free attractions

• Cross the Arctic Circle . The Arctic Circle line is clearly marked in the central square.
• Santa Claus welcomes visitors every day. You can visit Santa Claus for free.
• Santa Claus’ Main Post Office is an attraction in itself and you can visit there to marvel at, for example, the letters sent to Santa Claus. If you wish, you can send mail to your loved ones with the special stamp which is only available at the Arctic Circle.
• In Santa Claus Village you will also find the historic Roosevelt Cottage. The Roosevelt Cottage was completed on June 11, 1950, and it became the first attraction of Santa Claus Village.

Santa Claus Office

Santa Claus Office is the official place to meet Santa in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus’ Main Post Office

Santa Claus’ Main Post Office is the only official post office of Santa Claus. Here you can feel the Christmas spirit every day of the year and be served by the merry post office elves in several languages!

70th anniversary of Roosevelt Cottage, the very first building of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Santa Claus Village, located on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, is today one…

In Santa Claus Main Post Office all letters and cards are stamped with a special Santa Claus postage stamp! Santa Claus Main Post Office Elf

Accommodation in Santa Claus Village

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

The Arctic TreeHouse hotel provides a unique blend of luxury comfort in the heart of Arctic nature, local Lappish traditions and modern Scandinavian design.

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle, 71 luxurious, spacious glass igloos, reception and Restaurant Arctic Eye are located at the Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi.

Nova Skyland Hotel

Nestled in the serene nature of Lapland, Nova Skyland hotel offers a unique experience in high-quality lodgings with friendly and attentive service.

Johka – Arctic Villas

Stay in our cosy arctic villas and enjoy wonderful Lappish athmosphere!

Glass Resort

Luxury accommodation in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Glass Resort offers a glass igloo type accommodation with more space and luxury feel with private outdoor Hot Spa and Sauna.

Santa’s Luxury Boutique Villa / Apartments

Modern design and exclusive comfort in the heart of Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, right next to the Santa Claus Office, yet in a quiet spot.

Santa Claus Holiday Village

From a classic rooms to families suites build in Lapish cottage style for sure you can find room which will suites your needs.

Restaurants in Santa Claus Village

Café Ensilumi in Snowman World

Café Ensilumi is a warm, peaceful, cozy and spacious café located next to the reception of Snowman World, right next to Santa Claus Village’ Main Square.

Ice bar in Snowman World

Inside of Snowman World you can find the coolest bar of Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi!

Santa’s Pizza & Burger

Santa’s Pizza & Burger is a traditional fast food restaurant in the Arctic Circle. Our menu consists of delicious pizzas and hamburgers made with our own special recipe.

Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi

Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi is a charming lunch restaurant located right in Rovaniemi in the well-known Santa Claus Village, just in the backyard of Santa Claus Office.

Santamus Restaurant

At Santamus you can enjoy local culinary creations and be entertained with unforgettable gold panning program

Restaurant Gallis

The Glass Restaurant offers pure northern ingredients and flavors of Lapland in an atmospheric and unique setting at the Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi.

Nova Skyland Hotel and Restaurant

Nova Skyland restaurant serves modern Lappish meals prepared with local ingredients.

Snow Restaurant in Snowman World

The Snow Restaurant, which is rebuilt every year, is an attraction itself. Snow carvings, amazing lighting and snow and ice sculptures provide you with a feast for the eyes during daily lunch and dinner.

Santamus Summer Lunch

Santamus’ Summer Restaurant serves open-fire lunch in the Santamus’ lush courtyard

Three Elves Restaurant

Three Elves Restaurant offers Lappish cuisine every day of the year. It is situated right at the Arctic Circle, in Santa Claus Village.

Glass igloos – Private Dining in Three Elves Restaurant

If you are looking for a unique place to enjoy an unforgettable meal with your friends, come and enjoy the dinner in our glass igloo.

Daily fresh coffee, cake and brunch in cozy and friendly atmosphere.

Restaurant Arctic Eye

Restaurant Arctic Eye in Rovaniemi offers tastes of Lapland and the North, with an international twist.

Rakas Restaurant & Bar

Rakas Restaurant & Bar charms with its unique ambiance and menu of meals made from local ingredients prepared with a modern twist.

Sights and attractions in Santa Claus Village

Santa’s Pets Visit

Meet domestic animals next to the Santa Claus Office. Tickets are valid all day!

SantaPark – the Home Cavern of Santa Claus

Underneath the Arctic Circle, deep beneath the ground, lies Santa’s secret cavern where it’s Christmas all year round!

Entrance to Mrs. Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage

Meet Mrs. Santa Claus in her Christmas Cottage

Santa Claus Reindeer

Reindeer rides and experiences with Santa´s reindeer in Santa Claus Village all year round.

Husky Park visit

Come and see the life in Husky Park! You can take photos, visit our beautiful park and meet the genuine Siberian Huskies.

Entrance ticket to Snowman World

Entrance ticket to Snowman World – day ticket

Activities in Santa Claus Village

Santa Village & Arctic Animals Combo Adventure

What would you do if you wanted to experience an ultimate winter adventure? Well, of course, you would visit Santa’s village and try husky and reindeer sleigh rides!

Elf Hat Academy in Santas Village

Welcome to the Elf Hat Academy, located near Santa’s main office in the Arctic Circle. Learn the elf wisdom and graduate as an elf in this interactive show!

Photoshoot in Santa Claus Village

This winter, you have a chance to record your visit in Santa Claus Village by a professional photographer!

The Hidden Place of Santa

Experience the Christmas atmosphere with whole family!

Highlights of Rovaniemi Day Tour – Summer

The highlight tour takes you to the most unique sights in Rovaniemi. Visit genuine Reindeer and Husky Farms, meet Santa himself in the Santa Claus Village and get your certificate for crossing into the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Safari 7.1.-7.4., Rovaniemi

An arctic day of snowmobiling and reindeer sleigh riding completed with meeting Santa

Private Rovaniemi city & Santa Claus Village Tour

Get to know Rovaniemi city and meet Santa Claus at the Santa Claus Village on family-friendly private tour.

Summer Delight – Visit to reindeer, husky and Santa Claus

Discover the secrets of Santa Claus and visit the husky and reindeer farms.

Cultural e-Fatbike Tour around Rovaniemi & Santa Claus Village

Discover Rovaniemi cultural heritage on an electric biking trip around the city to the Santa Claus! This guided tour on electric fatbikes offers you the opportunity to learn about Rovaniemi while enjoying a gentle outdoor ride in summer / autumn!

Arctic Circle Crossing Ceremony

Fascinating ceremony at the Arctic Circle

Autumn Delight – Visit to reindeer, husky and Santa Claus

Discover the secrets of Santa Claus and visit the husky and reindeer farms

Arctic Delight – Visit to Santa’s Village and snowmobiling to reindeer farm

Discover the secrets of Santa Claus and the reindeer on visit to Santa Claus Village by car and reindeer farm by snowmobile!

Traditional Finnish Christmas Eve, 4 hours (Private Tour)

Experience a traditional Finnish Christmas Eve with Sauna, Christmas Dinner and meet Santa Claus in private.

Husky and Reindeer Farm Visit With Snowmobiling

Experience Reindeer, Huskies, and an Adrenaline-Packed Snowmobile Safari!

Rovaniemi City & Santa Claus Village Tour

Rovaniemi city tour with most popular sightseeings and guided Santa Claus Village tour

Finnish Christmas with Santa Claus, 3 hours (Private Tour)

Experience a traditional Finnish Christmas Dinner and meet Santa Claus in private.

Santa Village and the arctic circle

Let’s go to the most memorable and extraordinary place in Finnish Lapland. To the magical town of Santa Claus to meet the real Santa

Arctic Circle Highlights by Minibus

Enjoy a full day of arctic experiences in Rovaniemi with the huskies and reindeers, visit Santa Claus himself, and make unforgettable memories in Rovaniemi!

Santa Claus Safari Summer, Rovaniemi

A joyful day including riverboat cruise to a local reindeer farm and by car to handicraft workshop and Santa Claus Village

Christmas is Coming! 3 hours (Private Tour)

Experience the excitement of the arriving Christmas and its activities in a traditional way only with your own family.

Santa Claus Safari 1.12.-6.1., Rovaniemi

An arctic family day of snow fun activities and reindeer sleigh riding completed with meeting Santa

Trip to Arctic Circle, Santa Claus’ Village, Santa’s Reindeer and Elf’s Farm Yard

Must in Rovaniemi! During the trip we cross the magical Arctic Circle and visit Santa Claus’ Village where is Christmas all year round!

Rovaniemi 2 days Adventure Package

Join us for the Rovaniemi 2 day adventure package! Experience the most sought-after Rovaniemi activities from your to-do list!

Explore more Tips for your Rovaniemi holiday

Finnish Sauna Culture

There are over 3 million saunas in Finland – that’s more than passenger cars. It’s safe to say we love our saunas! For an absolute Rovaniemi experience one must try sauna.

Alvar Aalto Architecture in Rovaniemi

Ice breaker trips from Rovaniemi, Lapland

10 Romantic Winter Tips

Everything about Santa Claus Village in Finland (by a Local)

Everything you need to know about visiting Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. Here are our tips as locals to help you get the best out of your trip.

*We use ads so we can pay for our travels and continue to bring you free travel advice. We also use affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Santa Claus Village is truly a magical place! We have visited multiple times both in winter and summer time, and we have always had so much fun. Kids love it, adults love it, and if nothing else, you will find yourself in true Christmas spirit. Or if you get very lucky you might even see a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi , in Finnish Lapland . It is a quite remote place in the northern part of the country, right at the Artic Circle . Rovaniemi is over 500 miles (833 kilometres) from the capital city of Finland , Helsinki .

Lapland is home to the indigenous Sami people who have been inhabiting the area for thousands of years. Their culture and traditions can be seen in many ways in Lapland, especially in reindeer herding. You might hear them speaking the Sámi language, which is an officially recognized language in Finland. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish.

Here are some answers to common questions about visiting Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi:

How to get to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

As I mentioned earlier, Rovaniemi is a quite remote place and located in a less populated area of Finland. However, there are many ways to get there depending on your budget.

I would first check if there are any airlines flying directly to Rovaniemi Airport from your country. Or if you are planning to explore Finnish Lapland further, you might be flying to Kittilä , Ivalo or Kuusamo . Most people end up flying to Helsinki and from there to Rovaniemi as the flight time is only about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Another way to get to Rovaniemi from Helsinki is by train. The train ride however, is very long. The normal train will take you there in 8.5 hours, but most people choose the Santa Claus Express which is a night train. The night train takes about 12 hours, but you can get a cabin with a bed and sleep the whole way. If you have a car, you can even bring it with you on the train.

