SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW!

INSIDE: Everything you need to know about a Santa Claus Holiday Village stay including ALL the activities you can do during your visit (or on a Lapland day trip!) Updated 2024.

Want to STAY at the location of the BEST Santa Claus experience in the world?

You can!

The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is THE place to see the REAL Santa Claus in real life.

There is SO much to do at Santa Claus Village.

Three days is not quite enough. 

Four would be better.

Five just perfect. 

We’ve listed the BEST activities to do IN the Santa Claus Holiday Village, plus answered a whole bunch of frequently asked questions too. 

Read this guide to learn about:

• reindeer sleigh rides
• husky rides
• ice tubing
• Santa Park
• eating Finnish food
• meeting Santa’s elves and visiting Santa’s Toy Factory at the Secret Forest of Joulukka
• shopping for Marimekko and Iittala goods, and
• shopping for Finnish souvenirs too. 

Take a sneak peek below at this complete adventure in Lapland with kids.

With special thanks to Anne Saahkari from Visit Rovaniemi, who took us on a tour of the village to see Santa in the Main Office, take a behind the scenes look at the Santa Post Office, and explained the significance of the Arctic Circle crossing. She also gifted us a reindeer ride, and entry to Snowman world.

Disclosure: This article, written by a human (me), without AI input, may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at NO COST to you. For our Disclosure and Disclaimer statements, and an explanation of our Advertising policy please click here

WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE HOTEL LAPLAND

If you are planning to book Lapland Christmas holidays, you have a few choices of where to stay in Santa Claus Village.

The Hotels in Santa Village in Rovaniemi

First things first.

If you are planning a trip to visit Santa in November or December, BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION NOW. 

Do not wait. 

CHECK LATEST PRICES FOR SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE ON BOOKING.COM 

We booked ONE WHOLE YEAR ahead to secure our Santa Claus Holiday Village accommodation for the 15th to the 18th December.

Repeat.

Book now. 

If you don’t, you may find there is no availability. 

It’s an exclusive and fabulous privilege for the lucky few who have the opportunity to be right in the centre of the action, IN the Santa village in the early morning before the day tour buses and hoards arrive, or in the later afternoon when most visitors have left for the day. 

There are four hotels IN the Santa Village itself, also only a few minutes walk to the plaza.

• Santa Claus Holiday Village cabins
• Snowman Glass Resort
• Nova Skyland and Restaurant
• Santa’s Glass Igloos on the Arctic Circle

Please, do take my advice and organise to stay in Santa’s Village in one of these. Do whatever it takes to stay in one of the four, even if it takes a few more months of saving. 

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit this region of Lapland for many, and we strongly and firmly believe that staying on site is the ONLY way to truly appreciate the place and the magic! 

Santa Claus Holiday Village cottages

We booked three nights in one of the Santa Claus Holiday Village cottages (classic cottage). 

These hotel quality apartments are stand-alone ‘gingerbread’ cottages with private sauna, bathroom, kitchenette and terrace. 

The best thing about booking a stay at Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi cabins is the LOCATION. 

The cottages and suites are located two minutes walk from the Christmas House Restaurant & Coffee Bar, and the main Three Elves Restaurant and Reception building in the village.

You are only minutes walk away from the Santa Village plaza, the Arctic Circle crossing (where the Santa Village Live Cam points), the  Main Office of Santa Claus, and the Official Santa Post Office where all Santa’s mail is sent. 

The cabins are located less than a few minutes walk to the Christmas House restaurant where you eat breakfast (and potentially dinner, if your package includes half board).

Three Elves restaurant, and the Central Plaza area are just metres away from here too.  

The location of these cabins is second to none, in THE prime position in the village.

You couldn’t get any closer to the action. 

Scroll down the page to THE INSIDE SCOOP for our COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE ACCOMMODATION.

There’s more pictures and all the very important info! 

Remember: do everything in your power to stay here, even if you have to beg, borrow, steal or sell your Grandma.

