santa visit rovaniemi

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

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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

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Activities & Experiences

Meet Santa Claus

You can meet Santa Claus every day of the year at the Santa Claus Village. Meeting Santa is a unique experience, no matter what time of year you visit us. Santa’s gift sack is always filled with good cheer, warmth, and friendship. He reminds us of a world of fairy tales and stories where everyone is welcome, not just the children.

When you arrive at Santa Claus Village, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into the pages of a storybook. A moment filled with curious joy and wonder.

Santa Claus Office

Visitors have been able to meet Santa Claus and his elves at Santa’s Office every day of the year for over 30 years. Entry is free of charge. Santa Claus is the nicest man in the world, who enjoys meeting and chatting with his friends of all ages from near and far.

Santa Claus at Christmas House

You can also meet Santa Claus in his red Christmas House at Santa Claus Village. The warm-hearted Santa Claus welcomes kindly visitors to Christmas House every day, free of charge. Don’t be shy, Santa is a jolly good fellow!

And of course you can also see elves at Santa Claus Village. The elves are Santa’s close helpers, assisting with all the Christmas preparations, reminding children to be kind and Santa to take his cocoa breaks.

Santa Claus’ Main Post Office

Our cozy atmosphere invites you to sit down and write your greetings from the Arctic Circle to your friends all over the world. The cheerful Postal Elves will post your greetings for you, whether it’s Christmas or the middle of summer! All post will be stamped with the special Arctic Circle postmark.

Mrs Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage in Santa Claus Reindeer resort

Come and meet the delightful Mrs Santa Claus. She loves to tell stories and can’t wait to share them with you. Mrs Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage is a beautiful destination in Santa Claus Reindeer Resort at Santa Claus Village. Meet Santa’s reindeer at the same time!

Santa Claus is a timeless ambassador of goodwill and reminds us all of the importance of being kind!

6 ways to spend your day at Santa Claus Village

Meet Santa Claus! It is possible every day of the year at Santa Claus Office. Entrance is free of charge.

Santa Claus’ Main Post Office

Colourful world of cards and unique stamps & gifts! Cozy atmosphere invites you to write your greetings from Arctic Circle to friends.

Santa Claus Reindeer

Enjoy reindeer rides (throughout winter and in spring) right in Santa Claus Village. In summertime, you can also visit Santa’s reindeer.

Santa’s Pets

In a traditional rustic setting in Santa’s Village, you’ll find Santa’s Pets with reindeer, alpacas, sheep, goats, rabbits, pony, donkey & different birds. Also pony riding & alpaca and reindeer walking.

Elf´s Hat Academy

In Santa Claus Village there is a magic place named Elf Academy. It’s an academy like no other: place where different kind of elves gather to learn ancient elf wisdoms & crafts.

Christmas House Safaris and Its reindeer & husky farm

Activities & excursions and private husky & reindeer farm in Rovaniemi close to Santa’s Village. Pick-up from Village.

Create your own elf name!

Your elf name is:.

Welcome to Christmas House at Santa Claus Village

Meet the official santa claus of the arctic circle, meet the official santa claus of the arctic circle in christmas house in lapland, make a safaris or excursion in lapland with christmas house safaris, make a safaris or excursion in rovaniemi with christmas house safaris, you can meet santa claus of christmas house every day of the year.

Welcome to the House of Santa Claus in Rovaniemi!

Meet christmas house santa at santa claus village in lapland.

Come and meet the Official Santa Claus of the Arctic Circle in Christmas House in Rovaniemi in Finland. Santa can be met every day of the year , and the entrance is FREE of charge. Find HERE our opening hours.

In our store you can also find the  jerseys, beanies, caps, scarves and other fan products  of  FC Santa Claus , Santa’s famous football / soccer team based in Rovaniemi

Experience a safari or an excursion of your lifetime in Rovaniemi

Christmas House is also a provider of quality excursions and safaris in Rovaniemi and in Lapland in general. Experience with Christmas House Safaris the unique nature of Lapland and the true Finnish winter. Visit the Arctic Zoo of Ranua , view the magnificent aurora borealis with our Northern Lights safaris in Rovaniemi , have fun in a husky dog excursion in our Piiru Forest husky farm or make a reindeer safari on our own reindeer farm . Find more about our safaris & excursions HERE .

Christmas House Santa 

The Official Santa Claus of the Arctic Circle Tähtikuja 2 96930 Napapiiri Rovaniemi Finland Tel: +358 (0)400 549250 E-mail:  [email protected]

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Lapland - Home of Santa Claus

Looking for the latest scoop on Santa, his history, home & how you can meet the Big Guy yourself? Here’s all the information you need to know about Big Red & his place in Lapland.

Maybe you’ve heard of him? Big guy, long white beard, has an affinity for the color red? Here you’ll find lots of information on the history of Santa Claus, how the modern version came about, Finnish Christmas traditions, where Santa lays his hat, how you can meet him, his favorite reindeer, how you can send the Big Guy a letter and more!

Who who who is Santa Claus?

Of course, we all know who Santa is, but through repeated tellings and alterations (and cola advertisements), the true story of Father Christmas can get a bit watered down. Ironic, considering the legend of Santa is a distillation of hundreds of stories, including historical figures like Saint Nicholas, myths like Father Christmas, Viejo Pascuero, Sinterklaas, Weihnachtsmann, Joulupukki, Pere Noel, and even Norse gods like Odin. For hundreds of years, these stories and more have been told to children in European and western countries when the days grow short and snowflakes fall like fairy dust over the land.

Many of the modern ideas about Santa Claus came from the famous poem, “’ Twas the Night Before Christmas .” Once this poem was published anonymously in a New York newspaper, every child in America (and soon much of the world) knew that Santa visited on Christmas Eve, on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, magicked himself up and down chimneys, and carried a sack full of all the gifts for all the children in the world.

With all this talk of stories, legends and gods, you might beg the question: is Santa Claus real? Perhaps no one has ever answered this question better than the New York Sun in 1897, in an editorial addressed to an 8-year-old girl named Virginia.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Where does Santa Claus live?

If you grew up in America, you probably think Santa lives at the North Pole. But he’s not a polar bear, and besides … the North Pole is in the middle of an ocean! Unless Santa lives on a houseboat, he probably doesn’t live on an ocean. Across the Atlantic, though, everyone knows exactly where Father Christmas lives … Finnish Lapland!

For hundreds of years, Santa was content to keep himself and his work in Lapland a secret, but children and friends of Christmas all over the world wouldn’t let him. The son of Finnish and Swedish emigrants, Haddon Sundblom, painted Santa Claus in all his cola-loving glory in magazine advertisements in the 20th century. Eventually, the fervor reached such a pitch that the First Lady of the United States  Eleanor Roosevelt came to Lapland to see Santa in person. Not wanting to give away his secret workshop under Korvatunturi Mountain in Savukoski, Santa chose the Arctic Circle for his official office and met the First Lady there in 1950.