Trains and airplanes in Finland are quite comfortable and mostly run on time. Sometimes during the winter the extremely cold weather might cause some delays. Trains usually have a separate car for kids to play as well as a restaurant car.

When booking a train ticket, make sure to choose the direct train with no transfers, so you don’t have to drag your luggage in and out of the train. Also, you are better off booking your train ticket as early as possible as VR (the local railway company) has adopted a new pricing policy where the tickets now cost more, closer to departure.

Many locals drive to Rovaniemi, but it takes over 10 hours from Helsinki without including any stops. If you are driving during the winter, the speed limits are slower than at summer, and the roads can be icy especially in Lapland. Oh, and watch out for the reindeer on the road! Rental cars are available both in Helsinki and Rovaniemi.

Things to do at Santa Claus Village in Finland

Visit santa.

Isn’t that why we all go there? Santa meets people in his office at the main building of Santa Claus Village. He is there everyday from 9 AM to 6 PM. The hallway leading to Santa’s Office has many things to see. They have decorations, presents and little peak holes on the walls for kids. It’s so fun and exciting for kids!

Meeting Santa in his office is free of charge, but they do sell a photo package after the visit. On our first visit we did purchase the package, but the last time, we chose just to get one photo. The photos were good quality and the package had several of them with the whole family and also just Santa with our kids. It also included some general photos of Santa’s Village and a video of us meeting him.

Meeting Santa has always been very pleasant. We didn’t feel rushed at all, even though the line behind us was long. Santa asked us many questions and we did manage to give our Christmas list to him too. Now, we are just waiting for him to come visit us!

Walk over the Artic Circle line

Santa Claus Village sits right on top of the Arctic Circle at latitude 66°33′45.9″. So one can literally just walk over the Arctic Circle line while visiting Santa. If you visit SantaPark located right next to Santa Claus Village, you will be able to cross the Arctic Circle underground and get a diploma as proof that you did it.

Send a postcard

Santa Claus Village has a post office where you can mail cards and get them stamped with a special Artic Circle postage stamp. It’s a great way to surprise family and friends back home.

I have also heard of people stamping their actual passports with the Artic Circle stamp. It sounds very cool, but I don’t recommend it. Some countries are very specific that passports not have anything in them but official stamps from border control, and might deny you entry based on the extra stamps.

shop some souvenirs

There are many little shops and souvenir stores in Santa’s Village. You can buy things like t-shirts and magnets, but also local crafts and foods. Popular items are reindeer skins, bells and things made out of reindeer horn. If you want to take home some local treats, then Fazer chocolates and candies are the best!

Underneath Santa’s office there is a shop where elves sell all kinds of cute Christmas decorations. And if you like Finnish design, then you should stop at the Iittala , Pentik and Marimekko stores.

Try out Finnish delicacies

There are quite a few restaurants in Santa’s Village to choose from. You can find anything from pizza to Asian food with both casual and fine dining options. Vegetarian food is not difficult to find either and gluten free or lactose free food is served in almost every restaurant.

Some local dishes are reindeer stew or fried vendace served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. You can even find a reindeer burger which is quite delicious! A traditional dessert is oven baked cheese served warm with cloudberries.

The tip is always included on the bill in Finland and the service staff gets paid fairly well compared to most other countries. So in general, you don’t have to tip, but if you are super happy with the service, then the staff will for sure appreciate it.

Pet a reindeer

After meeting Santa and crossing the Arctic Circle, you should head behind the buildings at Santa’s Village and go meet the reindeer. Elf’s Farmyard has many animals such as reindeer, alpacas, sheep, goats and rabbits. You can pet reindeer and also book a forest walk together with them. Or the kids can go riding with ponies.

Santa Claus Reindeer Resort is also a great place to see reindeer and is located right behind Santa’s Office just like Elf’s Farmyard. They offer different kinds of reindeer sleigh rides and snowmobile safaris. For a small fee, you can also pet and take photos with reindeer if you are not interested in the sleigh rides.

Reindeer are fairly calm and docile animals who often let people pet them. While driving around Finnish Lapland, you can sometimes see hundreds of reindeer as they herd freely around the northern parts of Finland.

Ride huskies

Husky rides are a popular activity in Finnish Lapland and there are couple different places at Santa Claus Village to find them. Both Artic Circle Husky Park and Bear Hill Husky Rides organise unforgettable experiences with sleigh rides, hikes and kennel visits. Bear Hill Husky Rides has Alaskan Huskies and Artic Circle Husky Park has Siberian Huskies.

If you want to experience both; reindeer and huskies, this tour is the best!

Meet Mrs. Claus

Behind Santa Claus Village and Santa Claus Reindeer Resort is Mrs. Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage . There you can meet Mrs. Claus, chat with her and purchase a photo taken together with her.

Mrs. Claus Cottage has a small entrance fee and it is recommended to book your visit before in advance. The cottage is open from November to April. You can make a reservation here .

Visit SantaPark

SantaPark is actually not part of Santa Claus Village, but I want to mention it because we enjoyed it quite a bit. It is a theme park built underground in a huge cavern. There is a fee to get in, but it includes unlimited time to explore everything they have. And I totally thought it was worth the money.

Some of the attractions are the Magic Train, Elf School and Elf Show, crossing the Arctic Circle underground, meeting the Ice Princess at the Ice Gallery, decorating cookies with Mrs. Gingerbread and doing crafts at Elf’s Workshop. Santa Claus himself is of course there too, and they have their own Post Office.

Read more about our visit to SantaPark .

There is so much to do in Finnish Lapland and Santa’s Village is only a small part of it. The most popular activities are husky safaris, northern lights tours and reindeer sleigh rides. Oh, and snow mobiling for sure! Rovaniemi has great trails for snowshoeing and they even have a huge snow hotel you can visit. Arctic SnowHotel has things like an Ice Restaurant, Ice Chapel and even a snow sauna!

This is where you can check out the northern lights forecast .

Best time to visit Santa’s Village

Winter, and especially December must be the most popular time to visit Santa Claus Village. With all the snow and Christmas right around the corner, it is definitely the most magical time at Santa’s office. But it is also the busiest. We did it once and the line to see Santa was TWO HOURS long!

Above the Artic Circle line you can experience a phenomena called Polar night ( kaamos in Finnish), when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon at all. At its longest extent, the Polar night lasts for 52 days, depending on what part of Lapland one is in. So if you are visiting during winter, prepare yourself for the darkness.

January, February and March are also great times to visit. The days will start to get longer and the sun will even come up during the day. There are less tourists which is lovely. And, these are great months for seeing the Northern Lights!

Spring time in Lapland is nice. Even though the sun is up and it’s getting warmer, the last snow doesn’t melt until May. You might still be able to go skiing. Hiking trails are slowly opening and you can see the nature coming back to life after the long, cold winter.

Spring time is probably the slowest time in Lapland when it comes to tourism, so you might get Santa all to yourself.

There are pros and cons to visiting Santa’s Village at summertime. We have been there at least two or three times during summer and it has been great. There are less tourists, no lines and the hotels are much cheaper. June is especially beautiful, because instead of polar night, it is now the opposite: Midnight sun.

Summer of course, is not as Christmassy as winter, but Santa’s Village is always special. It’s warm and the nature in Lapland is just beautiful. It is definitely my favorite time of the year, but be prepared to meet the local air force: mosquitos!

Fall is my least favorite time in Finland, because it is very dark and rainy. However, in Lapland the fall is beautiful. Many people travel there just to be in the nature and see the foliage. The forests are full of blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries and mushrooms, and by Finnish law, everyone has the right to pick them. Don’t forget to bring your rain boots!

What to wear in Finland at winter

The winters in Finnish Lapland can be quite harsh depending on the year. The northern part of Finland usually gets snow at the end of October and it doesn’t start melting until April or May. Temperatures can be anything from 0C to -35C (from 32F to -31F) so bring your warmest clothes with you!

Use layers under your other clothes. As a base layer Finns often use thermal underwear with long sleeves. If you are unable to get thermal underwear, leggings will also do the job. As a mid layer we use warm fleece or wool shirts and sweat pants. This is the layer that other people will see when you go inside and remove your jacket. Your outer layer should be a warm, water proof jacket and pants, or overalls.

The locals often use wool socks (villasukka) inside their shoes to keep their toes warm. They are hand knitted and you can find many different designs sold even at Santa’s Village. On top of their regular gloves they might pull wool mittens (lapanen) or insulated mittens. They are perfect for the cold weather and snow play.

Kids are especially vulnerable to get frostbite, so pay extra attention to their little fingers, toes and ears. When the weather is very cold you can lift the scarf to cover most of their face and add a hoodie, or a second hat on their head. This helps since people lose about 80% of their body heat through their head.

If you are planning a tour such as snowmobiling or dog sledding, they often give you warm overalls to wear.

How much time is needed to the visit Santa’s Village

Santa’s Village is not huge, but you can easily spend a whole day there. Especially during the busiest time, you should be prepared for a wait to see Santa, and sometimes even restaurants too. If you are not interested in the shops at Santa’s Village then half a day might be enough for you.

If you are planning to do all the activities like the reindeer walk, or a visit to SantaPark, it’s better to reserve a whole day at Santa’s Village. You came all this way to meet Santa, so allow yourself some time to explore without being in a rush.

Where to stay at Rovaniemi

There are many great hotels in downtown Rovaniemi. I would recommend Arctic Light Hotel and Arctic City Hotel . We have also stayed at Scandic Pohjanhovi and it was a very nice, basic hotel with a great complimentary breakfast. If you like shopping or exploring restaurants then it is better to stay downtown.

If you want to stay closer to Santa’s Village though, then Santa Claus Holiday Village is perfect! We stayed there one winter and absolutely loved it. They have little cottages that have two separate apartments. We stayed in one and my brother’s family stayed in the other apartment, so we basically had the whole cottage to ourselves.

Most apartments at Santa Claus Holiday Village are for four people but they do have a family suite which accommodates five guests. Every unit has a kitchenette which is great when you are traveling with kids. And the best part is that they all have a sauna. What a luxury! It is part of Finnish culture and something you should try out for sure.

When staying at Santa Claus Holiday Village you can walk to Santa’s Village and restaurants over there in five minutes. The parking is free and their front desk is always open.

If you want to experience something very special then you should try out the Glass Resort . It is located behind Santa Claus Holiday Village, so very close to Santa Claus Village as well. Their apartments have glass walls and ceilings, and are perfect for spotting the Northern Lights! Each unit also has a private sauna and an outdoor hot tub.

Stay right at Santa’s Village! This was our favourite accommodation .

Santa Claus Village in Finland is definitely a place our kids will not forget! We are lucky that we are able to visit there often and enjoy the magic of Christmas no matter what time of the year it is. Meeting Santa is always very special!

Have you been to Santa Claus Village or planning to go? What are your thoughts of it?

