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Visiting Santa In Lapland: Guide To A Magical Christmas Break

Here are the Guides to a Magical Chrismas Break in Lapland

For a truly magical Christmas, visiting Santa in Lapland, Finland is an unforgettable experience for all the family. Rovaniemi is the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, and the city’s most famous resident can be visited every day of the year in Santa Claus Village right on the Arctic Circle, an attraction that draws more than 500 000 annual visitors from all around the world.

Finland is where Santa lives. Why don’t you pay him a return visit for all those times he came to your house?

In Rovaniemi, you can enjoy reindeer and husky rides and of course, meet Santa Claus and his elves. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing Santa Claus in Lapland this winter.

Visiting Santa In Lapland: 7 Things To Know

1. Where is Santa Claus Village?

Santa’s official office is on the mysterious Arctic Circle in northern Finland. The cute town of Rovaniemi received the status of the Official Hometown of Santa Claus in 2010 and it’s here that you’ll be able to visit Santa.

2. How to Get There

Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year, and getting there is easy with local bus number 8 or Santa’s Express which leave hourly from Rovaniemi city centre. Alternatives include taxi, car or walking – the distance is eight kilometres.

3. Santa Claus Village: How It All Started

Rovaniemi was almost completely destroyed in World War II. In 1950, Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, came to visit Rovaniemi to witness the rebuilding process.

She wanted to visit the Arctic Circle, and Rovaniemi officials rushed to building a cabin eight kilometres north of the city. The cabin marked the birth of Santa Claus Village and still stands today next to Santa Claus Main Post Office.

4. What is There to do in Santa Claus Village?

There’s husky and reindeer rides, snowmobile tours, design items and souvenirs, ice and snow constructions, and an igloo hotel.

Meet Santa in his office (for free!) all year-round and call into the post office where his friendly elves will help you post your Christmas letters. Since 1985, Santa Claus has received 15 million letters from 198 countries, which makes Santa Claus Main Post Office a must on any visit to Santa Claus Village.

The merry postal elves are happy to serve customers all year round in their headquarters, which is a real post office operated by Posti, Finland’s national postal service.

Every letter sent from here gets a special Arctic Circle postmark not available anywhere else, so your greetings home are sure to be unique.

5. Stop by Santa Park to Visit The Elf School

Just outside Santa Village, there’s a fun Santa Park with even more great family-friendly activities. Join the Elves in their magical world, take part in the Elf school, taste gingerbread cookies in Mrs. Gingerbread’s Kitchen, feel the crispy winter in Ice Princess’ Ice Gallery (a -10 degrees experience!), or take a ride on the Magic Train.

6. Where To Stay?

There’s plenty of cosy places to stay when visiting Santa in Lapland. Whether you want a cosy log cabin or glass igloo, it’s all here. Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos Rovaniemi provides the luxury of sleeping under a 360º glass roof and the unique experience of staying in a hotel made of only snow and ice.