Santa and his reindeer

Separating Santa Claus from his reindeer is like taking painted eggs away from the Easter Bunny, or candy away from Halloween. Ever since the poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” flying reindeer have been Santa’s preferred method of travel. Santa stumbled on the secret magical recipe for flight at an early age, and he experimented for many years to find the right animals to pull his sleigh. He tried horses, but they have a fear of heights. Husky dogs, which carry Santa speeding across the snow, get so excited by flying that it’s nearly impossible to bring them down again. Eventually, Santa discovered the best animal for magical flights around the world: wolverines.

Just kidding, it’s reindeer, of course. Unlike his fictional counterpart, though, Santa has many more than 9 reindeer. With over 200,000 in Finnish Lapland, he has his pick of the smartest and heartiest reindeer. It’s not uncommon to see him considering and cheering on the fastest reindeer at annual reindeer races across Lapland.

If Santa’s reindeer  aren’t the storied Dasher, Dancer and friends, then what are their names? Well, reindeer are just like people—they all have their own names. Sometimes they’re called Valko, which means  white in Finnish, or they’re named Salama ( lightning in Finnish). They have as many names as we do.

How to write a letter to Santa Claus

Writing a letter to Santa is almost as old a tradition as the jolly old elf himself. At Santa Claus Village, there’s a post office named after Big Red, and sending your letters here is the best way to give your greetings, wishes and Christmas cheer to Father Christmas.

Here’s the address:

Santa Claus Santa Claus’ Main Post Office Tähtikuja 1 96930 Arctic Circle Finland

For more info on sending letters to Santa, what happens after, and even how you can get a letter back from the Big Guy, check out our article on How to Write a Letter to Santa .

Santa Claus & Christmas Traditions

There are as many traditions associated with Santa as there are stories about him! Perhaps the most well-known tradition is writing a letter to Santa. Children all over the world send their wishlists, Christmas greetings and questions to Santa. In fact, the Santa Claus Main Post Office  receives hundreds of thousands of letters every year!

Santa is also known for having a list and checking it twice. This endless scroll of names places every child in the world in one of two columns: naughty or nice. Luckily for us, Santa is pretty forgiving when it comes to naughtiness. After all, he was once an ornery young elf himself.

In America, the UK, Italy and other countries, Santa visits in the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. But in Finland and many other European countries, the presents are waiting for the children on the morning of Christmas Eve.

In Finland, children call Santa Claus on Christmas Eve morning. And now, you can talk to Santa directly too, from all over the world. Check out the Santa Hotline to see if your country and language are available.

Every year, Santa leaves from Santa Claus Village on his journey—first to his secret workshop to get the gifts, and then onward to the rest of the world to deliver Christmas cheer. You can always watch Santa begin his travels from Santa Claus Village. And Google gets in on the fun with their annual Santa Tracker , which is full of fun every December.

Santa Claus F.A.Q.

Anyone who has spent any time at all talking about Santa with a six-year-old will know the fixed stare and the barrage of questions that comes from a tiny mind trying to grapple with the cosmic magic that is Father Christmas. So we’ve put together a handy list of answers that may help you during your next encounter.

Want more winter fun?

• Santa & Snowmen – Your Christmas Bucket List
• Your winter bucket list
• Best Reasons for a Winter Break

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There’s no place like Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, for a genuine Christmas experience. What is the Christmas of your dreams like? Is it when you and your closest ones meet Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle while it is snowing outside? How about enjoying a bit of Christmas magic in the middle of the summer, under the Midnight Sun of Lapland ? The magic lives inside us all, no matter who we are, what we do, where we live and how we cherish Christmas time.

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Santa Claus and Christmas magic all year round

Enter the magical world of Christmas and meet Santa Claus and his helpers in Santa Claus Village every day of the year. During Christmas season there is more Christmassy programs and tours available.

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Visit Rovaniemi has two main Christmas events to delight and create christmassy feeling amongst locals and visitors. First event is the Christmas opening which officially starts the Christmas season and the other one is at 23rd of Decemeber the much expected Santa Claus is on His way.

Santa Claus and Christmas time sights & attractions

Santa Claus Village

You can meet Santa Claus and cross the magical Arctic Circle every day at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

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!

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 Secret Forest – Joulukka

Santa Claus Secret Forest is an exclusive destination where you can experience the magic of Christmas either privately or in small groups.

Christmas holiday in Lapland, Rovaniemi

Santa Claus

The lively town centre of Rovaniemi is great for shopping. Along with stores selling modern goods, local arts and handicrafts are available in many shops. See more here.

Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle

Accommodation in Santa Claus Village Restaurants in Santa Claus Village Sights and attractions in Santa…

Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus and reallife winter wonderland located at the Arctic Circle in Lapland Finland.

Eat and drink

Traditional Lappish food tastes delicious both in restaurants and by a campfire. Rovaniemi has great options for local culinary excursions, see more here.

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Hop On A Sleigh And Dash Through The Snow At The Santa Claus Village in Finland

From meeting santa claus to going on reindeer excursions and relishing gourmet arctic cuisine, santa claus village is spectacularly dreamy..

By: Trinetra Paul Published: Nov 30, 2022 03:00 PM IST

‘Tis the season of snow, carols and merry-making. ‘Tis the season of Rudolph the reindeer and Santa Claus. As children and adults both rejoice in the festive Christmas spirit with the little ones hanging their socks over the mantle, we wonder what’s brewing at the Santa Claus village in Finland, the land of the midnight sun.

Rovaniemi is the official Santa village, located in Finland, close to the Arctic Circle. And it is Christmas here all year round. This is where Santa Claus stays, packs your gifts and hosts magical Christmas exhibitions and other events for kids and adults on all 365 days. With a mission to spread Christmas love and cheer, amplify the well-being of children and the kindness of elders, the Santa Claus village has various services and major attractions throughout the year making the magical Arctic Circle even more dazzling.

From making paw-some friends at the Arctic Circle Husky Park to petting winter animals at the Elf’s Farmyard Petting Zoo, this is the ideal location to unleash your inner child and spend a jolly good quality time with family. With so many things to take you back to the pages of fairytales, get ready to relive your childhood like never before. While at the Santa Claus village, never find yourself in a dull moment as there are many programme service companies, souvenir shops, numerous cafes and restaurants to satiate your hunger pangs and of course Santa’s Main Post Office — one of the major attractions — in Santa Claus Village.

Planning to visit Rovaniemi? Check out what to do, things to see and other details about the village

Where does santa claus stay.

Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland is all things that dreams are made of. Blanketed with soft willowy snow and air that smells of Christmas from the moment you touch down, this official hometown of the world’s most loved man transports you to the pages of bedtime storybooks that you read on Christmas eve.

At Santa’s village, cross the Arctic Circle Line to meet Father Christmas and his reindeer at their splendid best. Located inside the main village building, the Christmas house is where you can meet Santa all year long. Though entry is free, there are certain opening hours when you can visit. While here, if you wish, pointy red-hatted elves can capture these memories on paper or USB or both.

You can also meet Santa Claus in his main office, situated right in the middle of Rovaniemi. Age is just a number for all those visiting this picturesque place and sharing stories with the red-and-white-clad man. The office has been open since 1992 and reveals some of his mysteries and tricks. One of the most important well-kept secrets is Earth’s rotation speed regulator. The exact address of Christmas House is Joulumaantie 1, Rovaniemi, Finland.