Share this:

• Share on Tumblr

Paula Gaston is an award winning travel blogger, a hospitality management teacher, and the founder of Gone with the Gastons. With a rich background encompassing roles as an educator and consultant within the hospitality industry, as well as in marketing, Paula is not only a devoted mother but also an enthusiastic globetrotter.

Similar Posts

How I spotted a Geisha in Kyoto

How I spotted a geisha in Kyoto and what was it like in Japan’s most famous geisha district. Read our tips for seeing geishas in Japan.

Seaside Glass Villas and SnowExperience365 in Kemi, Finland

*Our trip was made possible by Experience365,but as always, all opinions are my own. Our summer in Finland is going great, and last week, like every summer, we decided to drive up to Kemi, Lapland. We usually visit some family there, cross the border to Sweden and do some shopping. This time however, we were…

SantaPark in Rovaniemi, Finland -Review

Rovaniemi SantaPark in Finland is the only place where you can cross Arctic Circle underground. Here is our review of Santa’s home cavern.

Visiting Salton Sea and Bombay Beach in California

Visiting Salton Sea and Bombay Beach in California is an experience. We stopped there on our last road trip to see what it’s all about.

Arctic Circle is my favorite in Finland. You made a great post and presented gorgeous photos. Thank you. Have a good day! Matti

Thank you Matti!

Hi Paula! First of all well done for the blog it’s really nice! Would you recommend a place to have a dinner ( specially a traditional Finnish!) in the centre of Rovaniemi that is not for tourist and overpriced?

Thank you Fernanda.

Hi Fernanda! Thanks for checking out my blog, I’m so glad you like it! There are plenty of restaurants at Rovaniemi that serve traditional Finnish food and the delicates of Lapland, like reindeer. Fish in different forms is popular and I personally would recommend to try smoked fish. Also salmon soup is a traditional dish. Nature is often seen in the menu, since anyone can freely pick up berries and mushroom from the forests. With reindeer, they often serve lingonberries and mushed potatoes, and if you get a change to try out some oven baked squeaky cheese, it often comes with cloudberries. Finns also eat a lot of rye bread. The closer you get to Santa’s Village or Lapland, the more expensive food gets. You could try restaurants like Nili or Artic Boulevard, but if you really want to try something that locals recommend (and is not so pricey), I would go to Ravintola Roka Bistro. They have both international and Finnish foods. Here is a link to their website. http://www.ravintolaroka.fi/en

I hope you enjoy your visit!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Thanks for visiting nordicvisitor.com! For the very best browsing experience on our website, we urge you to upgrade to the most recent version of your browser . Some of our site features may not function properly on older versions.

• Travel Update
• Search Suggested Results View All Results
• EUR (€)
• GBP (£)
• Self-Drive i
• Privately Guided i
• Guided Small Groups i
• Northern Lights i
• Honeymoon & Romance i
• Ice & Snow Hotels i
• Multi-Country Tours i
• All Travel Styles
• Show all tours
• Best Sellers
• Special Offers
• Scandinavia
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Book With Confidence i
• Why book with us i
• Booking Terms i
• Sustainability Policy i
• Manage Booking
• Privacy policy

Iceland Bíldshöfði 20 110 Reykjavík +354 578 20 80 View Map

Sweden Scotland View Details

Santa Claus Village Lapland: Activities & Things to Do

Meeting the "man in the red suit" is a magical moment of whimsical fun that makes for enduring childhood memories. This is why, for children and adults alike, visiting Santa Claus Village in Lapland is a magical experience.

Whether you’re planning an adventurous trip or a family getaway to Lapland, read on to learn more about Santa Claus Village activities and highlights. We’ve put together this short guide to give you some inspiration and helpful information to plan your visit to Santa.

• Browse vacation packages to Santa’s Village, Lapland
• Related:  Lapland for grown-ups: Why Lapland isn’t just for kids

What is the Santa Claus Village?

Santa Claus Village is known as Father Christmas’ official residence in the Arctic Circle. It’s the place to visit to meet him, Mrs Claus, the elves and the reindeer. Expect plenty of fun activities and Christmas spirit!

Where is the Santa Claus Village?

The North Pole, of course!

Okay, you don’t have to go quite so far to visit the official residence of Santa Claus. You only have to travel to the north of Finland, to a region called Lapland. The village is located just inside the Arctic Circle, around 8 kilometres (5 miles) from Rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and considered to be the official hometown of Santa.

When is the best time to visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi?

The village is open all year round, so you could visit whenever suits you best. For the ultimate winter getaway, we recommend a Lapland trip in December , January , February or March . At this time, you can expect a blanket of snow over the stunning landscape.

Visit in the weeks leading up to Christmas to get in the festive spirit. Or how about bringing your children to meet Santa Claus on that special day of the year? It’ll make for a Christmas to remember, that’s for sure!

• Look up Christmas tour packages in Lapland
• Related:  7 reasons to visit Lapland in winter

What to do in Santa Claus Village?

First, meet the "big man in red" himself either at the Santa Claus Office or the Christmas House. Make sure to check the opening hours before your visit so you don’t miss him.

Then, pop by Santa’s Post Office to send postcards home to friends and family. The cards will even have the special Arctic Circle postmark. From here, you can also request a letter from Santa to be sent on time for Christmas.

Visit Mrs Claus at her Christmas Cottage where you can meet elves and hear stories about Lapland and Christmas traditions.  Finally, you could also do some shopping for souvenirs or tasty treats and handicraft from local artisans. 

• Check these trips to Rovaniemi  or   Kemi tours in Lapland .
• Related: Chrsitmas in Lapland – Your complete guide

Outdoor activities

As well as these Christmassy activities, there’s plenty of other things to dig your teeth into at the Santa Claus Holiday Village. Not just literally at the many restaurants, cafés and bars, but with fun Arctic rides.

Visit the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park to take on a snowmobiling excursion in the Lappish wilderness. These are guided tours so you can take in the scenery from a different perspective.

Then why not try reindeer and husky rides? Dog sledding is a traditional mode of winter transport in Lapland, so this is a must-do. Meet the huskies at the kennel and get a brief lesson before trying mushing with your own sled.

If you opt for a reindeer ride, you’ll learn more about reindeer herding and Sami culture before travelling through the snowy woods.

• Browse these Lapland tours with dog sledding
• Enjoy a variety of thrilling outdoor activities as part of a Lapland holiday package

Other fun things to do in Lapland

If you’re staying in Rovaniemi or the nearby town of Kemi, there is a range of other exciting activities to experience. Add one or more of the following to your itinerary to make the most of your Arctic adventure:

• Explore the Ranua Wildlife Park
• Go hunting for the northern lights
• Visit the Arktikum Museum
• Take a tour or stay at the Arctic SnowHotel
• Warm up in a Finnish sauna
• Explore the ice and snow hotel packages in Lapland
• Related: Best ice hotels in Finland

You can cancel your Christmas plans at home and start planning a top winter getaway to Lapland instead with these Santa Claus Village holidays .

Our Finnish Lapland tour packages are partially guided, meaning you’ll have some booked activities as well as time to explore on your own. This is a good balance to make the most of your adventure.

When you book a trip with Nordic Visitor, you can rest assured you’re in good hands. Your dedicated travel expert will take care of all the details for you, from arranging your accommodation to booking your activities. They’ll make sure your itinerary suits you personally.

During your time in Lapland, you also benefit from our 24/7 helpline. Should you need support, you have the peace of mind that we’re only a call away.

Get in touch with our Scandinavian experts to start planning your trip to Lapland. Finland awaits!

  Camila grew up between the French Canadian and Chilean cultures, before moving to Scotland in 2012. When she’s not travelling or writing about travels, Camila loves to read, run, and puzzle. Her favourite destinations have been Reykjavík, Copenhagen, Estonia and Cape Town.  

Find Camila on LinkedIn .

Getting there

We'd love to give you the same amazing travel experiences as you read about in our blog! To visit the destinations and attractions mentioned in this post - and to discover a few new highlights along the way - check out these recommended Nordic Visitor tours.

BEST OF LAPLAND EXPRESS - ROVANIEMI

• USD ($)
• CAD ($)
• AUD ($)

BEST OF LAPLAND CLASSIC - ROVANIEMI

Related posts, best time and place to see the northern lights in finland.

Blogs , Nordic , Lapland , Finland , Guides , Things to Do

Finland in Winter: What to Do & Where to Go

Lapland for grown-ups: why lapland isn’t just for kids, 7 reasons to visit lapland in winter.

SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE

How to reach, best time to visit, other essential information, tourism board alliances, more things to do in finland, finland tourism, popular related attractions.

More Finland Attractions

Popular related destinations.

Why Choose Thrillophilia

Travel guides, best domestic packages, best international packages, domestic honeymoon packages, international honeymoon packages, places to visit in india, international places to visit, international things to do, popular on thrillophilia.

• South Africa
• Afghanistan
• North Korea
• Adventure + Outdoors
• Amusement Parks
• Backpacking Trips
• Boating + Cruises
• Budget Travel
• Bus + Train Travel
• Coasts + Islands
• Country Trips
• Fall Vacations
• Family Vacations
• Green Travel
• Heritage + History
• Honeymoons + Romance
• Inspiration + Guide
• Landmarks + Attractions
• LGBT Travel
• Markets + Bazaars
• National Parks + Reserves
• Nature + Wildlife
• Parks + Gardens
• Pets + Animals
• Photography
• Airlines + Airports
• Budgeting + Currency
• Business Travel
• Celebrity Travel
• Customs + Immigration
• Deals + Rewards
• Family Travel
• Hotels + Resorts
• Luggage + Packing Tips
• Offbeat News
• Photography Tips
• Responsible Travel
• Solo Travel
• Tech + Gear
• Travel Etiquette
• Travel Warnings
• Bars + Clubs
• Celebrity Chefs
• Restaurants + Cafés
• Wine + Vineyards
• Beach Hotels
• Boutique Hotels
• Hotel Openings
• Hotel Reviews
• Luxury Hotels
• Mountain + Ski Resorts
• Spa Resorts
• Vacation Rentals
• Asia Cruises
• European Cruises
• Festivals + Events
• Museums + Galleries
• Style + Design
• Travel’s Best
• Hotel with Agoda.com
• Hotel with Booking.com

The complete Eurail pass guide: What is eurail pass, how to…

What to eat in Taiwan? — 24+ most popular food to…

What to eat in Nha Trang? — 17+ best street food…

Visit Din Tai Fung Taipei Original (Din Tai Fung Xinyi) —…

The ultimate Iceland hiking guide: Everything you need to know. Best…

JR Rail Pass Guide. All things you need to know, how…

How to prepare for trekking in Nepal? — 10+ Nepal trekking…

India trip tips — 9+ things to know before going to…

All about tips in Nepal — How much to tip in…

Where to eat in Nha Trang? — 27+ budget, best places…

Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives reviews. The detailed review of my vacation…

