visit santa lapland from ireland

(01) 2311 800

Saturday 10am to 5pm-->

Manage My Booking

Book your dream Lapland Trip

Sunway currently operates Ireland's largest Lapland Program. We have been putting together packages to Lapland for 20 years now. We have unrivalled knowledge and we make sure everything is taken care of for you.

Our Charters fly Direct from Dublin from the end of November. We have 2 & 3 night all-inclusive packages available which include: Snow Mobiles, Husky & Reindeer Rides, Santa Visit, Tobogganing, Elf School, Flights, 20kg Bags, Transfers, Accommodation, Meals, Thermal Suits & Gear, Entertainment Elves & much more. Lapland is truly a family trip of a lifetime and one to treasure forever. Those who visit Lapland experience a scenery like no other.

It's a wonderland of snow where your time is filled with activities and special moments to share with your loved ones. You can book your trip to Lapland Now with just a €300pp deposit either online or over the phone.

Payment plans available. Pay what you can when you can - 0% interest. T&C's apply.

2 Night Trip: Enchanted Escape from €1549

Enchanted Escape

A perfect choice for a magical trip

2 Night Trip: Sleighbell Spectacular from €1769

Sleighbell Spectacular

Experience the snowy magic and adventure of Lapland on our 2 night trip

2 Night Trip: Holly Jolly Ruka from €1499

Holly Jolly Ruka

3 night trip: triple treat from €1799.

Triple Treat

Enjoy Yllás a traditional Lappish resort with breathtaking scenery

3 Night Trip: Holly Jolly Ruka from €1849

Experience the snowy magic and adventure of Lapland on our 3 night trip

3 Night Trip: Winter Wonderland from €1899

Winter Wonderland

Levi is an enchanting village that offers the ultimate family Christmas experience

Mon-Fri: 9am - 6pm Sat: 9am - 5:30pm Sun: Closed

The Ultimate Lapland Holiday

• Price Match Promise
• Snow Guarantee
• ABTA/ATOL Protected
• All airports
• London Gatwick
• Birmingham Int.
• Bournemouth
• London Stansted
• London Southend
• Manchester Int.
• London Luton
• Leeds Bradford
• Glasgow Int.
• Belfast Int.
• East Midlands
• All durations
• 2 night trips
• 3 night trips
• All Santa’s Lapland experiences
• Santa's Magic
• Santa's Aurora
• Santa's Hotel Tunturi
• Santa's Hotel Holiday Club
• Santa's Hotel Riekonlinna
• Santa's Saariselka Inn
• Santa's Star Arctic Hotel
• Santa's Glass Cube Cabins

Choose your Santa’s Lapland experience

Both of our lapland holiday packages include a reindeer ride, sledging with huskies, tobogganing, lots of snowy activities like snow hockey and mini skidoos, and a private visit with santa., on our santa’s aurora package, your activity centre is exclusive to our santa’s aurora families and you’ll have an additional wilderness dinner, a visit to santa's elves workshop, a longer husky ride and a snowmobile safari..

• SANTA s MAGIC Your choice of four hotels with everything you've dreamed of for a magical Lapland adventure. Explore Santa’s Magic

• Believe your eyes, this is an experience your family will cherish forever. From £1169 per adult See what's included
• SANTA S AURORA Enjoy the ultimate Christmas in Lapland with a little extra Aurora magic sprinkled on top. Explore Santa's Aurora

• The ultimate Lapland experience for your family, even the elves get jealous. From £1549 per adult See what’s included

Get Inspired

Santa and his elves can't wait for your arrival, but before your trip begins, get inspired! Unlock the magic of Lapland with our Santa's Chronicles, learn how to wrap up warm in Lapland or call our Christmas helpers to book your magical getaway.

Don't Miss Out On This Limited-Time Magic

Tick-tock. The magic's on the clock. We're giving the gift of incredible savings with HALF PRICE child places on our  Santa’s Magic package for selected dates in November and December 2024 & 2025.

No one knows how to make Christmas more magical

Flights, transfers, half-board accommodation, a fun-filled activity trip and snowsuits are all included.

A remote spot in the far north of Finland, 200km above the Arctic Circle among the snowy trees of Saariselkä.

If you are yet to book, and you find your Santa’s Lapland holiday cheaper elsewhere, we’ll price match it.

Everything about the holiday was magical. Amazing staff, hotel, organisation of the search for Santa day, the support of the company in the lead up to the trip. Can't recommend this trip and company enough. SANTA'S HOTEL TUNTURI - CHRISTOPHER December 2022

Amazing holiday. Reps were amazing. Programme was well thought through. I loved it as much as the kids. STAR ARCTIC HOTEL - REBECCA January 2022

A once in lifetime trip, magical and full of fun for children and adults. Accomodation practical with everything you needed, staff attentive and organised and the food suited everyone's needs. The adventures were unforgettable and breathtaking! SANTA'S HOTEL TUNTURI - MARY December 2022

We had a truly magical experience enhanced by the enthusiasm of the staff. Our boys 6 and 7 were taken aback by the whole experience and Santa was the icing on the cake. A family trip and memories that we will treasure forever! SANTA'S HOLIDAY CLUB - ALISON December 2021

Fancy more snow fun?

Keep the magic going with an extra day for adventure - the choice is yours. sledding on the toboggan run, the thrill of husky sledding, cruising through the snow by snowmobile or hunting for the northern lights..

• An extra day for family time in the snow. Husky and reindeer rides, thrilling snowmobiles, a spot of skiing, or a hunt for the Northern Lights. The choice is yours. Optional Adventures

• Explore a little more, make magical memories in this other-worldly wilderness. You're spoilt for choice. See for yourself

WAYS TO BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY TO LAPLAND

It's time to book your trip to Lapland and we can't wait for your arrival. Whether you're booking online or giving our Christmas helpers a call on 01483 791 945 , we're just as excited as you are for your magical journey to begin!

• Snow guarantee
• ABTA/ATOL protected
• Experts in Lapland for over 15 years

We are currently open, give us a call on:

Journeys to Magical Lapland

• 2 Night Trips
• 3 Night Trips

2024 – Lapland Lullaby – 3 Night Trip

Christmas Sparkle – 3 Night Trip 2024

Sleighbell Spectacular – 2 Nights / 3 Days

Enchanted Escape – 2 Night Trip 2024

Triple Treat – 3 Night Trip 2024

Nestled high within the arctic circle lies a place that blends magical imagination with breathtaking reality. A wintery wonderland where snow stretches in all directions and nature’s showstopping spectacle the northern lights dances across the night sky.

Lapland is quite unlike anywhere else on the planet. A vast, unrestrained wilderness blanketed with snow simply begging to be used for a snowball fight or to build a snowman, delightful towns that wouldn’t appear out of place in fairy tales, thick forests with ancient origins, and of course, Lapland’s most famous resident, Santa Clause.

Whether you’re making the trip north with young children desperate to catch a glimpse of jolly St Nicholas and perhaps a few of the roughly 200,000 reindeer in the region or simply as adults looking for a spectacular setting for one of the most unique holiday destinations around, Lapland is where the magic comes to life.

Lapland is a beautiful, sprawling area that covers the northern regions of Finland, Norway, Sweden and even part of Russia’s Kola Peninsula. It is home to less than 200,000 people but covers a huge 100,366 square km, making it comfortably bigger than the whole of Ireland.

While the name Lapland has become synonymous with a jolly man who generally wears a red suit (more on that shortly), the region has been home to the traditional Sami culture for considerably longer than the existence of Christmas.

These indigenous people may number less than 80,000 today, but their fascinating way of life, colourful costumes and deep connection to this harsh yet stunning environment shouldn’t be missed on any visit to Lapland. This is a region that effortlessly blends the mythical and fantastical with a rich history and traditional culture that makes it a wonderful place to visit for people of all ages.

For many, Christmas has simply become a time of buying gifts and then fretting over whether you made the correct purchase. In many ways, materialism has overtaken the spirit of Christmas. Often we forgo life-affirming experiences for gadgets that we will quickly tire of anywhere – but this Christmas, why not go against the grain and create memories that you’ll be coming back to for years to come?

Visiting Lapland for Christmas is an experience that no child forgets in a hurry – or adult for that matter – and that moment when your sleigh pulls up outside Santa’s house in the forest will leave people of all ages with that warm magical feeling inside that we all have as children but which gradually fades as we grow up.

But this is no Disneyland Christmas. Lapland’s remoteness and ruggedness provide a glorious setting for an experience that remains intrinsically linked with the natural world. While there is plenty of time to curl up next to a cosy fire, a few days in Lapland promises plenty of outdoor fun and a truly unique Christmas experience.

While visiting the Big Man will probably sit high on every wish list, there’s plenty more to do while you’re in Lapland. Whether you’re looking for high-octane fun as you thunder through ancient forests or the more sedate as you make use of the saunas and amenities in the town of Pyhä, there’s plenty to keep everyone happy.    

Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of learning to drive a snowmobile or maybe it’s the idea of riding on a sleigh pulled by either huskies or reindeer as your hurtle through a frozen wilderness quite unlike anywhere you’ve ever experienced that you’re looking forward to the most. Tobogganing is also available as is a visit to a real-life igloo where you’ll experience what it’s like to live within walls made entirely of ice.

Then we come to one of nature’s true wonders – a sight so mesmerising that it’s almost worth making the long journey to simply stare up at the sky in amazement. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis to use its more scientific name, is quite simply spellbinding if you’re lucky enough to witness it. There’s a good deal of fortune involved when it comes to seeing these dazzling lights so keep your fingers crossed and stay up-to-date with the Northern Lights Forecast app.

An Experience to Remember

We are happy to offer everything from single-day trips to 3-night packages that allows you to experience much more of what Lapland has to offer.

If you’re short on time then no problem. Our single-day option whisks you from Dublin to Lapland and back in a single day while still allowing you to visit Santa and experience this extraordinary setting.

For those with a little more time, why not stick around for a few days? Our two or three-night options let you get to know the region better and mean you can experience a wider variety of activities on offer. For a better idea of what is included in all three packages available, visit our holiday tours page for a full breakdown of the daily schedules.

There are holidays that you’ll always vaguely remember, then there are experiences that you’ll never forget. Children might be looking forward to seeing Santa Clause the most, but in years to come it may well be the sleigh ride through the frigid forest with the setting sun as a backdrop that they remember the most. While adults who had long considered themselves too old to experience Christmas as they did as children, might best recall the moment when they finally came face to face with Santa.

There’s no right way to experience Lapland. However you choose to do it, this is one place that stays with you for the rest of your life.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Santa’s Sleepover

2 day trip to lapland, from €1299* per person sharing.

Our day begins with an early morning flight from Dublin, Cork or Shannon Airport to Lapland. Subject to crew permission the festive fun will begin. There will be Christmas singing, colouring, drawing and lots of very excited children. On arrival at Rovaniemi airport – the official airport of Santa Claus, you will be met by our elves who will guide you throughout your 2 day trip to Lapland and help you search for Santa.

Once you’ve collected your special thermal clothing we will set off & enjoy wintery Lappish activities in the middle of nature. Candles and fires, together with snow covered trees and the magical lights of the arctic, will give the spirit of Christmas. During the day we will take a break from the activities and recharge our batteries by enjoying a nice hot lunch in a cosy restaurant. After a long day we will return to our hotel where we can relax and unwind and enjoy a three course buffet dinner. Don’t forget the snow covered town of Rovaniemi is on your doorstep for those still eager to explore.

Please note the order of activities will vary for each group.

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and visit Santa Claus village located on the Arctic Circle. You and your family will enjoy a private meeting with Santa in his official office and Santa will have a small token gift for each child. Make friends with the cheerful postal elves in Santas Post Office where you will see a colourful world of beautiful cards, stamps and gifts. You will have time to write and send your letters from Santa’s official Post Office. Upon leaving the village we will return our thermal clothing.

Finally, it’s time to take a short coach transfer back to Rovaniemi airport for our flight home and bid a happy farewell to the land of Santa Claus. A light lunch will be served on board the flight.

What’s Included

• Meeting with Santa
• Free gift for children aged 2-12 years
• Snowmobile, husky and reindeer sleigh rides
• Snow & ice fun activities
• A trip to Santa’s post office & village
• Thermal clothing for the duration of your trip
• Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on day 1 and Breakfast on day 2)

Please Note

Flights from Shannon and Cork are subject to an additional flight supplement from €90.00 per person. Children must be aged between 2 – 12 years of age Infants under 2 years of age on date of return travel free but will incur a tax and administration fee of €50. Please see advice on travelling to Lapland with infants. . Travel insurance is not included. Flight times are subject to change. Prices are subject to change.

Accommodation Options

Santa claus hotel, standard room, superior room.

Rooms The hotel offers Modern, well equipped rooms designed to make your staya relaxing one. Each room offers a mini bar, Wi-Fi, Flat screen TV, Safety deposit box, Heating, Kettle, ironing board – Trouser press, Shower, Hair dryer. Standard rooms to sleep up to 3 people with twin beds and sofa that can be used as an extra bed Superior rooms for up to 4 people with twin beds and sofa that can be made into 2 extra beds.