And, while you are busy making such fond memories, the elves can freeze these cherished times. You can purchase them on your way out of the Santa Claus village, and entry is free.

Santa’s main post office

Move over your regular postal orders when you come to meet Santa Claus. Here, at Santa village, the Christmas spirit is in full swing in the post office as well, which makes even the most mundane job so cheerful.

Santa’s main post office is a fully functional post office working all year round, that lets you send letters, gift parcels, cards and postcards right from the Arctic Circle and see a smile on your loved ones’ faces as they receive special Arctic Circle postmark stamped letters, posted by elves right before Christmas. All letters put in the red post box here are held and sent for Christmas itself. And, entry is free.

You can also send a special Santa Claus Letter from the Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi which is especially sent by Santa in time for Christmas. If you wish to write to Santa, his official hometown address is Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland. Interestingly, Santa receives over half a million letters from all over the world.

Mrs Claus’ house and reindeer

A visit to Rovaniemi must include stopping by Mrs Claus’ quaint wooden cottage, which is located inside the Santa Claus Reindeer resort. The kind and sweet Mrs Claus is forever ready to welcome guests of all ages with a warm smile and is happy to chat with them. She can gladly whip up a quick batch of gingerbread or Christmas cookies and host events at her breathtaking cottage, while the elves are quick to lend a helping hand.

There is an entry fee to Mrs Claus’ cottage with fixed opening hours. Separate bookings also need to be done to speak and click photos with her. The cottage also provides a scintillating setting to host private events and weddings, and can accommodate about 150 heads. The Santa Claus Reindeer resort is also home to delectable Arctic cuisine and houses the famed Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi.

Visit Santa Claus village and be stunned to see the sheer size of the giant reindeer that call this freezing tundra their home. You can enjoy sleigh rides and reindeer safaris under the theatrical northern lights that dazzle the night sky.

Reindeer Resort, Husky Park and Elf’s Farmyard

Now you can dash through the snow in an open sleigh over the hills, not just in the carol, but in real life too. A trip to Santa Claus village is incomplete without seeing the diverse range of animals such as reindeer, alpaca, huskies and rabbits in their tundra habitat.

At the Santa Claus Reindeer Resort, you can indulge in all sorts of reindeer activities including sleigh rides, safaris under the northern lights and reindeer walks. The resort also operates the Mount Porovaara reindeer farm , located to the south of Rovaniemi about 20 km from the village.

The rides, long safaris and excursions to the countryside are offered in winter and you can actually obtain a reindeer driving licence. But no need to be disheartened if you are coming in summer. You can go on walks with these beasts and enjoy other summertime activities at the farm.

The Arctic Circle Husky Park in Rovaniemi is another unique unmissable attraction here. Operated by a family-run company, the park is home to innumerable Siberian huskies and offers a glimpse of how the huskies are tended, cared and bred. The cute and cuddly furballs are agile and are best fit to tackle subzero temperatures. What’s even better is that they love children and children love them too. Get up close to these animals, hug and pet them, peek into their daily lives, click photos and even go on a sled ride.

Another company service in Santa Claus Village, the Elf’s Farmyard offers a range of fun outdoor activities with the Lappish animals. When visitors from across the globe come here, they forget their age and become kids while around these beautiful animals amid such a breathtaking setting. From taking guided walks in the woods with alpacas and reindeer to grilling sausages and spending quality time with kids, the Elf’s Farmyard ensures you have equal fun and adventures both in December and August.

Santa Park activities and Roosevelt Cottage

It is quite understandable that Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is an entire world in itself, straight out of a postcard. Besides meeting Father Christmas and playing with the animals and marvelling under the northern lights, Santa Park is beaming with activities at every turn.

Visit the Elf Hat Academy, take part in elf school and learn some trade secrets and indulge in some classic snowy adventures such as sleigh pulling, aurora borealis viewing and snow-water dipping. Every resort offers their range of activities and diverse adventure joyrides that will leave you completely spoilt for choice.

At Santa Claus Village you can also get a certificate for crossing the magical Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is a latitude that runs 66°33′45.9″ north of the Equator. It is the southernmost latitude where the sun can remain below or above the horizon for 24 hours, giving rise to the phenomena called the Midnight Sun during summer and the Polar Night (or Kaamos in the local language) during winter .

Interestingly, the entire Santa Claus Village started to grow centering this wooden cabin after the second world war. Built for Eleanor Roosevelt in 1950, the former US First Lady who was the US delegate to the UN General Assembly between 1945 and 1952, this cottage marks the US-Finland ties as it helped in streamlining tourists and boosting the economy after the horrors of the war subsided.

Snowman World Winter Zone and Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

The fun and frolic don’t end just yet in Santa Claus Village. Enter the Snowman World resort and enjoy all the ice slides and ice skating. The resort also houses a jaw-dropping ice restaurant and ice bar offering exquisite Finnish cuisine and lip-smacking drinks.

Want to try something heart-racing? Get some more adrenaline rushing through your veins as you zoom over vast snow fields on snowmobile vehicles. The Arctic Snowmobile Park is a family-run business that offers safaris through snow-filled forests, hiking to find aurora borealis or seeing the midnight. Their impeccable customer service and personal care is sure to make your trip one of a lifetime.

Dining and shopping

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is also a haven for foodies. The Snow restaurant at the Snowman World serves three-course lunch and dinner daily.

Feast with your eyes too as the place is filled with amazing ice sculptures, rebuilt every year with fresh snow and ice which modifies the decorations adorning the snowy walls. The resort also houses the Ice Disco — an adult-only bar ensuring a groovy party and delicious drinks served in ice glasses. However, if you are in the mood for some light nibbles, head to the warm café Ensilumi.

Other dining options include dining in a glass igloo at the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos — one of the world’s biggest snow hotels, about 30 km from the village, and The Glass Restaurant offering fine Lapland flavours with a stunning view of soft pillowy snow falling.

Bring back a slice of Rovaniemi when you shop for souvenirs and small gift items from the various stalls and boutiques inside Santa Claus village. They are abundant in local handicrafts, Finnish jewellery and chocolates as well as have designer labels.

How to reach Santa Claus village, where to stay and the best time to go

Reaching Santa Claus Village is very easy from prominent locations in Lapland, Finland. Located about 8 km from Rovaniemi city centre and 3 km from Rovaniemi airport, the village is situated towards Ivalo on highway 4. One can also avail local bus number 8 to reach the site.

There are a number of stay options close to Santa Claus village.

Book Your Stay At

An apartment next to Santa Claus Village

Nova Skyland Hotel

Villa Lapintiira

Santasport Resort

Tilhi Chalet

Anytime is a good time to visit Rovaniemi as different months offer different kinds of beautiful views and activities.

(Main and feature Image: courtesy Santa Claus Village)

Related: These Destinations In Asia Are A Must-Visit This Holiday Season To Experience A Magical Christmas

• santa claus
• Santa Claus Village

Trinetra Paul

Trinetra is an ardent foodie and bibliophile who writes about films, travel, food and lifestyle. As a writer and literature student, slam poetry and storytelling are her go to jam. When not working, Trinetra is busy looking for her next place to visit or binge-watching Instagram videos for travel inspiration.

