can you visit santa in lapland after christmas

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Welcome to Santa Claus Village & the Arctic Circle!

Experience the magic of Christmas every day of the year!

Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi, Finland, the official hometown of Santa Claus. Santa Claus has made Lapland in Northern Finland his home for centuries, and the Arctic Circle is close to his heart because many Christmas secrets are rooted in this magical place. Santa Claus Village is a family destination with plenty to see and do for all ages. Here’s wishing you an unforgettable visit!

Greetings, the Santa Claus Village family

Meet Santa Claus 

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

Cross the magical Arctic Circle 

Did you know that the Arctic Circle runs right through the Santa Claus Village? As the Arctic Circle line is marked in Santa Claus Village’s central square, you can experience something uniquely exciting here – you get to cross the magical Arctic Circle! You can hop, step, jump or even do a cartwheel!

Experience the wonder of the Northern Lights 

The colourful Northern Lights playing in the sky are one of the most beautiful phenomena in nature. The geographical location of Santa Claus Village and the surrounding area makes it a suitable area to encounter the Northern Lights. It’s important to remember that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon. This means that while there’s no guarantee you’ll see them, the search will be even more exciting!

Be enchanted by Lapland’s nature 

Every season is different in Rovaniemi. In this Arctic nature wonderland, you can breathe in the silence of snow-covered forests, experience the magic of the midnight sun in summer, and admire the famously colourful autumnal hues of “Ruska” in Lapland. Explore the enchanting natural sites and landscapes of Santa Claus Village.

Outstanding flavours of the North

Loft Cocktail Lounge

Feeling festive? in our cocktail bar, located in Santa’s gift house in Santa Claus Village, you can enjoy your time away from the hassle.

Café-Restaurant Napatapuli

Café-Restaurant Napatapuli, located in Santa’s Gift House in Santa Claus Village, is a fast & traditional food restaurant that has been proudly serving since 1998.

Restaurant Gallis

Enjoy a dining experience with the menu that has been crafted as a culinary journey. Located in Glass Resort in Santa Claus Village, restaurant combines global ingredients with locally sourced Lappish ingredients.

Atmospheric accommodation

Glass Resort

The 24 Premium Glass Apartments, 3 Deluxe Glass Apartments & Premium Lodge in Santa Claus Village are designed to combine Lapland tradition, modern comfort & nature of Arctic Circle.

Santa’s Luxury Boutique Villa / Apartments

Modern design and comfort in the heart of Santa Claus Village, yet in a quiet spot. Plenty of room, luxurious furnishing & comfort.

Apukka Resort Rovaniemi

Apukka Resort: an Arctic wilderness resort hotel in the capital of Lapland, surrounded by lakes and magical nature, just 10 min drive from Santa Claus Village!

Delightful souvenirs

Santa Claus Office Gift Shop

Shop full of souvenirs, gifts & Christmas products. You can find the shop after visiting Santa or also come in from the Santa Claus Office lobby.

Santa Claus Office Webshop

Santa Claus Office Gift Shop can be found also online. We ship…

Piece Of Lapland

Piece of Lapland souvenir shop, located in Santa Claus Gift House in the middle of the Santa Claus Village, sells high quality souvenirs and gifts.

Watch the Santa Claus Village livestream!

Looking for more?

• Activities & Experiences
• Accommodation
• Eat & Drink

Plan your stay

How to get to the Santa Claus Village? What should you know before visiting? We’ve put together some useful tips for you!

Santa Claus Village on Instagram

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The ultimate guide to christmas in lapland in 2024.

I know what you’re thinking, what could possibly be more christmassy than Christmas in Lapland?! Thankfully the Christmas season in Lapland actually runs all year around, but if you want snow, and that christmassy vibe, then christmas in Lapland is best experienced in November to December. 

So, sit back, relax and enjoy my guide to the ultimate Christmas in Lapland which will take you through the best places to visit in Lapland during Christmas, the best things to do in Lapland at Christmas and where to stay during Christmas in Lapland! 

Travellerspoint

When does Christmas start in Lapland?

As mentioned before the best season to experience Christmas in Lapland is definitely during November to December. November is a great season because the Christmas season is declared opened in Rovaniemi and all things Christmas related start to emerge. 

Also, you’ll have lots of snow which makes it even more awesome. 

Obviously this is one of the most peak times to visit Lapland, so you’ll need to plan in advance to avoid disappointment. 

The Santa Clause Village in Rovaniemi (the official home town of Santa Claus) declares the start of the Christmas season in Lapland every year.

Where is the best place to stay for Christmas in Lapland? 

There are so many amazing places to stay to experience Christmas in Lapland and below I run you through some of my favourites. Remember as mentioned before, this is peak tourist season in November and December, so if you want to stay in these awesome hotels in Lapland, then you’re going to need to book in advance. 

The Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi 

This is a wonderful place to stay in Rovaniemi with children thanks to its proximity to Santa Park (it’s on site!)it's not far from the airport, it’s close to Santa Claus Village and it’s got one of the most awesome hotel designs in the world: you’re staying in an ultra luxury treehouse! 

We actually had the chance to stay there which you can read all about here. But if you want to go ahead and check out prices and how to book then click here!

Northern Lights Ranch, near Levi 

The Northern Lights Ranch is a hotel experience like no other. The accommodation is in the form of “Aurora Cabins” which gives you the best chance to see the Northern Lights from your room, but not only that, there is the chance to book a cabin with a Jacuzzi outside and when you’re surrounded with snow in a Jacuzzi, it’s amazing.

Plus they have the best on-site chef I’ve ever experienced, and I would stay there for the food alone. OH and they have an Ice church ...how awesome is that. 

It’s SUPER christmassy and of the best places I’ve experienced in my life! 

You can read about our stay here and go ahead and book that amazing stay at the Northern Lights Ranch right here!

Pyhan Astelli Igloos in Pyhä

Looking for a unique igloo stay in a beautiful part of Lapland? Then this place is a gem. The igloos and aurora cabins on offer are modern, cosy, comfortable and just amazing. The resort of Pyha itself is awesome and super Christmassy. It’s a great spot for families and couples. 

Check out our stay here OR go ahead and get your amazing igloo booked right here. 

These are some of my favourite stays and if you’re looking for the best place to stay in Lapland at Christmas, I’m not sure I can choose between them all. I think if you manage to snag of those above properties, then you’re going to be in for a real Christmas treat! 

Snow Hotel and Glass Igloos outside Rovaniemi 

The Snow Hotel is exactly what it says on the tin, a hotel made out of snow that you can actually sleep in. It’s awesome! Or if you fancy staying in something a little warmer, you can stay in their glass igloos, ( which Brad and I did ) and be in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights from your room. 

Book your stay here. 

Where are the best places to visit to experience Christmas in Lapland? 

There are lots of amazing places in Lapland that will give you those Christmas vibes. Actually when the place is covered in snow, every single area is Christmasy, but to help you narrow it down, here are some of my favourite areas. 

Well, we have to start here, because it’s the home of Santa Claus and the tourist hotspot of Christmas and Lapland. Rovaniemi is great for families as there is SO much to do.

My favourite places include a visit to Santa Claus village and Santa Park for the chance to meet Mr Claus himself, try your hand at Elf School and of course post your letter to Santa Claus at the official Santa Claus post office...

Levi is another amazing place in Lapland that’s very Christmassy. It’s a tourist hotspot for it’s access to skiing, so if you love to ski, then you’re going to love Levi. Not only that, it’s home to one of the most epic Ice hotels in the world, for a couple of years it was actually Game of Thrones themed and looked amazing. You can even stay there too. (It’s going to be cold!)

This is another great place in Lapland for those Christmas in Lapland vibes. There a beautiful national park to explore and lots of opportunities for skiing with two ski resorts! It’s also a great spot to find the Northern Lights thanks to the reduced light pollution. 

Salla is another great place in Lapland that’s super Christmassy. There is a ski resort for keen skiers and they have a really cool reindeer farm that Brad and I visited. They can also arrange husky tours, so basically you can experience all the great things to do in Lapland here too. 

What are the most Christmassy things to do in Lapland? 

Oh there are so many amazing things to do in Lapland that ooze that Christmas vibe and below I take you through my favourites, most tried and tested!

1. Hunt for the Northern lights 

When you visit Lapland at Christmas, you’ll still have the chance to see the epic phenomenon that is the Northern Lights. Some tips for seeing the lights: 

• You’ll need to escape light pollution, so if you’re staying in Rovaniemi, spend a night just outside at the Snow Hotel and Glass Igloos resort a higher chance to see the lights. 
• Go on a Northern Lights Tour as they’ll know all the best spots with less light pollution to give you a higher chance. I can recommend Wild About Lapland. 
• Download an Aurora app which will help give you the KP index needed for seeing the Northern Lights. In Finland you need a KP index of 3. 

2. Dine at a Snow Hotel 

Speaking of Snow Hotels in Rovaniemi, even if you don’t want to stay there, you can still experience what it’s like to eat in a Snow Hotel which is pretty awesome! This is one of those bucket list experiences and unique things to do at Christmas in Lapland. 

3. Take a Husky Ride 

Imagine meeting lots of amazing and loving husky dogs then going for a ride with them in the snow. That’s the ultimate lapland dream. What I will say is that you should choose a Husky company that’s ethical, so therefore I choose BearHill Husky who are just awesome! 

You can read all about our experience with huskies right here. 

4. Head out on a snowmobile 

When the snow covers the ground in Lapland, one of the great experiences is to hit the roads on a snowmobile. Perfect for adrenaline junkies and possible all around Lapland. 

Book your adventure here. 

5. Visit Santa Park and Santa Claus Village

Santa Park is located in Rovaniemi and gives adults and children the chance to meet Santa, attend Elf School (and graduate), make gingerbread cookies and so much more. Anything you can think of associated with Christmas and it will be at Santa Park. Yes I went, because I am a child at heart! 

6. Visit a Reindeer Farm and experience a sleigh ride 

What could possibly be more Christmassy than meeting Santa’s reindeer and a sleigh ride? I really don’t know! Well that’s totally possible in Lapland. You can do that in a variety of spots in Lapland including Salla and Rovaniemi. 

Actually this tour is a great one from Rovaniemi that you can book here. 

7. Dig for your own Amethyst at the Amethyst Mine 

This was one of the coolest things I did in Lapland and it’s a great way to dig a unique Christmas gift! Basically it’s one of the unique mine in the world that allows you to dig your own amethyst and take a piece home with you. You can read all about our experience here. 

If you’re coming from Rovaniemi you can book with this tour which includes your transportation, lunch and your entrance ticket. 

8. Visit the Arctic Animals at Ranua Wildlife Park 

The most Northernmost zoo in the world and the ONLY place you can see polar bears in Finland. This is a pretty awesome experience, and relatively cheap for Finland standards. You’ll see lots of arctic animals at this wildlife park. 

Just a note, they don’t have any lights for the comfort of the animals, so if you visit after 2pm (when the sun sets) you’ll need to bring your own torch or rent one. 

You can book a tour from Rovaniemi right here. 

I think this is a great chance to mention Tinggly, the awesome gift giving experience company. You can gift people experiences as a Christmas gift this year and these are some of my favourite gift ideas they offer in Lapland…

• A 2 night overnight stay for two with breakfast in an awesome glass igloo under their “bucket list experience package”. Check it here.
• Two Hour Snowmobile ride in Rovaniemi with the purchase of their “Christmas gift box”. Check it here. 

Oh and what I really love about Tinggly, apart from the fact you’re gifting an experience, is that all their experiences come with a co2 offset of 200%!

Where is the best place to see Santa in Lapland?

Without doubt, the best place to see Santa in Lapland in Rovaniemi, because that’s where he lives. You can guarantee he is there! He’s always hanging around the Santa Claus Village, and he’s always happy to meet children and adults. 

So if you’re looking for the best Lapland Santa experience then you’re best bet is to go to Rovaniemi. 

How do I get to Lapland? 

So Lapland is a region in Scandinavia, and it covers both Finland and Sweden . In this blog post we are talking about Finland and the easiest starting point for a Lapland holiday is to fly to Rovaniemi.

You can get direct flights from the UK and other European countries and I recommend you use Skyscanner to search for the best flights. 

How long should I spend for Christmas in Lapland? 

Lots of people do “one-day” trip to Lapland and I can understand why (it’s probably cheaper), but you will not get to experience the true Lapland at Christmas atmosphere.

I won’t lie to you, a trip to Lapland at Christmas isn’t cheap and you should only go if you can afford to do it. It’s the type of trip that you do once and you do it right. It’s truly a bucket list holiday. 

So, with that being said, I would suggest around 3 nights to fully experience Lapland at Christmas. This will give you a chance to visit the hotspots of Rovaniemi, the ski resorts of Pyhan, and more.

Of course the longer you have, the more you can see, but 3 nights in a reasonable amount and will leave you with amazing memories to last a lifetime. 