Location Set in the heart of Rovaniemi close to the Arctic Circle and only 8km from Santa Claus Village. A shopping mall also adjoins the hotel and bars / restaurants can be found nearby.

Facilities Restaurant offering Lappish and international cuisine – Café / bar – Cocktail bar – Play area for children – 3 Saunas – 24hr Reception

Facts 170 Rooms, 5 floors with 2 lifts.

Pohjanhovi Hotel

Standard twin room (max 3).

Rooms Enjoy a good night’s sleep in a comfortable room which is tastefully furnished. Each room includes wi-fi, telephone, hair dryer, Shower & TV. Twin rooms to sleep up to 3 people with twin beds and an extra bed for the 3 rd person. Large Twin rooms for up to 4 people with twin beds and a double sofa bed. (Large rooms are in the annex building which is a short walk through a corridor to the main hotel)

Location The hotel is in the best spot in the city, on the banks of the River Kemijoki. Only a few minutes’ walk from Rovaniemi town centre where you can find bars, restaurants and shops. The hotel is 9km from Rovaniemi airport and 8km from Santa Claus Village.

Facilities Indoor Pool – Restaurants – Room service – Laundry service – Bar & Lounge – Nightclub – Free Wi-fi in public areas – Play area in the lobby – Reception

Facts 212 & 2 disables Rooms, 5 floors in the main building & 4 in the Annex, 3 Lifts in the main building and 2 lifts in the annex.

Scandic Hotel

The newly refurbished Scandic hotel has a friendly Lappish atmosphere and will ensure you and your family are kept cosy during your stay. Unwind in the top floor saunas then cool down on the balcony that offers breath-taking views of the city. After dinner your family and friends can relax in the hotel Lobby Bar with a warm drink and unwind after your day of activities.

Rooms Recently renovated rooms are stylishly decorated and offer comfort and relaxation. Each room is equipped with a mini bar, Shower, hairdryer, TV, Radio, telephone & comfortable chairs. Standard rooms to sleep up to 3 people with sofa bed for 3rd person.

Location The Scandic hotel is conveniently located within walking distance from bars, restaurants and shops in Rovaniemi centre and only a short drive to Santa Claus Village. The hotel is 10km from Rovaniemi airport and 8km from Santa Claus Village.

Facilities Sauna Terrace with city views – Lobby Bar – 24hr Reception – Mini Shop – Wi-fi – Bar – Restaurant – Gym

Facts 178 rooms, 5 floors and 2 lifts.

Book Online Now

Enquire Now

Other lapland holidays, things to do in lapland.

• Santa’s Grotto
• Reindeer & Husky Safaris
• Lapland Snowmobiling
• Lapland Tobogganing
• The Northern Lights

Places To Stay In Lapland

Holidays to lapland.

• Holly Jolly Ruka – 3 Day Trip
• Enchanted Escape – 3 Day Trip
• Sleighbell Spectacular – 3 Day Trip
• Triple Treat – 4 Day Trip
• Holly Jolly Ruka – 4 Day Trip
• Winter Wonderland – 4 Day Trip

Useful Information

• Getting To Lapland
• Terms & Conditions

Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TA0731© 2020. Visit Santa is part of Sunway Holidays

• 3 Day Trips
• 4 Day Trips
• Santa’s Grotto
• Manage My Booking

Lapland Holidays

Need help with your lapland holiday booking.

Call our travel experts free on 1800 814 038

Alternatively click the button below to make an enquiry

Welcome to go2santa. Book Lapland Holidays from Ireland with planned itineries, flights, accommodation and airport transfers (sometimes in a sleigh!). If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas filled with wonder, joy, and good ol’ fashioned family fun, holidays in Lapland are the way to go! Here at Go2Santa, we have an exciting range of holiday packages in this bonafide winter wonderland that extend from 1 to 4 Days, and include such activities as:

• Dashing through the snow in a reindeer or husky led sleigh
• Getting to know Santa’s elves at their Elf School in Santa Park!
• Crossing the Arctic Circle
• Meeting Santa Claus himself!

‘Tis the season to spread joy, and this incredible, authentic holiday experience is sure to make any kid’s dreams come true, and be one family trip that you’ll remember forever.

Lapland Trips 2023

Enchanting Lapland - Option 1

• 2 nights from €1795pp

Lapland Trips 2024

Enchanting Lapland

• 3 nights from €1449pp

Activities in Lapland

Aurora borealis.

This stunning natural phenomenon lights up the dark sky.

In Santa Park elves guide you through Santa’s home cavern.

Board sleds pulled by Santa’s own reindeer and huskies!

Santa Village

Twinkling christmas trees, snowmen, and possibly reindeer!

‘Twas months before Christmas, and yet all through Ireland, Tired parents in kitchens held their heads in their hands; How do you make Christmas better than last year? How best can you raise festive spirit and cheer? The perfect solution then came in a click; Why don’t we go and visit good ol’ Saint Nick?

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE OFFICIAL SANTA CLAUS OFFICE LAPLAND

INSIDE: Looking to visit the OFFICIAL Santa in Lapland? Head to Santa Claus Office in Rovaniemi.

If you are planning a trip to see Santa in Lapland, head to the Santa Claus Holiday Village, 8km from the city of Rovaniemi.

THIS is the centre of the action.

The epicentre of all things SANTA, and Christmas, and hopefully SNOW! 

There are a few important things you need to know when you plan to MEET Santa in Lapland. 

Interested?

Read on to find out everything you need to know about visiting the MAIN Santa Claus Office & gift shop, 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. We toured the Main Office of Santa accompanied by Anne Saahkari, Media representative from Visit Rovaniemi , who gifted us the Digital Downloads of our Santa Photos. Thank you Anne. However all opinions are our own. 

Want to Meet Santa in Lapland?

The Official SANTA in the village (and in the whole of Rovaniemi) is the one who spends his days at the MAIN OFFICE, or Joulupukka.

This is the building pictured above, with the distinctive roof top.

Look for the sign on the door that says “SANTA IS HERE”.

This is where you need to go to MEET Santa in person. 

You’ll also spot two red GNOMES outside, guarding the door. (see picture above)

Where is Santa’s post office? 

Note, that the MAIN OFFICE of Santa, and the Santa Main POST OFFICE are different places. 

These two Santa Claus village attractions are in two SEPARATE buildings, about 50 metres apart.

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

Official Santa Claus Office Finland

Santa in Lapland is in the MAIN OFFICE, as described above. 

There is NO Santa Claus in Post Office.

There, we cleared that up.

Secondly, there is more than one Santa in the Santa Village, plus at least two other Santa’s you may come across in your adventures and tours around Rovaniemi.

Click here for a detailed overview , so you can plan your Lapland itinerary to manage this challenge, and keep the magic of a visit to the REAL Santa alive and well. 

Now, for details of what to expect when you head into the SANTA CLAUS MAIN OFFICE.

Take a peek. 

Entrance of the Main Office of Santa Claus Rovaniemi

Head in through the doors and you’ll find the entrance to Joulupukki Santa Claus.

The happy helpers at the door will guide you to the beginning of the pathway that will lead you to Santa himself.

Hot tip: Go early, and beat the crowds coming in from Rovaniemi hotels, and on Santa day tour buses. 

Santa Claus Village Hotel 

Or if you are staying in the Santa Claus Village Cottages or Suites, pop in for a visit and photo with Santa AFTER the day trip to Lapland crowds dissipate, after 4pm. 

This is the best way to visit Santa Claus in Lapland. 

( Read our review of the Santa Claus Holiday Village cabins & find details of how and when to book too)

During the busy Christmas season, the Santa Office is open from 9am to 7pm.

Santa Claus Office Desk 

Take your time as you wander along the corridor to Santa.

See Santa’s OFFICIAL working desk. 

This is where he makes all his notes about who is on his Nice List. 

Don’t miss a thing on your visit to Santa in Lapland. 

Baby Reindeer Day Care! 

Look out for the peepholes around the place.

You might even see Baby Reindeer in Day Care!

Santa’s Photo Wall with Famous Visitors to Lapland 

This is a picture of Santa with LORDI, a very famous Finnish death metal band.

Fun Fact: According to Wikipedia, the band won the  Eurovision Song Contest 2006  with their song “ Hard Rock Hallelujah “.  

Strange things do happen.

Spot the Spice Girls!   

Yes, they are on the wall too, along with well known politicians, Finnish TV stars, and sports people. 

Next up, Santa Photos in Lapland

We stripped off our Snow Suits to capture our 2019 Santa Photo in our specially-chosen Santa Jumpers. 

(These quirky ones are from the London Museum of Transport store.)

This is the BEST Santa Photo we’ve ever had, and we can’t wait to add it to the prime spot on our Santa Photo fridge gallery. 

(Our fridge at home features our Santa photos from 2009 when Ned was 1 up to 2018, so we enjoy looking at them daily!) 

A professional photographer Elf takes a photo of every guest of Santa Claus.

However there is no obligation to buy photos (unless you love them, of course!) 

Price of Main Office Santa Claus Photographs & Digital Downloads 

• Downloadable photographs and video start from 45,00 Euro (max. 5 people)
• Photograph A4 size costs 32,00 Euro. 

Santa Claus Main Office Shop in Lapland

When you’ve said goodbye to Santa for the final time, head into the shop to find beautiful Lapland souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

Lots of the Finnish souvenirs and gifts here are unique, and/or handmade.

You won’t find these Santa souvenirs anywhere else in the Santa Village. 

Take a sneak peek inside the Santa Claus gift shop below. 

BEST LAPLAND GIFTS in Santa Claus Shop

No.1: finnish santa chocolate & tea.

Finnish food is always a winner, especially Fazer Chocolate and local tea. 

There’s also a Karl Fazer shop with all the Fazer biscuits in the village.

Find it here. 

Hot tip: Read our guide to the best Finnish food and what to buy in a Finland supermarket here. (Update coming soon) 

No.2: Husky Dog Soft Toys

There’s a whole bunch of different Husky toys to choose from. 

The hardest thing is to pick which one is the cutest.

Hot tip: Buy an extra husky dog or two. These are easy carry, lightweight souvenirs for all ages, & I guarantee you’ll need an extra gift for someone you’ve forgotten to buy for! 

No.3: Stuffed Toys from the Santa Claus Office Collection

Smaller Husky and Reindeer Keyring plushies are available too, if you don’t have lots of room in the suitcase. 

No.4: MORE Stuffed Teddies, Rabbits & Unicorns 

Random! 

Even a pink sparkly unicorn, just because. 

No.5: Handmade Felted Dolls & Animals 

Gorgeous handmade felt finger puppets, and animal faces make a unique addition to the Christmas displays at home. 

No.6: Decorative brownies felted by hand.  

These gorgeous Christmas dolls are designed by Atelje Hannetar .

42,00 euro each. 

No.7: Felted Reindeer

Reindeer ornaments by the same designer.

39,00 euro each. 

No.8: Christmas Gnomes and Christmas Ornaments

There’s gingerbread men, and love heart decorations. 

No.9: Miniature Tomten Gnomes

And Christmas Boy & Girl dolls that sit on the mantlepiece. 

No.10: Santa & Elf Ornaments 

Adorable Santa’s like this one.

No.11: More Santa and Christmas Tree Ornaments 

Mix and match your favourite tree decorations. 

No.12: Santa Fridge Magnets

Add to your fridge magnet collections.

You might find these articles useful too: 

• BIG list of ideas of travel souvenirs to collect
• How to display your travel souvenirs 

No.13: Santa Village Sweaters 

Stay warm indoors and out. 

No.14: Novelty Christmas Booties for Babies and Toddlers 

Ideal baby gifts from Lapland. 

No.15: Cute Socks for Kids & Toddlers

Socks are cute gifts for babies from Lapland too. 

No.16: Christmas Socks for Adults too!

These are an official product from the Santa Claus Office. 

Buy up big. 

Hot tip: As you exit the shop, look for the staircase to your left.

There’s a second floor, called Santa’s Secret attic, full of more cute Christmas gifts from Lapland. 

THE INSIDE SCOOP: A Trip to see MAIN OFFICE Santa Village Finland

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

Santa Claus Office address: Joulumaantie 1, 96930, Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, Finland  Santa Claus Office email: [email protected] Santa Claus Official website: Click here 

Santa Claus Office cost 

FREE ENTRY always

(Purchase of photos optional.)

Opening hours of Santa Claus Office:

Open every day of the year.

• 1st December until 6th January: 9am to 7pm (Christmas season) 
• 7th January to 31st May:  10am to 5pm
• 1st June to 26th August:  9am to 6pm  (Summer season)
• 27th August to 30th November:  10am to 5pm 

How to get to Santa Claus Office Lapland

You’ll see the MAIN OFFICE of Santa Claus building as you walk into the Santa Village to the left of the Three Elves restaurant.