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WELCOME TO SANTA CLAUS REINDEER RESORT IN ROVANIEMI

Short reindeer rides (5-15min) in Santa Claus Village - No prebooking!

Have unforgettable experiences with Santa's reindeer in Santa Claus Village at Rovaniemi WITHOUT PREBOOKING. Reindeer rides are available at the Arctic Circle in winter.

Winter Adventure – 1 hour Reindeer Safari in Santa Claus Village

Join our reindeer safari in Santa Claus Village with a magical 1 hour Winter Adventure. This reindeer safari on the Arctic Circle takes you through a deep, snowy forest, where you can admire the beauty of the Lappish nature.

Northern Lights Safaris and Trips at Porovaara Hill, Rovaniemi

Porovaara Hill reindeer farm offers optimal conditions for the hunting of the magnificent Northern Lights. The aurora season starts in mid-August. In winter you can also combine your tour with a night time reindeer safari.

Enjoy Lappish food in Restaurant Kotahovi

Our Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi is a charming lunch restaurant located right in the well-known Santa Claus Village. The main entrance to the restaurant is located inside the Santa Claus Reindeer resort.

Meet Mrs Claus in her Cottage in Santa Claus Village!

What would be a better memory of your lovely meeting with Mrs. Claus than a photo of you and her together? You can meet her in Mrs. Santa Claus Christmas Cottage in Rovaniemi. Free entrance to Mrs. Claus' cozy café.

NEW: Electric Snowmobile Safaris in Porovaara Hill in Rovaniemi

Our family company now offers ecological electric snowmobile safaris & excursions on Porovaara Hill in Rovaniemi only 20 min drive from Santa Claus Village & the city-centre.

NEW: Private meeting with Santa & his reindeer in Porovaara Hill in Rovaniemi

Meet Santa Claus and his reindeer at our private Porovaara Hill resort, a place that is very special to them. The unique Porovaara Hill is located only some 20 km from Rovaniemi's city centre.

Longer reindeer safari at our private Porovaara Hill resort in Rovaniemi

Leave the hassle of city behind: join us on a tour through peaceful countryside. To reach our destination we will head 20 km south of Rovaniemi, to Porovaara Hill, where an exciting reindeer safari is waiting for you at our private resort!

Northern Lights hunting with reindeer

What would be a more memorable way to search for the magical Northern Lights, than riding comfortably through the snowy forest on a reindeer sleigh, covered in warm reindeer hides? Our private Porovaara Hill resort, about 20 km south of Rovaniemi, offers this unique oppurtunity!

Reindeer rides, activities and safaris at Santa Claus Village & Porovaara Hill reindeer farm in Rovaniemi

Santa Claus Reindeer resort, a local family company, offers reindeer rides, safaris and other experiences with Santa’s reindeer at Santa Claus Village all year round. In addition Santa Claus Reindeer resort operates the Porovaara Hill reindeer farm , located at a beautiful and peaceful site south of Rovaniemi.

In winter, we offer reindeer rides and safaris at Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle. As a concrete memory of the sleigh ride you can get yourself a reindeer driving license and a certificate of crossing the Arctic Circle. Through pre-booking, we offer northern lights safaris and other longer excursions in the countryside at Porovaara Hill, situated on top of a hill with amazing views. In summer, you can visit Santa’s reindeer at Santa Claus Village and enjoy other summery activities.

Porovaara Hill – amazing reindeer farm in the heart of Lapland

Porovaara Hill is located about 20 km (15 min. drive) south from the centre of Rovaniemi. At Porovaara Hill’s authentic and peaceful Lappish reindeer farm you can enjoy longer reindeer safaris , sledding adventures, aurora excursions and northern light reindeer safaris.

Santa Claus Reindeer

BOOK OUR ACTIVITIES & SAFARIS IN ROVANIEMI, LAPLAND

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.

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Santa's Grotto

Santa sees visitors year-round in this impressive grotto, with a huge clock mechanism (it slows the earth’s rotation so that Santa can visit the whole world’s children on Christmas Eve). The portly saint is quite a linguist, and an old hand at chatting with kids and adults alike.

A private chat (around two minutes) is absolutely free, but you can’t photograph the moment, and official photos of your visit start at €25. You can also get a certificate of 'niceness' or of meeting Santa (each €10).

Sodankyläntie. Napapiiri

Get In Touch

https://www.santaclausvillage.info

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Searching for Santa Claus

For decades, some people have held fast to the belief that the hometown of the holiday icon is in northern finland—not the north pole..

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For decades, Rovaniemi, Finland, has been known as the “Official Hometown of Santa Claus.”

Courtesy of Visit Rovaniemi

Daniel Day-Lewis is known as one of the best Method actors of his time, identifying and understanding his characters not just by imagining but by inhabiting their worlds. For his role in 1996’s The Crucible , he “stayed on a Massachusetts island in the film set’s replica village—without electricity or running water—planted fields with 17th-century tools, and built his character’s house,” per the Guardian . To portray Bill Cutting, the butcher who gouged his own eye out in a fit of rage in Gangs of New York , Day-Lewis spoke and dressed like an 1860s New Yorker for the entirety of shooting. (He eventually caught pneumonia as a result of his threadbare clothes.) And six months after 1993’s In the Name of the Father , in which he played a Belfast man unfairly accused of terrorism, Day-Lewis was still speaking with the Irish accent he’d adopted for the role. “That was a hard one to let go of,” he told Rolling Stone in 2003. “I loved that man.”

Still, with all due respect to Day-Lewis—who retired from acting in 2017—one could surmise that he would have lessons to learn from the Christmas elves of northern Finland, who flit through Joulukka, Santa Claus’s fairy-tale pine-packed forest. Here, light-footed and gay, elves assist the big man himself at his command center and toy factory, where the scent of freshly shaved spruce emits from the functional woodworking stations and a whirring machine puffing with fluff is stuffing velvety pink unicorns. But you can’t just arrive at Joulukka, or make your own way—it does not appear on any map. A visit must be arranged.

And so. On a night so dark and fuzzy I felt like I was stumbling through an inside-out mitten, I was unceremoniously deposited in the middle of this very forest by a hired driver who disappeared as economically as he’d arrived. At times, I could not see my own hand in front of my face. At other times, the only thing lighting my way were candles in the snow and the high-pitched voices of said elves, pip-squeaking, bright, cutting through the cutting cold. I made polite conversation.

How long have you been an elf? 127 years going on 128.

Are you ever scared out here? No. We have lots of animal friends around that help us.

How are you today? Only a bit tired from my flying breakfast with reindeer.

Where is the restroom? I will show you to the magic hole where travelers go to help their tummies feel better.

This forest, this visit, was not for mere folly. Instead, it was more of a mission—spend two weeks in the world’s happiest country, criss-crossing it by plane, train, ski, snowshoe, car, and foot, all in the hopes of finding a man who somehow seemed everywhere and nowhere at once: Santa Claus.

Both reindeer and the Northern Lights are hallmarks of Finnish Lapland.