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa reviews. The resort is highly…

+7 luxury resorts you must stay in Danang, Vietnam

Top hotels in Siem Reap — 8+ best places to stay…

10 must-know things for your best first time European river cruise

Top 3 best luxury cruises in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Cherry blossom festival Korea 2024 — Top 5 cherry blossom festivals…

Ghibli museum blog — The fullest Ghibli museum guide for first-timers

Kyoto festival — Top 10 best events & most famous festivals…

National Palace Museum Taipei blog — What to see in National…

Japanese waterfall — Top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan in…

19+ most beautiful towns in Europe every tourist need to visit…

Georgia travel photos — 20+ captivating photos show Georgia is heaven…

Explore Damnoen Floating Market — The oldest floating market of Thailand

Visiting Fenghuang Ancient Town — One of the most charming ancient…

Mekong Delta travel blog — Beyond rivers of Southwestern Vietnam

14 reasons why you should travel when you are young

Shigaraki Tanuki – An animal symbol of good luck in Japan

Living in the charms of cave houses in Andalucia, Southern Spain

20+ jaw-dropping tiny homes around the world

• Winter Vacations

Trip review to the fairy tale Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Lapland – Finland

Another Christmas season is coming, children all over the world wish to receive gifts from Santa Claus. At Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland in Finland – which is considered the hometown of Santa Claus, all wishes can come true! Finland is also one of the coldest yet beautiful countries in Northern Europe. Through this blog, I would like to share photos of my family during last Christmas with some useful tips. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Santa Claus Village rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village Lapland, Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland) for the first-time? Let’s check out our detailed Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi review from how to get there, where to stay, top things to do to as well as traveling costs to find out the answer!

• What to buy in Finland? — 21+ Top things to buy in Finland & best souvenirs from Finland
• What to do in Seoul in winter? — 9+ best things to do in Seoul in winter & in Korea in winter
• Korea winter travel blog — Some useful tips, top things to do & best places to travel in Korea in winter
• Lapland Finland hotels review — 10 best place to stay in Lapland Finland
• Lapland travel blog — The ultimate Lapland travel guide: How to travel & what to do in Lapland Finland

Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi review: How long shouldyou stay in Rovaniemi?

It is recommended to stay in Rovaniemi for at least 2 to 4 nights to be able to experience all the services here comfortably. The best time to go to Rovaniemi is in the winter months (November to March), when the snow has covered all branches and roads, creating a very magical scene.

How to get to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland and getting around the city

Getting there: In Rovaniemi, you can’t search for buses by using Gmaps like in other cities. If you have to travel by bus, use this website to searching for bus routes. Bus to the airport is No. 8 bus(3.5 Euros/way) or Bus Santa Express (6.6 Euros/way). Traveling from Rovaniemi airport to the city center, you can take a shuttle bus (price is about 10 Euros/person depending on how far your hotel is).

Rovaniemi is a small city, so most people only travel by bus. Taking a taxi here is quite difficult. There are 2 buses from Rovaniemi center to Santa Claus Village which are bus number 8 and Santa Express Bus. These are 2 different transportation companies, so tickets cannot be shared. Bus fare in the city is 3.5 euros/person/way and Santa Express is 6.6 euros/person/2-way. The bus runs very punctually on its schedule, so you can easily control your schedule.

Where to stay when coming to Santa Claus Village – Rovaniemi?

There are many places to stay options in Rovaniemi. If you want to stay in luxury hotels, closest to Santa village, you can book hotels right in Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi. Some super beautiful and luxurious resorts that you must have seen in pictures on the Internet you can refer to such as Arctic TreeHouse Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) built in a high hill area, panoramic windows with beautiful Aurora view. Or Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Igloos and Chalets ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) is as enchanting as the shelters in the snowy white forest.

We can’t afford to stay in a such luxury, so we book an Airbnb apartment in Rovaniemi. An apartment a bit far from the center but located in the forest, so the experience is also great and the price is cheaper! Honestly, this is the most beautiful Airbnb apartment I’ve ever stayed in! The house is spacious, clean, fully equipped and feels like home. I think this is a pretty good choice because it’s expensive in Santa’s village but there are no activities at night because there’s nothing to do after 7PM.

I rented a house for my whole family on Airbnb. The owner is very nice, the 2-bedroom house is clean, there is floor heating in the rooms, kitchen appliances, washing machine and dryer all are equipped. Near the house there is a bus stop to go to Rovaniemi center to change another bus to Santa Claus Village. The house is suitable for families or groups of 4-5 people. However, when I just checked, this house changed owners because the old owner just moved back to Helsinki. Probably okay, no matter who is owner, as long as the house is beautiful and convenient as well as cheap. We stayed from Jan 3 – Jan 7 for 387 euros.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Santa Claus Holiday Village ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Scandic Rovaniemi City ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Arctic City Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )

Check out more top and best hotels in Rovaniemi on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Things to do in Santa Claus Village and Lapland

Many of you inbox me asking if Lapland is bored because many visitors after visiting Lapland, go home and say it’s boring, cold, nothing to play. My opinion is to be happy or not is up to each person. My family, from adult and young, all have had a lot of fun, interesting and impressive experiences. Even this year, my family still wants to come back for other experiences.

There are many tours to explore Rovaniemi such as: Hunting the Northern Lights, visiting reindeer farm, husky sledding (this is different from Santa Claus village), skiing, snowmobiling, hiking or even climbing. You can learn more at this link . A little note is that my family only experience reindeer riding and husky sledding in Santa Claus village, but did not have time to participate in private tours at the farms outside.

Activities in Santa Claus Village

In addition to the main purpose of meeting the legendary Santa Claus (taking photos, receiving gifts, sending postcards stamped with Santa’s post ..), there are also many other interesting activities:

• Reindeer riding: Although the speed is very “turtle”, this is an interesting experience not to be missed. You will see slowly the snowy pine forest and your reindeer’s squirming butts :))
• Husky sledding: Although the price is quite expensive compared to reindeer riding tour, the feeling is very sasisfied. Just like what is seen in the movies hehe. At the end of the trip you can even take pictures with these lovely and strong husky dogs.
• Join the snow games at the recreational area: Ride a snow motorcycle through the forest in the cold -15 degrees Celsius.
• Visit Santa park.

Hunting the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

From my experience suggests that you should hire a local tour guide to lead you to explore, and also have to regularly check the radar app to see what day it is clear and most likely to see the Northern Lights. Prepared to hunt but I was worried because I read 50 reviews, 50 of them said not see the Northern Lights. Sitting in the car and went out of the city 20km, then walking through the forest for 30 minutes under the temperature of (-22) degrees Celsius, but in the end the results were not bad.

In addition to the shuttle service to the aurora hunting spots, the tour also provides grilled sausages on the spot, coffee and tea to fight the cold in the mountains and forests. Being able to celebrate Christmas once in a lifetime in Santa’s hometown must be a memorable experience, right?

This is the information about the Northern Lights tour that I participated in or simply book a tour via Klook , the tour operator will take it all for you. Host Antti is a very nice and pleasant person! You will be guided all when booking the tour and will be picked up + dropped off at your accommodation. However, remember to dress warmly. Tour price is 69 euros/person. There are also many other tourguides that you can explore on Airbnb, maybe even better.

Cost for Rovaniemi trip

I do not save the total cost for the trip, but in general, in Rovaniemi, the tour fee and experience are expensive, but eating and drinking, my family buy everything in advance to cook, so it doesn’t cost much.

Some more information about service packages for you refer to:

• Reindeer ride service (29 Euros/adult; 23 Euros/child) Snowmobile (198 Euros for my whole family)
• Husky sledding (135 Euros for my family)
• Take and print photos with Santa Claus (65 Euros)
• Shuttle bus service from the airport to accommodation (20 Euros)

The cost that my family (3 people) spent on accommodation and participating in activities is about 863 Euros.

Happy traveling!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Lapland you can refer to

• Lapland 2 Day Tour from Rovaniemi
• Highlights of Rovaniemi Day Tour
• The Frozen Waterfalls of Korouoma Day Tour from Rovaniemi
• [DISCONTINUED] Lapland Wellness and Relaxation Tour
• Aurora Borealis Small Group Tour with Free Photos from Rovaniemi

Read more Lapland travel blog — The ultimate Lapland travel guide: How to travel & what to do in Lapland Finland and Finland travel guide here .

Related articles

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

The complete eurail pass guide: what is eurail pass, how to use & what countries does eurail pass cover, visit din tai fung taipei original (din tai fung xinyi) — tasting the best dimsum at the best dimsum restaurant in the world, the ultimate iceland hiking guide: everything you need to know. best hiking routes & useful tips, jr rail pass guide. all things you need to know, how to buy, how to use along with japan rail pass faqs.

Where to go & what to do in Varanasi? — 15+ places to visit & best things to do in Varanasi

What to buy in Indonesia? — Top +9 famous gifts, souvenirs & best things to buy in Indonesia

What to buy in Kyoto? — 31+ must-buy Kyoto souvenirs, gifts & best things to buy in Kyoto

What to buy in India? — 29+ best gifts from India & best things to buy in India

What to buy in Korea? — Top +23 cheap, famous & best things to buy in Korea

Editor picks.

The complete Eurail pass guide: What is eurail pass, how to...

What to eat in Taiwan? — 24+ most popular food to...

What to eat in Nha Trang? — 17+ best street food...

Popular posts.

What to buy in USA? — 17+ must buy in USA...

What to buy in Korea? — Top +23 cheap, famous &...

Must buy souvenir in Taiwan — Top 17+ most famous, cheap...

Popular category.

• Inspiration + Guide 1465
• Trip Inspiration 468
• Food + Drink 213
• Thailand 209
• Coasts + Islands 193
• Vietnam 170
• South Korea 168
• Travel Photos 144
• Work for Us
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

You will be redirected to your dashboard shortly. We will also call you back in 24 hrs .

• Visit The Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi To Celebrate The True Spirit Of Christmas

Do you want to experience the true spirit of Christmas this year? Well, the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi has a score of magical sights and attractions that offer the most authentic Christmas experience that you can ever imagine! Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi which is the capital city of Lapland in Finland. People from across the globe visit the original hometown of Santa Claus to meet him in person and celebrate Christmas in the whimsical wintery surroundings of Rovaniemi. All of the basic amenities are available by the village, making your stay here extremely comfortable and carefree so you can enjoy your time with your loved ones.

Best Time To Visit Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi

Image Source

The best time to visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is during Christmas. Winter is an absolute treat for anyone during the months of December until March and perfect for indulging in a range of outdoor and indoor activities. The Northern Lights and the snow conditions are at their peak during this time too, making these months the most ideal time for a magical holiday.