Go past the Arctic Circle crossing stone cairns to find the main Santa Claus office building on your right. 

Click here  for details of how to get from Rovaniemi to Santa Claus Village.

(You might also like details of how to get from Helsinki to Rovaniemi on the Santa Claus Express night train , and by plane.)

Santa Claus Village Map

Toadstool Rating: Official Home of Santa Claus in Lapland

The professional photo with Santa was top notch.

The best of all. 

The shop is unique too. 

DAY TRIPS TO DO SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE ACTIVITIES

Planning a 1 night trip to Lapland? 

Please stop for a minute and reconsider. 

If you are coming to Lapland, and travelling all that way, one night in this magical place is NOT enough. 

The same goes for a Lapland day trip. 

However, we understand that for some families, a Lapland day trip is better than nothing! 

(And it is.)

Think of it as a taste-test.

Then start saving to come back for a longer vacation to see Santa Claus & do ALL the fun stuff.

You can book a day trip to Santa in Lapland from the UK with a number of companies.

Unfortunately, we are unable to help you choose the best Lapland day trip company without having experienced it ourselves.

(We were on a self-arranged itinerary staying four days in Lapland.) 

Itinerary coming soon!

Santa Claus Finland Lapland Day Trip 2021 

But start your research with the package deal companies listed below: 

• Santas Lapland
• Santa Claus Trips
• Santa Holidays
• Magic of Lapland (.net) 

If you have the time, and will book a longer stay, take a look at our guide below. 

Planning Holidays to see Santa in Lapland 2020 for Christmas? 

Starting to plan your Lapland 2021 holiday?

It’s a LOT to think about to squeeze ALL of the amazing Lapland activities into your itinerary, so you don’t miss a thing. 

Want some help?

Take a look at our guide to 2020 Lapland vacations: EVERYTHING you need to know about a LAPLAND 2021 HOLIDAY

This is ALL the information we wish we’d had at our fingertips before we visited.

It will help you to decide what’s worth the money, and what’s not.

Lapland Santa Trip Planning

We also share information on the best tours, and don’t-miss activities. 

Plus HOW to get to Santa Claus Village, and whether you should catch the Santa Express train from Helsinki, or plane.

And, of course, what to wear in Lapland in Winter. 

Do let us know if there’s anything else you’d like to know!

[email protected]  

We’ll do our best to help you plan your best Christmas Holiday ever.  

Looking for MORE THINGS TO DO IN ROVANIEMI Lapland with kids? 

Click the blue links below for more Lapland tips

Everything you need to know about Forest of Joulukka Tours to meet Santa & his Lapland Elves

What to buy in rovaniemi at santa village shops, sneak peek inside the marimekko finnish design store in finland, the all you need guide to planning a lapland christmas holiday 2021.

Affiliate Disclosure:

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

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

Click here for a detailed explanation of our Advertising policy.

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

Santa Trips

Visit Santa in Lapland

Book Your 2024

Santa Trip to Lapland

And Meet Santa

Visit Santa In Lapland in 2023

Now is the perfect time to plan your special family Christmas 2023 trip to Lapland. You’ll meet Santa as well as his reindeer and elf helpers, and enjoy a host of fun Christmas and snow-related activities including Snowmobiling, meeting husky dogs, and a ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh!

We offer a variety of Santa Trips to suit your needs ranging from a day trip to 2-night or 3-night Lapland stays.

Enchanting Lapland Day Trip

Christmas Sparkle 2 Night Santa Trip

Lapland Lullaby 3 Night Santa Trip

Merry Christmas from the team at Santa Trips & Travel Escapes.

• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Lapland On A Budget – How much does it cost and top tips!

If you had told me at the start of 2018 that we would have been preparing to visit Santa in Lapland in December of that year, I’d have told you that you were dreaming. However, that’s exactly what we were in the throes of come February of that year. And I’m going to tell you the most affordable way to visit Santa in Lapland on a budget with kids . I’m also going to tell you how we bagged a 10-day trip for less than a 1-night trip to Lapland. Interested?

POST UPDATED JUNE 2021

• Booking excursions

Visit Santa in Lapland – Plan where you are going

Lapland excursions and things to do in rovaniemi with kids, cost of visiting santa in lapland from the uk.

*This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about affiliate links, please read my Disclosure Policy .

Taking your children on this fantastical trip to Lapland to see Santa, particularly in December on the run up to Christmas, is the sort of trip parents dream about. They imagine the delight on their children’s faces when they come face-to-face with the big man himself in his actual home, Santa’s Lapland.  It has always been considered the trip-of-a-lifetime, a bucket list destination , one that is usually out of reach for many people.

There are lots of holiday agencies that cater to parents who wish to take their children to see Father Christmas in Lapland, and who can afford it. But the cost of some of those Lapland package holidays put many people off. These are by no means cheap Lapland holidays. Sometimes the cost of a trip to Lapland is utterly eye-watering.

Read my complete guide to visiting Lapland with kids with top tips and more.

Tips for booking a DIY Lapland Trip

There are a few things you need to consider when considering booking a trip to Lapland on a budget.

Which Lapland town/resort to choose?

Deciding which Lapland town to go to is your first consideration. Personally, I don’t think there is one best resort in Lapland to see Santa in. Each Lapland resort has pros and cons over others, so if it is simply a matter of budget, compare prices for each town and airport and go for the cheapest.

One thing to consider is whether you want to be in a big town, whether you want to combine your Santa visit with some family skiing, or if the Northern Lights are top of your Lapland bucket list .

Lapland towns and resort include:

• Rovaniemi – The capital of Finnish Lapland and largest town. This is also the official hometown of Santa Claus, home to the Santa Claus Village , and has all the modern conveniences of a modern, large town.
• Ylläs – A smaller town that can have a more personal feel to it with skiing as an option too.
• Levi – This is Finnish Lapland’s largest ski resort and is popular with the Lapland tour operators.
• Saariselkä – The most northern town in Finnish Lapland, this is a great spot for skiing and also for trying to spot the Northern Lights.
• Ranua – A small village an hour from Rovaniemi where you’ll find the zoo, and plenty of igloo accommodation.
• Luosto – Another ski resort where you can also visit an Amethyst Mine.
• Ruka – This is a small traditional Finnish town that lies on the edge of National Park and that has a carbon-neutral ski resort.

We decided to visit the official hometown of Santa Claus, Rovaniemi. As we were getting the overnight train from Helsinki (see below for more details), this was the most convenient Lapland resort for us. There is also an airport in Rovaniemi, less than 10 minutes from the city centre had we wanted to fly up from Helsinki.

But, as I’ve said, which resort in Lapland you choose to visit is a personal one. For details on how we booked our trip, be aware that prices reflect our choice of Rovaniemi.

How to get to Lapland – Flights and trains

There are two ways to reach Lapland. You can either get flights (direct or indirect) to one of the airports in Lapland, or you can fly to the capital Helsinki, and get the overnight train to Rovaniemi. If you are not staying there, you can hire a car and drive to your Lapland resort.

Airports in Lapland

There are four main airports in Lapland. They are:

• Rovaniemi – The main city in Finnish Lapland has an airport of its own located less than 10 minutes from the city centre.
• Kittilä – This airport serves Ylläs and Levi, with a journey time of 60 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively.
• Ivalo – This is the airport serving Saariselkä which lies 25-minutes from the airport.
• Kuusamo – The Finnish town of Ruka is served by this airport and is a short 10-minute journey from the airport.

Direct flights from the UK are the best way to arrive in Lapland but your choice is limited. Easyjet fly into Rovaniemi while TUI fly to the other three. However, these direct flights get booked up rapidly, as soon as they are released and you need to be quick.

There are a few Lapland Facebook groups where the release dates are announced, and you could sign up to Easyjet’s newsletter to try get early news of when their flights will be released. But it may mean a 4am start to get on your computer, ready to nab the cheapest early flights. And be aware that the prices start to increase rapidly as availability declines. Do not second guess yourself. If you think the price seems reasonable for your family and budget, BOOK IT, because hesitating and seeking advice will only mean someone else nabs that price and by the time you return, your quote will most likely have increased significantly.

Indirect flights are another option. You could fly to another European city, before making your way to Helsinki and grabbing a Finnair flight to one of the Lapland airports. This can work out significantly cheaper if you miss out on those early direct flights. However, as you will read later, this option was going to push our budget up, so we opted for another way to reach Lapland. By train.

Another way to reach Lapland is to fly to Helsinki and get the overnight train to Rovaniemi. This was the option we went with as it kept our budget low and was a bit of an adventure for us. If the overnight train sounds like a bit of fun, flying to Helsinki and hopping onto one of these can keep costs down, especially if you are a larger family.

What are your choices for accommodation in Lapland

Like all towns and cities, there are lots of accommodation choices in Lapland and where you stay is both a personal choice and dependant on budget. You can stay in an igloo, hotel, ice hotel, log cabin, apartment, the world is your oyster. And budget plays a big part in it.

We chose an AirBnB apartment in the centre of Rovaniemi as it was cheap and gave us what we needed. A bed for the night, somewhere to hang our winter gear to dry after a day playing in the snow, and somewhere to prepare breakfast and dinner. Eating out in Finland can be expensive so booking a self-catering apartment gave us the option to keep our food bill down too.

Since we were not going to be spending any significant amount of time in our accommodation during the day, it seemed pointless to pay large sums for it. So, cheap and cheerful AirBnB was our choice. It meant we could splash out on our excursions a bit more too.

Booking excursion s

One thing you need to consider when booking a DIY Lapland trip is that excursions and experiences are extra, whereas with package holidays, they are included. The best place to get information about booking excursions for your family are the local tourist offices.

I contacted Visit Rovaniemi before our trip to get advice on the best place for a husky safari and for help in identifying a local photographer for our winter family photoshoot. And both recommendations were the ones we chose.

There are tourist offices in each Lapland resort that can help with excursions, as well as accommodation recommendations if you are struggling. They are:

• Visit Rovaniemi
• Ylläs Travel Information
• Explore Inari-Saariselkä
• Visit Ranua
• Visit Phya-Luosto
• Ruka Tourist Information

Remember, that if you are visiting in December, daylight hours are limited, so don’t try and do it all. Create your Lapland wish list and allow one excursion a day. You can see what we managed to fit in with our Lapland itinerary .

So, now that you have some tips, how much does it really cost to see Santa in Lapland? Well, here’s how we booked Lapland on a budget and exactly how much it cost us. Note that these prices are for December 2018.

How much does it usually cost to go to Lapland to see Father Christmas?

There are several options when it comes to going to Finnish Lapland to visit Santa from the UK. There are travel agencies who offer a one day trip to Lapland, Finland, and families often find this is the cheapest way to visit Lapland. But for a family of three, like us, this still costs a pretty penny at an average of £1300 for December. For a Lapland day trip! Cheap Lapland day trips just don’t exist.

And to avail of this option, you’ll be facing a 6am-ish flight from Gatwick and returning to Gatwick around midnight. There are similar early starts from other airports too. I don’t know about you but that is not the sort of trip I could face with a young child. Certainly not for that price.

Plus, you’ll most likely need to add an overnight stay in an airport hotel both before and after your trip. For a family of four, that cost goes up to around £1740, depending on the travel agency you book with. So, Santa day trips and their worth are something to really think about before you book a holiday to Lapland.

So, what’s your next option? Well, you could choose to do a 2 day trip to Lapland which would include a one overnight stay. Again, you’d probably be facing an early morning flight, and returning the following afternoon or evening. I looked into the cost of this for a family of three and the two quotes I got back for these Lapland packages were between £1797 and £2866*, depending on your departure airport and hotel accommodation. For a family of four that increased to between £2316 and £3176. I suspect you could buy a few Christmas puds and mince pies for that money! Cheap trips to Lapland these are not.

And Lapland 2 night breaks were coming in at between £2257 to £3052 for a family of three, a family of four would be facing costs of between £2436 to £3436, again depending on your departure airport and hotel accommodation. So, you can see how these prices could be a bit of a shock for such short Lapland family holidays. Many families wouldn’t spend that much on a summer one or two-week holiday in the sun. So, why should Lapland holidays cost more than your summer one? Seems unfair, no?

Now, what if I told you that you could meet Santa in Lapland for 4 nights, and visit the Finnish capital of Helsinki for 3 nights and still not spend as much as a 1 night trip to Lapland package holiday? Would you believe me? Are you thinking there is a catch?

Let me tell you, yes you can and no, there’s no catch.

My sister-in-law managed to visit Santa in Lapland on a budget a few years ago and she has been the inspiration for us, and many others, to finally be able to make this trip-of-a-lifetime in a more affordable way.

So, how can you visit Lapland in an affordable way? By booking everything yourself and doing your Lapland trip DIY style. It may seem like a daunting prospect but it’s actually rather easy, you just need to be a bit savvy. And I’m going to share with you how we’ve done it and how much it’s cost us. I hope this will help you DIY Lapland and prove to you that Lapland holidays on a budget CAN be done and help you find the cheapest way to do Lapland.