In 1927, a Finnish radio producer named Markus Rautio announced a discovery on his show Markus-sedän lastentunti , or “Children’s Hour with Uncle Markus”: Santa Claus’s home had been “located” on Korvatunturi, a fell in Lapland, Finland’s northernmost region, on the Russian border. Translated from Finnish, Korvatunturi means “Ear Fell,” a nod to the mountain’s two points, which resemble the upright ears of an elf. From his home in Korvatunturi, Rautio suggested, Santa Claus could hear even the smallest whispers carried by the north wind.

Even though Santa Claus may have been paying attention, it took time for the tourism board to hear the whispers of potential. Niilo Tarvajärvi, another renowned radio and television personality, began to raise the idea of commercial opportunity after visiting Disneyland in 1959, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the idea to capitalize on the Santa Claus mythology gained any real momentum. Lapland covers roughly one third of Finland’s total land area and is home to just three percent of the country’s population. But despite its many assets—counting one of the few remaining untouched wilderness areas in Europe; strong Sámi culture—the Finnish tourism board concluded that the “natural and cultural advantages of Lapland were insufficient in attracting tourists in the desired numbers,” wrote Michael Pretes in a 1995 research paper, “The Santa Claus Industry.” The solution? Assert that Lapland was the home of Santa Claus in every which way.

Instead of centralizing the industry around Korvatunturi, which was deemed remote and inaccessible, Finland decided to focus on a town 245 miles southwest: Rovaniemi, which already had an airport built by the Germans during World War II. Ninety percent of the town was destroyed during the war, and in 1945, the Association of Finnish Architects commissioned Alvar Aalto, the country’s greatest architect, to rebuild the Lapland capital. Aalto designed the town in the shape of—what else—a reindeer antler and slowly, the town grew again.

Five years later, Rovaniemi received another boost from former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was interested in visiting the Arctic Circle. In one week, a minuscule log cabin had been built for Roosevelt, furnished with chairs designed by Aalto himself. Wrote Roosevelt in 1950, per the Eleanor Roosevelt Digital Papers : “We went at once to a post office on the Arctic Circle. A small log building which had been put up in a week. It contained one room for the office, a little kitchen, and one bedroom. It had been opened for our coming so that I might mail the first letter home from the Arctic Circle. This I addressed to the President of the United States.”

The log cabin, in fact, was not in the Arctic Circle—it was just to the south. No matter. The cabin became an attraction in and of itself, visited by Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. By 1984, the governor of Lapland had declared the province “Santa Claus Land”; the airport rebranded as “Santa’s official airport.” That same year, a 96-seat Concorde landed at Rovaniemi airport for Christmas flights, receiving a welcome from 90 percent of the local population on the tarmac. Seats cost $2,199 each, or $5,354 today. The Christian Science Monitor recounted a guest’s experience on said flight: “‘It was worth every penny we spent on it. . . . Mind you,’ she adds, and her voice does not suggest ostentatious wealth, ‘we’re not rich people.’”

A year later, the Finnish Tourist Board formalized the “Santa Claus Work Group” and opened Santa Claus Village, an amusement park operated by roughly 50 privately owned companies offering reindeer rides, tours of the cabin Eleanor Roosevelt first visited in 1950, and a look at the “Santa’s post office” that receives more than half a million letters annually. Santa Claus Village is open 365 days a year, a veritable winter wonderland in winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Today, Finland’s Santa Claus licensing is controlled by a privately held company that partners with 37 brands, including national carrier Finnair (the “official airline of Santa Claus”) and Visit Finland , the country’s national tourism organization, to promote Lapland’s Santa Claus attractions in Finland and abroad. To spread the message that Finland is “the true Christmas country” and “homeland of Santa Claus,” the foundation ensures Santa is visible practically everywhere, whether he’s shooting hoops with the Harlem Globetrotters in Helsinki (and encouraging children to have a hobby) or going on a goodwill Christmas tour through Asia by train (to show how important it is to use ecologically friendly transportation). “Santa Claus is a very important ambassador for the Foundation and especially for Finland, because he’s the best-known Finnish person,” says Jari Ahjoharju, CEO of the Santa Claus Foundation .

As a result, Santa Claus is seemingly so embedded in the Finnish consciousness that to suggest he could possibly, probably, maybe, perhaps, be from somewhere else is received as a joke at best, and a slight at worst. Even the illustrator who drew the rosy-cheeked, twinkling Santa for Coca-Cola in 1931 is of Finnish descent, didn’t you know?

“Santa Claus is not from the North Pole,” a displeased Finnish woman told me at an otherwise friendly business lunch, rapping her knuckles against our table in the strongest display of firmness I would see in my time in the country. “He is from Finland.”

Santa Claus receives more than half a million letters each year.

The real-life inspiration for the legend of Santa Claus is St. Nicholas of Myra, who lived considerably far from the Arctic Circle, in what is now southern Turkey. Known for his generosity, grace, and goodness with children, St. Nicholas was venerated across Europe for his quiet ability to perform miracles. (In addition to being the patron saint of children, St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of archers, prostitutes, teachers, and travelers.) Since the 4th century, the anniversary of his death, December 6, has been celebrated with deeds of charity and kindness. When settlers from Europe arrived in the so-called New World, they brought this tradition with them. For hundreds of years, as a religious figure, St. Nicholas was immune to creeping mass commercialism.

But in 1804, the founder of the New York Historical Society, John Pintard, named St. Nicholas patron saint of both society and city; in 1810, Pintard commissioned artist Alexander Anderson to design an image of St. Nicholas for the society’s December 6 celebration. Thought to be the first “American” image of St. Nicholas, Anderson’s illustration shows the saint giving gifts to children, with stockings hanging by the fireplace. References to the saint in poetry, prose, and illustrations snowballed, and in time, the saint transformed from a slim bishop to a portly pal of the people, circling the world with reindeer. The name Saint Nicholas, too, got a makeover, becoming Santa Claus, “a natural phonetic alteration from the German Sankt Niklaus ,” per the St. Nicholas Center at Virginia Theological Seminary (its tagline: “discovering the truth about Santa Claus”). In a December 1866 version of Harper’s Weekly , cartoonist Thomas Nast placed Santa Claus at the North Pole, and a hometown story version was born—in the United States, at least.

The Finnish word for Santa Claus is Joulupukki , or “Yule Goat,” which references the amalgamation of St. Nicholas and early pagan traditions celebrated by Finns, which saw men dress in horned goat costumes and demand leftovers from the Yule feast. Charity eventually replaced collection, and Joulupukki began handing out gifts, first knocking on doors and asking “Onko täällä kilttejä lapsia?” or “Are there any well-behaved children here?” Still, for nearly a century, wherever Joulupukki appeared, his secret home was always believed to be one place: Korvatunturi, where he would return by reindeer after delivering gifts.

In practical matters, to get anywhere near Korvatunturi by flight, you fly by plane to Ivalo, the northernmost airport in Finland and in the European Union as a whole. As we approached one day in late November, I squinted out the window, trying to discern what was road, what was river, what was mountain. A thick coat of snow hugged the earth, making the task from 20,000 feet feel as fruitful as remembering how to spell lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas , the longest word in the Finnish language . (Its translation: “airplane jet turbine motor assistant mechanic, non-commissioned officer, in training.”) Eventually, I turned from the window, resigned. There was too much white.