The typical daytime temperatures during the winter month vary greatly from the months of December to March.

Day time temperature during winter: December: -10 to -20 degrees Celsius January: -15 to -30 degrees Celsius February: -15 to -20 degrees Celsius March: -5 to -15degrees Celsius

Europe Holiday Packages On TravelTriangle

Explore the most beautiful places to visit in Europe, from Paris to the Venice canals and from the Greek islands to the Swiss alps. Book customized packages by expert agents on TravelTriangle. Inclusive of airport transfers, cab, resort, sightseeing and meals. Best holiday experience Guaranteed. Book Now

Magnificent Switzerland Holiday 6D/5N Package @ Rs 69,999

Plan your trip today!

Magnificent Europe Tour 7D/6N Package @ Rs 70,975

Get quotes from multiple travel experts.

France & Switzerland Tour Package 8D/7N @ Rs 90,000

Compare & customize quotes before booking.

Scintillating Spain & Portugal Tour 11D/10N @ Rs 101,150

Have Questions? Talk to our travel experts today.

6 Country Europe Tour Package 12D/11N @ Rs 118,650

Best prices guaranteed. EMI option available.

See more at TRAVELTRIANGLE.COM

How To Reach Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi

If you want to visit Santa Claus right after you land, then you would be happy to know Santa’s Village is just 3 km away from the Rovaniemi Airport. You can also take bus number 8 or Santa’s Express which leaves every hour from Rovaniemi City Center.

Santa Claus Village Opening Hours

The opening hours of the Santa Claus Village vary from time to time, so make sure you double check the timings before your visit.

• May: 26th to 27th (9:30 AM – 5 PM)
• June: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th to 30th (9:30 AM – 5 PM)
• July: 1st to 31st (9:30 AM – 6 PM)
• August: 1st to 26th (9:30 AM – 6 PM); 27th to 31st (9:30 AM – 5 PM)
• September: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th & 30th (9:30 AM – 5 PM)
• October: 6th & 7th (9:30 AM – 6 PM); 20th & 27th (11 AM – 5 PM)
• November: 17th, 23rd & 24th (11 AM – 7 PM); 18th & 25th (11 AM – 6 PM)
• December: 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd (11 AM – 7 PM); 2nd, 9th & 16th (11 AM – 6 PM); 31st (4 PM – 9 PM)

Santa Claus Village Tickets

There is absolutely no ticket fee to enter Santa Claus Village as Santa’s mission is all about spreading goodwill, love and the joyous Christmas spirit to everyone.

Things To Do In Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi

But what to do once you’re here? Fret not. We got you a range of activities you can indulge in once you set foot in this charming hamlet. Scroll down and feast your eyes!

1. Meet and greet Santa Claus

Meeting Santa Claus in his hometown and seeing all his elf helpers is truly magical and it is as much a hit among adults as the kids. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity which will definitely remain as the highlight of your trip as you can personally meet and greet the most famous resident of the village and see him spreading love, joy and Christmas cheer to all his visitors throughout the year.

Must Read: This ‘GoT’ Ice Hotel In Finland Is The Ultimate Place To Live Like The Lady or Lord Of Winterfell

2. Visit the reindeers at a Reindeer Farm

You can ride on a snowmobile and visit Rudolph’s cousins at a reindeer farm where you can spend time in the open countryside. Riding on the winding tracks while making your way to the farm is also a terrific way to explore the Arctic wilderness with your loved ones. And don’t forget to dash through the snow while riding in a reindeer sleigh and experience the true festive spirit on Santa’s favorite ride.

3. Send a letter from Santa’s post office

If you are in Santa Claus Village then you can surprise your loved ones back home by sending them letters from Santa Claus Main Post Office which are delivered by Santa’s elves. If you are visiting Santa’s Village in summer or spring, Santa’s elves will make sure that your letters are delivered just in time for Christmas.

Suggested Read: Quaint Cottages In Finland To Experience A Lavish And Authentic Finnish Stay

4. Pet animals at Elf’s Farmyard Petting Zoo

If you are an animal lover, then you will definitely enjoy visiting the Elf’s Farmyard Petting Zoo which is located on the north side of Santa’s Village. This zoo is home to a few domestic animals such as goats, sheep, rabbits, roosters, and hens. Visiting the petting zoo is also a great opportunity for adults and kids to interact with domestic animals by observing or feeding them little snacks. There is also a small playground for kids where they can spend time or you can also have a small picnic by a campfire at the zoo.

5. See snowmen come to life at Snowman World

Your kids will definitely have a smile on their face when you take them to Snowman World where they get a chance to meet and make friends with cuddly snowmen. While the kids are occupied sliding down ice slides with their new friends you enjoy some alone time at the Ice Restaurant or at the Ice Bar where you can find some amazing ice sculptures. You can also enjoy a scrumptious meal at the restaurant which is known to whip up quality dishes which are prepared with local Lappish ingredients.

Entry fee: Adults: INR 2000 | Children: Free (under 3 years or younger)

Suggested Read: 12 Most Fascinating Places To Visit In Finland, The Unspoilt Paradise

6. See the Moomin Snow and Ice Sculpture Exhibition

Witness this amazing snow and ice sculpture exhibition which is usually opened on December 20th annually. The tickets are inclusive of access to the exhibition, snow slides, the magical forest, ice and snow carving school, and the fun snow maze. When you go inside the snow castle you can spend time here inside a warm cafe, small souvenir shop or sip on an exotic drink at the famous ice bar.

Entry fee: Adults: INR 2405 | Children: INR 1442 (above 11 years of age)

7. Cross the magical Arctic Circle Line

Yes, you can also cross the Arctic Circle every day because the circle runs through the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. The Arctic Circle is a circular latitude which runs through the north of the Equator, making this the southernmost latitude from where the sun stays continuously below or above the horizon for 24-hours. Make sure you take a quirky photo when you are crossing this magical line to keep it as a memory.

Suggested Read: This Sled Hotel In Finland Lets You Move Around For The Best Views Of Northern Lights!

8. Thrill out at Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park is a famous Finnish family run business which is situated inside Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. You can choose from the multiple safari programmes which are appropriate for families, individuals, and huge groups too. Whether you drift through the snow-filled forests in the winter or hike under the midnight sun in the summer, you are bound to have a memorable adventure for sure at the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park.

9. Make new furry friends at the Arctic Circle Husky Park

The Arctic Circle Husky park is located inside the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi where you can see the most charming Siberian Huskies who live in the Husky Park. The Husky is open all year round you can also choose to go on one of the guided tours, go hiking with huskies and also take rides on the summer carriages. During winter time you can either go on the famous husky rides while making your way through the fresh snow or go on a unique husky safari and admire the untouched Arctic wilderness.

Suggested Read: 10 Must-Visit Places For A Finland Honeymoon As Romantic As The Northern Lights!

10. Bring back souvenirs

If you are missing shopping during the festive season don’t worry the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi has a dozen of shops that are filled with local handicrafts and Finnish designer brands. There are also many jewelry stores for you to purchase beautiful pieces for yourself or to gift your loved ones and if your baggage is quite full, then the elves from Santa’s Main Post Office will post your goodies for you which you will receive just in time for Christmas.

Further Read: Experience Christmas In Finland: A Snowy, Sensational, And Snuggly Affair!

So, don’t miss out on your chance to experience the magical spirit of Christmas at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Make the most out of your festive season by booking your trip to Finland via TravelTriangle right away! Got any more information to add to this guide? Let us know in the comments below. Till then, Happy Tripping!

Looking To Book An International Holiday?

Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.

Trip to Sri Lanka at Rs 13,500/-

Plan Your Vacation Today!

Trip to Singapore at Rs 20,499/-

Get Quotes From Local Experts

Mauritius Holiday Starting at Rs 65,000/-

Talk to Our Experts Today

Maldives Honeymoon Trip at Rs 39,800/-

Pay with easy EMI Option

Europe Trip at Rs 89,999/-

All Inclusive Deals

Vacation in Dubai at Rs 27,499/-

Hong Kong Holiday at Rs 24,999/-

Money Safe Guarantee

Thailand Holiday at Rs 7,999/-

Flights Excluded

Recent Posts

11 Villages In Finland: Experience The Thrill Of Offbeat Adventures

12 Les plus fascinants endroits à visiter en Finlande pour explorer le paradis préservé en 2024.

Kabini Wildlife Safari: A Comprehensive Guide For Your Next Adventure

Sikkim In June: A Complete Guide On How To Experience It Best In 2024

Summer In Lithuania 2023: A Traveler’s Guide To Enjoy A Vibrant Summer Vacation!

Greenland Travel Guide: Here Is Everything About The Land Of Eskimos

Trending Blogs

20 Mysterious Places In India To Visit In 2023 More Bizarre Than The Bermuda Triangle

10 Scariest Roads In India That Are A Driver’s Nightmare

101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2024

35 Exotic Places To Visit In December In India 2024 To Enjoy A Surreal Vacation

60 Best Honeymoon Destinations In India In 2024

95 Best Honeymoon Destinations In The World In 2023 For A Romantic Escape!

Best Places To Visit In India By Month

Best places to visit outside india by month.

• TravelTriangle
• guide »
• Tour Packages
• Honeymoon Packages
• Family Packages
• Budget Tour Packages
• Luxury Tour Packages
• Adventure Tour Packages
• Group Tour Packages
• Kerala Tour Packages
• Goa Tour Packages
• Andaman Tour Packages
• Sikkim Tour Packages
• Himachal Tour Packages
• Uttarakhand Tour Packages
• Rajasthan Tour Packages
• Tour Packages From Delhi
• Tour Packages From Mumbai
• Tour Packages From Bangalore
• Tour Packages From Chennai
• Tour Packages From Kolkata
• Tour Packages From Hyderabad
• Tour Packages From Ahmedabad
• Kerala Tourism
• Goa Tourism
• Sikkim Tourism
• Andaman Tourism
• Himachal Tourism
• Uttarakhand Tourism
• Rajasthan Tourism
• Hotels in Kerala
• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Sikkim
• Hotels in Andaman
• Hotels in Himachal
• Hotels in Uttarakhand
• Hotels in Rajasthan

Visiting Santa's Grotto in Rovaniemi, Lapland

Recently updated on August 13th, 2023 at 02:33 pm

Have you ever wondered what Santa does all year when he’s not handing out gifts on Christmas Eve? He heads back to his office at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, where thousands of fans visit him throughout the year. We look at what happens at the most festive destination at the planet.

What is the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi?

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Visit Rovaniemi (@visitrovaniemi) on Nov 10, 2019 at 2:31am PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus, where a real-life Santa receives letters and meets his admiring fans. You can meet Santa Claus at his office and send a letter to family and friends from Santa’s official post office. Santa Claus Village is open every day and draws over 500,000 visitors from around the world each year. The village is located right on the Arctic Circle, and there are plenty of other incredible things to see and do around Rovaniemi, Finland.