(Nope. Spare Grandma. We recommend becoming minimalists, and selling all your excess stuff online. You can thank me for the tip later.)  

I’ll say it again.

Do everything you can to book a stay at Santa Village Hotel Cottages. 

There is NOTHING like staying IN the village.

(The pain of the bill will soon be forgotten!)

Another reason to stay in the village is that you book all the different Santa Claus Village activities on the spot.

Book your stay below

CHECK LATEST PRICES for SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE on Booking.com

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi 

Invite Santa to visit YOUR cabin in person!

Hot tip: If you are staying onsite, you can invite Santa Claus to your own cabin to deliver gifts to your kids in person.

BYO wrapped Christmas gifts (or buy something from one of the gift shops in the village) and drop them to reception ahead of your scheduled meet time. 

This VIP experience is exclusive to those staying in the Santa Claus accommodation at an additional cost of 150 euro. 

Image credit: Swe Latt

The Other Rovaniemi Hotels at Santa Claus Village Finland

If this hotel is full by the time you are ready to book your Santa Claus Village holidays, there’s a few other options to try within the actual Santa Village Rovaniemi.

If you are visiting WITHOUT children (you’ll be surprised how many people are!), a stay at one of the other Santa Village hotels would be a suitable alternative, as you’ll still be ON LOCATION!

Location is THE most important thing here.

No-one – especially kids – wants to leave this magical snowy forest place at the end of a day to hop back on a bus or in a car to Rovaniemi town.

Don’t do it unless you have absolutely no alternative. 

No.1: Snowman Glass Resort

Looking for something a little different?

These posh apartments located behind Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park in the Santa Village have a shape inspired by the traditional Kota buildings favoured by the Indigenous Sami people. 

The giant sized windows, and the glass ceiling make you feel like you are in an upmarket glass igloo! Staying here is a magical experience where you wake up in the middle of a snowy forest.

If you are lucky, you might even spy the Northern Lights from your bed! 

Each Superior Glass Apartment features a sauna, equipped mini-kitchen AND your own private outdoor spa. 

Make use of it!

CHECK LATEST PRICES ON BOOKING.COM

Image credit: Horace Kwok

No.2: Nova Skyland Hotel and Restaurant

These exclusive hotel apartments are in semi-detached houses, located directly behind Snowman World.

Decorated in Scandinavian style, each apartment has:

• a fireplace
• sauna
• terrace
• fully equipped kitchen
• high ceilings, and p
• anoramic windows that make you feel you are part of the Rovaniemi forest surrounding you. 

CHECK LATEST PRICES ON BOOKING.COM 

Image credit: Rob Philips

No.3: Santa’s Glass Igloos on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi

There are 71 luxurious glass igloos in the Santa Claus Village.

Located in the forest beyond the Husky Park Oy, just a few minutes walk from the Main Office of Santa Claus. 

It’s the place to stay if you want to enjoy the Winter Polar Night away from the crowds.  

The hotel-style igloos are glass-roofed, arctic view rooms, similar to Mongolian yurts in appearance, in the centre of Finnish Lapland nature. 

Enjoy a cup of tea, with snowy views to die for. 

CHECK LATEST PRICES ON BOOKING.COM

THE MOST AWESOME THINGS TO DO AT SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE ROVANIEMI FINLAND 

There is SO much to do at Santa Claus Village.

Three days is not quite enough. 

Four would be better.

Five just perfect. 

Here’s an overview of all the fun Santa Claus Holiday Village activities you can do with kids and family while you are in the Santa Village in Rovaniemi. 

Fun Fact: Santa Claus Village is actually made up of 40 separate companies that all work together in the spirit of Christmas. 

Every Santa Village activity or attraction sets their own opening and closing times, so please do check their individual websites listed below for up to date information on this.

Hot tip: All companies operate longer than normal hours during the Christmas season to cater for the large amount of visitors. 

 Did you know you can visit Rovaniemi & Santa Claus Village in SUMMER too? 