So there you have it, my ultimate guide to Christmas in Lapland. I hope this post has gotten you into the Christmas spirit or helped you book that amazing Lapland holiday. If you’ve got any other suggestions or simply want to ask a question, then please drop us a comment on this post. 

Happy travels! 

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5 million people can't be wrong

Discover the truth about Santa’s presence in Lapland throughout the year

Are you planning to visit Lapland soon and wondering if Santa is available all year-round? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Lapland, a region in Northern Finland, is known for its snowy landscapes, Northern Lights, and of course, Santa’s Village. Keep reading to learn more about Lapland and whether you can meet Santa all year-round.

• 1 What is Lapland?
• 2 What to expect in Lapland
• 3 Is Santa in Lapland all year-round?
• 4 Other things to do in Lapland
• 5 Conclusion

What is Lapland?

Lapland is a region in Northern Finland that boasts of a unique winter wonderland experience. The region covers the northern part of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia, and it’s one of the coldest places on earth where humans can survive. Lapland is also known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, making it a popular destination for families, especially during the holiday season.

What to expect in Lapland

If you’re visiting Lapland, be prepared for an unforgettable experience. The first thing you’ll notice is the weather. Lapland has a subarctic climate and is covered in snow most of the year. The snowy landscapes are perfect for winter activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.

Another thing you shouldn’t miss in Lapland is the Northern Lights. The region is located inside the Auroral Zone, making it one of the best places to view this natural phenomenon. Seeing the Northern Lights in Lapland is a magical experience that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.

If you’re traveling with kids, then visiting Santa’s Village is a must. The village is located in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, and is open all year-round. Here, you can meet Santa Claus, take a photo with him, and even mail a letter from Santa’s official post office.

Is Santa in Lapland all year-round?

Now, let’s get to the question that brought you here – is Santa in Lapland all year-round? The answer is yes, Santa is available in Lapland all year-round. In fact, Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi is open 365 days a year, so you can meet Santa anytime you want.

During the summer months, Santa is available for meetings and photos every day from 10 am to 5 pm. In the winter months, the meeting times are more flexible, and you may even get to see Santa feeding his reindeer at the Reindeer Park.

Other things to do in Lapland

Lapland is not just about Santa, snow, and Northern Lights. The region has many other things to see and do, especially for adventure enthusiasts. Here are some ideas:

• Visit a reindeer farm and go for a sleigh ride
• Go on a husky sled ride
• Try ice fishing
• Visit an ice hotel
• Take a dip in a traditional Finnish sauna followed by a dip in an ice-cold lake

As you can see, Lapland is a magical place that should be on every traveler’s list. And the best part is, you can meet Santa all year-round! So, whether you’re visiting in the summer or winter, Lapland has something for everyone.

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The Official Hometown of Santa Claus ®

Your ultimate 365 Christmas experience

Christmas spirit is a matter of the heart, a state of mind. Your magical journey here at Arctic Circle , Rovaniemi is guided by the values of authenticity, giving, creativity and constant presence. It’s also your moment to meet Santa Claus any day of the year and write a chapter in your life’s story while exploring Rovaniemi rich in history and curious details.

Year round Christmas activities

Christmas sights & attractions

Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle

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

Flights to Rovaniemi

There are plenty of direct flight connections from over 20 European cities flying to Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland during winter season 2023- 2024.

“I’m an ambassador of good will, love and peace, and wish nothing but happiness to the people of the world” Santa Claus

From the fell to the city office – the magical story of Santa Claus

Santa Claus’ original home lies in the mysterious Korvatunturi (“Ear Fell”) in Finnish Lapland. Since the exact location of the remote fell is a secret only known to a chosen few, he decided to establish an office in Rovaniemi in 1985. At the Arctic Circle Santa Claus can meet visitors and share his wisdom of happiness with people all around the world.

500 000 annual visitors in Santa Claus Village

Rovaniemi is the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, and the city’s most famous resident can be visited all year round in Santa Claus Village . The village is situated right on the Arctic Circle, just minutes away from Rovaniemi centre. Santa Claus Village is a must see attraction that draws more than 500 000 annual visitors from all around the world.

Santa Claus Village is full of original Christmas charm, for example the Santa Claus Main Post Office . It’s also the home of reindeer and huskies and other lovely creatures.

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

Santa Claus’ beloved reindeer

The gentle and kind reindeer play a special role in Santa Claus’ life, transporting him cross the snowy land. Getting to know reindeer is easy in Rovaniemi, as many reindeer sleigh rides and farm visits are available. Kindly notice: flying reindeer are reserved for Santa only, as they require expert driving skills that take centuries to master.

Santa Claus in On His Way 23.12.

December 23rd, Santa Claus departs from the Arctic Circle, on his mission to hand out presents to children all over the world. The free event will be held on Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland.

Is the ultimate Christmas moment when you meet Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle while it is snowing outside, or enjoying a bit of Christmas magic in the middle of the summer, under the Midnight Sun? The magic lives inside us all, no matter who we are, what we do, where we live and how we cherish Christmas time.

Questions about Santa Claus?

Can i meet santa claus all year around.

In Rovaniemi, you can visit  Santa Claus  every single day of the year in  Santa Claus Village  on the  Arctic Circle .

How do I get from Rovaniemi city centre to Santa Claus Village?

Local transport bus number 8 and Santa Claus Bus will take you there. Please find the timetables here:

Local bus 8 (all year around): timetable (valid 3.6.-6.8.2024)

Santa Claus Bus

Is it possible to meet Santa Claus also somewhere else than in the Santa Claus Village?

Elsewhere than in the Santa Claus Village, you can meet him for example in SantaPark – the Home Cavern of Santa Claus , Santa’s Secret Forest – Joulukka and in the city centre Santa Claus City Office or in other other private venues.

How do I send a letter to Santa Claus?

You can send Santa a letter to this address:

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

Because Santa receives more than 700 000 letters a year, he can’t possibly reply to all of them. However, together with his elves, he reads every one of them and tries to answer as many as possible. If you want to be sure of Santa’s reply, you can  order a letter from Santa Claus .

5 snowy months in Rovaniemi

Lapland is synonymous with snow and ice – and no wonder, in Rovaniemi we are lucky to enjoy snow around five months of the year. We also have a lovely Midnight Sun and beautiful Autumn with colours and Northern Lights.

More things to love about Rovaniemi

Arctic Capital

Rovaniemi combines the northern nature with urban surroundings, self-confident localness and open-minded internationality. Rovaniemi is also the Official Hometown of Santa Claus®.

Arctic Circle

Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus and the capital of Lapland, lies right on the Arctic Circle, which makes the town a gateway to the arctic. See more here.

Sustainable Rovaniemi

The local companies have been joining forces for Sustainable Travel Finland trademark that offers a concrete toolkit for travel destinations to help Finland’s travel destinations to adopt sustainable procedures and to make sustainable choices in their business.

Northern Lights

Experience the magic of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Rovaniemi. Find out viewing spots, times and more here.

Midnight Sun

The Midnight Sun, the nightless night or polar day – can be seen only here in Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle or above. From early June until early July, and nights are white throughout the summer. See more here.

Polar Night

Experience the Polar Night, celebration of mysterious lights on glittering snowdrifts.

Snow And Ice

For many, Lapland is synonymous with snow. In Rovaniemi, there’s white stuff on the ground for approximately six months of the year. Find out more here!

Autumn Colours

When bright arctic summer ends and nature is preparing for winter at the Arctic Circle, we are enchanted by the changing colors of the season. In Rovaniemi this amazing nature’s display is at its best in September when trees and ground is covered with spectacular colours. Get your cameras out and head to nature!

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

• Santa's Magic
• Snow Guarantee
• Price Match Promise
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• 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 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
• Santa's Kuukkeli Log Cabins

Our Santa’s Magic package is available to book for 2 or 3 nights. Below is a sample itinerary of what you can expect on our magical 2 night Lapland holiday.

• What's Included
• Sample Itinerary
• Testimonials
• Half Child Places

What's included in Santa's Magic?

Flights, transfers and half-board accommodation in your choice of four hotels.

A full day of activities including a husky and reindeer ride and a private meeting with Santa.

We'll provide you with a thermal suit, thermal outdoor boots, woolen socks and thermal mittens to keep warm in snowy Saariselkä.

Want more time to enjoy Saariselkä?

All of our experiences are available as 3 night trips with 4 days to experience more magic. another day in the dreamworld of lapland, with a host of extraordinary adventures. .

Our optional adventures can be booked on our 2 and 3 night trips. On Santa’s Magic, the Northern Lights adventures, if pre-booked, will usually take place on the first evening, while most of our other adventures can be booked for your free day or the morning of your last day. In all cases, excursion dates and times will be confirmed locally once you’ve arrived.

• 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

Everything was so well organised. The whole trip although just ran so smoothly, reps were on hand to answer any questions. Hotel was lovely, good range of food and friendly staff. Rhys Santa's Holiday Club, Saariselka, Lapland, December 2022

Best holiday ever and I'm a hot holiday kind of person. Loved it! Laura Santa's Star Arctic Hotel, Saariselka, Lapland, December 2022

It was a magical experience would recommend to all please go there with the kids I want to go back again soon. Thank you. X Elin Santa's Hotel Tunturi, Saariselka, Lapland, December 2022

• Santa's Lapland Rating

FREE CHILD PLACES

Half price child places 2024.

Enjoy half price child places on our Santa's Magic package for these selected dates in November and December 2024.

Call to book:  01483 944 822

Santa's aurora, explore our alternative package with santa’s lapland, 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.

Terms and Conditions

Free child places apply to the youngest child, aged 11 and under at the time of travel and are limited to one per family (i.e. one place per two full-paying adult Guests). They are only available on selected 2023 Santa’s Magic departure dates on a first-come, first-served basis and can be combined with the £100 off per person promotion for selected hotels in 2023. Free child places apply to the basic holiday price only, does not include room or airport supplements, meals and other activities which are payable in full. The discounts are valid at the time of writing but are subject to availability and change and can be withdrawn at any time.

The half-price child places apply to the youngest child, aged 11 and under at the time of travel, and are limited to one per family (i.e. one place per two full-paying adult passengers). They are only available on selected 2024 Santa's Magic departure dates on a first-come, first-served basis. The half-price child place applies to the the basic holiday price only, not including room/airport supplements, meals, activities etc, which are payable in full. The discounts are valid at the time of writing but are subject to availability/change and can be withdrawn at any time. 

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• Experts in Lapland for over 15 years

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Lapland - Home of Santa Claus

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

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

Who who who is Santa Claus?

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

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

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

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

Where does Santa Claus live?

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

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

Santa and his reindeer

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

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

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

How to write a letter to Santa Claus

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

Here’s the address:

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

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

Santa Claus & Christmas Traditions

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

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

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

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

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

Santa Claus F.A.Q.

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

Want more winter fun?

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

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Christmas Holiday Packages in Lapland

Celebrate Christmas in Lapland’s winter wonderland, surrounded by festive fun that’ll enchant kids and adults alike. Think chasing the northern lights, meeting Santa Claus and exploring snowy landscapes. These Lapland Christmas holiday packages include your accommodation, guided activities, local transport and more.

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• New Year tours in Lapland
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Winter getaway at the arctic snowhotel, christmas adventure in swedish lapland, best of rovaniemi - classic, santa claus village & dog sledding, kiruna cabin getaway & northern lights, new years adventure in swedish lapland, best of lapland classic - rovaniemi, lapland adventure - aurora sky station, lapland adventure - aurora sky station & icehotel, express lapland adventure & icehotel, best of lapland express - rovaniemi, classic lapland adventure & icehotel, winter adventure at the arctic snowhotel, need any help so far get in touch with us.

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About Your Christmas Tour in Lapland

For the ultimate Christmas experience, why not treat yourself to a festive stay in Lapland? Venture to the northern reaches of Finland and Sweden for thrilling excursions such as dog sledding and snowmobiling. And, depending on the trip you choose, you could also sleep in an ice hotel, cosy log cabin, or glass igloo.

When you spend Christmas in Lapland with Nordic Visitor, you can expect:

• An authentic travel experience operated by a trusted local company • A dedicated travel consultant who will arrange your entire tour • Festive itineraries designed to make the most of Christmastime • Expert local guides to escort you on included excursions • Daily breakfast and a Christmas Eve meal • Handpicked accommodation for a relaxing stay • 24/7 phone support during your trip for peace of mind

Nordic Visitor has made it easy to plan your Lapland Christmas vacation. Start your journey by following these simple steps:

1. Pick your favourite Nordic Visitor tour 2. Confirm your package 3. Check your confirmation email 4. Book your flights 5. Get ready for your trip

Why choose Nordic Visitor

Trusted local travel experts

Since 2002, Nordic Visitor has been creating memorable travel experiences in Northern Europe. Book with us and you’ll benefit from the expertise of our regional travel consultants who know Lapland inside out. They are on hand to answer any questions you might have about these winter short breaks.