What to see at Santa Claus Village?

Santa claus office.

This is the official place to meet Santa Claus. It’s located in a tall, illuminated tower in the centre of the Santa Claus Village, and the Arctic Circle line runs right through it. The line to meet Santa winds through an enchanting pathway through caves and Santa’s workshop. You can look through the keyholes of the little doors to spot Santa’s elves working away to build toys for kids around the world. When it’s your turn to meet Santa, you’ll enter his magical office and spend five minutes with him. Kids love talking to Santa and telling him what they’d like for Christmas… let’s just hope he puts you on his ‘Nice’ list!

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Visit Rovaniemi (@visitrovaniemi) on Nov 11, 2019 at 12:22am PST

Santa Claus Main Post Office

This is the official post office of Santa Claus and is a fully functional post office. Visitors can send a letter back home with an official Santa Claus Arctic Circle stamp. You can come with a pre-written letter and get the Arctic Circle stamp for free, or sit down at the tables in the charming post office to write your letter. The post office receives more than half a million letters each year, with children writing to Santa from all over the world. The village has received mail from over 190 different countries. RELATED CONTENT: Festive traditions around the world

Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh Rides

Take a thrilling reindeer sleigh ride around the Santa Claus village and through the beautiful forests of Lapland around Rovaniemi, Finland. You can meet the adorable reindeer (maybe even Rudolph!) and experience the wonder of the Arctic wilderness. These rides are only available during the snowy winter months.

Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park & Husky Park

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Visit Rovaniemi (@visitrovaniemi) on Nov 5, 2019 at 12:31pm PST

The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park in the Santa Claus Village offers you the chance to learn how to drive a snowmobile with their mini-snowmobile experience. You can also embark on a longer snowmobile experience, ranging from 30-minutes to a full day. These adventures take you through the spectacular Lapland wilderness on an exciting snowmobile ride. If you’d like to learn more about snowmobiles, you can also visit Santa’s House of Snowmobiles. This fantastic museum displays the history of snowmobiles in Lapland. There’s also the Arctic Circle Husky Park, home to nearly 100 gorgeous Siberian Huskies living in their natural environment. You can meet the huskies and go on hiking or sledding adventures through the forests with the huskies.

Cross the Arctic Circle

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Visit Rovaniemi (@visitrovaniemi) on Nov 14, 2019 at 9:32am PST

The Arctic Circle is one of two polar circles and marks the southernmost latitude where the sun can stay below or above the horizon for 24 hours. This phenomenon is known as the Midnight Sun in summer and the Polar Night in winter. The circle runs through eight countries including Sweden, Norway, Russia, Denmark, Iceland, Canada and the United States. In Finland, the Arctic Circle runs through the Santa Claus Village and the line is clearly marked. It’s a popular place to cross the Arctic Circle, and you can even get a certificate to confirm you’ve done it.

See the Northern Lights

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Visit Rovaniemi (@visitrovaniemi) on Oct 29, 2019 at 4:41am PDT

The Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon visible in the far Northern Hemisphere. These enchanting lights dance through the skies from mid-August to early April each year. They can be witnessed in Rovaniemi 150 nights a year and usually appear between 10 pm and 2 am. The lights can last from a few minutes to several hours, and illuminate the sky in a stunning display of green, pink, red, yellow, violet and blue. RELATED CONTENT: Buy experiences, not things this holiday season

How to get to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi?

Rovaniemi is located in Lapland, the northernmost province of Finland. The easiest way to get to Rovaniemi is with a flight from Helsinki. You can also travel overland, with buses and trains taking around nine hours to reach Rovaniemi from Helsinki. The Santa Claus Village is located 8 km north of Rovaniemi. You can find the ‘Santa Express’ bus which departs from Rovaniemi and takes you to the Santa Claus Village. GET INSPIRED: Nordic Adventure

When is the best time to visit Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi?

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Visit Rovaniemi (@visitrovaniemi) on Nov 16, 2019 at 12:45am PST

The Santa Claus Village is open year-round and is busiest around the Christmas holidays. It’s a wonderful destination to visit any time of the year, and the best time depends on what you’d like to see.

If you want the dreamy White Christmas experience, visit the Santa Claus village between December and January, when the landscapes are dusted with snow. If you’d like to see the Northern Lights while visiting Santa, travel between October and November or March and April.

Or, if you’d like to avoid the chill of the Arctic winter, head to Santa’s Village during the summer months from June to August. You’ll also get to experience the magical Midnight Sun when the sun almost never sets. This happens for a few weeks every year and you can make the most of the long daylight hours. Would you like to meet Santa at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland? Let us know in the comments below…

Want to hear more from us?

Sign up to receive inspiring travel articles, offers & news

" * " indicates required fields

Privacy Overview

Sign up for our emails.

CHOOSING THE BEST ROVANIEMI SANTA CLAUS TO VISIT – HELPFUL GUIDE

INSIDE: Roam the Gnome’s Comparison Guide to the Rovaniemi Santa Claus options  

There are at least FIVE different Santas you can meet in Rovaniemi Lapland. 

Maybe more?

Want to know how to prioritise which Santa/s to visit during your Lapland Christmas vacation? 

Take a look at our insider’s guide to choosing the BEST Rovaniemi Santa Claus experience below.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links . If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at NO extra cost to you.

THE INSIDE SCOOP: “Which is the best Rovaniemi Santa Claus” Guide 

Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome . Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in euro, unless otherwise stated

Let’s start with ELVES. 

Meeting a real life ELF on your way to meet  Santa is an EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS. 

Don’t you think?

Elves definitely sway our ratings guide. Without a doubt.

There’s two ways to meet REAL LIFE ELVES.

• On one of the FOREST OF JOULUKKA tours
• At SantaPark Rovaniemi

The Best Place to Visit Santa in Lapland 

For the money, our bet is on Secret Forest of Joulukka.

Those elves are the real deal.

Totally loveable and in character 100% of the time, wearing adorable outfits full of magical Christmas charm, and if you are lucky enough to meet the elves we did, living large in their elf life.

No wonder Santa employs them! 

With that understood, let’s rate the Santa experiences from 1 to 5. 

No.1: Santa Claus Secret Forest of Joulukka – Santa’s Toy Factory Experience

THIS whole Santa Claus in Finland experience was our family’s favourite adventure on our Christmas trip to Lapland.

(Until we met the Husky dogs of course, but that’s just because Ned is an animal lover.)

The Santa’s Toy Factory tour in Rovaniemi was the best money we spent in Lapland too.

I would pay double for this magical treat, for the joy of reliving the wonder of childhood and sharing that with my boys, and our Roam the Gnome.

This tour takes place OUTSIDE, surrounded by the magnificent snow-topped pine trees, with chances to dance, sing, play, learn from, and cuddle the elves. 

Kids are able to:

• toast marshmallows, and
• drink berry juice, and later,
• take a walk through the forest to the Kota hut for hot chocolate warmed on the fire pit. 

The highlight, without giving too much away, was being SURPRISED by the big man himself on our exit after our elf-led tour of Santa’s Toy Factory.

A bonus surprise was that Santa gave the boys a small soft toy as a gift, something they will have forever to remind them of this adventure. 

The WHOLE experience is what elevates this to the number one spot.

When planning our Lapland holiday , this was always going to our opportunity to meet THE REAL Santa.

Because, as I told the kids, the real Santa is a very busy man, working in the toy factory with the elves to have everything ready on time, and as much as he’d love to, he simply doesn’t have the time to meet EVERYONE. 

You have to make a special appointment months or perhaps a year in advance to visit the forest, and, if you are very lucky , and time permits, Santa may pop his head up from his work to say hello to you.

The secluded location and the ‘North Pole’-like snow-covered landscape lent credibility to my story. 

Save up all your pennies and book it. 

If you are independently wealthy, you can also book a private tour.

But to be honest, going on the bus with others was all I could manage on my budget, and it was perfectly handled so we all had our turn with Santa in private. 

I’d say every single adult would back me when I say that we all shared a deep sense of how privileged we were to have partaken in this spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime meeting with the REAL SANTA.

I cried. 

Other mums did too. 

If it’s beyond your budget, find a way to make it happen. 

Everyone there would agree with me that it’s worth every penny-pinching sacrifice, including saying no to your daily coffee purchase for a while!  

No.2: Santa Claus in the Main Office at Santa Claus Village

This is the Santa most visitors and day trippers to Santa Claus Holiday Village head for.

The location of this Santa is smack bang in the centre of the village, in the MAIN OFFICE building. 

To get there from the car park, you’ll also walk across the Arctic Circle line and see the distinctive pyramid shape roof of the building as you walk up from the bus drop off area.

If you are arriving by bus, the drop off point is at the Information Centre. Walk through the building to the back, and out, and you’ll see the roofline of the Main Office building to your right. 

If you’ve ever looked on Youtube, or have seen pictures of the Santa Claus Village in preparation for your trip, you’ll recognise it straight away. 

Outside the door, there are two Red Gnomes (painted logs) waiting to invite you inside. 

The Santa Claus Main Office opens at 9am.

Be there as close to opening as you can, to avoid the crowds arriving on the day tour buses, and on the Santa Express bus from city hotels and the airport. 

Otherwise, if you are staying on site in the Santa Village Hotel Cottages or Suites, plan your visit for the late afternoon. 

You’ll wander through a winding pathway of interesting Christmas surprises on your way to meet Santa.

Be sure to keep an eye out for interactive spots on the journey. 

Main Office of Santa Claus Finland

We LOVED this Santa because he was warm and friendly, and his room was inviting.

This is also the BEST most unique Santa Photo backdrop, as far as we are concerned. 

And check out his RAINBOW STOCKINGS! 

I mean, he’s simply loveable!  

If you are on a mission to get your Christmas photo in Lapland, don’t miss THIS Santa experience.

Professional photos of your visit are for sale as you leave the office.

Hot tip: You can also buy the digital download so you can share it with friends and family. 

We decided this Santa is the PNP Santa, because he looks just like the Santa who sends the boys a personalised video each year. 

(PNP stands for Portable North Pole . If you don’t know this website yet, you MUST check it out.) 

I also explained the existence of THIS duplicate Santa to my 6 year and 11 year old (who was VERY skeptical about Santa’s existence until we met the REAL Santa in Joulukka the day before) in this way:

• That REAL Santa appointed a very special second-in-charge to help him greet ALL the families who make the trek to Lapland to see him.
• That this Santa is THE Santa who does all the official Santa jobs, such as reading the piles of letters that arrive each year from children from all over the world. 

He also has the task of making and sending out all the videos and handwritten reply letters to children who’ve written to him this year.

They were happy enough with that story. 

