Santa Claus Village Travel Guide for Families Visiting Lapland
For families coming to Finland, few trips carry the excitement and magic of a visit to the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. This is the official hometown of Santa Claus, sitting right on the Arctic Circle. Part theme park, part Christmas fantasy come to life, here’s your guide to exploring Santa’s home.
Getting There
To get to the Santa Claus Village, you will need to get to the city of Rovaniemi. It is the capital of Finland’s northernmost region, Lapland. Rovaniemi has its own airport, with daily flights to Helsinki and other European cities. The city is also well-connected by rail and roads to other major towns in Finland. The village sits about 8 kilometers north of Rovaniemi city center. You can take a shuttle or a taxi and many resorts and hotels in the area also offer shuttle services.
Meeting Santa
Meeting Santa Claus is of course, the highlight of visiting the Santa Claus Village. The meeting is free to enter, though photos taken by one of Santa’s elves come at a cost. You can also take your own photos. You will often encounter a queue outside but don’t fret because the waiting period itself is pretty interesting taking in the decor inside Santa’s house.
Crossing the Arctic Circle
Running directly through the Village is the Arctic Circle line itself, marked on the ground for visitors to stand across. Crossing the 661/2 degree North latitude means that you have officially stepped into the polar region. It's a simple experience that really makes you feel “we’re really here!”
Santa Claus Post Office
Right next to Santa's office is the Santa Claus Main Post Office. This is where you can write and mail letters that get an official Arctic Circle postmark. You can send a postcard to our loved ones anywhere in the world or collect a few as keepsakes. Letters addressed to Santa eventually make their way here too, and the elves help sort through them
Reindeer and Huskies
There are other activities to enjoy too inside the Village. The Arctic Circle Husky Park is home to many adorable husky dogs who you can meet and cuddle with, and also enjoy a ride on a sleigh pulled by them and driven by a guide. The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park has snowmobile rides, Santa’s Pets has many Arctic animals like reindeer and alpacas to meet and in the Snowman World, you and your kids can slide down icy rides and skate on an ice rink.
Shopping and Snacks
The Village is dotted with shops selling Christmas ornaments, Lappish handicrafts and other precious souvenirs. There are many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy a festive meal as well, with Santa’s Salmon, Christmas House, Santamus, Three Elves’ Restaurant and Golden Bowl Dimsum being some we recommend.
When to Visit
December is unquestionably the most magical time to visit, when the entire Santa Claus Village is covered in snow and the place is in full Christmas cheer. It is also the most crowded time of the year here though, so if you'd rather avoid the crowds, late November or January are also good times. Many activities in the Village are scaled back during off-season. Remember to dress in lots of cozy layers when visiting at the height of the winter months, though, because spending a day at the Santa Claus Village involves some time spent outdoors.
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