Great reviews

Nordic Visitor is dedicated to the best service quality, and this is reflected year after year when TripAdvisor awards us with their Certificate of Excellence . We also take great pride in our customer feedback: 97% of our travellers say they would recommend us to friends and family.

Customisable tour options

These Lapland itineraries have been crafted by regional experts and are already packed with festive inclusions. But you’ll still have the chance to personalise your tour with activities such as snowmobiling and chasing the northern lights by dog sled. You could also treat yourself to a private sauna experience.

You are in good hands

If something unexpected crops up during your trip, you can call our 24/7 helpline to speak to a knowledgeable travel consultant. No matter if it’s a weather event or an unforeseen issue, they’ll assist you while keeping you safe and informed. And, if needed, they’ll rework your itinerary.

Hassle-free experience

With these Lapland Christmas tours, you can leave the planning to us. You’ll get your own dedicated travel consultant to take care of your trip details for you. This means your accommodation, airport transfers and included excursions will be arranged before you arrive. Your hassle-free break is calling!

Full financial protection

With Nordic Visitor, you have peace of mind knowing your holiday arrangements with us are 100% financially protected. Your payments are safeguarded as we comply with European Union laws on Package Travel regulations. This guarantees you a refund in the unlikely event that the company experiences insolvency.

Handpicked hotels

Depending on the tour you choose, you could sleep in a hotel, glass igloo, ice and snow hotel or log cabin. No matter where you stay in Lapland, you can rest easy knowing that we have tried and tested each accommodation. Your trip also includes daily breakfasts and a Christmas Eve feast.

Reviews of our Lapland Christmas Packages

Find out what our wonderful guests enjoyed most about their time in Lapland.

Marjatta Finland

Christmas in Rovaniemi was awesome. Everything was perfect!

Angela United Kingdom

Cannot fault our experience. Everything was made very easy from start to finish. Thank you so much. Loads included... read more

Cannot fault our experience. Everything was made very easy from start to finish. Thank you so much. Loads included but still had enough time to do other things and explore on our own. Excellent experience. No glitches so no negative memories of the experience. Loved equally by child and adults!

Highlights of Lapland Christmas Tours

You’ll soon discover that there’s more to this winter wonderland than meeting the “Man in Red”. All kinds of festive fun are waiting for you! Visit Lapland and you could…

• Dive into Christmas cheer at Santa Claus Village , Father Christmas’ home in Rovaniemi
• Marvel at sparkling sculptures carved from the ice at Finland’s Arctic SnowHotel
• Sleep under the stars when you stay in a glass-domed igloo with panoramic views
• Look out for colourful displays of the northern lights rippling across the night sky
• Learn how to guide a team of energetic huskies on a dog sledding excursion
• Visit a reindeer farm and find out how the Sámi people rely on these hardy animals
• Sit down with your travel companions for a festive feast to remember
• Glide through Lapland’s glittering forests on an expert-led snowmobile safari
• Relax in an Arctic sauna, and experience this centuries-old spa tradition for yourself

Advice for Exploring Lapland

Get ready for your festive escape with these travel guides.

Climate and daylight

When does the sun set? And what will the weather be like?

What to pack for Lapland

How to dress warmly and be ready for adventure

Accommodation in Lapland

Glittering ice hotels, cosy cabins, and more

Northern Lights in Lapland

Find out how to witness the magical northern lights

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Trips to Lapland

You may want to know more before travelling to Lapland, so here we’ve answered some of your most frequently asked questions. Plus, for more in-depth information, check out this handy Lapland Travel Guide .

To find out about our booking process, payments and more, please read our FAQs and booking terms .

1. What does Lapland have to do with Christmas?

Everything! This snowy region of northern Finland and Sweden is bursting with festive cheer. Here you’ll find Father Christmas’ home – Santa Claus Village. Not to mention dazzling ice hotels and cute huskies, along with reindeer that are ready to whisk you off on thrilling sleigh rides.

All of this makes Lapland the place to come for the Christmas you might have dreamed about as a child. You can have plenty of grown-up experiences in Lapland as well. Think relaxing in snow saunas, staying in glass igloos and exploring on snowmobiles. Plus, you can browse the many market stalls at the festive fairs. In both Lapland and the rest of Europe, Christmas is a big celebration.

Check out this list of the top 12 European Christmas markets for more inspiration.

2. Where is Lapland Christmas Village?

You’ll find Lapland Christmas Village – or Santa Claus Village , to give its official name – in Rovaniemi. Head to this town just outside the Arctic Circle and you’ll be treated to an unforgettable Christmas break in Finnish Lapland.

3. Where should I go in Lapland at Christmas?

The best place to visit in Lapland depends on what you’d like to do during your trip. To help you decide, here are some of Lapland’s most enchanting winter destinations and what they’re known for.

There’s lots to do in the Finnish town of Rovaniemi , but Santa Claus Village is the star attraction here. It’s the best place to go if you want to meet Santa’s elves and tour their toy workshop.

Make Kiruna your base and you could enjoy spa experiences and husky rides surrounded by Sweden’s snow-covered forests. Plus, you’ll find the original ICEHOTEL is just a 20-minute drive away from the town.

If you’re looking for a peaceful place to recharge this winter, head to Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland. With virtually no light pollution around, the park’s Aurora Sky Station makes for an excellent spot to chase the aurora.

No matter what you’re looking for, come to Lapland at Christmas – or anytime from December to March – and you’ll find something that appeals to you. Get inspired by these top winter getaways in Lapland .

4. What can I do in Lapland at Christmas?

This wintry destination is the ultimate playground for snowy activities and festive cheer. So whether you want to embrace your inner child or indulge your grown-up side, you’ll find there’s plenty to do in Lapland at Christmastime.

Strolling around the region’s charming towns while they’re decked out in fairy lights, and exploring the snow-dusted countryside, are just the beginning.

Discover Lapland at Christmas and soon you could find yourself:

• • Having a private meeting with Santa Claus
• • Enjoying a delicious festive meal packed with local flavours
• • Gliding through snowy forests on a reindeer-drawn sleigh
• • Hunting for mesmerising displays of the northern lights
• • Learning about Sámi culture when you visit a reindeer farm
• • Gazing up at the stars from your glass-domed igloo
• • Seeing intricately carved ice sculptures on a snow hotel tour
• • Whizzing across the landscape on an exhilarating snowmobile ride
• • Driving a sled pulled by a team of adorable huskies

With its pristine landscapes and special experiences, you’ll find that Lapland is also the perfect place to come for a honeymoon or romantic getaway .

5. Where can I stay in Lapland at Christmas?

One of the best things about Lapland is the variety of extraordinary places to stay. Alongside a selection of regular hotels, you’ll find the region is home to glass igloos and log cabins, as well as ice and snow hotels.

Head for Finnish Lapland at Christmas and you could sleep in a glass-domed igloo for your entire trip, or combine this with a hotel stay. Whatever you choose, sleeping under the stars and looking out for the northern lights promises to be a memorable experience.

Or, venture to Kiruna in Sweden’s far north and you could sleep in a cosy cabin at the family-run Camp Ripan. Here you’ll find the tranquil Aurora Spa. Not to mention Ripan Kitchen, the hotel’s restaurant, which serves up mouthwatering dishes made with local ingredients.

Bear in mind that none of these Christmas trips include nights sleeping in an ice room. So if this is on your travel wish list, make sure to check out these Lapland and ice and hotel packages .

Discover more about Lapland accommodation in these articles:

• Glass igloos in Finland: Your guide • Ice hotels: The complete Nordic guide • ICEHOTEL in Sweden: Your complete guide • The best ice hotels in Finland

6. Can you visit Santa in Lapland after Christmas?

Absolutely! Santa’s home is in Lapland, so you can visit him here even after Christmas.

In fact, with these Santa holidays in Lapland , you can meet the “Man in Red” anytime between December and March. This is ideal if you want to experience the joys of the festive season whenever it suits you. And surely the only thing better than one Christmas is getting to celebrate it twice?

7. Can I choose the arrival date?

On tours where you’ll be spending Christmas itself in Lapland, you’ll find there’s one fixed departure date on 23 December.

Meanwhile, if you want to enjoy the festive atmosphere in Lapland but won’t be travelling over Christmas, you’ll have more dates to choose from. For instance, some Christmas trips are available throughout December, while others are possible from December through March.

You can see what dates are available for the tour you’re interested in by checking its calendar online. You might also like to explore these New Year’s Eve and winter tour packages in Lapland .

8. Can I customise my tour?

Regional experts have curated these Christmas-themed packages, so you’ll get to experience the best of Lapland at this time of year. But you can also personalise your trip by adding extra activities to your itinerary. And on some tours, it’s possible to extend your stay in Lapland with additional nights.

What’s more, it’s easy to tailor your trip when you book online. Explore your tour’s optional extras and add the ones you want to create your dream itinerary. Choose from experiences such as snowmobiling, watching the aurora from a reindeer sleigh, and relaxing in a snow jacuzzi.

To find out more about customising your trip, or if you have something specific in mind, just ask your dedicated travel consultant.

9. When should I organise my flights?

We recommend checking to see what flights are available before booking your getaway. But it’s best to hold off on purchasing them until your travel consultant has confirmed your tour package.

Once you’ve received an email with your confirmed itinerary and booking overview, you can book your flights to Finnish or Swedish Lapland .

10. What should I pack for Lapland?

As you’d expect, Lapland’s subarctic climate means that it does get chilly here during the winter months. For instance, in Rovaniemi, the average temperature between December and March ranges from -7°C to -12°C (19°F to 30°F). So make sure you’ve got cosy layers for wrapping up warm during your trip.

This Lapland packing list will give you an idea of what to bring for your Arctic adventure:

• • Winter boots with good grip
• • Down or synthetic insulated jacket
• • Waterproof jacket and trousers
• • Fleeces or woollen jumpers
• • Thermal base layers
• • Warm gloves, hat, and a scarf
• • Thin thermal gloves (ideal as a base layer under snowmobile gloves)
• • Heat pads for hands and feet
• • Warm socks
• • Sunglasses
• • Rucksack or day bag
• • Reusable water bottle

Find out more about Lapland’s weather and climate in this handy travel guide.

11. What should I wear in Lapland at Christmas?

We’ve already mentioned that packing layers and being prepared for snow is essential in Lapland. But what you wear here will also depend on the activities you’ve got planned for your stay.

For instance, you might want to bring a festive outfit if your tour package includes a Christmas meal. And for any day trips or excursions, a rucksack with room for spare layers, along with snacks and a reusable water bottle, will come in handy.

Plus, if you’re taking part in wintry outdoor activities, it’s worth remembering that you might need extra insulated clothing. In this case, your guide will bring cosy outer clothes for adults and children over 4. For some Lapland excursions, this means that 4 is the minimum age. But for day tours available to infants (aged 0-3), make sure to bring suitable thermal clothing.

Get in touch with us and our regional travel experts will plan your ideal festive escape to Lapland. They’ll also be there to answer any questions you might have about Lapland holidays.

Our Swedish phone number is +46 8 666 23 30

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Blog Articles

Top 15 european christmas markets, best lapland holidays for a winter getaway, santa claus village lapland: activities & things to do, christmas traditions in the nordics.

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Meet Father Christmas in Lapland on Santa Breaks with SNO

Nowhere does festive spirit quite like Lapland – home to Santa Claus and his reindeer with scenery straight from a Christmas card: cosy cabins, snow-covered forests, the jolly holly lot. Meet the man himself in the land he calls home for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, making memories to share with your loved ones that neither kids nor grownups will forget in a hurry.

SNO offers several fun-filled festive packages to Lapland including 3 and 4 day Santa Breaks bursting with festive activities or 7-night stays with the option to add-on a visit to Santa and extra excursions. Lapland holidays are now on sale for 2024 2025 and 2024 2025! Book early for peak dates, the best choice of accommodation and flight times.

Santa Break Resorts

What happens on a Santa Break?

Often the fun starts as soon as you step off the plane, when you’re greeted at the airport by Santa’s helpers. After arriving at your hotel, apartment or log cabin, you’ll probably be kitted out with a thermal suit and boots. Double check with us that these are included when you’re booking; they can be a life saver when it comes to saving money and suitcase space as well as keeping out the winter chills!

Often Santa will give children a keepsake like a gift or a certificate – don’t forget the camera either, there should be loads of time for a selfie with Santa...

Some packages make the whole thing even more magical with the journey to Santa coming in the form of a reindeer sleigh or snowmobile. The festive treats aren’t limited to little ones, often grownups can take the driving seat of their own sleigh or snowmobile and there’s usually a mug of mulled wine, tea or coffee waiting at various points throughout the day.

Santa Break Activities

The fun doesn’t stop with meeting the big man and most Santa breaks include a day with a snowmobile safari or visits to husky farms and reindeer parks, followed by magical sleigh rides through the forest... Ask us for an up to date itinerary of what’s in store.