On the ground, the situation wasn’t much clearer. Though it was just north of 1 p.m., the sun had all but set. The mountains were covered in Cool Whip–like tufts, the rivers creaking slowly under their white eiderdown. The roads—aside from two well-carved tire tracks—were the crunchy white of granulated sugar. I had been informed they would be, and yet I was still surprised: When I had told a contact in Helsinki I would be traveling this far north, she nodded thoughtfully and suggested I drive slowly. “You know, we don’t really salt our roads,” she told me. “It’s not so good for the environment.”

By the time I made it to Saariselkä, a village 18 miles south of the airport that counts 350 full-time residents, the sun had fully set. It was -5 degrees outside. At a roundabout, a woman driving a team of sled dogs waited for me to pass. In the parking lot of the town grocery store, a man on skis glided off into the invisible beyond, a bag of chips in hand. It would be another hour still before I’d find my own accommodation in the disorienting darkness, thanks only to a reindeer farmer named Ulle who jumped in my car to direct me down an unplowed road, tapped his number into my phone in case I needed any assistance in the coming week, and disappeared. It was just me and the woods.

The next morning, I drove into the 980-square-mile Urho Kekkonen National Park toward Korvatunturi, white-topped trees winking with snow as far as the eye could see. Outside, the most noise I’d hear would be the squeak and crunch of snow underfoot. Inside the visitor center, there was little else but the melodic clink of spoons against ceramic, the scent of coffee and munkki —cardamom doughnuts—warming the room, and a band of Germans murmuring their contentment before clicking back into their cross-country skis. Outside again, when I looked at Korvatunturi and its twin peaks, I did not hear anything but the wind.

In Rovaniemi, by contrast, the sounds of Santa abound from the time you step off the plane, one of the mere 740,000 overnight visitors who help employ 1,800 people and bring 260 million euros (US$293 million) in revenue to Rovaniemi—population 63,032—each year. From November to January, there are direct flights to the airport from all over Europe, including Paris, London, Barcelona, and Istanbul. “Tourism has become a true success story,” says Sanna Kärkkäinen, managing director of Visit Rovaniemi, the local tourist board. “Surrounded by beautiful, snowy Lappish nature and under the Northern Lights, where the reindeer love to roam, he [Santa] couldn’t be happier elsewhere.”

Inside one of the cabins at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel, which runs on green energy.

Katja Ikäheimo-Länkinen grew up in Lapland, spending the summer sunlight playing in the forest and making cows: pinecones for bodies, and sticks for legs. Decades later, she would adopt this same aesthetic when thinking of the design for the Arctic Treehouse Hotel , which she opened in Rovaniemi with her husband, Ilkka Länkinen, in 2016—albeit with better construction materials: All shingle-clad chalets are topped with green roofs and stand on stilts made from Finnish wood, the shapes appearing almost as if they were ambling down the hill and merely paused in their tracks. (The pinecone cow is also the mascot of the Arctic Treehouse Hotel.) In each of the 32 units, northern-facing walls are made of glass, offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding forest and Arctic skies. Kourtney Kardashian visited in 2017.

The Arctic Treehouse Hotel is open year round, but winter is undeniably its most popular season. It seems practically designed for this purpose. In addition to the suites, the hotel also has a main building—shaped like a snowflake—counting a reception area, gift shop, meeting rooms, and restaurant, Rakas, with a menu designed by the chef and artist Petteri Luoto. Though the hotel offers the complimentary use of fat bikes, city bikes, toboggans, snowshoes, and Nordic skis, these offerings are only gently promoted, as if in tacit acknowledgement that Santa is the reason we’re all here, anyway.

Conveniently, after all, the Arctic Treehouse Hotel is just a short walk from SantaPark, a Christmas theme park that originally opened in 1998; Ikäheimo-Länkinen and Länkinen bought the majority shares of the park from the Finnish government and city of Rovaniemi in 2009. (SantaPark and Santa Claus Village are separate entities.) Then, the park’s main attractions were carousel rides and souvenir shops, and it was operating at a loss of $500,000 and had yet to post a profit. Says Ikäheimo-Länkinen, “We thought, ‘How can you make this better? How you can make the perfect fairy tale come true?’” For five years, Ikäheimo-Länkinen and Länkinen led with that mindset, reworking and reconstructing SantaPark, and adding Joulukka to its attractions.

Originally built in Syvasenvaara Mountain as an air-raid shelter, SantaPark is accessed via a 150-foot tunnel that slopes slowly toward Christmas central, a simulacrum of the Northern Lights reflecting green and purple off the cavern walls. As my group descended quietly into the belly of good cheer, our elf guide Sophina giggled and jingled in step, becoming more and more animated as we approached. My mind, unaccustomed to seeing such unchecked exuberance in anyone over 10 years old, pinballed between amusement and wariness. If she was a kid on Christmas morning, I was the adult in the corner, resisting the urge to blurt out that none of this was real.

By the time we reached the center of SantaPark, we had crossed the Arctic Circle and into a facsimile of a Western Christmas: soft white lights twinkled tranquilly from trees and pine boughs, and presents were piled everywhere. Elves, too, were everywhere, sorting letters in the post office, teaching elf school, and assisting Mrs. Claus in the gingerbread kitchen. Somehow all felt calm, all felt bright. I snapped into the sleigh-shaped train ride and scooted through interactive winter wonderland scenes, stumbling off five minutes later only mildly queasy; later, I was told that there is a boy who has ridden this ride more than 2,000 times.

In the elf workshop, I sat down at a log table and made a Santa ornament out of red felt, wood, and wool. With elf Sophina beaming by my side, I nailed Santa’s likeness to the wall alongside a collection of dozens of other Santas: Santas with short beards and poofy ones, rosy cheeks and white ones. Yet Santa was not in the post office nor his own office, his wood seat plump with pillows and reindeer fur but bare of the plump man himself. When I asked Ikäheimo-Länkinen as to his whereabouts—and as to how many Santas SantaPark actually has—she smiled big.

“Well, we actually only have one Santa Claus—one, that will visit all the houses all around the world,” she says. “And whomever you ask in here, that is the answer you will get.”

Santa Claus is one of Finland’s most beloved holiday characters.

It is whispered that the official Santa Claus of Finland wears clothing approved and specified by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland. His “costume” includes nods to the Sámi people—the design on the shoulders of the waistcoat, for example—and the waistcoat itself is modeled after traditional wear from Rovaniemi. This waistcoat must be made of red felt, paired with a “light-colored” linen shirt, “moss-green trousers,” white gloves, wool socks, and a red felt hat, per A Little Book About Christmas , authored by Länkinen. Other “important elements”? A “large stomach” and glasses, which can be round or rectangular but must have metal frames.

Santa’s conduct is also tightly controlled. His hands will “always be visible in photographs” and he “never appears to be in any kind of rush.” He will not discuss politics or religion. Santa is an “upstanding citizen who does not drink alcoholic beverages.” (He will also not discuss alcohol.) A visit with Santa Claus is also never quiet; conversation never stilted. Instead, I was told, it should be like an evening at the orchestra: Santa, the conductor, controlling the tempo and tone, though the tone is always light and the tempo, more often than not, is as peppy, poppy, and loose as Gershwin’s “Walking the Dog.” More people are always waiting, of course.