Lapland on a budget with kids ( The most affordable way to visit Santa in Lapland )

The cheapest way to go to Lapland is to avoid those package holidays at all costs. DIY Lapland holidays involve booking your flights and accommodation yourself helping you to save a pretty penny. This is how we visited Santa in Lapland on a budget. Just be aware that you do not have the peace of mind as package holidays do when it comes to things like cancellations.

As we are now living in the Algarve in Portugal, we flew with TAP, Air Portugal, from Faro to Helsinki via Lisbon. There was no direct flight for us or other cheap flights to Lapland, so we had a transfer in Lisbon before travelling on to Helsinki. The cheapest flights we found involved a 45-minute transfer on the way out and a one-hour transfer on the way back. When you’re travelling with a four-year-old, that is very, very tight.

So, the next price up gave us four hours for our transfers each way, which was much more doable, considering TAP are notorious for being late or delayed. The base cost of our flights was €524 (£468, exchange rate at the time of writing this post). However, as our flight to Helsinki was an overnight flight, we booked extra leg room seats so that hubby could try and be comfortable enough to catch some sleep. So, the total cost of our flights was €693 (£619).

To find flights, availability and latest prices for flights to Rovaniemi (Lapland) or Helsinki, check out Skyscanner .

Overnight Train – Polar Express

We were due to arrive into Helsinki early in the morning and would be leaving later that night on an overnight train with VR to Rovaniemi, dubbed the “Polar Express”, arriving early the next morning.

We booked a two-berth cabin which cost us €196 for a return trip (£176, exchange rate at the time of writing this post). This would be the same price for a family of four with two children sharing their parents’ berths.

At the time of booking our train tickets the online payment system kept timing out on me. The Christmas timetables and tickets had just been released so there was probably a lot of people trying to book tickets at the same time.

So, to make sure I could avail of the Saver Berth prices of €49 per adult each way, I rang the customer services line for the online shop (+358 800 166888), choosing option 3 for English, and spoke to a very nice lady who did the booking for me over the phone. She also sorted out the additional ticket for our son, which was free of charge.

What do I mean by free? Children under 10 can travel free in the same berth as a full-paying adult provided they are sharing the berth. So, if you are booking online, don’t book a ticket for your children (one child per full paying adult). Instead, call VR Customer Services and they will add your children to your ticket. If you book online, you’ll be paying more than you need to for under 10’s. There is breakfast of porridge included but my sister-in-law reliably informed us it’s not the nicest, so our plan was to stock up before we left Helsinki.

VR Customer Services number is 00358 203 32033 and they have English speaking operators.

Accommodation in Rovaniemi

While there are numerous hotels in Rovaniemi, including one at the Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, we opted instead for an AirBnB. Not only did we get a one-bedroom apartment, but we got the flexibility of being able to cook for ourselves as Scandinavia is not known to be the cheapest for eating out or eating in hotels. With a one-bedroom apartment, we had the option of putting our son to bed and relaxing for the evening after what I was sure was going to be very busy days taking in all of the amazing things to do in Lapland with kids in tow.

Photo by Rucksack Magazine on  Unsplash

I managed to book a centrally located AirBnB in Rovaniemi for four nights which cost us £477. Our host and I had some messages back and forth, and she was very accommodating and helpful. I also discovered that the apartment was conveniently located within walking distance to some of the museums in the city, an Angry Birds Theme park and that there were regular buses to Santa Village and Santa Park from near our accommodation. There was also a large supermarket across the road, so we could buy food for breakfasts and dinners.

Accommodation in Helsinki

Again, I booked an AirBnB in Helsinki within walking distance to the central train station where we would be arriving after Lapland. Public transport in Helsinki is brilliant so getting around wasn’t going to be a problem. We were staying in Helsinki for three nights, again in a one-bedroom apartment and this cost us £341. We planned to buy food for breakfast and dinner and possibly eat out for lunch.

Photo by  Alexandr Bormotin  on  Unsplash

Lapland Cost – Cost of our trip for accommodation and getting to Lapland

• Flights from Faro to Helsinki (via Lisbon, with bags and extra legroom): £619
• Overnight train return trip from Helsinki to Rovaniemi: £176
• 4 nights AirBnB in Rovaniemi: £477
• 3 nights AirBnB in Helsinki: £341
• Total spend for flights, train, and accommodation: £1613

So, as you can see, although we were spending more than we would have if we were visiting Lapland for the day, we were still under budget for a 1-night or 2-night package trip and we were getting much more out of the trip. A 10-day trip no less!

Considerations when doing Lapland DIY

One thing to consider when arranging a DIY holiday to Lapland, you need to remember there will be some additional costs which are covered by a package holiday.

You are responsible for having the appropriate winter clothing for this trip, whereas the packages provide the outdoor gear you will need. I know these are probably cleaned but personally, I wouldn’t want to wear something someone else has.

To get around this, I bought lots of winter and ski clothing for us in the Go Outdoors sale in February of 2018, almost ten months before our trip, and bought additional items in both the Blacks and Tiny Trolls of Norway sale. We had to buy almost everything as we have no need for warm, arctic-winter clothing here in the Algarve.

If you already have ski wear from previous family skiing holidays, then you are all set.

There is another option if you don’t have ski wear and don’t want to buy any just for this trip. Most Lapland resorts have places to hire winter clothing/skiwear. This will add to your budget but could work out cheaper than buying outer wear for everyone.

The winter clothing hire companies are:

• Ranua – contact the tourist information for help in identifying somewhere to hire your clothing.

There may also be a winter clothing hire location at Helsinki Airport. Click here for further information about winter clothing hire in Lapland.

Read my full Lapland packing list to find out exactly what you will need for your trip.

Another consideration is that some meals may be included with the hotel, whereas organising your family trip to Lapland on a budget means you’ll either need to cook or eat out.

Also, there are some excursions included in the Lapland package holidays which you will need to pay for. Santa Claus Village, Finland, is free to enter but you need to pay for activities and the pictures and videos of your meeting with Santa. So, research what activities you want to do before you go (see below for a list of Rovaniemi, Lapland excursions). Remember to consult the local tourist information board for help with specific excursion recommendations.

The majority of visitors to this part of Finland are going to visit Santa in Lapland. So, with that in mind, I thought it might be helpful to list out where you can visit Santa, whether you are going to Lapland with kids or not.

• Rovaniemi – There are two places to visit Santa in Rovaniemi, the Santa Clause Village and Santa Park .
• Ylläs – There are two ways to see Santa in this part of Lapland. You can visit the Secret Cabin or arrange for Santa to come to your cabin . Note that this second option gets booked up very quickly, so arrange it as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
• Levi – You have two choices in Levi, the Northern Lights Village or Santa’s Secret Cabin .
• Saariselkä – Again, at S you have two choices for visiting Santa, the Northern Lights Village or Kakslauttanen Resort .
• Ranua – You will need to visit Santa in Rovaniemi (see above).
• Luosto – Again, you will need to travel to Rovaniemi to visit Santa if staying in this resort.
• Ruka – From here you can visit Santa’s Cottage , 30 minutes from Ruak.

Photo by  Jérémy Stenuit  on  Unsplash

Santa – There are two ways to see Santa in Lapland. There is Santa Village where it is free to see Santa in his office but there are additional costs such as for your photo with Santa, reindeer and husky sleigh rides and sending a letter from the North Pole to someone back home. Or you can visit the underground Santa Park where there are activities with Elves and also a visit to Santa included in the entry fee. Plus, tickets are valid for two consecutive day’s entry.

Winter Safaris  – Longer husky and reindeer experiences or safaris are available but the costs of these can be quite high so shop around. We booked a husky experience with  Bear Hill Husky  and were really looking forward to it.

Museums in Rovamiemi – There are three museums in Rovaniemi that are family-friendly, which we planned to visit. They are Arktikum , Pilke and Korundi .

Snowman World – Located at the Santa Claus Village, Snowman World is a place to hug a snowman, see inside an Ice bar and restaurant and where you can try your hand at ice skating and snow tubing. All of the necessary equipment for this is included in your entrance fee.

Northern Lights Tours – one of the big draws to visiting Finnish Lapland is the chance to see the Northern Lights and there are many tour operators to choose from for a Northern Lights Tour from Rovaniemi. Just be aware that these usually take place at night after 9pm so really consider whether the cost of this trip is worth it with smaller children. We really wanted to book one but knew our son won’t be able to stay awake too long after a busy day. So, we’re going to wait until our next visit. Visit Rovaniemi is one of the best places to check excursions, prices and book Lapland activities and experiences.

The cheapest way to get to Lapland from the UK

So, if you are still wondering what will your Lapland trip cost to travel from the UK, let me clarify. I’ve investigated the cheapest way to visit Lapland from the UK and there are two options both of which are the affordable way to book your Lapland Santa visit. This will be a guide to how you can do your DIY Lapland trip.

Direct flights to Lapland

EasyJet fly direct to Rovaniemi from Gatwick twice a week on a Wednesday and Sunday. The flight leaves at 6.30am on a Sunday or 12.45pm on a Wednesday. And returns to the UK at 20.25pm (departing at 18.50pm) on a Wednesday or returns to the UK at 14.25pm (departing at 12.45pm) on a Sunday.

For a family of three, a flight with no checked bags was costing £423, rising to £550 for a family of four (prices correct at the time of writing this post in August 2018). 1 checked bag of 23kg would add £52.48 to the cost, 2 checked bags would add £104.96.

Each seat-paying person gets one cabin bag with this saver ticket, the dimensions of which should not exceed 56 x 45 x 25cm (including handles and wheels). EasyJet do not weigh cabin bags, so as long as you can carry it, and the bag fits the dimensions, it’s on. But I’m not sure a family of four could do this trip with just cabin bags, considering you are bringing winter clothing.

Check out prices and availability via SkyScanner.

Visiting Lapland via a flight to Helsinki

There are a number of airlines flying from different airports within the UK to Helsinki, including British Airways and Finnair. Departure airports in the UK flying into Helsinki include London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh.

I checked the cost of a Finnair flight from Gatwick to Helsinki for the same dates we were travelling in December 2018 and the cheapest flights, with no bags, came in at £276.50 for a family of 3 (£356 for a family of four). The cost of flights with a checked bag per person was £394.50 for a family of three (£506 for a family of four). This option saw the flight leaving Gatwick at 10.20am, so no need for an overnight stay in an airport hotel, and leaving Helsinki on a return flight at 8am.

Accommodation

At the time of writing this post, AirBnB’s in Rovaniemi were between £76 per night for accommodation outside the city to £150 within the city. AirBnB prices in Helsinki were between £48 and £100 per night in the city.

So, a trip from Gatwick to Rovaniemi direct would cost a family of three approximately £1024 for 3 nights (£1162 for a family of four), with one checked bag, staying within the city in a mid-priced AirBnB.

If you wanted to combine Rovaniemi and Helsinki, using the overnight train to get to and from Lapland, a family of three would cost approximately £1438 (£1550 for a family of four), all with checked bags, 4 nights in Rovaniemi and 3 nights in Helsinki in mid-priced AirBnB’s, and the return overnight train in a two-berth standard cabin, with children under 10 sharing the berth with their parents.

Photo by  Vincent Guth  on  Unsplash

Santa trips to Lapland need not be the thing of dreams. There are more affordable ways of visiting Santa in Lapland than the package holidays. By booking a DIY trip to Lapland, you can not only save money, you can also stay for longer, visit two cities if you want and take things at your own pace. Remember, when going on a package holiday, you are at the mercy of their timetable and may not get enough time to really experience the best of Lapland.

You will also be with a whole host of other families trying to jostle for a spot at the front of the queue to see Santa or trying to get the same Instagram-worthy photograph in the same limited time frame as you. By booking your do-it-yourself Lapland trip, you decide how long you want to spend on each activity and how long you want to stay at each destination. You can try beat the crowds by getting to each place at opening time, or you can wait until later in the day when the tour buses have left. You have more flexibility in so many areas and that to me is a no-brainer!

By combining Rovaniemi with Helsinki, you will also get to experience the overnight train, fondly nicknamed “The Polar Express” and while it is certainly not express at 12 hours, it will only add to the whole Lapland experience, particularly if you have a train fan among you.

I hope I’ve shown you that it really is possible to visit Santa in Lapland on a budget as a family and that Lapland breaks can be affordable without needing to break the bank.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your visit Santa Claus in Lapland, and save yourself money over those package Lapland holidays, using this post as a guide and make all your family’s dreams come true.

*Comparison of three of the top travel agencies who offer Santa Lapland Trips.

**All prices were correct at the time of writing this post (August 2018), and using the exchange rate on the same day (€1 = 0.8969 approximately).

Related Posts

Sharing is caring!

52 thoughts on “Lapland On A Budget – How much does it cost and top tips!”