While the big events will be planned for you, there should be lots of free time to spend with friends or family and do your own thing - building snowmen, tobogganing and walking in your winter wonderland. You can usually book extras like snowmobile, husky and reindeer experiences, skiing or cross country lessons (with equipment hire), snowshoe walks and sometimes even a Northern Lights experience – ask us if we can arrange these for you before you set off.

How long is a Santa Break?

Most trips last 3, 4 or 7 days with the short Santa breaks including the all-important Lapland experiences and the longer ones giving you a bit more time to do your own thing.

Lapland Santa holidays FAQ:

Where is santa's lapland.

You can visit Santa in Yllas , Levi or Saariselkä , three wonderful resorts in Lapland . You will be able to visit Santa at his workshop and enjoy a private family meeting. Whilst at the adventure centre there are plenty of other fun activities to take part in including gingerbread biscuit making and Christmas decoration making with the elves!

How much is it to visit Santa in Lapland?

If you are booked onto a Santa Break package, then the private visit is included. If you want to add it to a week-stay trip, you are looking at prices from £59 for children and £69 for adults.

Is Santa from Lapland?

Rovaniemi in Lapland has been declared the official hometown of Father Christmas. He has, however, never given an exclusive interview, although we know for sure he can be found in Lapland for a good part of the year.

Where does Santa live?

Santa has houses across the world with several workshops for all his elves to build toys for good children everywhere. Santa spends a lot of his time in Finnish Lapland as this is Mrs Clause favourite place!

Who is Santa Claus?

Santa Claus is a mixture of various historical and legendary characters, whose festive cheer and sense of ‘goodwill to all men’ has merged over quite literally thousands of years to craft the legend we all know and love today.

Why does Santa live in Lapland?

Santa lives in Lapland as he has many workshops in the area. He needs to be in Lapland to oversee the production in his factories. He also loves the snow and all things cold; it is a perfect place to keep his reindeer too – there have been several Rudolph sightings over the last few years.

Is Santa in Lapland all year round?

Santa is not in Lapland all year round, like everyone he needs to take some time off. However, we do know that he is in Lapland from mid-November up until just after Christmas getting ready for the big day.

Can you visit Santa in Lapland after Christmas?

Santa can be found in Lapland usually until around New Year, so if you wanted to give him a big thank you in person, this would be your chance. In January though the big man is off on his well-deserved break and is usually not spotted in Lapland again until mid-November.

Which are the best Lapland Santa holidays?

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The Open Road Travel

• Dec 14, 2021

12 Best Things To Do In Lapland At Christmas (12 Days Of Christmas)

Updated: Dec 9, 2022

Lapland is one of the most popular destinations in the world around Christmas time, especially for families with children.

However, unless you are making your trip as part of a package tour, many won’t have any idea of the incredible things that await you in the land of a thousand lakes..

In our list of the 12 Best things to do in Lapland at Christmas, we will help you build a full itinerary, to ensure every second of your visit is filled with fun and excitement.

So, whether you are planning a long weekend or staying for the full 12 days of Christmas, this article will have you covered.

Lapland At Christmas

Lapland is a beautiful part of the world throughout the year, but it really comes into its own during the Winter. From late October, the nights get longer and darker, the temperature starts to drop, and the snow begins to pile up.

By the time the festive season rolls around, days feature only a few hours of sunlight and snow stands multiple feet deep, creating a magical, winter wonderland, perfect for a Christmas vacation.

From the natural beauty of the fells, forests, lakes, and wildlife, to man-made structures like log cabins and attractions like meeting Santa Claus, Lapland is perhaps the most wondrous place on the planet at this time of year.

With many unique traditions, delicacies, and locations, there isn’t a place on Earth like Lapland around Christmas and it is a destination everyone needs to experience at least once on their lifetime.

Best Things To Do In Lapland At Christmas

As we move on to our list of the 12 best things to do in Lapland at Christmas, I am going to suggest a broad range of options.

These will include things that appeal to travellers of all different interests, while ensuring you have something to cover everything that Lapland is known for at Christmas.

Go To The Santa Claus Village And Meet Father Christmas

The first stop on the itinerary for anyone visiting Lapland with children, as well as many of those that don’t, is the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

The official home of Father Christmas, this is the only place on Earth where you can meet the real Santa Claus in the flesh.

Regularly seen roaming around the main building in the village, kids and grown ups alike can stop for a photo with Santa in front of a roaring log fire and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Those who want a more intimate meeting with the big man can also book a trip off into the forest to meet him in his home and receive a personal gift. Can you imagine a more magical experience for a child to have at Christmas?

Elsewhere around the Santa Claus Village, you will also find a number of other attractions to enjoy.

The official Santa Claus Post Office receives letters from millions of children all over the world and is the perfect destination to take any children who want proof that Santa is real.

You also have Santa’s House Of Snowmobiles, where you can learn about the history and see the evolution of one of the premier modes of transportation within the Arctic Circle.

Speaking of which, the Santa Claus Village lies right on the Arctic Circle itself. Markings on the ground showing the exact boundary of the circle, as well as signs showing the distance and direction to many of the world’s major cities are a unique attraction in their own right.

There is even a location known as Santa Park adjacent to the village, where you can travel down inside a mountain to take lessons from elves, watch performances, and go on rides, to create one of the most magical Christmas experiences imaginable.

Go For A Scenic Ride On A Sleigh Pulled By A Horse Or Reindeer

Very few things are as synonymous with Christmas as a sleigh ride in the snow. From Santa and his reindeer to the one horse open sleigh in the famous carol, it appears to be the preferred mode of transportation during the festive season.

Luckily, Lapland has plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy both types of sleigh ride in abundance, each of which will see experienced local guides take you on a magical tour of the forest.

Sit and snuggle beneath the blankets as you slowly pass many of the natural wonders of the region. Those lucky enough to take their tour as the snow is falling will get to enjoy one of the most magical experiences in the world.

Depending on the company you choose to use, many will even get to pet or feed their horse or reindeer on completion of the ride, making the experience even more memorable than it already was.

Fly Through The Forests On A Snowmobile Safari

While there are plenty of exciting activities to do in Lapland at Christmas, perhaps none are as exhilarating as going for a ride on a snowmobile. Capable of reaching speeds over 70 miles an hour, they give you the opportunity to explore the forests in a completely new way.

Children or those who are less confident can sit on the back of an instructor or another driver. Meanwhile, everyone else will be given some short safety instructions and lessons and given control of their own machine.

The safaris will take you deeper into the woods than you could ever hope to go on any other form of transport, while you soak in all of your stunning surroundings.

Most good tours will see you stop around the midpoint of your safari at a Kota, a traditional Lappish structure similar to a tepee.

Here the instructors will build a log fire, give you fresh baked goods and sausages to roast over the fire, while preparing tea, coffee, or hot berry juice in the traditional fashion.

Those of an even more adventurous nature also have the option of a night safari. While the layout of the experience is almost identical to a day trip, the colder temperatures and more limited visibility create a slightly more exciting experience.

Being so far from civilisation at night also gives you the perfect opportunity to see the northern lights of you are lucky enough.

You even have the option of renting a snowmobile for a day without a guide. While this is usually best left to more experienced riders, it offers you the chance to go where you please and plan your own trip, giving you complete control of the entire experience.

Take Control Of Your Own Team Of Huskies

If you like the idea of a sleigh ride but were hoping for something a little faster paced and more involved, going for a ride on a husky sled may be exactly what you are looking for.

You’ll still get to explore the natural beauty of the region, only this time on a mode of transport cable of reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

Most companies will even allow you to drive your own dog team if you choose, making it an incredibly personal experience.

Instructors will give you pointers about how to stop and start, as well as how to control the speed and direction of the sled.

With the dogs already trained on the rough route they should be following, this gives you the chance to have a little more control and freedom, without ever having to put yourself at risk.

You will again usually be able to meet the animals after your ride, only this time you could end up getting to experience a farm of more than one hundred huskies. This would be an experience many would pay for on its own.

A lucky few will even make their trip when there is a fresh litter of puppies on site. What could be more magical than getting to cuddle dozens of adorable husky puppies after an exhilarating day out?

Enjoy A Day Of Skiing Or Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding may be two of the most popular attractions in any snowy destination but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worthwhile additions to your stay in Lapland.

The region has countless ski resorts and slopes, with opportunities available for people of all abilities to rent equipment, have lessons, and enjoy their time on the snow. The exhilarating activity combines with the stunning surroundings to create a truly memorable experience.

Then, when you’re done on the slopes, why not relax in one of the many lodges and bars and enjoy a hot drink or bite to eat and turn your activity into an entire day out.

Lapland also has miles upon miles of cross-country skiing tracks weaving through the forests and circling the lakes and mountains.

So, even if you don’t want to fly down the fells at breakneck speed, you can still enjoy a leisurely spot of skiing and use it as a means of transportation.

Travel To A Village Made Entirely Of Ice

A unique attraction that is usually exclusive to only the coldest regions on Earth, Lapland is well known for erecting ice castles and villages across the region. Perhaps the best example of this can be found at the Lainio Snow Village, located between the resorts of Levi and Yllas.

Each year, the structures are built from scratch at the start of winter and are constructed entirely of giant blocks carved from ice and heavily compacted snow.

Visitors can stroll around the grounds and marvel at the stunning buildings, all beautifully styled and decorated with sculptures, carvings, lights, and candles.

Among the most popular buildings in the village is The Ice Bar, where everything from the walls and bar to the glasses themselves are made entirely of ice.

This even includes the seats and tables, although these are coated with reindeer fur, to make sure you stay as warm as possible.

A unique experience, this is one bar where you can guarantee your drink will always stay cold. Or perhaps you would prefer a hot beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, to warm you up?

Those who want to go for the full experience even have the option to spend a night in The Snow Hotel. Like the rest of the village, you will find your room beautifully carved in snow, complete with furniture made from blocks of ice.

Similarly to the seats in the bar, reindeer skins will keep you surprisingly warm during this unique adventure.

Some rooms even include see-through ceilings, giving you the wonderful chance to go to sleep at night looking up at the night sky, filled with stars and perhaps even the northern lights.

Relax In Front Of A Roaring Log Fire

Sometimes the best things in life are free and occasionally you can even enjoy them without stepping foot outside. While there are plenty of exciting activities on offer in Lapland, make sure you don’t spend so much time rushing around that you forget to relax.

Whether you are seeking a romantic evening with your partner or simply a laid-back afternoon with your family, there is something extremely therapeutic about sitting in front of a roaring log fire.

Sip hot chocolate or a glass of traditional Finnish Glogi, curl up with a good book or movie, or simply gaze out at the winter wonderland surrounding you while you are all cosy and warm.

With many cabins and hotels in Lapland having their own fireplaces, you can relax, refresh yourself, and get into the Christmas spirit, without spending a penny.

Set Out On A Magical Adventure To Find The Northern Lights

Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights are a unique phenomenon where the solar winds and magnetic fields in the Earth combine to create stunning light shows in the nights sky.

Most commonly appearing in green but also displaying in blues, pinks, reds, and yellows, the northern lights are one of the most stunning natural beauties on the planet.

Both more prominent and frequently occurring in places that are colder, less built up, and further north, Lapland’s location within the Arctic Circle is the perfect destination to see them in all their glory.

Anyone who has always wanted to see the Aurora with their own eyes can take a drive or walk out into the wilderness in the hopes of spotting them to the picturesque backdrop of forests, lakes, and snow covered mountains, for an experience straight off of a postcard.

Sample Some Traditional Finnish Festive Delicacies And Join In With Their Traditions

Finland and Lapland have numerous wonderful delicacies and traditions, many of which are even more prominent around the festive season. As many haven’t really permeated into the outside world yet, this makes your visit the perfect opportunity to indulge in a few.

Among the savoury dining options you have choices such as a baked cheese called Leipajuusto, a salmon, leek, and potato soup known as Lohikeitto, and Karelian pastries filled with eggs, rice, cheese, potato, carrot or porridge.

That’s without even mentioning the national dish of sauteed reindeer, mashed potatoes, and lingonberries.

Those with a sweeter tooth can then enjoy tucking into baked goods like pepparakor (traditional Lappish gingerbread) or Joulutorttu, Christmas stars made from pastry and filled with creams or jams.

All of this can then be washed down with traditional Finnish beverages like lonkero, hot chocolate infused with rum, or Glogi, a traditional Finnish mulled wine served with almonds and sultanas.

As far as Finnish Christmas traditions go, you have a range of wonderful and unique carols to sing along with and enjoy, as well as traditional folk stories to hear.

In Finland, Christmas eve is also the most important day of the festive season.

Streets are lined with candles, beautiful meals are cooked, and people eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. For those from elsewhere, why not embrace the tradition and make Christmas a two-day event this year?

Explore The Forests On Snowshoes

As beautiful as Lapland is when it’s covered in snow, it can make exploring a little difficult. With multiple feet of snow covering everything other than paths or roads, you won’t get more than a few paces without sinking in.