Finland in Summer is wilderness paradise and you can PICK BERRIES! 

Santa Claus Village Opening Ceremony of Christmas Season

The ceremony at Santa Village celebrating the start of the annual Christmas season is held sometime in November.

In 2019, it was held on Sunday 10th November.

There’s also a special bells-and-whistles ceremony on the 23rd December to wish Santa all the best as he sets off on his round trip to deliver all the Christmas presents.

THE BEST SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

No.1: Meet the Real Santa Claus

#1 Visit Santa at the Santa Claus Main Office

Heads up, there is more than one Santa in the village and surrounds.

(Read the ‘FAQ – Which Santa should you visit?’ section below)

Visit the big man himself at the MAIN OFFICE of Santa Claus Finland. 

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

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

There is NO Santa Claus in Santa Claus Village POST Office.

(Note, that the MAIN OFFICE of Santa, and the Santa Main POST OFFICE are different places. These two Santa Claus village attractions are in two SEPARATE buildings, about 50 metres apart. There, we cleared that up.)

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

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

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

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

Is the Official Santa Claus Main office open all year round?

The Santa Claus Main Office has been open every day of the year since 1992, and hundreds of thousands of people have stopped by to say hi! 

The best thing about visiting Santa in the Main Office is that it’s FREE! 

For everyone. 

Professional photos of your visit here, including digital downloads, can be bought after your visit if you choose. 

We LOVED this Santa because he was warm and friendly, and his room was inviting.

This is also the BEST most unique Santa Photo backdrop, as far as we are concerned. 

And check out his RAINBOW STOCKINGS! 

I mean, he’s simply loveable!  

This is the Santa most visitors and day trippers to Santa Claus Holiday Village head for.

The location of this Santa is smack bang in the centre of the village, in the MAIN OFFICE building. 

To get there from the car park, you’ll also walk across the Arctic Circle line and see the distinctive pyramid shape roof of the building as you walk up from the bus drop off area.

If you are arriving by bus, the drop off point is at the Information Centre. Walk through the building to the back, and out, and you’ll see the roofline of the Main Office building to your right. 

If you’ve ever looked on Youtube, or have seen pictures of the Santa Claus Village in preparation for your trip, you’ll recognise it straight away. 

The Santa Claus Main Office opens at 9am.

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

Hot tip: Go early

Be there as close to opening as you can and beat the crowds coming in on the Santa Express bus from Rovaniemi city hotels, and on Santa day tour buses. 

Or if you are staying in the Santa Claus Village Cottages or Suites, pop in for a visit and photo with Santa AFTER the day trip to Lapland crowds dissipate in the afternoon, after 3.30pm. 

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

You’ll wander through a winding pathway of interesting Christmas surprises on your way to meet Santa.

Be sure to keep an eye out for interactive spots on the journey. 

Santa Claus Office Desk 

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

See Santa’s OFFICIAL working desk. 

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

Baby Reindeer Day Care! 

Look out for the peepholes around the place.

You might even see Baby Reindeer in Day Care!

Santa’s Photo Wall with Famous Visitors to Lapland 

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

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

Strange things do happen.

Spot the Spice Girls!  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Price of Main Office Santa Claus Photographs & Digital Downloads 

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

No.2: What to buy in the Santa Claus Main Office Shop in Lapland

When you’ve said goodbye to the Real Santa in Lapland, head into the Santa Clays Main Office shop to find beautiful Lapland souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.

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

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

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

No.1: Finnish Santa Chocolate & Tea

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

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

No.2: Husky Dog Soft Toys

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

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

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

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

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

No.4: MORE Stuffed Teddies, Rabbits & Unicorns 

Random! 

Even a pink sparkly unicorn, just because. 

No.5: Handmade Felted Dolls & Animals 

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

No.6: Decorative brownies felted by hand.  

These gorgeous Christmas dolls are designed by Atelje Hannetar.

42,00 euro each. 