In November 2017, Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture decided to make Joulupukki—or the Finnish Santa Claus tradition—even more official: it would be included in the National Inventory of Living Heritage alongside 51 other items, including sauna bathing and everyman’s rights, or Finns’ right to visit anywhere in nature, even if that area of nature is owned by someone else. “The Santa Claus tradition in Finland is known everywhere in Finland and in many other countries as well,” wrote directors from Finland’s Board of Antiquities, which is responsible for the list.

Yet in the same way Finland has uniquely positioned itself as the home of Santa Claus, it is uniquely at risk of losing it. The Arctic is warming three times as fast as the global average, and a 2021 report by the Finnish Climate Panel predicted Rovaniemi would be more affected than any other area in Finland: higher temperatures are wreaking havoc on the region’s snow cover, threatening traditional Sámi reindeer husbandry and travel to the region. As Dr. Kaarina Tervo-Kankare, a researcher in Arctic tourism and changing environment at the University of Oulu, wrote in 2013: Finland’s Christmas tourism “has been assessed as the most vulnerable tourist season in the world because a white Christmas cannot be postponed to another month.”

Nearly 80 percent of Finland’s land area is covered by forest—most of it indigenous—and it has some of the cleanest water and air in the world . It counts 40 national parks, and nearly 200,000 reindeer. But instead of forgoing promotion for protection, Finland is trying a different tack: making promotion and protection of its natural assets synonymous by adapting and communicating high standards of responsibility. The goal is not just to be sustainable, Fins say, but to be the most sustainable travel destination. By being clearer about protecting their part of the Earth, they hope to attract travelers committed to doing the same.

In June 2020, the country unveiled Sustainable Travel Finland , a seven-step program for companies and destinations to help them adopt more sustainable practices. (Those that have completed the training and audit—like the Arctic Treehouse Hotel—receive a Sustainable Travel Finland label, which is reviewed annually.) A little more than a year later, in September 2021, Visit Finland became a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which establishes standards for sustainable travel and tourism. It is urgent, ongoing work: Finland’s Arctic Strategy, which drives sustainable development in the Arctic, has made sustainable tourism one of its priorities; the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, which is responsible for Finland’s tourism strategy through 2028, has identified supporting sustainable development as its primary goal. Finland has also pledged to become carbon neutral by 2035. Santa Claus, of course, is part of the messaging, and in a December 2020 call with Ireland’s ambassador to Finland, Ruth Parkin, he invited children to get involved. “They have wonderful ideas, and we need them now. Because we have to help the environment and do something about climate change,” he said.

On the night I finally spot Santa, he is sitting on an intricately carved wood chair in his command center. Fresh pine boughs hang above his head, while elves linger by his elbows, agents of cheer. His boots are wet from the snow. I eye him as suspiciously as I did when I was 10 and he appeared on a coal-colored night at my home in Germany. Decades have passed since then, but some things must just never change. I wait my turn, smiling, and when he holds out a white-gloved hand to me, I approach. Then he asks what I want for Christmas, and I tell him.

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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?

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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.

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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

• Dream of Joulukka
• Santa’s Toy Factory Adventure
• Joulukka Christmas Special
• Joulukka New Year Special
• Private Toy Factory Magic with Santa Claus
• Private Gingerbread Masterclass with Santa Claus
• Exclusive Private Meeting with Santa Claus
• Private Dream of Joulukka
• Guardians of Lapland
• Private Lappish Dinner in Kota
• Our Top Secret Locations

Santa Claus Secret Forest – Joulukka

Step Into Your Very Own Christmas Fairytale

Santa Claus Secret Forest – Joulukka is an exclusive destination where you can experience the magic of Christmas either privately or in small groups. The unique surroundings of the Lappish forest, our enchanting programs full of Christmas magic and surprises, conducted specially for you and your nearest and dearest with a touch of local traditions, are guaranteed to delight guests with the highest standards – kids and adults alike.

Come to visit us at Santa Claus Secret Forest – Joulukka and enjoy an unforgettable private meeting with Santa Claus, discover the secrets of the real elves and take part in fun holiday activities!

Group experiences

Group programs are taking place several times each week from the beginning of November to end of March and joined by multiple families.

Private experiences

Private Experiences – selection of fairytales that are done for your dear family only and available all year around.

Tailor-made experiences

Ever since we were children everyone had their own dream of Christmas fairytale. Let us make your dreams come true in Lapland for your nearest and dearest.

Design your own perfect fairytale with us!

Feel your fairytale

See what our guests have to say

Being in the Forest with the Elves

The elves are the best forever! Being in the forest was an incredible experience, we were learning about the history and manners of Finland from the elves, and playing with them! They are so funny, I want to come back now!

Guest feedback

"We didn't do the private experience and only had about 12 others in our group which didn't take away from the experience at all. The kids loved the elves that looked amazing and were very playful. the meeting with Santa at the end felt very private the way the elves organized it and we had plenty of time to chat and ask questions. The forest itself is stunning with squirrels and dear running through the trees. Highly recommend."

The Best Christmas Activity Ever!

By far, this was the best Christmas experience we had in Rovaniemi. A HUGE thank you to Elf Sandrina who captured the essence of Christmas and made my daughter's experience incredible. To be taken out to the forest and go through Elf School couldn't have been more magical.

Christmas spirit found

"We took our two grand children (3 and 5 years) to Joulukka. To them (as well to us) it was a fascinating, exciting place. The elves were so nice to children guiding them through the magic world. They knew them by name which gave a very personal touch for the visit."

Once in a lifetime experience

"This adventure was truly magical. The elves were wonderful and the entire excursion was like a dream. Just beautiful."

• Destination
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MEET SANTA CLAUS

A fantastic experience

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MEET ​​​​​​​SANTA

everyday of the year

You can meet Santa Claus every day of the year in the Christmas House, near our reception. Meeting Santa Claus is free! The photographer elf will take your picture, which you can purchase if you want to. The memory of this visit will never fade away!

You do not have to wait for Christmas to meet Santa

Unforgettable experience for everyone

Take a photo with Santa Claus!

INVITE SANTA

You can also invite Santa Claus for a private visit to your own cabin, bringing unequalled delight to your whole party! You can also request Santa Claus to distribute personal gifts when he comes to visit. A meeting with Santa Claus can’t get more unique than that!

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15 Things To Do In Finland With Kids

15 things to do with kids in Finland- Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Santa Claus to the Aurora Borealis, camping, amusement parks and more.

I just came home from the most incredible experience visiting Finland. I spent a week with some of my favorite fellow travel bloggers getting to know all about Finland and it’s benefits for family travelers.

My fellow travel bloggers and I spent a week in Finland, with our efforts concentrated in two parts of the country.  We were in the capital and largest city, Helsinki, in southern Finland just off the Gulf of Finland near the Baltic Sea. Then we went to northern Finland- Lapland, Rovaniemi. I would highly recommend both places to visitors.