Luckily, there are plenty of places dotted around where you can either buy or rent a pair of snowshoes. These simple yet effective devices go over the top of your shoes and allow you to walk across the snow as if you were almost weightless.

Now no regions of the forests and wilds of Lapland are beyond your reach. You can explore to your hearts content, see natural wonders hidden from civilization, and get to walk on pristine snow that no human has ever stepped foot on before.

Embrace Finnish Culture And Take A Traditional Sauna

Many will have used a sauna at a gym or spa before but these simply don’t compare to the traditional Finnish variety.

Made from beautiful, locally sourced woods and often featuring oils from the trees and plants in the forests around you, this is the perfect opportunity to embrace the local culture, while relaxing and rejuvenating your body.

The question is, are you going to go for the full Finnish sauna experience?

For starters, the Finnish people traditionally sauna completely in the nude. While sitting with a group of naked strangers won’t be appealing to everybody, many rental cabins come with their own private sauna, allowing you to enjoy the experience in complete privacy.

The other Finnish sauna tradition is to leave the sauna and throw yourself directly in the snow. No, I’m not joking.

This is said to have a number of beneficial effects, most notably how it can cleanse your pores and improve the quality of your skin.

For most, the question isn’t whether they take a sauna or not while in Lapland. Instead, it is how close are they willing to go to the traditional experience.

Spend A Fun Filled Afternoon Tobogganing

Whether you plan everything yourself or come as part of a package, almost every person who comes to Lapland will use a toboggan during their stay. The Lappish name for a sledge, a toboggan is a cheap way to make the most of your icy surroundings.

No matter how old you are, adults and children alike will both find a toboggan one of the best investments they make during their stay. Wrap up warm and head to any local hill or mound of snow and prepare for hours of fun.

A relatively safe activity, tobogganing is a great way to keep the kids occupied and entertained when you want a little time for yourself to relax.

They also double up as a handy accessory to help with the groceries, as you can simply drag everything along behind you, instead of figuring out how to carry it.

Best Hotel To Stay In Lapland At Christmas – Arctic Dreams

Why not treat yourself during your stay in Lapland and opt for a private log cabin, as opposed to a regular hotel?

Arctic Dreams is a picturesque log cabin, located in Akaslompolo, one of the beautiful villages in the forests surrounding the famous resort of Yllas.

A traditional cabin made from Kelo logs, Arctic Dreams is a family run and owned property, which boasts a blend of modern amenities and classical stylings, to create a comfortable, convenient, and homely experience.

All of the features synonymous with Lapland are included with your stay, such as a private sauna and log fire to help you relax. Meanwhile, inclusions like gaming consoles, iPod docks, TVs, and a library and karaoke machine will keep both kids and adults alike entertained.

With two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a mezzanine, lounge and dining areas, a double sofa bed, and a private terrace complete with a seating area and BBQ, there is plenty of space for up to 8 people to comfortably stay here together.

The cabin backs directly onto the woods, so you can enjoy stunning views and interactions with the local wildlife from the comfort of your accommodation.

Meanwhile, the village itself is comfortably within walking distance, allowing you to comfortably stroll back and forth.

A wood store is located in front of the cabin, where you can obtain free firewood for the duration of your stay.

The store also features a ski waxing room and ski storage, providing maximum convenience for anyone hoping to make the most of the miles of ski tracks surrounding the property.

The cabin also includes free allocated parking spots for the duration of your stay, ensuring you don’t have to walk too far in the cold if you don’t want to.

So, there you have it, our list of the 12 best things to do in Lapland at Christmas.

While each person will have their own idea of what they hope to get out of the trip, as well as the festive season as a whole, this will hopefully have given you plenty of ideas to fill out your perfect Lapland itinerary.

All that’s left is to start getting things booked. That way, you won’t miss out on you favourite accommodation or attraction, and can look forward to a very merry Christmas in a magical winter wonderland.

For anyone who still hasn't decided exactly where to stay during their visit, why not check out our article on the best areas to stay in Lapland as well, to give yourself a better idea of what's on offer.

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A visit to Santa in Lapland: Meet and greet with Father Christmas in Finland

Written by Sam Van den Haute aka CheckOutSam

Did you know that Santa has an official place of residence? And that you can visit him? You can find him in Rovaniemi , Finnish Lapland, where there are also many other fun things to do. You can go reindeer or husky sleighing while looking for the northern lights and during the winter months you can have a whole lot of fun in the snow. Quickly read on and discover everything about Santa Claus and Finland and more tips for an unforgettable holiday to Lapland.

Hi, I'm Sam , the blogger behind CheckOutSam !

What will you read in this blog?

I got to see Santa in Lapland and I’ll tell you in this article how you can to!

Where does Santa live? In Rovaniemi!

Rovaniemi has been the official hometown of Father Christmas since 2010 and you can visit Santa in Lapland on every day of the year. His original home is in the so-called Korvatunturi (“Ear mountain”) in Finnish Lapland. But only a couple lucky people know the exact location, which made Santa decide to move to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. The city was however almost completely destroyed during the Second World War and five years after the end of it, Eleanor Roosevelt (the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the American president at the time) came for a visit to see how the rebuilding process was going. She also wanted to check out the Arctic Circle and that’s why they decided to build a cabin eight kilometers north of the town. This put things in motion for the village of Santa Claus in Rovaniemi. The original hut can still be seen next to the post office in the home of Santa Claus in Finland. More than half a million visitors from all over the world have visited Santa in Lapland ever since. Most of them get there a month before Christmas, when the charitable man with the beard officially kicks off the Christmas season.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is magical during the winter season.

Santa’s Christmas Village

It won’t come as a shock that the village of Father Christmas in Lapland is the most famous attraction in the country. Apart from restaurants, shops, cafés and hotels you’ll also find the following things here, which are guaranteed to put a smile on your face:

Santa’s post office

Since 1985 Santa has received over fifteen million letters from almost 200 countries. In the post office in Santa’s Village you can’t only write letters to Santa Claus in Rovaniemi, but also to the home front. That’s how your letter gets a special Arctic Circle stamp which can’t be found anywhere else in the world. 8,5 euros will by the way get you a letter written by Santa himself, which is a great way to surprise your friends.

One thing I know for sure: Santa will have a lot of work sending out all those letters on time!

Santa’s little elves

When you’re walking around in the village of Santa in Lapland, the little elves will undoubtedly catch your eye. They work for Father Christmas and ensure that everything is going accordingly. You can even take a class in Elf school to earn a magical degree. Which is always an added bonus on your résumé, isn’t it?

Santa’s reindeers

Unfortunately, there are no flying reindeers to be visited, but (in winter and spring) you can go for a ride on a regular reindeer sleigh and visit a reindeer farm. You can book the following rides:

• The path of the reindeer (5 minutes) kids pay 14 euros, adults 18 euros
• The path of the forest (15 minutes): kids pay 23 euros, adults 29 euros
• Winter adventure (35 minutes): kids pay 50 euros, adults 65 euros

Five euros will also get you an official reindeer driver’s license.

If you prefer going to an actual reindeer farm (where you’re also being hauled around by the animals), you can also book other field trips in Rovaniemi:

• A reindeer farm with a sleigh ride
• Going by snowmobile to a reindeer farm, where you’ll also go for a sleigh ride
• A tour during which you’ll visit a reindeer farm (+ sleigh ride), go for a ride with huskies and can have a blast on a snowmobile.

Let yourself be taken in tow by these magnificent animals.

You will also find almost 100 Siberian huskies in the village of Santa in Rovaniemi. You can take them for a walk in summer and go sledding in winter. You can either just visit the park and then you’ll pay 10 euros for a ticket as an adult and 5 euros for children (from four to twelve years). This includes a guided tour of 30 minutes. If you want to take the huskies for a walk, it will cost 50 euros per person (1 husky for 2 people) or 70 euros per person (1 husky per person). This allows you a total time of 90 minutes which you can spend walking in the forest. If you want to go for a ride on a husky sleigh, you’ll have to cough up 30 euros for an adult and 15 euros for a kid, which will get you a tour of half a kilometer. Of course you can cover longer distances and then you’ll pay almost triple the amount when sharing the sleigh with two people. Book your husky adventure already online to make sure this fun activity isn’t sold out when you get there. You can also do it online through this official tour operator .

What does a visit to Santa in Lapland look like?

All these awesome activities are fantastic of course, but meeting Santa up close is needless to say the ultimate thing to do on your trip to Lapland.

You enter a room, where the smiley man is awaiting you on his throne/chair. Next he asks you where you’re from, shakes your hand and says hello in Finnish (which is “mooi”). Then you pose for a picture and after a little chat your child gets a certificate which says he or she has been good boy or girl (because of course he or she has?!).

Do bear in mind that you can’t take pictures yourself, but there’s the possibility to pay for videos and photos which are taken of you. This will cost you 40 euros. If you don’t want any pictures and just want to meet Santa, you don’t have to pay for the privilege.

Yipee! I got to meet Father Christmas in Lapland!

Great places to spend the night in Rovaniemi

Of course you can spend the night in Santa Village itself, in the Santa Claus Holiday Village to be precise. For a standard room you’ll pay 149 euros for two adults . Traveling with two children? Then it will cost you 209 euros . Do pay attention to the fact that during the high season (from the 13 th of November until the 31 st of March) you’ll have to stay for at least two and sometimes even three nights.

To complete your visit to Santa in Lapland, there are quite a few other great ways to spend the night.

In the Arctic SnowHotel you can (as the name suggests) be in the arms of Morpheus between walls of snow. Moreover, you can dine in the ice restaurant! You’ll easily pay (depending on the period) 350 euros per night for the experience.

A slightly cheaper and yet at the same time a lot more luxurious option is the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel , where you also get to experience the northern lights in a unique way. It gives you a spectacular view over the tops of the trees and this on only a ten-minute drive from the center of Rovaniemi.

Another way to enjoy the aurora borealis is a glass igloo, like the Arctic Glass Igloos . For this you’ll also easily pay 350 euros per night , but it is an unforgettable experience. Do keep in mind that you’re not guaranteed to see the northern lights, this depends on a great number of factors.

The Arctic SnowHotel, not far off Rovaniemi. – © Artic SnowHotel

Other activities during a holiday in Lapland near Rovaniemi

The northern lights.

It’s not just about Santa Claus in Finland, but also about the aforementioned aurora borealis. There are different ways to discover this spectacular light show, ranging from a car to a snowmobile to a reindeer sleigh. From the end of August until the beginning of April you have the best chance to see the northern lights in Lapland. You can get a fun field trip to the aurora borealis starting from €75 per person . If you want to have a look at every possibility (and prices), you can do so here .

In my opinion the northern lights will always be one of the most beautiful natural phenomena.

Fun on the snowmobile

Adrenaline junkies can have a field day during a tour by snowmobile. Racing through this astonishing nature is an adventure you’ll never forget. For an hour on a snowmobile you’ll pay 79 euros per person . For longer rides (3 to 4 hours) prices start at 100 euros per person .

How fast do you dare to go?

And a lot more…

During winter you can go snowshoeing , skiing, fatbiking , Arctic Ice Floating , ice climbing, sail with an icebreaker, experience the world-famous Finnish sauna or have an amazing dinner in an actual igloo and so much more.

During the warmer summer months, you can go kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, jet skiing, horseback riding, cycling, … You’ve already understood that you’ll never get bored during a holiday in Lapland.

Going to see Santa in Lapland for Christmas? Then a Christmas menu in this igloo might be a fun idea!

Opening hours and how to reach Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi

You can go see Santa in Lapland on every day of the year and there’s no entrance fee to get into Santa’s Village. You only have to take the following opening hours into account:

• 1 st of September until the 30 th of November: every day from 10 AM to 5 PM
• 1 st of December until the 6 th of January: every day from 10 AM to 7 PM
• 7 th of January until the 31 st of May: every day from 10 AM to 5 PM
• 1 st of June until the 31 st of August: every day from 9 AM to 6 PM

Exceptional opening hours:

• 24 th of December: from 9 AM to 3 PM
• 25 th of December: from 12 PM to 5 PM
• 31 st of December: from 9 AM to 5 PM
• 1 st of January: from 12 PM to 5 PM
• 30 th of April: from 10 AM to 3 PM
• 1 st of May: from 12 PM to 3 PM

From Rovaniemi you can take the local bus 8 or the Santa Express and they leave every hour from the center. Sporty types can also walk the total distance of 8 kilometers or you can also drive yourself. When arriving by plane, you’re even closer because Santa’s Village is barely three kilometers from the airport.

A holiday to Rovaniemi isn’t complete without visiting Santa in Lapland!

Three fun facts about Santa

• The name Santa Claus is actually derived from the Dutch “Sinterklaas” (Saint Nicholas). This generous man brings candy and toys to all good kids in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• They say that Coca Cola has spread the traditional image of Santa Claus in his red costume and white beard. Unrightfully so, because it had frequently been used before by other companies in the 1930s. Prior to that he did wear a green costume.
• Rudolph (with his red nose) is without a doubt Santa’s most famous reindeer. He was created in 1939 by a copywriter named ‘Robert L. May Rudolph’ in a Christmas book of a warehouse. This was handed out to the children who were visiting Santa in the store and the rest is history.