Ah Cathy, that’s class!! I always thought a Santa trip was out of our budget but you make it sound so easy. Plus you get so many extra days in Finland. I’m showing this to my wife!!

It’s all thanks to Corrina, who showed families it’s more than doable!

That is amazing, we did a 3-day Lapland trip last year and it was very expensive and there was not enough time. I would definitely consider doing it this way if we went again (which we want to)

I know a few people who have been to Lapland who said how expensive it is for the length of time you’re there. Thank you for the detailed information about booking the trains – and I’d not thought AirBnB was feasible. I’ll saving and passing this link onto anyone I hear who’s wants to go this year. Love Bec

Thank you Bec. We had thought it was a trip that wasn’t doable due to the cost for such a short trip, but doing it this way makes it much more affordable and worth doing x

I would love to do this! And now how we all know how to make it do-able thanks to this post thank you 😀

Thanks as always Talya x

I knew Lapland holidays can be quite expensive but I didn’t know it would be that match. Glad you made your own itinerary and found a cheaper way to do it.

The package holidays are mad money for such a short time there. By booking everything else you get so much more for your money x

Would love to visit Lapland especially for Christmas! Thanks for sharing!

How exciting for you all! And that’s a pretty tidy saving you’ve managed to make – I’m going to have a look into that for next year.

Oh you should. We started booking things in February for this December and didn’t find the cheapest AirBnB. But I’m sure costs from the UK could be brought down even further x

Wow this is such a great post! We’ve always wanted to visit Lapland but the cost is prohibitive. It feels like it’s not out of our reach now!

I’m sure if you didn’t mind transfers between the UK and Finland, flights could be found cheaper. Plus you could also go for a low-cost AirBnB to bring the costs down even more. Doing it this way just gives us more time to soak up the magic of being in Lapland without being on a timetable x

Wow its expensive isn’t it. Well done on finding an affordable option for you to go x

We would love to visit Lapland with the kids during Christmas. That would be so cool. Maybe we can plan it for next year.

Oh you should Stella, they’d love it x

A trip to Lapland would be magical and it sounds like you have made it very affordable. I hope you have a fab trip.

Thanks so much. We’re really looking forward to it x

WOW!! I love this! I would totally do this but as a family of 6 I think it would be double with needing two rooms and extra flights etc?

My sister-in-law took 7 of them 2 years ago for less than €2000. It was her trip that has been the inspiration for us and many others to do this trip on a budget. So I’m sure you could easily still do it for just a bit more than what we’re paying. Check 2-bed AirBnB’s Laura because many will sleep 6 with a sofa bed. And you wouldn’t necessarily need full baggage allowance for everyone either. xx

We were lucky enough to go on a press trip to Finnish Lapland in March and it was wonderful, I would recommend it to anyone, particularly with children. However, it can be pricey o these tips are going to be a massive help!

Oh wow, that must have been amazing. And thank you, I do hope it helps others x

Wow, what a detailed post! I’ll be bookmarking this for the future. Would love to take the boys to visit Santa – we still have two years before my eldest turns 10.

This is brilliant info and has been our breakfast read at the table which inadvertently made our children think we were going already 😅 You mentioned you booked the trips back in February, would you recommend doing it that early on the year rather than doing it now for this Winter?

Not at all, I know many people who have just booked their flights and train journey for this December. I wanted to book it early as we couldn’t avail of cheaper UK flights as we’re based in Portugal. So I needed to get our flights early to get them as cheap as possible. I’ve also found there are more AirBnB’s available in Rovaniemi than when I booked. So if you want to go this winter, you still can!

this guide is amazing! I would love to visit lapland one day such a super cool experience x

I cannot tell you how impressed I am with this way of visiting Lapland. I would rather stay for longer and get better value for money. I think you are going to have an amazing experience

Thanks so much hun, I’m sure we will enjoy it x

That looks like such a fun trip! Look forward to hearing about it.

Thanks for sharing such detailed research. I remember reading Your post on EuroDisney which was equally impressive! #WanderlustKids

Ah thank you so much x

This is really useful research to share, thanks! It sounds like your trip will be a magical experience. #fearlessfamtrav

This is so magical! Love to do this with my and I love your money saving tips. #fearlessfamtrav

This is really useful research to share, thank you. It sounds like you are going to have a magical trip #fearlessfamtrav

Thank you so much, I’m sure we will x

I think this is. Great informative post! I think budget is such a worry with Lapland! I will be using this if we plan to go

You’ve certainly done your travel planning…and saved so much money or rather got a much better trip. We did a one day Lapland trip to see Santa several years ago and it was rubbish – way too much in one day! And Santa messed up big time as he didn’t have our letters!! #wanderlustkids

Oh no! That’s a shame. I do know Santa doesn’t give presents out before Christmas Day but we’ll sneak one in for the Elves to give our son x

Thank you so much for sharing this! I really want to take the girls to Lapland and this is totally made me feel like I can.

Thank you so much hun. I’m sure you’ll get there! Any help you need, just shout x

You’ve now planted the seed in my mind that Lapland is actually doable. I had always disregarded a trip there as I thought it’d be too expensive!

I had too until I saw you can DIY it and have a much better holiday for less!

Wow it is so expensive but such a once in a lifetime holiday. I love your ideas and I love that Lapland is doable on a smaller budget! #fearlessfamtrav

We are doing the same trip in December this year and we cannot wait.

Some great tips here for us too. Look forward to comparing trips when we get back #wanderlustkids

When are you going? I’m so excited x

What a great post! Lapland is on my bucket list, the youngest will be 5 and 7 next winter (2019) so think they’ll be a great age to take. Will definitely do a DIY holiday as you suggest, you get so much more time for the same money. Thanks so much for the tips and look forward to reading your reviews. #wanderlustkids

Thanks, I’m glad you’ve found it useful. xx

Wow! This sounds amazing and you’ve laid everything out so clearly! I’m so doing this! Thank you!

Thanks so much Tom, I’m glad you’ve found it useful. Any questions, just fire away 🙂

Thank you so much for this information, you’ve totally inspired me to price it up for me to take my 5 children. I looked a while ago at the package holiday route and ruled it out as ever possible at was looking at 10k+!! Now with this way I could do all the travel for £700 and found a beautiful log cabin air bnb for £250 a night that sleeps 8! I can’t believe you’ve opened up my absolute dream bucket list holiday again, and I think the overnight train will make it even more Magical and exciting! I know it was a few years ago but would love to hear what you did in Helsinki as have one day there. Also have found super budget reindeer and husky rides for about 20€ Each at Santa’s village so that’ll tick that off the list! Thanks again! Angela

Thanks, Angela, We really enjoyed Helsinki. Here’s my post about things to do in the city. You can pack quite a bit in, it just depends on what interested you and your family 🙂 https://passportsandadventures.com/things-to-do-in-helsinki-with-kids/

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

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

• Travel Update
• Search Suggested Results View All Results
• EUR (€)
• GBP (£)
• Ice & Snow Hotels i
• Santa Claus i
• Glass Igloos i
• Northern Lights i
• Christmas i
• Family Travel i
• Honeymoon & Romance i
• Rovaniemi i
• Best Sellers
• All Lapland Tours
• All Types & Themes
• Why book with us i
• Booking Terms i
• Sustainability Policy i
• Lapland at a Glance i
• Useful Information i
• Lapland Attractions i
• Lapland Blog i
• Scandinavia
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Manage Booking
• Privacy policy

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

Sweden Scotland View Details

Lapland Holidays from Ireland

Whisk yourself off to enchanting Lapland for an unforgettable winter escape. Here you can enjoy activities like chasing the northern lights, husky sledding, and meeting Santa Claus. Choose one of these Lapland holidays from Ireland and a Scandinavia-based travel expert will organise your accommodation, excursions and airport transfers.

Trips to Lapland from Ireland

Are you thinking about visiting Lapland from Ireland? If the answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place.

This snow-blanketed region in northern Scandinavia is just a few hours away by plane. Soon you could be marvelling at the aurora borealis and snowmobiling through glittering forests on a winter break in Lapland . As well as enjoying thrilling activities in the snow, you might like to stay in an ice hotel and visit Father Christmas.

Read on to find out more about Finnish and Swedish Lapland, and discover which region would suit you best.

When you book a trip to Lapland with Nordic Visitor, you get handpicked accommodation, airport transfers, access to our 24/7 helpline, and many other benefits. Plus, you’ll have your very own dedicated travel consultant to arrange everything for you.

Get in touch via our contact form, live chat or toll-free numbers and we'll gladly plan your Lapland getaway.

— WHY US?

Why book with nordic visitor.

• All bookings protected by our Package Travel insurance
• Accommodation, activities, transfers & breakfasts included
• Professional service from Scandinavia-based travel experts
• Seamless travel experience
• Flexible & customisable tour options

Discover Finnish Lapland from Ireland

Head to Rovaniemi on a getaway to Finnish Lapland, where you can visit Santa Claus Village. These tours include accommodation, activities, airport transfers, and daily breakfast.

Best of Lapland Express - Rovaniemi

Best of lapland classic - rovaniemi, best of rovaniemi - classic, santa claus village & dog sledding, visit swedish lapland from ireland.

Experience the magic of Kiruna on a winter retreat to Swedish Lapland. These packages include accommodation, activities, airport transfers, and daily breakfast.

Express Lapland Adventure & ICEHOTEL

Classic lapland adventure & icehotel, lapland adventure - aurora sky station & icehotel, lapland adventure - aurora sky station, lapland travel experts.

As a travel agency based in the Scandinavia region, Nordic Visitor knows how to make the most of your time in Lapland. Choose from a variety of tours that include the must-see attractions as well as lesser-known highlights, all handpicked by our own Scandinavian travel experts. 

To ensure a stress-free Lapland trip, Nordic Visitor handles all the local details for you: accommodation, activities, airport transfers and other services.

Oh, and we can customise your itinerary! For example, you might decide you want to add extra nights at a certain location. In that case, your personal Nordic Visitor travel consultant will be happy to make suggestions and modify your itinerary.

What do our customers say?

The reviews speak for themselves. See what Nordic Visitor travellers said about their experience with us.

Camilla Thom, Spain

Icehotel winter adventure, january 2017, i will never forget this experience.

The tour guides were excellent. Especially Emile and Maurice. This was a huge adventure for us both, starting with the dog sled picking us up , going to the Ice Hotel and then the fabulous evening on the snowmobile. Even though we weren't lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, it was still wonderful. What good cooks all the guides were too! I will never forget this experience.

George, United States

Best of lapland classic - rovaniemi, march 2017, experience of a lifetime.

Everything was wonderful. It was the experience of a lifetime. My daughter and I had a blast!

Nilima, India

Lapland - land of the midnight sun, june 2015, lapland is beautiful.

Day tours were excellent, guide and service was excellent

Lapland is beautiful.  We were able to see the midnight sun because of nordic visitor they have planned our tour very well and the local guides were very co operative.

Vandana, United States

Classic lapland adventure & icehotel, february 2015, everything went smoothly.

Cicci Erikson customized our trip exactly the way we wanted, every thing went smoothly, the employees at Kiruna tours were very friendly and cordial, I would recommend Nordic Visitor to my friends and will use them in the future.

Arkadiusz, Singapore

Classic lapland adventure & icehotel, december 2014, worked perfectly well without any glitches.

My Travel Consultant, Cecilia, was extremely helpful and professional in all aspects of dealing with the customer. Her invaluable assistance allowed me to choose, modify, and combine the existing tours to fulfill all my needs. The hotel locations were excellent and the arrangements made by Cecilia ensured that everything worked perfectly well without any glitches. I would strongly recommend such excellent services to anyone who would like to have an unforgettably pleasant holiday.

Christy, United States

Icehotel winter adventure, january 2015, overall a great experience.

Overall a great experience. Cecilia was very helpful and responsive.

Mariana, Hong Kong, SAR

Classic lapland adventure & icehotel, january 2017, excellent time in kiruna.

My daughter and I had an excellent time in Kiruna during the Chinese New Year. I would like to thank Sofia Sundkvist who assisted us throughout the trip. She is very responsive and accomodating. We slightly changed our plans and she always quickly responded to me by email and helped us with what we needed.  Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to meet her in person, but all the people (from Nordic Visitor) whom we met throughout this trip are excellent people. They always carry a smile, happy with what they are doing, experienced and knowledgeable.  

Carla, United States

Lapland - land of the midnight sun, june 2017, outstanding in every way.

Your company is outstanding in every way. The booking agents were responsive when we had questions. The information provided was excellent. The tour guides and the company's you contracted with are without exception outstanding. I would recommend your company to anyone who is planning a Scandinavian trip

Olga, Israel

Husky tour in the wilderness of lapland, march 2015, beyond my expectations.

Thank you so much for being there and helping people to discover those incredible places around the Scandinavia. I've met so many great people and had such a splendid time, that I will never forget. My main purpose was to see the Northen Lights, but I've got so much more and everything was just beyond my expectations!  I would like to thank our Nordic Visitor agent Jennie Elofsson for a great assistance, she's been very helpful and super quick giving us all the answers we need.  Also I would like to thank our amazing guides, who made our tour so very special and intimate: Emil and Jenny.