RELATED: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to the Santa Claus Main Office & Shop in Santa Claus Village

Image credit: Santa Park Finland Instagram

No.3: Santa Park Santa 

Santa Park is the next most obvious place to meet Santa in real life. 

If you are on a day tour to Lapland, this may be the one you are guided to. 

Santa’s Office in Santa Park sits inside his own little cottage.

The line to enter the cottage is to the right of the Magic Train ride,  or to the left of the Elf Workshop where the craft activity is held. 

This is also a coveted place to have your family Christmas photo taken, as the backdrop behind Santa is a traditional Christmas scene of garlands of greenery, a red brick wall, bright red curtains with sash ties, and frosty windows.

Santa sits on an ornately decorated chair, and invites families – one by one- to sit on leather seats next to him. 

He’s also very friendly, and warm. 

The BIG BONUS here is being able to take as many pictures on your own camera as you like.

You can also buy the official Santa photo if you wish too. 

The downside is it is expensive to enter, and expensive on the inside too. 

Hot tip: This place is better suited for young children only. 

RELATED: Roam the Gnome’s Ultimate Guide to SANTA PARK ROVANIEMI 

No.4: Invite Santa Claus to your cabin

If you are lucky enough to be staying onsite in one of the Classic Cottages, suites or cabins at the Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel , you can arrange to have Santa and a friend visit your kids in your classic SCHV cottage one evening. 

While we didn’t do this, we watched as he was driven in a black van from cabin to cabin around the village, visiting family after family, gifts in tow.

This is one for those families who have a spare 150 Euro up their sleeve, and who want a very special personalised experience with Santa in your own private space.

Santa stays for around 10-15 minutes. 

I think it’s the perfect Santa meet-and-greet for children under 5, especially if you only want to make your ONE Santa experience as magical as can be, and will simply avoid/skip the other ones in town.

(That’s actually quite easy to do, without them knowing.) 

Hot tip: Parents do need to supply the gifts for this experience. Drop your wrapped treasures to the reception before your booking. If you haven’t brought any from home, drop into the Christmas House shop secretly, and pick up a soft toy you can wrap up in a jiffy. 

PS: The answer to ‘Can I hire a Santa in Rovaniemi’ is YES. 

No.5: Christmas House Santa

Options 4 & 5 are interchangeable.

Either of these should be your back-up option if you can’t manage one of the first three options for some reason. 

Christmas House Santa is friendly, and chatty.

But nothing special compared to the others. 

The Christmas Exhibition will fill in some time after a visit to the Christmas House shop, or while you are waiting to be collected for a tour. 

But unless you are stuck, this would not be my first, second or third choice. 

RELATED: Roam the Gnome’s Insider’s Guide to the CHRISTMAS HOUSE SANTA & CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION

Where to see Santa in Lapland? 

So in a nutshell, 

Point 1: Don’t miss Joulukka.

Either the “Dream of Joulukka” or “Santa’s Toy Factory” weekly departure.

This elfin day out to visit Santa Claus is THE best thing you can do in Rovaniemi.

As far as we are concerned, Joulukka is home to the REAL Santa – it’s the only place where you can meet Santa AND his real elf helpers.

Point 2:   The Santa in the Main Office at Santa Claus Holiday Village should be your first alternative if you are not visiting Joulukka. 

Point 3: If either of the two options above are not available, substitute a visit with the Santa Park Santa.

OR, if you are heading to Santa Park on day one of your Lapland trip, and the kids simply can’t wait, join the Santa queue here. 

Hopefully, this guide has helped you decide where to see Santa in real life! 

Have you met another Santa in Rovaniemi?

Let us know, and we’ll add him to the list. 

Looking for More Things to Do at Santa Claus Holiday Village?

Click the blue links for a sneak peek at these Christmas activities in  Lapland

Ultimate Guide to SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE Activities, Attractions, Shopping & Dining

The ultimate guide of things to do in rovaniemi lapland, what to wear in lapland in winter, what to buy in rovaniemi at santa village shops.

Affiliate Disclosure:

This website contains references to products and services from our favourite brands. Some of these are affiliate links . If you make a purchase or booking after clicking on a link on Roam the Gnome™, we may receive a small affiliate commission at NO COST to you. All information on disclosures can be found in our Privacy Policy

Roam the Gnome ™ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates program. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon associate , I earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here for a detailed explanation of our Advertising policy.

Thank you for visiting Roam the Gnome Family Travel™ Website Directory. Bookmark this page so you can find us again.

The best places to visit Santa in Sweden, Norway and Finland

Of course, the exact location of Santa’s North Pole workshop is top secret.

But the good news is he’s set up satellite offices at several locations in Scandinavia and the Nordic countries.

All of these spots are worth a visit for more than just Santa, so if you’re considering a Christmas-themed trip to the top of the world, plan on giving yourself a few days, at the very least.

You’ll need time to visit the big man, drive a dogsled, take a reindeer ride, do some skiing, warm up in the sauna, and even get some Christmas shopping done while you’re at it. 

Here are some of the best places to see Santa in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Rovaniemi, Finland

As any Finn will tell you, Santa is Finnish.

And while perhaps a few Swedes and Norwegians would beg to differ, thanks to the fact that Lapland also stretches through their countries, there’s no question that Finns do Christmas very, very well.

Santa’s most visited ‘official’ residence is Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, right on the Arctic Circle. If you’re looking for the full-on, magical Santa experience, this is it. 

Santa’s Village has a charming ‘office’ set up, where Santa meets his visitors.

It’s free, you don’t need an appointment and, naturally, Santa speaks perfect English, so no worries there. After your visit, you can go for a reindeer sleigh ride, a dog-sled ride and, of course, shop and eat. 

You can also post letters in the official North Pole post office where they’ll be stamped with the official Arctic Circle postmark. No matter the time of year, if you put your letter in the special red post box, it’ll be held for Christmas delivery.

Mrs. Claus has a house at the holiday village , too, complete with singing elves and cookies.

And, you can step over the actual Arctic Circle which cuts right through the village. It’s all a little touristy, some might even say kitsch, but it’s a fun, memorable experience – and not just for the kids. 

Once you’re here you may as well take advantage of everything else that Finnish Lapland has to offer, including snowmobile tours, husky-sledging , hiking trips, sauna and hot-tub experiences, frozen waterfalls and, of course, the northern lights.

There are plenty of tours available from Rovaniemi, including this northern lights by snowmobile trip, this reindeer and husky farm trip where you can drive a sleigh pulled by reindeer and, for the hardy, this ice-fishing and ice-floating trip .

The dog-sled experience at Santa’s Village is budget-friendly, quick, and surprisingly beautiful, so don’t miss it, especially if you don’t have the time or funds for a full or half-day sled excursion elsewhere.

Getting there

Rovaniemi, the de facto capital of Finnish Lapland, is a ninety-minute flight from Helsinki, and there are direct flights from abroad in season.

The most festive way to get here, though, is on the Santa Express Night Train from Helsinki, which takes about twelve hours.

Once you arrive, you can rent a car, catch a taxi, or pick up the Santa Village Express Bus , which circles between the airport, the train station, downtown Rovaniemi and Santa’s Village. 

Where to stay : It’s worth paying a little bit extra to stay right in the heart of Santa Claus Village – these classic cabins come with a private sauna – and Father Christmas is just a two-minute walk away. 

Santaworld (Tomteland), Sweden 

For a much more low-key Santa experience, head to Santaworld in Gusunda, central Sweden .

This Santa destination is, well, very Swedish. Instead of what many might consider “traditional” holiday fare, expect a Swedish fairy-tale experience with actors roaming the grounds in costume –including Santa and Mrs Claus. 

Swedish characters such as trolls, witches and dragons mingle with the elves. It’s very geared to small children, with carriage rides, pedal boats and plenty of magical places for kids to let off steam. 

Plays are performed throughout the day, involving Fairytale Land being saved from the Troll King – these can be challenging if you don’t speak Swedish or know the fairytales, but there are a few English performances, so look out for those.

And there are plenty of other things to do too, including meeting Santa’s reindeer and other animals, plus Juleljus, the dancing Christmas tree, and Dusty the living snowman. 

The best part of Santaworld is interacting with the characters, who speak English and are unforgettably delightful. And of course, Santa, who is as low-key and friendly as the rest of his friends.

The nearest airport to Santaworld is Mora airport, about 15km away. Buses are possible from Sweden’s major cities, but a car is really the best option – it’s about a 4hr-drive from Stockholm. 

Where to stay : A short walk from Santaworld, the Gesundaberget Lodge & Stugby has quad rooms for families, plus a sauna and children’s playground. There’s also skiing to the door, and they can sort out ski gear and lift passes.

Drøbak, Norway 

Don’t tell the Finns, but the Norwegians have their very own ‘official’ home of Santa, Drøbak , a small, charming, former maritime village about 35km south of Oslo.

There’s a post office where you can send postcards with an official Santa postmark, and the tourist office has a permanent exhibition of 250,000 letters to Santa from all over the world. 

Santa is in residence here over the festive season, and occasionally out of season too: you can check the exact dates here . The Julehuset (Christmas House), a huge Christmas-themed store where it’s always Christmas, is open all year round. 

And when you’ve had enough festive fun, Drøbak also has a small aquarium or you can take a ferry over to the Oscarborg Fortress .  

Getting there : You can get to Drøbak in less than an hour from Oslo by car, bus or ferry. Drøbak Getting there : You can get to Drøbak in less than an hour from Oslo by car, bus or ferry. 

Where to stay : Just five-minutes walk from the Julehuset, the Reenskaug Hotel has comfortable rooms in a historic building right by the Oslofjord.

See also: Christmas tours in Scandinavia Christmas in Sweden The best Christmas markets in Scandinavia

One day in Helsinki: the ultimate guide

You may also like.

Cool maps of Scandinavia

Viking swords: the ultimate guide

Denmark vs Finland: which one should you visit?

Beautiful isolation: remote cabins you can rent in Scandinavia

9 of the best Viking tours in Scandinavia

Norse names and their meanings: the best Norse names

Great reads: the best books set in Scandinavia

Visiting Scandinavia during the coronavirus crisis

Sweden vs Norway, which one should you visit?

Get the Routes North newsletter delivered once a month. No spam.

The Best Family Friendly Things To Do In Rovaniemi, Finland

P lanning a family vacation to Finland? No trip would  be complete without a visit to Lapland. From northern lights to husky racing, northern Finland has a lot to offer and these are some of our favorite family friendly things to do in Rovaniemi. 

Thanks so much to Finnair and Visit Finland for hosting my trip to Finland. All opinions are 100% my own.

 No trip to Finland is complete without a visit to Rovaniemi, also known as the official hometown of Santa Clause. From museums to mushing with huskies, check out some of our favorite things to do in Rovaniemi.