During a trip to Rovaniemi the wintry landscapes are also really worth discovering.

If you’re still looking for an original idea to spend a holiday, you don’t have to look any further than Finnish Lapland. The village of Father Christmas in Lapland doesn’t only offer fun for the little ones, you can also have a blast here as an adult. Add the countless other activities and the potential presence of the northern lights to the mix, and you can already book your flight to Finland and go meet Santa in Lapland.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rovaniemi, Finland

As any Finn will tell you, Santa is Finnish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Getting there

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

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

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

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

Santaworld (Tomteland), Sweden 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drøbak, Norway 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Visiting Lapland & Santa – A Guide to Planning and Booking your Holiday

Taking your children to Lapland is one of the most magical holidays that you could experience, and that includes visiting Disney. We have wanted to visit Santa Claus at his home in Lapland for several years   (the closest we have come is our fab visit to Lapland UK ) but there is only a small window of opportunity available to take your children to this most magical destination.

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What we have found when planning our trip to Lapland is that it needs just as much research and planning as a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. I was totally unaware of the various packages available, what activities are on offer, how long to stay, which destination in Lapland to choose and more importantly how much it costs!

Here is our guide on tips, tricks and advice on planning your Lapland holiday.

Which destination to choose.

When we started planning our trip to Lapland we were totally unaware of the amount of different destinations on offer, all of which offer their own unique Lapland experience.

The most popular destination is Rovaniemi , a city that is the capital of Finnish Lapland and the official hometown of Santa Claus. At the famous Santa Claus village you will find a post office that sorts through all the letters that children have sent to the North Pole and Santa’s grotto. There is also the Santa Park which features activities and attractions for the whole family.

If you want a quieter, less commercial destination then look at Levi or Saariselka which many tour operators now offer.

Levi  is where we decided to stay, just a 15 minute drive from Kittila airport.  What makes Levi such a nice destination to visit in Finnish Lapland is that its the largest ski resort in Lapland, so if you plan to ski as well as visit Santa then this is a great destination to choose.  The stunning surroundings of Levi offer a perfect idyllic location for husky and reindeer safaris or snowshoe walks taking in the Northern Lights.

This small town also has plenty of restaurants, shops and bars whilst the famous snow village is around a 40 minute drive away and is rebuilt every winter with more than 15million kilos of snow.

Saariselka is located in northern Lapland, and you fly into Ivalo airport.  If you are looking for an authentic Lapland experience then Saariselka is a great option, where you can combine a visit to Santa with snowmobile safaris, husky rides in the beautiful Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Other destinations include Yllas, Luosto, Karesuando and Pallas all of which offer unique and less commercial Lapland experiences.

What is the best age to take children?

You only have a relatively small window of opportunity with your kids for an authentic Santa trip.  Finnish Lapland is further north than most of Alaska and young children might find it too cold with temperatures reaching -40 so it is widely recommended that the ideal age to take your children is between 5 and 10.

Which company to book with? How much will it cost? and how to get a deal!

There are lots of companies who now offer package holidays with direct flights from many UK airports to Lapland.  Some of the major operators include Inghams , Tui , Crystal Ski ,  Transun , Newmarket Holidays , Magic of Lapland , Santa’s Lapland and Canterbury Travel .

Holidays to Lapland are not cheap.  Prices fluctuate daily but on average for a family of 4 you are looking at costs of £2,000+ for a 3 night stay including flights, accommodation, breakfast and taster activities from the likes of Tui to £4000+  for all-inclusive packages from specialist companies such as Santa’s Lapland ,  Nordic Visitor and Canterbury Travel .

As well as checking the prices of a Lapland holiday on the websites of the companies mentioned above, it’s also worth checking the prices with the independent travel agents who specialise in Lapland holidays.

The prices offered by the independent agents can sometimes be cheaper than booking direct with the travel company for the same holiday. We used this method when booking our Lapland holiday and saved £400 with Hayes Travel  by asking to beat the online price listed on the travel companies website.

Companies to check are: Hays Travel Santa Claus Trips Dream of Lapland

If you are booking online, check for any discount codes that you can use to bring the cost of your holiday down and use cashback sites such as Quidco or Topcashback .

Don’t rule out a 7 day ski package

If you can stay for longer we found that it can work out cheaper if you book a 7 night ski package from Crystal Ski or Inghams to resorts such as Levi, Saariselka and Yllas compared to Santa specific 3 or 4 night breaks.

When to book

If you book early you can take advantage of any early booking offers but if you can take a chance wait until the last minute where travel companies try and sell off their Lapland holidays at great discount.

Last year we saw last minute holidays for a family of 4 staying for 3 nights for just over £2,000 – compared to £3,000 a few weeks earlier.

The downside of waiting for a last minute trip is that availability to fly from your local airport or staying at your preferred hotel / resort in Lapland could be unavailable.

When to go?

The most popular time to go is in the run up to Christmas.  The earlier you go the cheaper it is but if you go too early for example at the start to the middle of November there may not be enough snow on the ground to enjoy the activities especially further south in areas such as Rovaniemi.

If you are visiting before December it is worth checking with the local tourist boards to check when their winter activities start from because it’s typically from the 1st December.

Visit Levi  Visit Rovaniemi  Visit Saariselka

Choose your Santa experience carefully

On some of the trips Santa meets all of the children during a gala dinner at the hotel, which is not very personal, so if you want a more authentic Santa experience it’s worth checking what is on your itinerary.

On the trip we have booked with Inghams we visited Santa at his cabin on a private family visit which was amazing.  However if we were visiting Lapland again I would look at booking an even more authentic experience such as visiting Santa at this cabin in an old Lappish Village – view the full range of experiences available to book in Levi here .

If you are really looking for a special Santa experience then a visit to Santa Claus Secret Forest Joulukka (16km from Rovaniemi) is regarded as the very best that you can experience when in Lapland with prices starting from 179 euro per person.

When you book a package trip to Lapland along with a visit to Santa, other winter activities are typically included in your itinerary such as reindeer and husky rides, and snowmobile safaris.

It’s worth checking what activities are on your itinerary before booking and if they are taster sessions which can be all over in 5 minutes compared to the full experience.

When we looked at the various package options available companies such as Inghams , Transun and Canterbury Travel  tend to include longer experiences where as Tui   just included taster sessions, with the opportunity to purchase full experiences from the reps whilst in resort.

This is something to factor into the cost of your trip as although Inghams ,  Canterbury etc are more expensive by the time you pay for the extra activities which for example can cost anything up to 400 euros for full husky experience, there can be very little difference in cost.

We have never been on a ski holiday but we have always wanted to, so a trip to Lapland provides the perfect opportunity to combine a Santa experience with a chance to learn to ski on the slopes at Levi, which we did and were perfect for beginners. ( You can read about our ski day here )

As well as these paid experiences, children will enjoy playing in the snow or riding a toboggan which are free.  Dependent on the date of your visit the Ice hotels at Kittilla and Rovaniemi look a really unique experience to visit.

Don’t forget that Lapland is a perfect location to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Staying in resorts such as Yllas, Levi or Saariselka which are located above the arctic circle are great for Aurora hunting, with organised excursions to see the lights.

If you want to book additional activities when in the resort it is recommended that you visit the local tourist information centre, who offer these at a much lower cost compared to what the reps from your travel company offer (apart from Inghams whose additional activities are typically cheaper than booking direct with the tourist information centre)

Levi Visit Levi  Snow Village Lapland Safaris 

Rovaniemi Visit Rovaniemi  Santa Claus Holiday Village Santa Park Snowman World Ranua Zoo Lapland Safaris Safartica 

Saariselka Visit Saariselka Lapland Safaris  Husky & Co Angry Birds Activity Park

How long to go for?

To appreciate all of what Lapland has to offer you need to stay for at least 3 nights.  We stayed for 4 nights and have near a full itinerary on each day including meeting Santa in his cabin in the snowy woods and making gingerbread biscuits with Mrs Claus, a husky experience, reindeer safari, learning to ski and a snowshoe walk.

What about a day trip?

On our Lapland booking experience we started off looking at day trips to Lapland lured into the guide price of just £349pp.  The other benefit we thought was that we wouldn’t have to take the children out of school or take time off from work, which is why these trips are extremely popular.

However we decided against this option as it is a very long day especially with young children.  Flights typically leave at around 6am for your 3.5 hour flight, you then have a few hours in the afternoon in Lapland where the activities are crammed together before flying back home 3.5 hours, returning back in the UK late at night on the same day.

If you don’t have the annual leave to have a few days in Lapland then a day trip is a good option, but with so much to see and do in Lapland you really need a few days to enjoy it and the short breaks are better value and less rushed than a day trip.

What about a DIY Trip?

You can save on the cost of your Lapland trip if you want to arrange flights, accommodation and activities separately, but it does take meticulous planning.

First of all you will need to arrange flights; luckily some airlines have started offering direct flights to Lapland, the downsides are if you are looking to fly direct from your local airport you are out of luck.

If you book with a travel company then they charter direct flights to Lapland so you can fly from local airports such as Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Bournemouth, Exeter, Doncaster, Sheffield, Stansted, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

When you arrange your own flights the only UK airports that you can fly direct to Lapland are Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham – we use Skyscanner to find the cheapest fares and dates..

Alternatively you could catch an indirect flight, flying into Helsinki with BA or Finnair and catch a connecting flight to one of the airports in Lapland – Roviennini , Kittila and Ivalo (for Saariselka) .

If you do look at this option be aware that some of the flight times can be up to 9 hours because of the wait for your interconnecting flight.

When you arrive at Helsinki the other option is to catch the overnight train the “ Santa Claus Express ”.  You can book a cabin for the family on this double decker sleeper train for your snow covered 12 hour journey north to Rovaniemi Lapland. For more information and latest pricing visit their website , children under 12 travel free if they share a cabin with a paying adult.

If you sign up for their Veturi programme for free you can also get an additional discount on your rail travel.

The other option is extending your holiday and have an overnight stay in the beautiful city of Helsinki before catching your flight to Lapland the next day.

Accommodation & Activities

Dependent on the type of accommodation you want (hotel, lodge,apartment) online travel agent (OTA) websites such as booking.com offer competitive rates.  We always check the pricing with the hotel directly once we get a price from Hotels.com .

If it is showing as more expensive with the hotel directly it’s worth calling them or emailing them to beat the online booking websites price, which they typically will as they won’t have to pay any commission to the OTA.

It is also worth checking the accommodation and activities listed on the tourist offices for each resort Visit Levi  Visit Rovaniemi  Visit Saariselka

This Finnish company also offers tailored packages of accommodation and activities.

You can arrange your own activities via companies such as Lapland Safaris  which some of the travel companies use in their package holidays and it’s also worth checking Safartica 

Once you total up the cost of your flights, accommodation, activities, overnight stay if you are not flying from your local airport it’s worth comparing this to the prices offered from a package trip.

What clothes do I take?

As well as the provided outfits it is recommended to bring thermal underwear and socks, a base layer of moist wicking fabric and a warming layer of fleece tops and bottoms or woollen clothes with you.

Jeans are not recommended under your snow suit especially if you are spending a long time in the cold doing activities as you will get a lot colder quicker compared to wearing thermal leggings of tracksuit bottoms.

Another tip is bringing thin silk/thermal gloves to wear underneath your mitten gloves , a snood/balaclava and the little hand warmers. We found this great guide  really helpful planning on what we need to take.

Where to purchase the clothes from?

Stores such as Decathlon , Trespass , Go Outdoors , Berghaus ,  Cotswold Outdoors , Boden ,  Blacks etc all offer a wide range of the winter clothing required for a trip to Lapland, and we tried out the new range of Berghaus clothing on our visit .  As well as the specialist stores mentioned above you can also get thermals from Next, Marks and Spencer and the supermarkets including Aldi when they run their winter ski events.

Have you been to Lapland? Would you add to the list? Let me know below!

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Thank you for all this great information. Really informative.

This is such a comprehensive and helpful article for someone just starting to plan a trip to Lapland, and with so many useful links. Thank you so so much!

You are very welcome. Lapland is the most magical place to visit, you will have a great time!

Great information, thank you so much

I’m so glad I found this page. In the infancy of planning a trip next year. I’m sure I will keep referring back to this. Many thanks!

Thanks for this review, it has been so helpful. We are looking to go to Lapland this December. I wanted to find out which Santa Cabin your family visited? I see you mentioned you booked a private family visit. Have you got details for the cabin? We are also looking at Santa Claus Secret Forest Joulukka as an option.

In your opinion would it be worth going to Rovaniemi? We are wanting to base ourselves in Levi and do various excursions from there? Do you think this is a better option?

Thank you for this information it is so hlpful.

Really useful guide, thank you. So pleased I stumbled across your page.