Lapland Adventure - Aurora Sky Station, February 2015

Made every experience unforgettable.

Genuinely - one of the best trips we have ever undertaken. We received a great welcome in Kiruna, our guides were excellent - and made every experience unforgettable! The Aurora... was glorious!

Sue, Australia

Classic lapland adventure & icehotel, january 2014, suggestions were all great for limited time.

Jennie, our agent, was fantastic. She sorted everything out in the limited time we had in Kiruna and her suggestions to fit in as much as we did in three days were all great.

Hwee Hwee, Singapore

Best of lapland classic - rovaniemi, january 2017, enjoyable beyond our expectations.

Our experience with Nordic Visitor is absolutely delightful! We are very impressed by the professionalism of the staff and the seamless organisation of the tour. Our holiday was enjoyable beyond our expectations! 

Gianguido and Romana

Service was impeccable under all aspects.

A long sought after vacation resulted in a fascinating experience, and this result must also be credited to the careful preparation and to the friendly professional assistance of your consultants. On site, the service was impeccable under all aspects. 

Cold, silence and nature conjure in suggesting me to summarize what we have lived through with words from Sweden’s national anthem. "TYSTA, GLÄDJERIKA, SKÖNA".

Annette, Australia

Custom booking, march 2015, i am very glad to have chosen nordic visitor.

Everything went very smoothly and with great ease! Being greeted by the chauffer and shiny black Mercedes in Copenhagen and driven to the Scandic Palace Hotel right in the city centre was a real treat. Thank you. I am very glad to have chosen Nordic Visitor because you are based in these wonderful Nordic Countries and I wanted to experience local culture. Many thanks to Cecilia for helping us to achieve this.

Icehotel Winter Adventure, February 2015

One of the most amazing trips I've ever done and one of the best in regards of organization.

Geoff and Maria, Australia

Icehotel winter adventure, december 2013, a must for something completely different.

The Ice Hotel was AMAZING, what a concept. The dogsled from the airport was a fun experience. The Scandic Ferrum for the rest of the stay was fantastic. The staff at both places were exceptional. The snowmobile tour, although eventful, was just a hoot. The most fun we have had in ages. All the meals in all locations were just great and good value. Kiruna is a lovely town and the people are terrific. There aren't enough adjectives to describe it all. Just a load of fun. A must for something completely different. Everything was organised beyond expectation. Just do it!!!

Icehotel Winter Adventure, December 2016

Exceeded our expectations.

The overall experience exceeded our expectations and was a truly wonderful experience. The husky sled transfer from the airport was amazing. Every trip we did had helpful, happy and informative staff. 

Irene and Sarah

Lapland adventure - aurora sky station & icehotel, january 2013, a more beautiful place would be hard to find.

We have just got back home after probably the best holiday we have ever had! Everything was superbly planned and the guys at Kiruna Guidetur were fantastic. In fact everyone we met was friendly and so helpful. The hotels were excellent and the food really great - especially at the Abisko Tourist Station and when we went up to the Aurora Sky Station the girl who did the dinner there was world class, especially when she had to prepare the meal in such cramped conditions,

The activities were wonderful - the snowmobiles, the husky sleds, the horse and sleigh ride, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The Ice Hotel was fantastic too. It is such a magical place - the snow, the clear air - all absolutely wonderful. A more beautiful place would be hard to find. Thank you so much for organising the holiday for us. I have been on the phone this morning urging all my friends to go there!

Adam, Italy

Would definitely recommend nordic visitor.

Everything was great. The tour guides and employees were extremely friendly and professional. They accommodated us as best they could whenever we needed something. I would definitely recommend Nordic Visitor and this package to anyone. Dress warm! 

Once in a lifetime experience! Thank you! It couldn't have gone better.

Paddy, New Zealand

Lapland adventure - aurora sky station & icehotel, january 2015, inside the artic circle at kiruna.

We booked through Nordic Visitor and they organised the activities with Kiruna Tourism and we had an amazing trip, meet at the airport -23 C, deck out in clothing which we kept for the 4 days, transported around, good hotel and had great guides who were welcoming, knowledgeable and communicative. Couldn't ask for anything more, Went snow walking, dog sledding, visited Abisko viewing station, Ice hotel and Sami Village.

C S, Australia

Icehotel winter adventure, february 2013, friendly efficient and very helpful.

We would like to say that our consultant Cecilia was fantastic, we travel widely and she is the best consultant we have dealt with, friendly efficient and very helpful.

How to get to Lapland from Ireland

To reach Finnish Lapland from Ireland, you can either fly direct or take connecting flights via Helsinki or London Stansted.

For instance, Ryanair offers direct flights from Dublin to Rovaniemi, in Finnish Lapland, in just 2 hours 25 minutes. 

Alternatively, choose Finnair and you can fly from Dublin to Helsinki in 3 hours 5 minutes, before taking a connecting flight to Finnish Lapland.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is Finland’s gateway for international air travel. From here, you’ll be able to take a direct flight to either Rovaniemi or Kemi with Finnair or Norwegian. Both journeys take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. If you fly into Kemi, you can take the train to Rovaniemi in around 1 hour 20 minutes.  

It’s also possible to get to Finnish Lapland via London Stansted by flying from Belfast or Cork. Each journey takes around 1 hour 20 minutes. From London Stansted, you can catch an onward flight with Ryanair to Rovaniemi. The flight time is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

On the other hand, if you’re heading for Swedish Lapland it’s best to fly from Dublin to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden’s air travel hub. From Stockholm, you can fly to Kiruna with SAS or Norwegian. The journey takes around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Before deciding on dates for your trip, we recommend checking airline websites directly for flight availability and timetables. Or use airfare search engines, like Skyscanner, Dohop or Kayak, for example.

Flights aren’t included in Nordic Visitor packages, so you’re free to choose the journey that suits you best. But it’s good to know that all of our itineraries can be customised with extra nights in your arrival city if you’d like to rest up after your flight.

Different ways you can experience Lapland

We have tours for all varieties of travel styles and interests. See our options for exploring Lapland below.

ICE & SNOW HOTELS

Santa claus, snowmobile adventures, culture & history, reindeer & sami culture, winter tours, what to see and do on lapland tours from ireland.

Venture to Lapland from Ireland and get ready for a memorable winter retreat. Located in the far north of Finland and Sweden, this enchanting snow-dusted region is brimming with stunning scenery and fun-filled activities. And it’s all just a short flight away.

Read on for top tips on visiting Lapland from Ireland, including where to go and what to do.

• Let these Lapland winter trips inspire your next adventure
• Uncover 7 reasons to visit Lapland in winter

How long is the flight from Ireland to Lapland?

It’s easy to visit Lapland from Ireland with direct flights, taking only 2 hours 25 minutes from Dublin to Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.

You can also get to Finnish Lapland by connecting via Helsinki or London Stansted. This is a good option if there are no direct flights on your preferred dates, or if it’s more convenient for you to fly from a different airport in Ireland.

These are the flight times for connecting routes:

• Dublin to Rovaniemi via Helsinki – 4 hours 20 minutes
• Cork to Rovaniemi via London Stansted – 3 hours 40 minutes
• Belfast to Rovaniemi via London Stansted – 3 hours 30 minutes  

On the other hand, you can reach Kiruna in Swedish Lapland by flying from Dublin via Stockholm in 4 hours 5 minutes.

Find out more about how to get to Lapland from Ireland .

TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAPLAND

Lapland offers opportunities for adventures and indulgent experiences in equal measure. This means that you can be as active or relaxed as you like on your winter trip!

Here are the top things to do in Lapland

• Go mushing through the snow on a dog sled
• Marvel at the otherworldly northern lights
• Explore the countryside by riding snowmobiles
• Soak up the festive magic and meet Father Christmas himself
• Sleep in an ice room or a glass igloo
• Try cross-country skiing, ice fishing or snowshoeing
• Experience local Sámi customs and cuisine
• Celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve
• See Arctic animals in their native habitat
• Warm up in a traditional Finnish sauna

When you book Lapland packages from Ireland with Nordic Visitor, you can add optional activities and day trips to your itinerary. We recommend that you reserve any extras in advance to guarantee availability.

Speak to your dedicated travel consultant at Nordic Visitor about the excursions you’d like to incorporate into your Lapland itinerary. They will organise everything on your behalf, while you relax and look forward to your winter escape.

• Browse these classic Lapland holidays to start planning your trip
• If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our Lapland travel experts

TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN LAPLAND

Where you choose to go in Lapland will depend on the activities and sights you’d like to enjoy. You can read Nordic Visitor’s Lapland Travel Guide to learn more about each region, which will help you decide where to visit.

Here are the best places to go in Finnish Lapland :

• Santa Claus Village

These are the top places to visit in Swedish Lapland :

• Abisko National Park
• Aurora Sky Station

VISIT ONE OF LAPLAND’S ICE HOTELS OR GLASS IGLOOS

One of the “coolest” things you can do in Lapland is stay in an ice hotel. Marvel at the ice sculptures, imaginatively themed rooms, and restaurants and bars carved from frozen water. Since many of the hotels melt in the spring, artists start from scratch and rebuild them each winter.

Spending the night in an ice suite is on many travellers’ wish lists. And don’t worry, you’ll be kept cosy thanks to thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides, with the chance to step into a hot sauna in the morning.

If you’d rather sleep in a warm room, you can take a guided tour of these ice hotels instead.

You could stay in a glass igloo in Lapland. Imagine snuggling up in your heated dome, looking through the clear glass up to the night sky. You might even be treated to a northern lights show from your bed!

Here are the best ice hotels for an overnight trip in Lapland:

• ICEHOTEL (Kiruna)
• Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos (Rovaniemi)
• Choose from one of these Lapland ice and snow hotel packages
• Learn more about the best ice hotels in Finland and the ICEHOTEL in Sweden

VISIT FINNISH OR SWEDISH LAPLAND

For your trip to Lapland, you can take your pick from Finland or Sweden. Both destinations offer similar experiences, such as aurora hunting excursions, snowmobile adventures, and opportunities for husky and reindeer sledding.

That said, Finnish and Swedish Lapland each have particular highlights that you should know about before deciding where to go. Check out these itinerary recommendations for a taste of what to expect in Finland and Sweden, respectively.

• Find out how you could spend 5 days or 6 days in Lapland
• Get inspired by these 3-day and 4-day Lapland tours

ITINERARY SUGGESTION FOR FINNISH LAPLAND:  

Day 1 - Arrival in Rovaniemi & snowmobile safari Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at Rovaniemi Airport for your transfer to your accommodation. You could rest after your journey or head into town to explore a little before your first Lapland adventure.

Come evening, it’s time to embark on a snowmobile safari and hunt for the northern lights. Enjoy an exhilarating ride through the snow, looking for the aurora borealis, as an expert guide leads you along the trails.

Round off your excursion with a hot drink and snack beside the campfire, then return to your hotel for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Spend the night in Rovaniemi.

Day 2 - Dog sledding and Finnish sauna Head into the snow-draped scenery outside Rovaniemi today with a guided dog sled excursion. Learn about this traditional mode of transport in Lapland, starting with a brief lesson at the kennel. Then mush through the woods with your own sled.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Rovaniemi. You could indulge in a sauna session, the typical way to relax and unwind here in Finland.

Day 3 - Reindeer farm and Santa Claus Village This morning, hop on a snowmobile and make your way to a traditional reindeer farm. Here you can learn about the culture of Lapland’s native people, the Sami, and go on a sleigh ride.

Next, prepare to meet the “man in red” with a visit to Santa Claus Village, just outside Rovaniemi.

Soak up the festive atmosphere of this Christmassy haven, which is open year-round. Enjoy a private meeting with Santa with the elves on hand, and send a postcard from the Santa Claus Post Office. Then why not browse for souvenirs at the craft shops?

Day 4 - Day at leisure and visit to the Arctic SnowHotel Learn more about the local history, nature and culture in Rovaniemi this morning by paying a visit to the Arktikum Museum. Here you can explore the intriguing exhibits about Finnish Lapland and the Arctic region.

Come evening, head to the Arctic SnowHotel in Lehtojärvi, just outside Rovaniemi. Take a guided tour of this fascinating frozen hotel, which is created anew each year. Check out the rooms, restaurant and bar, all sculpted from ice and snow.

After your tour sit down for a delicious 3-course meal at Restaurant Kota, inspired by traditional Sami architecture. Then, you’ll either return to your accommodation in Rovaniemi, or overnight in the Arctic SnowHotel for an unforgettable stay. Choose from sleeping in an ice room or a glass igloo.

Spend the night in Rovaniemi or the Arctic SnowHotel.

Day 5 - Departure Today you’ll be transferred back to Rovaniemi Airport where you’ll fly home from your Lapland holiday.