Family Friendly Things To Do In Rovaniemi

• Northern Lights
• Crafting With Local Ateliers
• Santa Claus Village
• Ranua Wildlife Park 
• Arktikum Science Center 

Pilke Science Centre

Where is rovaniemi.

The capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi can be found just four miles south of the Arctic Circle. It draws large number of tourists who come to see the Northern Lights and of course, Santa Claus. If you're planning a visit, here's what you should know before you go .

How To Get To Rovaniemi

If you're planning to visit Finland, flying Finnair is the way to go. We flew Finnair into Helsinki, then again to Rovaniemi.

With so many direct flights, great service, roomy seats and more, it's my favorite option. I even flew business class on this trip, something I'd never done before. Was it all that I dreamed it would be? Read about my Finnair Business Class experience to find out. Okay, I can't keep a secret...YES, it was awesome!!! (but you'll want to read the post to find out why).

The only thing I'd do differently? I brought WAY too much stuff! I totally should have read these Finland packing tips first. 

 What To Do In Rovaniemi

If you're wondering whether there's enough to keep the kids entertained in Rovaniemi, you have nothing to worry about. With dogsledding, crafting, wildlife tours and more, the kids will love it every bit as much as the grownups. Here are some of the highlights...

See The Northern Lights  

You can't visit the Arctic Circle without at least trying to see the Northern Lights. The best time to catch them is between September and March but even then there's no guarantee. You'll have a 40% chance of catching them on a clear night during peak season. 

Patience is a virtue and it's hard to predict when the lights will appear. Even when they do, you may just have a short window before they disappear again. We found the Aurora Borealis app super helpful because it forecasts the likelihood of seeing the northern lights. It makes it easy to follow along as the percentages get higher or lower.

If you get lucky though, it's totally worth the wait. Of course, then you'll want to take pictures and that's the tricky part. I brought my tripod along (a must-have for shooting the northern lights) but even then my pictures turned out a bit blurry.

If you really want to take amazing pictures of the northern lights, Dotting The Map's post on How To Photograph The Northern Lights has all the details. Their pictures turned out phenomenal and you'll get step by step details on how to get shots like this one!

Photo Credit: Reid Fuller | DottingTheMap.com

Hit The Sauna

If there's one thing the Finnish people love, it's hitting the sauna. It's an age old tradition and part of their everyday culture. I would imagine it feels pretty nice to come in from the freezing cold and jump in a hot sauna.

You'll find saunas everywhere from lakeside cabins to hotels. If you choose to visit a public one, you should know one thing ahead of time. Nudity is the norm and bathing suites are often prohibited for sanitary reasons.

To us, going nude may seem strange an uncomfortable. However in Finland it's perfectly normal to sauna with friends and family. It's as much a tradition for kids as well as adults, though once children hit their teens, they often prefer to sauna separately from their parents. 

This may not seem like one of the more family friendly things to do in Rovaniemi but if you really want to immerse yourself in Finnish culture, you should give it a try. When in Finland...

Race With Huskies

Of all the experiences I had in Finland, mushing at Bearhill Husky may have been my favorite. Known more commonly as dogsledding, it's a popular sport for both locals and tourists. Though traditionally done in the snow, you can take part in this activity year round. The vehicles are a little different (sleds in winter and buggies in the warmer months) but the experience is similar. 

Bearhill Husky provides you with coveralls, boots, hats and mittens, along with a short lesson on how to drive the buggy (though somehow I STILL managed to end up in a ditch right out of the gate!). One person sits up front while the other stands behind them, steering and operating the brakes. Both are fun but controlling the buggy is by far the best job. It took a minute to get the hang of it but after that, it was super easy.

If you're wondering whether the dogs like it or not, our little guys couldn't wait to get started. It was so cute to see how excited they were and they seem to truly enjoy it. 

Afterwards we not only got to hang out with our dogs but we were able to spend time with the puppies. I've always been a cat person but seriously, these faces! Don't tell my kids but I kind of want a puppy now!

These little guys were so adorable and super affectionate. How can you resist puppy dog eyes like these?!

After hanging out in the kennels, we gathered in a giant yurt where we had a chance to warm up and learn more about the dogs and the history of Bearhill Husky. 

The warm juice and cookies were a nice bonus. This was such a fun experience and if you only have time for one or two activities, I highly recommend it.

Tip: If you visit in winter, racing the huskies can be a very chilly adventure. Our guide recommended that groups with children take one of the shorter tours.  

Craft With Reindeer Antlers

There's no better way to learn about a destination than by hanging out with the locals. After all, they know more about it than anyone and it doesn't get more authentic than an afternoon with Irene and Ari Kangasniemi. These local ateliers invite families or small groups into their workshop for an afternoon of crafting and fun, strong emphasis on fun!

Irene and Ari have spent years making crafts from reindeer antlers and are the best at what they do! Their workshop is filled from top to bottom with the amazing crafts that they've created, from elaborate antler adorned ceiling lights to simple knife handles.

 They even make footwear. How cute are these soft, fuzzy booties? I need a pair!

Irene is the chatty one and Ari is the strong, silent type but they were both hilarious! Not only did we learn how they more about the fine art of crafting with antlers, we had a lot of laughs while doing so. We even made antler crafts of our own.

I chose to make a necklace with a Frozen theme. I was going to give it to my youngest but now I kind of want to keep it. Maybe we can share.

Afterwards, Irene and Ari invited into their home for coffee, tea and cinnamon rolls. We couldn't have felt more welcome (and the cinnamon rolls were SO delish!).

While I really enjoyed the crafting and food, what I liked even more was getting to know Irene and Ari. Their warmth and hospitality are what made this experience so memorable. Kids will enjoy this experience as much as the adults and it's a great choice when you're looking for family friendly things to do in Rovaniemi.  

Visit Santa In Santa Claus Village

You don't have to wait until Christmas to visit Santa Claus! When you're in Rovaniemi, you can see him all year round at Santa Claus Village . Located about five miles from central Rovaniemi, this is why it's known as the official hometown of Santa Claus. 

Cross over into the Arctic Circle and you can browse the shops for souvenirs and Christmas presents, snack on sweets and of course, visit the big guy himself.   

Not only will you get to see Santa but you can feed his reindeer too. They're very friendly, especially if they see that you've got lichen in your hand.  

Don't forget to visit the post office while you're there. If you've ever wondered where your letter to Santa ended up, this is it. Santa's post office receives over half a million letters a year from children, and adults, around the world and we're told that Santa's elves read every one.

You can even have Santa send a letter back home! Letters are stamped with a special Arctic Circle postmark, held until Christmas, then mailed to destinations around the world.

Ranua Wildlife Park

Ranua Wildlife Park is the place to go if you want to see the native wildlife up close and personal. With everything from reindeer to polar bears, this is another great excursion that will appeal to all ages. 

The 1.7 mile trail takes you through the wilderness where you'll see 50 wild animal species and over 200 different animals. They have an app that you can download to learn more about the animals as you go.

There were plenty of animals that I'd never seen but I was most excited about the polar bear. We don't see many of those in Florida!

We also saw a brown bear, arctic fox (very cute!), a wolverine, wild boars, bison and of course it wouldn't be Finland without reindeer.

Tip: The trails go for about 1.7 miles so you may want to bring a stroller for younger children.  

Arktikum Science Center

Located walking distance from downtown Rovaniemi, the Arktikum Science Center and Museum is a must see for families.

The building alone is beautiful, with a gorgeous glass ceiling that ends with a picture perfect view overlooking the Ounas River.

The tour begins by teaching visitors about the geography and animals of Lapland.

From there, we moved on to the history and culture of the native people.

We also learned about how climate change is affecting the Arctic Circle, Finnish life throughout the years and even found out how Rovaniemi came to be known as the Official Home Of Santa Claus. The tour was informative but never boring and I definitely left knowing a lot more about Lapland than when I went in.  

Though also focused on science, the Pilke Science Centre is a completely different type of museum than the Arktikum. In fact, they compliment each other well. 

Arktikum covers Lapland as a whole, while Pilke focuses on the sustainable use of the forests and the wood based products created by Finnish scientists. 

The interactive displays make this museum a lot of fun for kids. They can sing karaoke, play target games and more. Plus, what kid wouldn't want to climb aboard this giant tractor?!

 This museum could easily be done in an hour or two and the interactive aspect of it makes it a good choice for younger children.

Go Hiking/Enjoy Nature

I saved the best for last. While racing huskies and meeting Santa are certainly highlights of any trip to Finnish Lapland, nothing beats the sheer beauty of Lapland's lakes and national parks.

The lakes are so calm that they look like glass and it's easy to see why Finns choose to spend so much of their time outdoors.

If you have a little extra time, find a cabin on one of the lakes and just enjoy your surroundings for a few days.

Where To Stay In Rovaniemi

Hotel santa claus.

If you're visiting the official hometown of Santa Claus, why not stick with the them and stay at the Hotel Santa Claus. Located in the heart of Rovaniemi, you get the benefit of a great location with attractions such as Arktikum Museum and the Pilke Science Center in easy walking distance.

Hot breakfast was served every morning (included in the price of the meal) and I was impressed by the variety of food there was to choose from. This wasn't just any hotel breakfast buffet! From meats and cheeses to eggs and croissants, even the pickiest little eater will find something they like.  

If you need to keep the kids entertained for awhile, there's a playroom designed just for the younger crowd...

and a playroom for the grownups too.

Between the prime location, the bright, spacious rooms and all the other amenities, you can't go wrong staying at Hotel Santa Claus during your visit to Rovaniemi.

Arctic Fox Igloos

If you really want a unique Lapland experience, stay in an Arctic Fox Igloo  in Ranua. 

Though they may be a little pricier, what other chance will you get to watch the northern lights from the comfort of your own bed.

These igloos were surprisingly roomy and come with their own private sauna. Plus, you really can't beat this view!

I love that this is such a one of a kind experience and would definitely love to go back and try it at some point. If you want to learn more about staying in an igloo, check out Trekaroo's post on the best glass igloo hotels  in Finland .

While these aren't even close to being all the family friendly things to do in Finland, but they're some of my favorites and a good place to start! Which do you think your family would enjoy most?

• Live video webcam
• Opening hours and dates

Sun 3.11.: Opening of Christmas Season 2024 – Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village’s Grand Opening of Christmas Season is an annual celebration honouring the Christmas traditions of sharing Christmas spirit and good will. This year the event, organized by Visit Rovaniemi, takes place at on Sunday 3rd November at the central square of Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi (Finland). More information about the event and exact time will be released soon. The musical Christmas performances take the audience into the merry moods of Christmas and Winter. The traditional Christmas Opening culminates in Santa’s arrival and speech.

The event is FREE of charge. Please come to the event on time. More Information about the event in  HERE  in Visit Rovaniemi’s pages.