Best advice I’ve found!!! Thank you very much!

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Learning to ski in Levi, Finnish Lapland

Review: Levi Hotel Spa, Levi Lapland

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8 of the best Lapland holidays, tours and all-inclusive packages for a magical winter break

Whether meeting santa, taking part in exhilarating snow sports or chasing the northern lights, there’s a lapland holiday for everyone, article bookmarked.

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As the summer holidays approach and temperatures rise, those who aren’t jet-setting for sandy toes and tan lines should look ahead to winter trips and the enchanting spell of the Northern Lights .

If a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Lapland is at the top of your Christmas list, now’s the time to book – the sell-out spot is at its most popular during the December festivities as children flock to meet Santa and grown-ups soak up midday sauna sessions.

From Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village to the warm aura of Kiruna, winter sunlight hours may be short during the polar night with temperatures often dipping below -9C, but Lapland days remain packed with unique activities and novel stays in ice palaces, glass igloos and tree houses.

With so many all-inclusive stays, snow sports tours and holiday options in the Santa-centric land, here’s  The Independent’s  pick of packages to transport you to the magic of the Arctic Circle this Christmas season.

Read more on Europe travel :

• How to have the perfect family holiday in Lapland
• Best kids club resorts in Europe 2023: Where to stay for family-friendly fun
• Sweden travel guide: Everything you need to know

Best for: Luxury breaks

Swedish lapland experience.

Lapland crosses the utmost northern borders of Finland , Norway and Sweden’s dense forests, but the rural Scandinavian landscape is not without its luxuries. Tailored tours, wood-fired hot tubs and private chefs bring home comforts to the wilderness for travellers willing to splash the cash stress-free on a Christmas fairytale holiday.

Off the Map Travel  provides a four-night Swedish Lapland Experience for a unique luxury stay in the heart of Arctic Sweden, including accommodation in the Icehotel and Treehotel, transfers, excursions and half-board meals. From £1,699pp guests can enjoy ice sculpting or husky sledging in Kiruna and Lulea, and spend the night in a cosy Aurora Hideaway – the perfect vantage point to see the natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights while indulging in traditional Swedish dishes.

Best for: Northern Lights hunters

Arctic aurora activity holiday in finnish lapland.

Viewing the Northern Lights is one of the most popular adventures to top a travel bucket list – after all, the natural world puts on few more spectacular shows. Travellers can hunt the aurora in chilling temperatures from paths off the beaten track, in the sky on a hot air balloon ride or from the comfort of a glass igloo and a lucky few will witness the clear and colourful skies during their Arctic adventure.

Discover the romance of the aurora borealis with  Aurora Zone  on a four-night Arctic Activity Holiday in Inari, Finnish Lapland. Trip excursions such as a snowmobile safari, dog sledding and shoeshoeing fill days in the Sámi culture’s capital, with nights spent searching for the vibrant hues of the Northern Lights. The holiday package costs £2,025pp, including return flights from London , transfers, accommodation, meals, all activities and cold-weather clothing for the duration of your Lapland stay.

Best for: Christmas festivities

Santa’s magic.

Santa’s holiday home, Lapland, is where you’ll find the picture-perfect scenes of Christmas cards; reindeer, igloos and snow-dusted trees. Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi even boasts Santa Claus’ Post Office, a husky park and boutiques ideal for last-minute present shopping right in the heart of the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Trips ’ Santa’s Magic holiday in the vibrant ski town of Saariselkä, priced from £1,239 per adult, includes return flights from the UK, half-board meals and accommodation in Tunturi Hotel for two nights. Festive highlights such as a private meeting with Santa, elves, igloos and reindeer sleigh rides dot the snowy break’s itinerary as the magic of Christmas takes hold of little and big ones alike.

Best for: Snowsports

Icehotel break.

What could be more exhilarating than taking to the ice by day and sleeping on it by night? Lapland’s snowsports offerings, from skiing to ice skating and (slightly tamer) sleigh riding behind reindeer or huskies, come in abundance so the winter fun doesn’t have to stop at Santa and accommodation doesn’t need to be boring.

Discover the World  offers a three-night stay at the  Icehotel  in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, from £733pp. Here, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and husky sledging excursions meet evenings spent eating and drinking in the Icebar, inside the hotel crafted each year using ice from the frozen River Torne. Return flights from London to Kiruna start from £204 in December.

Best for: Family fun

Santa breaks in yllas.

Santa trips, skiing holidays and nights spent seeking the bewitching Northern Lights are the perfect ingredients for a family winter holiday regardless of the Arctic temperatures. Kids of all ages will love the unique magic of the dynamic landscape and its snow-based activities, and visits to Father Christmas are bound to be a hit – even with the non-believers – so long as you wrap up warm and let imaginations run wild.

Inghams  provides a four-night holiday for two adults and two children from £1,059pp when travelling in November. The package includes return flights from Manchester and a half-board stay at the family-friendly Akäs (Snow Elf) Hotel & Alp Apartments. The hub of the Santa programme in Ylläs, all excursions depart from the hotel and the colourful village centre is just a five-minute walk away.

Best for: All-inclusive packages

New year lapland arctic adventure.

Over the Christmas holidays demand for Lapland holidays is high, and it gets the price tag to match. While it’s unlikely to find a truly budget break to the snowy scenery in winter, all-inclusive packages often slash the cost of high-paced activity days, and are well worth it to see the magic and charm of the secluded spot for yourself.

Canterbury Holidays  New Year Lapland Arctic Adventure is the ultimate seven-day activity holiday to Lapland. From £1,740pp, extend the magic of Christmas and experience the winter wonderland of Finnish Lapland – return flights, excursions, B&B accommodation and a New Year’s Eve dinner and party are all included in the stay. Visits to Europe’s only amethyst mine and a “white hike” through the frozen forests and fells also fill days of post-Christmas bliss on this NYE adventure.

Best for: Off-grid explorers

Finnish lapland in winter.

Enjoying the solitude of nature while coping with extreme temperatures is all part of being a Finn. To live like the locals, going off-grid on a Lapland holiday on snowshoe walks to remote farms and fighting the cold with a glass of salmari gets you even closer to the heart of the Sami culture.

Intrepid Travel  offers a journey through Finnish Lapland in winter from £2,745pp, so strap on your hiking boots and crunch through snow-dusted woodlands as you travel from Helsinki to Rovaniemi across the pristine landscape. Dog sledging, reindeer herding and the famous “Santa Claus Express” overnight train are all highlights. Breakfasts, transport, accommodation and activities are included in the cost of this eight-day holiday. 

Best for: Romantic retreats

Finnish lapland and the arctic circle.

There’s a romance to the campfire cabins and snow-topped saunas of Lapland. Think charming traditions, pastel-hued skies and authentic natural landscapes in secluded woodlands – best enjoyed while riding a snowmobile for two, or a sligh pulled by reindeer – as a backdrop to long weekends for lovebirds.

Untold Story Travel  offers six-night private tours of Finnish Lapland and the Arctic Circle. Accommodation options include wilderness cabins and Arctic treehouses, and the holiday is tailored to every couple’s requirements. Potential holiday highlights include a personal host to monitor Northern Lights activity, enchanting reindeer sleigh rides and snowmobiling across a frozen lake before spending your final night in a private glass igloo.

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Skiing & Santa in Lapland

29th December 2022 | Tim Clark, Lapland

Last modified on January 3rd, 2023

It is arguably the ultimate winter holiday for kids. A trip to see the elves and Santa himself, days before Christmas, in the snowy expanse of Lapland. Then flying home just in time to get the mince pies on the fireplace before the big guy comes down the chimney.

A trip to Lapland had been on our family’s wish list for at least half a decade.

However, since we were already dressing our six and eight-year-olds to survive a blizzard, it posed the question: can a family combine a visit to Santa in his workshop and give the kids a taste of skiing at the same time?

Thankfully, after a little bit of research, I found that you can.

We had booked four days in the city of Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland with a population of just under 64,000, arriving late on December 19 and leaving on December 23.

Rovaniemi, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Rovaniemi was chosen as it had the most to offer those who haven’t (yet) tried on a pair of skis but want a winter adventure.

A multitude of activity companies base themselves in the city offering anything from husky rides, reindeer petting, late-night northern lights trips via snowmobile, and of course there’s Santa’s Village itself, from which you can book most of the above or visit a range of over-priced restaurants.

However, first the skiing.

Ounasvaara ski resort, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Situated only 5km from Rovaniemi’s city centre, Ounasvaara is a small resort with a fairly spacious teaching area.

Compared to the likes of Morzine, Meribel or even smaller resorts, Ounasvaara has little to offer.

Its highest point is just over 200m above sea level, there is no après-ski to speak of, other than a small but friendly cafe, and it only has around 6km of slopes, with 1km of marked routes.

What Ounasvaara does well is cater for beginners.

Ounasvaara nursery slopes, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Rendi’s Snow World, which is designed for newbies, has a safe, walled off practice area, moving carpet and tow rope on separate sections.

It also has a tubing run and tubing carousel which acts as relief from hours of ski practice.

Considering it was -14°C at base and we visited during what could be dubbed a heatwave (the previous week was -26°C) snow reliability was very high.

To this extent it presented the perfect option.

Even so, I had to admit I had nerves.

Would the family take to skiing as much as I had?

Or would it be five minutes fighting to put a single ski on before retiring to the cafe for an afternoon of hot chocolates?

As one fellow dad noted before we left, he had spent five days teaching his daughter to ski on an Alpine holiday only for her to ask, ”Why go up the hill, just to come back down?”

Ounasvaara opens at the crack of dawn, which on the day of our visit was 11am due to the long winter nights.

It does however stay open till 8pm, with the mountain lit up for the majority of the time.

We arrived just after lunch and had most of the place to ourselves for the first two hours.

Our ski instructor Grant took the kids through their paces, along with ourselves.

Kids getting lessons at Ounasvaara. Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Taking time to give them both a chance to learn the pizza slice, or snow plough and get familiar with the moving carpet and later the tow rope.

My wife Gemma also managed to have an afternoon of practice in relative peace as the kids were given guidance down the nursery slopes.

Despite fighting off a fever, eight-year-old Dylan managed to complete several runs before retiring to a tubing carousel and as the afternoon wore on, they both grew in confidence.

Tube carousel, Ounasvaara, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

An afternoon skiing session was over, and six-year old Hazel had to be separated from her skis, which she had named by the end of her session (Snowy and Snowdrop).

Ounasvaara. Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

As taster sessions go, it exceeded expectations.

For those who are more adventurous Ounasvaara, does offer a huge variety of cross-country skiing, with 100km of tracks, half of them lit.

Lapland itself has myriad different winter experiences.

There are also certain little things which make a trip to Lapland that bit more special than a usual holiday.

Most come as miniature surprises, such as the crew of the Easyjet flight from Bristol engaging in a Christmas sing-along of festive songs and children taking over the tannoy at 30,000 ft.

Others are simply little things such as the many sledges left outside hotels across Rovaniemi for anyone to use, free of charge.

Dylan & Hazel Clark sledding in Rovaniemi, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

This not only meant we could literally drag our kids around the city’s cultural sites much more easily,  but the kids eventually dragged each other around, and then attempted to drag the adults around as well.

The sight of dozens of mobile children sledding down what is essentially a high street, made for a more festive atmosphere.

Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Rovaniemi is home to three museums or cultural centres for those keen to learn about the Arctic and the Sami people.

We visited the Arktikum, which included a number of hands-on areas for children to discover why fur keeps animals so warm, why it’s so dark in Lapland in the winter, and what the Northern Lights are.

The Arktikum Museum, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Our guide Frank took us through the history of the Sami people, and the fact that much of Lapland in the summer is bog, with very good berry picking.

The big issue for many looking to visit Lapland is the cost.

It’s certainly not a cheap option.

A night in Santa’s Village during Christmas week can set you back a whopping £447 for a family of four.

Santa’s Village, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

We also paid around £330 per night for an apartment in the city centre.

It has to be said that there were cheaper options available – especially to those who book around a year in advance and on dates further out than Christmas.

Eating was also a lot more varied than expected.

For those looking to save money there are ample eateries with all-you-can-eat buffets for £11.50 (€13) per person.

Alternatively, there are pricey restaurants serving speciality Finnish or international cuisine for over £88 (€100) a cover.

We mostly stuck to the simple fare but couldn’t resist trying out dinner inside an igloo.

Two transparent igloos form part of the Gustav restaurant, which is located on the main shopping avenue in town.

Dinner in an Igloo, Gustav restaurant, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

The restaurant itself caters to those looking for gourmet Finnish food, however for the kids Gustav served up children’s meatballs and fries for a mere €3.80.

Tucking into Baltic herring boquerone while snow drifted down onto the perspex igloo was a unique experience.

As the other half noted “It’s not the kind of thing you could get away with doing in Swindon”.

While accommodation was the biggest cost for the trip, the second most expensive costs were excursions.

Here money is literally no object.