• Visit Finland in winter with one of these Rovaniemi tours
• Read this guide to Finland in winter for more inspiration

ITINERARY SUGGESTION FOR SWEDISH LAPLAND:  

Day 1 - Arrival in Kiruna and snowmobile safari After touching down at Kiruna Airport, a driver will meet you and take you to your hotel. Enjoy some free time to yourself, perhaps getting to know the town or simply relaxing before you head out later.

In the evening you’ll get to explore the countryside on a snowmobile excursion, searching for the northern lights. Follow your guide through the snow as they lead you to the best spots to look for the aurora. And enjoy the thrill of the ride as you go.

Later, cosy up beside the fireplace in a wooden hut and tuck into a rustic dinner of traditional local food. Afterwards, your guide will take you back to your accommodation.

Spend the night in Kiruna.

Day 2 - Dog sledding Today you can enjoy one of Lapland’s most special traditions: husky sledding.

Meet the huskies at the kennel and learn how to drive your sled from an expert guide. Head out onto the trails, gliding through the woods and across snowy plains, soaking up the views as you go. Afterwards, you’ll fuel up with a hot cup of coffee and a light lunch by the campfire.

In the evening, you could chase the northern lights again on a snowshoe excursion.

Day 3 - Visit the ICEHOTEL and a Sámi reindeer farm This morning, discover the famous ICEHOTEL, situated in the village of Jukkasjärvi just outside Kiruna. This is the original ice hotel that set a trend for the many others that now exist around the world.

Begin with a guided tour of this extraordinary hotel, learning how artists build it using ice from the Torne River nearby. You’ll also get to explore the ICEHOTEL 365, a year-round structure that stays cold in the summer thanks to solar energy.

Once you’ve seen the stunning ice rooms, sculptures, church and bar, you’ll be collected from the ICEHOTEL for your next excursion. Get an insight into the Sámi way of life by visiting a traditional reindeer farm. Drive a reindeer sled then enjoy some snacks in a lavvu, a typical Sámi tent.

Then comes the highlight: sleeping in a room made entirely from ice and snow!

Spend the night in Kiruna or the ICEHOTEL.

Day 4 - Departure Today you’ll take a transfer to Kiruna Airport where you’ll fly home from your Lapland holiday.

• Experience Swedish Lapland on one of these Kiruna tour packages
• Discover the top 10 reasons to take a winter break in Kiruna, Sweden

BEST TIME TO VISIT LAPLAND

The best time to visit Lapland is between December and March, when you can enjoy the magical white scenery, northern lights, and excursions in the snow.

Certain activities are available in Lapland year-round. For example, in summer you can meet Father Christmas, or even visit certain ice hotels that use solar power to keep some of their rooms frozen. That said, we recommend travelling in winter for the quintessential Lapland experience.

Thanks to snowfall from mid-October to mid-May, you’ll be surrounded by snow-blanketed scenery between December and March. These are the perfect conditions for winter activities, including reindeer sleigh rides and snowshoe excursions.

What’s more, in winter you have the best chance of seeing the northern lights. The long, dark nights at this time of year provide the ideal backdrop for watching the aurora borealis.

In summer, on the other hand, there are long daylight hours in Lapland – a phenomenon called the “midnight sun”. With light skies all night long, it’ll be too bright to see the aurora borealis.

Find out how to increase your chances of spotting the aurora borealis with these guides:

• Best time and place to see the northern lights in Finland
• Best time and place to see the northern lights in Sweden
• What are the northern lights? Aurora borealis explained
• Hunt for the aurora on these northern lights Lapland trips
• Read this guide to Lapland’s daylight hours and climate

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN LAPLAND

Perhaps you want to time your Lapland trip for December to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve in this winter wonderland?

Spend Christmas in Lapland and you could attend a festive gala dinner for Christmas Eve, accompanied by Santa’s elves. Join in the fun and help to decorate the Christmas tree before you tuck into a mouth-watering feast.

Then spend the ultimate Christmas Day in Santa’s Lapland. Whizz through the snow on a reindeer sleigh, meet Santa Claus in his workshop and enjoy delicious Christmas food. Think freshly baked gingerbread biscuits followed by a warming glass of glögg (mulled wine).

Or visit Lapland at New Year for a celebration to remember. Attend a New Year’s Eve party in a wooden hut in the middle of a Finnish forest, experiencing local customs and cuisine. And, of course, you’d get to watch a spectacular fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.

But don’t forget, you can get into the festive spirit at any time of year with Santa breaks in Finnish Lapland !

• Check out these Santa holidays to Lapland
• Find out about trips to Lapland in December , January , February and March

— REGIONAL SUPPORT & KNOWLEDGE

Get the most out of your holiday.

• Explore places handpicked for you by regional experts
• Save time and effort with everything arranged for you
• Relax knowing you can reach us 24/7 during your trip

About Nordic Visitor Tours

Nordic Visitor is a Lapland tour operator and has been creating incredible travel experiences for customers in the region since 2010. Our Scandinavian travel experts know Lapland inside out, and will use their knowledge to craft your perfect itinerary.

With your Nordic Visitor package, you can expect personal service from your own designated travel consultant and a tailor-made itinerary with quality travel documents. Furthermore, we have long-standing professional relationships with trusted local partners, which are carefully selected by our staff for their high standards of service.

Get social with us

Follow our adventures in the North and share your own with us.

Sign up for our newsletter

We’re here to help, so get in touch with our friendly team to book your package or add extra nights and activities to an existing booking.

Our Swedish phone number is +46 8 666 23 30

How about a live chat with one of our local travel experts?

Blog posts you might like

Lapland for grown-ups: why lapland isn’t just for kids, a few fun facts about swedish lapland, 7 reasons to visit lapland in winter, how to eat like a local in lapland.

Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.

Visit Santa in Lapland

Destinations , Europe , family travel , Luxury , Novel travel

Visit Santa in Lapland in 2023

I’ve few regrets when it comes to travel. I’ve taken my children with me all over the world – to China, Peru, Australia and many other dazzling destinations. But if there is one bucket list trip that I didn’t make and regret, it would have to be to see Santa in Lapland. Kids don’t remain children for long and the memories that we make watching them grow and experience special times on holiday are transient too.

So if you love Christmas and you are thinking about a trip to Lapland check out these deals below with Killiney Travel .

Or call them on 01-2848404. They’ve offered my readers and subscribers a special deal with free travel Insurance for all the family when you book a trip to Lapland and mention thenoveltraveller.com

I guess I’ll have to wait for the grandchildren to come along before I get to realise my bucket list dream trip to see Santa in Lapland! Enjoy browsing these great offers – Michelle 🙂

Holiday Overview & Itinerary

Tobogganing Have fun on the slopes and try one of the traditional Stiga toboggans.

Husky Sled Rides Hang on and shout “mush” as your Arctic guide takes you on an exciting sleigh ride.

The Ice Igloo Relax and view the ice sculptures, enjoy hot berry juice & take a selfie to show your friends.

A Gift from Santa Santa gives your child their most special present

Return Charter Flights Chartered With Jet2 Direct flights with in-flight meals and hand luggage allowance.

Return Coach Transfer to the Airport

Snow Suits & Boots Cosy thermal suits and boots supplied free of charge.

Reindeer Sleigh Rides Snuggle up as your Sami guide leads you on magical reindeer sleigh ride.

Adult & Junior Snowmobiling Fun and excitement for all ages.

Private Family Meeting with Santa Your family’s private time with Father Christmas.

Fully Inclusive Itinerary All the listed activities are included as standard. There are no hidden extras, and no unexpected “upsells”.

Hot Lunch A chance to warm up and refuel for the afternoon’s activities!

Sleigh Transfer from the Airport This snowmobile sleigh ride is the most magical way to arrive in Lapland. Weather permitting.

Souvenir Certificate

Three Days in Lapland from Dublin

Aurin village apartments,   flights from dublin on saturday 2nd december including all meals, activities, transfers and free insurance when you mention thenoveltraveller.com €6780 for family of four, 2 adults and 2 children.

click here for details  or call Killiney Travel

Day 1.  The Journey Begins!

The excitement builds, as you board the aircraft ready for take-off.

On arrival in Lapland, our guides will be there to greet you. On the way to Suomu or Ruka Valley it’s time for the children to learn about how to become an elf and the essential tasks they will need to complete in order to graduate from Elf School, and help Sparkle to become a Special Elf.

Your Choice of Accommodation

Day 2.  it’s time to help sparkle on her magical journey to become a special elf..

Today, you must complete a full set of tasks to make the grade as one of Santa’s Special Helpers. You’ll need tocollect a stamp for each task that you complete in your Elf passport. The huskies and reindeer know that you have travelled from afar to help Sparkle, and they are determined to help you to complete your mission.

Join our Special Elf friends to develop your own Elf skills, by experiencing a range of traditional Arctic activities including snowmobiles, huskies, reindeer, snow shoe hikes, and of course, the Elve’s favourite – snow angels.

At the Post Office, you will also need to learn how to sort and stamp the mail that Santa receives from children all over the world. Yet, which of these traditional Arctic activities will lead you to Santa’s secret hideaway?

When you discover his home in Lapland, Santa will be delighted to meet you and every child will be rewarded with a special gift from him.

As we return to resort, enjoy a celebration dinner; followed by the Graduation Party to commemorate your achievement of becoming one of Santa’s Elves.

Day 3.  Say Farewell to Lapland and the Elves

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning. Then join your fellow Elves outside for some final snow games before it’s time to leave Lapland.

After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye to the Elves and the magical world of Lapland before returning to the airport for your flight.

• canterbury travel
• killiney travel
• santa holiday

Related Articles

Villa Holidays Summer 2023

Copyright © 2024 | Website Developed by Eamonn Blaney - Click Here to get in touch!

Love Exploring

59 European Places You NEED To Visit In Your Lifetime

Posted: December 15, 2023 | Last updated: December 15, 2023

Europe's unmissable sights

For such a small continent, Europe certainly punches above its weight. There are countless things to see, do, eat, learn and admire here – from historic neighborhoods to natural wonders. Read on to discover 59 European places you should definitely add to your bucket list.

Go on a polar adventure in Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard is the final frontier before the North Pole and one of the world's northernmost inhabited areas. A place of dramatic landscapes, it’s perfect for observing the mesmerizing Northern Lights throughout winter, while summers bring perennial sunlight. As one of Europe’s last true wildernesses, it’s also great for spotting Arctic foxes and polar bears.

Visit Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland

Located in Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, the Santa Claus Village is the “official residence” of Santa and his helpers. Visit the post office and write your wishlist, or stop by the Santa Claus office to meet the mythical man himself. With its Christmassy shops, snow hotel and a year-round festive atmosphere, even adults will believe in the magic.

See the chateaux of the Loire, France

More than 300 castles are dotted throughout the Loire Valley, and many of them are open to the public. Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the most exquisite: the 16th-century Chateau de Chenonceau. If you come to this picturesque region during the summer, you'll catch the captivating sound-and-light shows put on at many of the chateaux.

Hike in England’s Lake District, UK

Lace up your hiking boots and discover how the beauty of the Lake District – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – inspired William Wordsworth to write his sublime poetry. Follow in the footsteps of Alfred Wainwright, the intrepid hiker whose Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells is still required reading more than 70 years after he first started writing it. Whether you walk his signature routes or blaze your own trail, the majesty of the Cumbrian countryside won't fail to blow you away. Don't miss Bassenthwaite, Wastwater and Derwentwater, some of the prettiest lakes in the national park.

Climb the Three Towers in San Marino

Looming high above one of Europe’s smallest countries, the Three Towers are located on a trio of Monte Titano's peaks and used to serve as fortification during medieval times. Today only two towers are open to the public; when you reach the top of the highest tower, the Guaita fortress, you’ll be enchanted by sweeping views in all directions. San Marino is surrounded entirely by Italy and doesn't have its own airport or train station, so the Italian city of Rimini is your gateway to this elusive microstate.

Take a road trip in Iceland

For an unforgettable road trip, tackle some or part of the 828 miles that make up Iceland’s Ring Road. Leave at least 10 days to get to know some of the country’s most scenic spots. You'll go right past the huge blue-and-white expanse of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, as well as the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, whose thundering cascade you can walk behind – just remember to pack your waterproofs.

Explore Andalucia's white villages, Spain

For a break from the beach crowds along the Costa del Sol, head into the mountainous countryside of Andalucia. Take a tour of the interior’s white villages, called pueblos blancos. One of the prettiest is Zahara de la Sierra, which overlooks a giant reservoir and features the remains of a Moorish fortress clinging to the mountainside.

Get musical in ABBA the Museum, Stockholm, Sweden

Fans of Sweden’s most famous musical exports can find out how Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Bjorn and Benny rose to fame in this fun museum. Listen to the fab foursome's memories of how they put Swedish pop music on the map, and see how you would look in their fantastically spangly costumes. Singing and dancing aren’t obligatory, but hard to avoid.