I could seriously write an entire post about how awesome Finland is for families with kids, but for now I’ll just give you a bit of an overview on why I think Finland is a great place for parents to take their kids, and suggest to you some of the best activities I think you can do with kids.

Prepare for your visit to Finland by reading the Finnish Way – I loved it!

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Why Is Finland Great For Families?

In general, Finland is very family-friendly because Finns love kids, and believe that kids should be a part of everyday life and travel. This means, for example, that on public transport in Helsinki, if a parent arrives with a child in a stroller, they both ride for free.

Also- almost every public bathroom has a teeny potty for kids who are potty training. I saw countless play areas and spaces for all ages of kids to play outside.

And- high chairs, kids meals, strollers, cribs and more were abundant. Parents of young children- you won’t need to pack your gear for a Finland trip! There are even bassinet seats in Finnair Business Class!

Finland is safe for kids to be independent. I saw countless kids from the age of 7 on walking, riding bikes, or using public transport on their own.

Finally, there are absolutely TONS of activities for kids to enjoy in Finland- and here are a few of my favorites.

Visiting Helsinki? Here’s our Helsinki with kids city guide! And you can visit Stockholm with teenagers too- it’s not far at all!

#1- Visit a zoo!

Finns love nature, and they love zoos. There are over 60 zoos in Finland, and each one is made for families. I visited two zoos on my visit- the Helsinki Zoo and the Ranua Zoo in Rovaniemi. Both have restaurants, places to picnic, family ticket prices, and are open year-round.

#2- Visit an amusement park

Helsinki is home to Linnanmaki, one of Finland’s largest amusement parks.  Two fun things about the amusement park- it’s super easy to arrive via public transport and admission is free.

About that free admission- you can go to the amusement park and then just buy tickets for the rides or experiences that you want to try. There were some super sweet roller coasters here, and a Ferris wheel with a sauna car (how quintessentially Finnish!).

Of course, if you know anything about Finland you probably know something about Moomins, the adorable Finnish version of Smurfs that adorn books, clothing, dishware and even toothpaste in Finland.

Finland is home to a huge Moominworld (think Finnish Disneyland ) on a remote island in southwest Finland.

Visiting with teens? Little Family Adventure has your ultimate guide to Helsinki with teens .

#3- Mush with the Huskies

Even though Husky dog sledding and running is not a traditional Finnish sport (its origins are in Alaska), the climate of northern Finland, also called Lapland, is the perfect place to experience the husky dog sled tradition.

You can mush in the summer and fall months on a big cart with wheels- which is great because it isn’t so terribly cold. And of course, for the full winter dog sledding experience, you can do that too. There are lots of places to do so in Finland, you can read about our experience here .

Join me over at my favorite place- Instagram.

#4- watch the northern lights.

From September to March, the possibility of seeing the Aurora Borealis in northern Finland is pretty high- and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced!

You’ll want to dress warm, have your camera gear , your northern lights tracking app , and a viewing location all scoped out . The darker the better!  More information on viewing the Northern Lights here.

#5- Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site

If you love history and historic places, I love UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Finland is home to 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Everything from the Suomennlina Fortress near Helsinki to the wooden town of Old Rauma.

#6- Sleep in an igloo

Whether you visit for the Northern Lights or the eternal sun in the summer, sleeping in an igloo is a quintessentially Finnish experience.

The igloos are super warm, include lots of sleeping options and a sauna. The best part? You won’t have to get out of bed to enjoy the Northern Lights. (Sleep masks provided for those eternal sun months!)

#7- Visit a Museum

There are so many fun museums to visit in Finland, and the entrance fee is generally nominal or free. I love that there are often package rates for entrances to the museums. That means that two adults and two children will often pay a significantly lower rate. (Not so for larger families, unfortunately).

There is a museum for everything- toy museum, forestry museum, city museum, museums about the Arctic Circle and the Helsinki City Museum .  I especially love the signage in Finland- everything is bilingual, trilingual or more. You will definitely have English signs in almost every Finnish museum you visit.

#8- Visit a Library

Finland has a great public library system, and libraries function as community centers as well as educational centers.

Expect to find amazing Finnish architecture filled will books, videos, and even board games for check out. Cafes and play spaces are also hallmarks of Finnish libraries, so if you love books and want a great cultural experience, definitely consider visiting a public library . It’s free, too!

#9- Eat Delicious Food

Finnish food is unique, healthy and delicious. Lots of root vegetables, fish, mushrooms, and berries.

You can munch on delicious homemade bread, delicious European butter, and drink Finnish coffee or try berry juices for breakfast.

An economical lunch is offered buffet-style in almost every restaurant, museum and tourist attraction. Salmon soup, roasted potatoes, berries, and even reindeer!

Dinnertime? Salmon filet with roasted potatoes, grass-fed beef filets and more. And don’t forget to try Finnish gin, Napue, or sone delicious Finnish beer and wine.

For your sweet tooth- of course, you’ll want to try Salamakki- salted Finnish black licorice. If that isn’t your thing, Fazer chocolate is a hit with everyone. Or some fun Moomin cookies!

Want to make your own Finnish food at home? Try our favorite Finnish sandwich cookie recipe here .

#10- Visit Santa Claus

Santa Claus’s official hometown is in Rovaniemi, Finland , and it is worth a trip for “kids” of all ages. You can meet the real Santa Claus, feed his reindeer, send a postcard to loved ones back home, and hang out with the elves.

Don’t forget to jump across the Arctic Circle line- preferably with your best friends. You can read more about our visit to Santa Claus’s Village here.

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#11- sauna.

You aren’t a Finn until you’ve sauned. Many Finns have private saunas in their homes, and almost every hotel has a sauna for guest use.

Double-check with your hotel to see if they have rooms that offer private saunas. I had one in Rovaniemi and it was amazing.

For family sauna, know that it is normal for Finns to be naked in the sauna with their children, with both genders. If you aren’t comfortable with that, advocate for your needs with the specific sauna you want to visit, or skip this tradition.

#12- Visit a cathedral

Over 70% of Finland is Lutheran, and there are so many beautiful churches and cathedrals. From the iconic Helsinki Cathedral or the Upenski Cathedral in the capital city  to the Petäjävesi Church in central Finland (also a UNESCO site), you’ll love the Finnish architecture.

#13- Forage Your Own Food

Finland has an everyman’s right law, which means that anyone can forage for food on any land, public or private, in Finland.

You’ll definitely want to enjoy the Finnish tradition of foraging for your food (mushrooms, berries, and more!) before preparing your food on the grill!

Finns love to camp, and I think they invented glamping. Visitors to Finland can camp with relative ease- most camping sites have a place to cook.

Also, many Finnish camping areas will rent cottages, tents, sleeping bags and more. So definitely don’t let lack of gear stop you from exploring Finnish nature as the Finns do!

Wondering what to pack for your Finland trip ? We’ve got you covered.

#15 Visit a National Park

Finland is home to some of the most pristine nature in the world, and you must experience it. Just 30 minutes outside of Helsinki is the Nuuksio National Park, where you can forage, camp, swim, hike, canoe and more.

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