If you want to snowmobile to find arctic animals, then £202 per person for six hours should do it.

If you want to sit in a hot tub and have a “snow sauna experience” it will set you back £158 each.

Or, if you have £366 to spare you can go on an 11-hour round trip for an icebreaker cruise in Sweden.

We booked one major excursion during our trip, a 45-minute self-driven husky ride over one of Finland’s many frozen lakes which cost £139 (€157) per adult and £83 (€94) per child.

Ready for the husky ride, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Run by Bearhill Husky Tours, the experience lasted just under three hours in total.

The guide took us through the wellbeing of the dogs, the different breeds of Alaskan and Siberian husky, and went through the basics of mushing, including braking and encouraging the huskies with enthusiastic calls of “Good doggy!”

The one rule was to not let go of the sled. If you do, then the huskies are off, and I would be given a bit of a talking to.

The noise from the dogs prior to setting off reached a crescendo as the different sleds were loaded up.

We had a total of nine sleds on our late afternoon ride, which headed out into the snowy wilderness.

Luckily the pack knows the route, and once you get used to not overusing the brake you can begin to relax and enjoy the scene as the forest gives way to a frozen expanse.

The aurora borealis, if it was there, was hidden above the cloud cover but the glittery speckling of snow hitting my face as the huskies led the way across the open lake was an exhilarating if slightly stressful experience.

It got a full two thumbs up from the kids.

With the winter sports almost behind us, one last thing was left – the long-awaited visit to see Santa.

Located around 7km from Rovaniemi, Santa’s Village is considered the location for old St Nicholas.

With the feel of a Las Vegas of Christmas, the Village has dozens of attractions including Santa’s Office, Mrs Claus’s house, a snow-themed centre with ice-rink, tube park snow sculptures and an ice bar, Santa’s Post Office, mini-snowmobiling, as well as elf workshops, more igloos to eat in and gift shops galore.

Mrs Claus’s House, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Visiting Santa is free, however almost everything else (including many toilets) comes at a price. Even here however you can find a half-decent pizza for €10.

The Village is a mix of theme park and cultural institution.

Alongside the plethora of activities available, letters from children all over the world really are delivered to a small series of buildings outside Rovaniemi, with over 20 million of them read by the elves so far.

Letters to Santa, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

As the epicentre of Christmas it is quite something to see.

As you queue up to see Santa you pass by pictures of the great and the good of the political or media world also taking their turn to visit the big man, with Britain represented by… err…. the Spice Girls.

The Spice Girls meeting Santa, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

Meeting Santa was slightly surreal but the kids got fully caught up in the magic of the experience and “kind and friendly” Father Christmas made everyone feel at ease.

It was certainly worth the wait and the kids left his office even more excited for his visit two days’ later.

Santa Claus workshop, Lapland. Image © Tim Clark

We didn’t see the aurora borealis before we left, but once the Easyjet flight took off the northern lights made their appearance, snaking across the sky as a faint green glow and accompanying the flight for hours as we headed back to the UK along the Norwegian coast.

The big question: was the trip worth it?

The four days had cost a couple of thousand pounds in total, which is more than an average two-week holiday.

However, considering the Lapland trip was a one-off, bucket list experience full of Christmas magic and joy-inducing activities, it provided more than a run-of-the mill ski or summer holiday.

Very few places on Earth can combine ample activities for children with winter sports and natural wonders such as the aurora.

The ability to tag on an afternoon of skiing without fully committing to a ski holiday was a huge bonus.

The kids have written their letters to Santa for next year already.

I’m just hoping they include a wish for a ski trip.

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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).

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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/

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10 Exciting Things to Do in Lapland Finland

A dream for many is a visit to a snowy winter destination. Our suggestion is to head to Finland. There are so many amazing things to do in Lapland Finland in winter that it will make all your wildest dreams a reality! Whether you hope to spot the Northern Lights, see reindeer, or go on an exhilarating sled right with huskies, we have you covered. Below we share our top 10 things that you need to put on your Finland Lapland winter bucket list!

Where is Lapland in Finland?

Lapland is actually a region in the greater Scandinavia that occupies parts of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. The word “Lapp” was used to refer to the indigenous Sami people who have long lived in this region, thus creating the name Lapland. In general Lapland lies within the Arctic Circle, offering an amazing array of unspoiled nature.

In Finland, Lapland encompasses a large swath of the northern part of the country, beginning just a bit south of the town of Kemi on the sea, reaching up to Finland’s most northernmost borders. For many visitors the town of Rovaniemi is synonymous with Lapland, but as you can see, that town is only a very small part of the region with a huge expanse waiting to be discovered.

Getting to/from Lapland

Lapland is quite easily connected with Helsinki, the capital of Finland as well as other destinations around the world. There are now even direct flights to Rovaniemi from the UK and other places in Europe. If you are coming from Sweden or Norway, you can also connect to Finnish Lapland quite easily. 

Read More on our Guide to Getting to Lapland from Helsinki

There are 5 airports in Lapland including Rovaniemi and Kemi.

The easiest is to fly, however, it is quite an experience to take an overnight train from Helsinki to Kemi, Rovaniemi or even to the northernmost railway station of Kolari. The train is clean, comfortable and allows you to not waste time moving from one destination to another!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

How cold will it be in Lapland in winter?

People always want to know, how cold will it be in Lapland in winter and the easiest answer is COLD! Obviously it depends on what time of the year you visit, how far north you go and the current weather patterns, but in general you can assume it will be quite cold. During my recent trip I experienced temperatures down to minus 36 celsius and as warm as -11 celsius (and trust me once you have experienced -36, anything else feels downright warm at times!) with average temperatures around -20 celcius.

During our visit to Kemi, in the far south of Lapland, we experienced minus 24 degrees on the regular, and then as we reached further north to Muonio , we dipped down to -36. However the week after I left temperatures were much warmer and even close to 0 at times. The best is to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

What should I pack for a winter visit to Finland?

Merino wool and lots of layers is the quickest way to answer this common question. I packed only a small carry on as I knew that it didn’t really matter what I wore each day as it would be covered up by my jacket or a snow suit. The most important thing was having many breathable warm layers and warm clothes. My wardrobe consists almost entirely of wool , so it was not that difficult for me to put together breathable layers. I don’t use fleece, but many people also highly recommend a fleece layer to keep you warm and toasty.

As an example of what I wore almost daily:

• For my legs: Thin light thermal merino wool leggings , thick Woolx leggings, topped with ski pants
• For my upper: Think or thick thermal top depending on the temperature, my Wool& hoodie and an Irish thick wool sweater with my long down parka on top.
• Extras: Gloves, mittens, balaclava plus a hat, neck buff/snood
• Socks: 2 to 3 pairs of wool socks every day. Ideally with enough to switch out in the day if they get wet with moisture or sweat.
• Leg Warmers : I wore these inside the hotels when I didn’t have my ski pants on, but needed a bit more warmth

If you haven’t spent much time in the arctic conditions (which I had not!), you will quickly learn that some things are more important than others. One is having room in your jacket, ski suit, shoes and gloves for air to warm up and keep you warm. This means buying your shoes too big so that you can wear multiple pairs of socks but also to keep space for your feet to warm up. This also means having space in your jacket to fit all of your layers and space for air to heat up as well. Lastly, having multiple pairs of thick wooly socks that you can change into when your feet get sweaty. Having any moisture in your socks in these temperatures can quickly make your feet cold. 

Another point to note that for many outdoor adventure guided activities, snow jumpsuits, boots, hats and gloves will often be provided as part of the tour, which means you just need to focus on your several base layers under this suit!

Top Bucket List Things to Do in Lapland Finland

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the things to do in Lapland Finland, this is our top recommendations that most visitors will enjoy regardless of their age or their physical abilities. This includes something for everyone. While many of these activities can be found all over Lapland, I have included the best places where I have personally experienced these and my top recommendations. 

Play in an Ice Castle

If you aren’t in Kemi, you can also stay in a snow hotel, glass igloo or get married in a snow chapel in Rovaniemi. In Muonio you can dine in an ice restaurant or drink in a an ice bar at one of Harriniva’s resorts .

Another place to put on your bucket list if you are in Muonio is the Lapland Hotel Snow Village near Ylläs and Levi. With 20 million kilos of snow and almost half a million kilos of ice, you won’t be disappointed in their yearly designs!

RELATED: Discover this stunning off the beaten path Finnish Lapland winter escape 

Float in Ice on the Sampo Icebreaker Tour

During our visit, we were given a guided tour of the ship, with a visit to the former 1960s control room, the captain’s bridge and the very noisy engine room among other locations on the ship.

After the guided tour, you can slip into a bright orange survival suit  to swim in the frozen sea waters and walk on the frozen sea. This was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had. Even though getting on that survival suit was a bit scary, it was well worth it in the end. 

Feed Reindeer & Learn About the Tradition of Reindeer Herding

Utilizing reindeer as transportation was an ancient way of getting around by the Sami people. Now, this is one activity that is pretty much available in every town throughout Lapland. During our trip to Lapland, we were able to visit 3 different reindeer farms and meet with a variety of reindeer herders.

One aspect of any reindeer experience I would highly recommend including is being able to learn about the native Sami culture and their traditions as reindeer herders. Not all locations are run by Sami, but do look out for them if you can to support the indigenous communities as much as possible.

In Muonio, we also had an opportunity to feed reindeer before visiting a local museum about reindeer herders with the traditional clothing worn, equipment used etc. 

Many visitors enjoy going on a reindeer sleigh ride, I will say that even if you just feed and pet these cuties, it is also pretty special. 

Go on an Exhilarating Husky Safari

Husky safaris can be as short as 15km rides around the forest and as long as many days to really get out into the backcountry and experience life in the arctic wilderness.

As a general rule, Finland has very strict regulations on animal tourism and regularly inspects kennels to make sure that the dogs are being well looked after as well as not overworked. 

For some husky safari rides you will be the musher, and in others you will just be the passenger. I was offered the ability to do both, but enjoyed being the passenger more than the driver! I will tell you, these dogs love to RUN and they go fast. It really is exhilarating! We enjoyed our adventures in the Muonio region at both Harriniva Resorts and through Polar Lights Tours. Both had excellent programs with well trained and looked after dogs.

For summer visitors, you can still visit the kennels and often take the huskies for a walk or participate in their summer exercise programs. 

Spot the Northern Lights

Many visitors book a tour to see the auroras, but you can also hunt them on your own if you are staying somewhere without much light pollution. We saw them nightly on our visit to Muonio , but had no luck in the south at Kemi as there was too much light near the town. A popular way to spot the Northern Lights is on a snowmobile safari!

Top tip: Wear lots of layers, bring a tripod (and never touch your tripod without gloves on. I learned this the hard way!), invest in these mittens that you can take your fingers out of and be patient!

Try a Sauna and Ice Dip

While there are public saunas throughout the country, there are also many stunning sauna experiences that are well worth checking out. I particularly loved my experience at Arctic Sauna World where there were several different type of sauna rooms including the famous Finnish smoke saunas, as well as an icy hole in the frozen lake to take an ice plunge!

The quest is to challenge yourself to the full Finnish experience by dipping into the frozen waters followed by your steaming sauna session. Prior to trying this for myself I couldn’t understand how people got hooked on these ice baths, but once you feel the endorphins and adrenaline rush, you will be hooked as well. This really is one of best things you can do in Lapland Finland during your visit. 

Try Your Hand at Ice Fishing

Eat dinner in a traditional kota.

If you have the opportunity to have a meal in a traditional kota it is an experience to be savored. During our visit, we had lunch in a kota at a reindeer farm as well as part of our hotel stay in Harriniva. One of the best meals I had was Loimulohi, which is an old Finnish technique for cooking salmon on an open fire. I have seen this at German Christmas markets, but it was a true delight to experience it in a kota in Finland. 

Snowshoe or Go Cross-Country Skiing 

Snowshoeing, cross country skiing or even fat e-biking are accessible and give a new perspective on the wintry forests and fells (basically hills/ rounded mountains).

Hot tip! If you have the opportunity, try the sliding snowshoe (liukulumikenkä), the Finnish invention which makes moving around in the deep snow easier. We tried this on our ice fishing adventure with Nordic Safaris and it was so fun!

Visit Santa’s village

Santa Village has tons of shops, restaurants and cafés, the famous Santa Claus Post Office, which is almost as popular as seeing the big man himself and so much more. Mrs. Claus even has her own cabin where you can decorate gingerbread cookies alongside the elves.

Obviously the busiest season here is in November and December, but it is well worth visiting all throughout the winter for a festive visit with Santa. 

There are so many amazing experiences to be had on a Finnish Lapland winter escape, that you just might need to plan several! Visiting during the winter months offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a real life winter wonderland that you thought only existed in fairy tales! Stay in ice hotels? Sure! See Santa’s village? Of course! Walk through a forest with snowy trees surrounding you and pastel arctic skies above? Yep, it is all here waiting for you in Finnish Lapland.

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