Hit the slopes in Grandvalira, Andorra

Feast on khinkali in Tbilisi, Georgia

Originating from the Caucasus mountain regions, khinkali are filled dumplings that you’ll find in every traditional Georgian kitchen. Most commonly they’re filled with a mix of spiced beef and pork mince with fried onions, but the fillings can range from mushrooms to various combinations of different vegetables. You'll find some of the best in Georgia's capital Tbilisi, at joints like Cafe Daphna and Amo Rame Bani. Eat the khinkali with your hands and try to slurp up the hearty broth inside without spilling a drop.

Relax in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, France

Pull up a green chair and chill out in one of Paris ’ most elegant green spaces. Kids will love racing toy boats on the ornamental pond in front of the 17th-century Luxembourg Palace. Stroll through woods and past elaborate fountains and elegant statues. Play a round of tennis if you're feeling active – if not, exercise the brain with a game of chess.

Visit Lisbon’s Bairro Alto, Portugal

Portugal’s capital has an enchanting old town, filled with cobbled streets and vintage trams that trundle through its historic quarter. Lisbon ’s layout harks back to its Moorish past, with narrow lanes and twisting alleyways. The old town is one of the liveliest parts of the city, with plenty of restaurants and bars where you can listen to the haunting sounds of fado, Portugal's Unesco-inscribed traditional music.

Hike along the Princes’ Way, Liechtenstein

Visit Rome's Pantheon, Italy

Rome is full of ruins, but the wondrous construction that is the Pantheon has been standing intact since AD 128. You can’t help but marvel at the coffered dome and its oculus that lets the light (and rain) in. It's one of Rome's most beautiful buildings, having started life as a Roman temple before becoming a Catholic basilica. As of July 2023, you have to pay for a ticket to peek inside – look out for the tombs of two Italian kings, Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I.

Explore Bergen, Norway

Norway’s second-largest city is in a breathtaking location surrounded by seven towering mountains and impossibly deep fjords. Stroll along Bergen's old wharf past brightly colored wooden houses, and hop on a ferry for a tour of the fjords. A visit to the fish market will whet your appetite for fresh seafood in the city's waterside restaurants.

Listen to live music in Galway, Ireland

Take a ride in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

Flop on western Algarve beaches, Portugal

You’ll find some of Portugal’s best beaches along this western strip of the Atlantic coast. Look out for Praia do Martinhal, one of the region’s most appealing beaches. It's one of the gentlest, as it's sheltered from the full force of the Atlantic's waves by the promontory at Sagres. It's only 90 minutes from the nearest airport at Faro, but it's a world away from the busier resorts of the eastern Algarve.

Ride a pedal boat through Amsterdam, Netherlands

Take the train from Koblenz to Mainz, Germany

Taste the tapas of San Sebastian, Spain

This northern Spanish city is famed for its delicious tapas – known as pintxos in the local Basque language. Take a slow bar crawl through the old town, nibbling these morsels of ham, seafood, cheese or olives along the way. They're either on bits of bread or on toothpicks, which you then tot up to find out how much to pay. Don't miss the Playa de la Concha, one of the loveliest city beaches in Europe.

Visit Bruges’ offbeat museums, Belgium

Three of Belgium’s most prized products – fries, chocolate and beer – get their own museum. At the Bruges Beer Experience, reward yourself with a craft brew in the museum's taproom after taking a tour. At Choco-Story, you'll discover the fascinating history of chocolate and see how it's made. And as you wander through the Frietmuseum, the smell of fried potatoes will eventually lead your nose to the museum's cafe.

See Berlin’s East Side Gallery, Germany

There isn’t much left of the Berlin Wall, but there’s a stretch in old East Berlin that's become the longest open-air gallery in the world and shouldn’t be missed. Check out the graffiti and street art mocking just about everything from politics to industrialisation. It's right on the edge of Kreuzberg, still one of Berlin's hippest districts after all these years.

Catch the best view of Venice, Italy

Leave the crowds of Piazza San Marco behind and hop on a vaporetto (water bus) to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. The church’s bell tower (currently closed for maintenance) typically allows you to see the best views of Venice – and there’s even a lift to the top. Elsewhere, use the vaporetto to explore some of Venice's lesser-known districts, including Giudecca and the studenty part of Dorsoduro.

Go shopping in Monte Carlo’s Carre d’Or, Monaco

Watch Prague’s astronomical clock, Czechia

For more than 600 years, this mechanical marvel by Prague’s Old Town Hall has been putting on a performance every hour. Watch the procession of Apostles and statues as they mark each hour in mesmerizing style. You can catch it every hour on the hour from 9am until 11pm. While you're there, don't miss a visit to the dazzling interior of the Old Town Hall, a complex of several Gothic buildings.

Visit Riga’s old town, Latvia

Latvia’s capital is a pleasure to explore, particularly Riga’s old town on the Daugava River’s eastern side. Walk along cobbled streets admiring the magnificent medieval and Baroque architecture before taking in the views from the top of St Peter’s Church tower. Because the tower soars to 425 feet, you'll have splendid vistas of the old town's crenelated roofs, the historic zeppelin hangars that now house Riga Central Market and the uber-modern National Library of Latvia across the water.

Soak in Budapest’s spas, Hungary

Explore Kazimierz Jewish Quarter in Krakow, Poland

Go hiking in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia

The Tatra Mountains form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and feature more than 90 lakes and 35 valleys. Keen hikers can join a hut-to-hut guided tour and keep an eye out for wildlife, including lynx and bears. The town of Poprad is a handy starting point for guided or self-guided walks, as it's right by Tatry-Poprad airport.

See the art in London's National Gallery, England, UK

It’s one of the world’s finest art galleries – and as it’s free, it’s one of London ’s best bargains. The National Gallery’s huge collection covers everything from 13th-century paintings to works from the early 20th century. Among the 2,300-odd artworks are some of the world's best-known paintings, including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait.

Stop for a coffee in Vienna’s coffeehouses, Austria

Visit the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Enjoy Ljubljana’s riverside cafes, Slovenia

Slovenia’s capital is one of the most visually appealing in Europe; a harmonious blend of Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture – not to mention an attractive string of cafes and bars along the Ljubljanica River. Some of the bars suit certain times of the day: for example, the ones along Petkovskovo nabrezje are the buzziest at happy hour. On hot summer days, head south to the large grassy area of Spica.

Eat oysters in Mali Ston, Croatia

Take a boat ride on Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK

Get the best view of Loch Lomond from the vantage point of a boat – anything as simple as a pedal boat to a large speedboat with its own skipper. Stop for a walk on a lake island or a lochside village. Loch Lomond forms part of the Trossachs National Park, the place to "bag some Munros" – walk up a Scottish mountain that's higher than 3,000 feet. You've got 21 here to choose from. Alternatively, explore Scotland by cruise ship – its coastline and islands make for an epic seafaring adventure.

Visit Kotor, Montenegro

Visit the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania

Allow plenty of time to explore the fascinating old town of Vilnius – it’s one of the largest intact medieval old towns in Europe, an enchanting mishmash of all sorts of architectural styles, from Gothic to Neoclassical. But Baroque is the king here, including the imposing 17th-century St Casimir's Church. For superb views, climb the 193 wooden steps to the top of St John's Church bell tower.

Lose yourself in Sarajevo’s Ottoman Quarter, Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Ottomans founded Sarajevo in the 15th century, and you can still see the strong Turkish legacy in the Bosnian capital’s old Bascarsija quarter. It’s like a mini Istanbul, with souk-like stalls squeezed in among cafes and silversmiths and coppersmiths working their metals in tiny workshops. You'll spot their little coffee pots in cafes, whose Turkish coffee – called bosanska kava – will keep you going for hours.

Ride a boat through Gothenburg’s waterways, Sweden

Visit Beyoglu in Istanbul, Turkey

Once you’ve seen Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Istanbul’s other landmarks in Sultanahmet, head across the Golden Horn to Beyoglu. The district's Istiklal Street is one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan in the city. Check out the little side alleyways where jazz clubs lurk in spaces hardly larger than cubbyholes.

Come to Lake Bled, Slovenia

Slovenia's Lake Bled really does look like something out of a fairy tale. There’s even a medieval castle perched atop the lakeside cliffs. Rising from an islet in the centre of the lake is the Baroque-style Church of the Assumption and its striking bell tower. Once you ride to the island on a wooden boat called a pletna, tradition has it that you should climb the 99 stone steps to the top of the church tower and ring the bell yourself.

Visit Symi, Greece

It’s hard to choose among Greece’s 227 inhabited islands, but if you have to pick one, go for Symi. This small Dodecanese island has one of the prettiest ports, a riot of colorful houses tumbling to the water’s edge – not to mention excellent beaches. On the days when it's too hot to hike to the beach, just take a water taxi from Symi harbor.

Explore Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, Cyprus

Join the party on Belgrade’s floating nightclubs, Serbia

Explore Gozo's Ggantija Temples, Malta

Visit Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Switzerland

Explore Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Walk across the Stari Most of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Wander through Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

Prepare to be dazzled by the extraordinary Keukenhof. More than seven million tulips and other brightly colored flowers spread across this sprawling garden that’s only about an hour from Amsterdam. But you'll have to time your visit carefully – because it's a celebration of spring flowers, the park is open only from March to May. 

Discover Ohrid, North Macedonia

Head to Snowdonia, Wales, UK

The biggest mountain in Wales and England stands at a whopping 3,650 feet, but there are many ways of exploring Snowdonia National Park without hardcore hiking. Its footpaths suit all levels – or you can just take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the summit. But it's not just mountains here – the park includes nearly 200 miles of seashore, with sandy beaches and sheltered coves.

Explore Berat, Albania

Wander through Tallinn’s old town, Estonia

Stroll along Varna’s Black Sea waterfront, Bulgaria

Urbane Varna stands out from Bulgaria’s Black Sea beach towns as it’s a port city and naval base as well as a resort. There’s plenty of room along its waterfront promenade for sunbathing, as well as a large selection of bars and restaurants. Afterwards, you can cool off in the lushness of the 19th-century Primorski Park.

Walk along Dubrovnik’s city walls, Croatia

Allow at least two hours for a wander around the medieval and Renaissance fortifications circling Dubrovnik’s cookie-colored old town. Get a snapshot of Dubrovnik life as you walk past courtyard gardens, laundry-lined balconies and terracotta rooftops. The walls are extremely popular with cruise-ship crowds that descend in their thousands, so try to time your visit for as early in the morning or as late in the afternoon as possible. A ticket for the city walls will also grant you access to Fort Lovrijenac, across the bay from the historic centre.

Spend a weekend in Dresden, Germany

Located near the German border with Czechia, Dresden has collected its fair share of nicknames over the years, including Florence on the Elbe and the Jewel Box. The world almost lost it forever during the Second World War, when it was bombed into near-oblivion. But this dazzling Saxon city has since been reborn and is full of world-class museums, lavish palaces, onion-domed churches and arty hotspots ready to welcome discerning visitors.

Get back to nature in the Faroe Islands, Denmark

Learn Belfast’s nautical history, Northern Ireland, UK

The story of the Northern Irish capital is inextricably linked to that of the world’s most tragic ocean liner. Built on Belfast’s slipways, the RMS Titanic began life here before sailing into Southampton for that ill-fated maiden voyage. Today, the waterfront Titanic Quarter of the city exists to further connect the dots of this maritime history, featuring unmissable maritime-themed attractions like the immersive Titanic Belfast museum.

Now discover the story of Titanic's lesser-known sister ship

More for You

Caitlin Clark’s rookie salary with WNBA sparks outrage

US Navy warships shot down Iranian missiles with a weapon they've never used in combat before

This Is How Long You Can Leave Butter On the Counter, According to Land O'Lakes

I Lost 100lbs by Following 4 Rules

TikTok star Kyle Marisa Roth dies at 36

7 CDs You Probably Owned, Threw Out and Now Are Worth Bank

The Food City Anthony Bourdain Considered One Of His All-Time Favorites

7 Things Your Date Notices About You Immediately

Red Lobster considering bankruptcy filing: report

Scott Peterson defense drops motion to seal in bid for new trial after prosecutors note files mostly public

McDonald's menu adds new takes on a fan-favorite sandwich

I Walked 20k Steps a Day for a Month. The Results Transformed Me

Is It Safe To Grill Frozen Hamburger Patties Straight From The Freezer?

Business owner faces millions in fines for intentionally violating federal laws with illegal truck rigs — here's why prosecutors are cracking down

A Russian tank was seen charging into battle with a giant, makeshift metal roof on top of it as Ukraine leans into drone attacks

AI-Generated Contestants Will Compete for the Title of ‘Miss AI’ in World’s First AI Beauty Pageant

The passport rule that prevented Vicky Pattison from boarding her flight – and how to avoid the same mistake

U.S. women’s track Olympians say photo was shocking but uniform isn’t

29 Ridiculous Lies That Hollywood Has Managed to Mainstream

KFC Is Changing Its Menu—Here’s What to Expect