No.7: Felted Reindeer

Reindeer ornaments by the same designer.

39,00 euro each. 

No.8: Christmas Gnomes and Christmas Ornaments

There’s gingerbread men, and love heart decorations. 

No.9: Miniature Tomten Gnomes

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

No.10: Santa & Elf Ornaments 

Adorable Santa’s like this one.

No.11: More Santa and Christmas Tree Ornaments 

Mix and match your favourite tree decorations. 

No.12: Santa Fridge Magnets

Add to your fridge magnet collections.

You might find these articles useful too: 

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

No.13: Santa Village Sweaters 

Stay warm indoors and out. 

No.14: Novelty Christmas Booties for Babies and Toddlers 

Ideal baby gifts from Lapland. 

No.15: Cute Socks for Kids & Toddlers

Socks are cute gifts for babies from Lapland too. 

No.16: Christmas Socks for Adults too!

These are an official product from the Santa Claus Office. 

Buy up big. 

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

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

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

Santa Claus Office cost: FREE ENTRY always. (Purchase of photos optional.)

Opening hours of Santa Claus Main Office and Shop:

Open every day of the year.

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

How to get to Santa Claus Office Lapland

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

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

FAQ: Which Santa should you visit? 

If you plan or risk visiting/seeing more than one Santa during your stay in Lapland, it’s helpful to have a strategy on how you will manage that, especially if the kids start questioning which one is the REAL Santa? 

I explained it to my 6 year and 11 year old (who was VERY skeptical about Santa’s existence) in this way:

#1 THE REAL SANTA, who does all the official Santa jobs, such as reading the piles of letters that arrive each year from children from all over the world is the one in the Main Post Office. 

He is the one making and sending out all the videos and handwritten reply letters to children who’ve written to him this year.

Thankfully, he looks just like the PNP Santa who sends the boys a personalised video each year. 

(PNP stands for Portable North Pole. If you don’t know this website yet, you MUST check it out.) 

But he’s so busy, he had to appoint some very special second-in-charge Santa’s to help him greet ALL the families who make the trek to Lapland to see him.

They were happy enough with that story. 

#2 Santa Claus Secret Forest of Joulukka – Santa’s Toy Factory Experience

THIS whole Santa Claus in Finland experience was our family’s favourite adventure on our Christmas trip to Lapland.

(Until we met the Husky dogs of course, but that’s just because Ned is an animal lover.)

Read all about the tour below. 

Image credit: Santa Park Finland Instagram

#3 Santa Park Santa 

Santa Park is the next most obvious place to meet Santa in real life. 

If you are on a day tour to Lapland, this may be the one you are guided to. 

Santa’s Office in Santa Park sits inside his own little cottage.

The line to enter the cottage is to the right of the Magic Train ride,  or to the left of the Elf Workshop where the craft activity is held. 

This is also a coveted place to have your family Christmas photo taken, as the backdrop behind Santa is a traditional Christmas scene of garlands of greenery, a red brick wall, bright red curtains with sash ties, and frosty windows.

Santa sits on an ornately decorated chair, and invites families – one by one- to sit on leather seats next to him. 

He’s also very friendly, and warm. 

The BIG BONUS here is being able to take as many pictures on your own camera as you like.

You can also buy the official Santa photo if you wish too. 

The downside is it is expensive to enter, and expensive on the inside too. 

Hot tip: This place is better suited for young children only. 

You can read all about it in our guide to the best things to do in Rovaniemi. 

#4 Christmas House Santa

Options 4 & 5 are interchangeable.

Either of these should be your back-up option if you can’t manage one of the first three options for some reason. 

Christmas House Santa is friendly, and chatty.

But nothing special compared to the others. 

Photos with Santa cost 40 euro, but there is no obligation to buy.

Free stickers!

Even if you don’t buy a photo, the kind elves may give you some Christmas House Santa stickers to remember your visit. 

This Santa set up is smaller than the one in the Main Office, but it’s less busy, and you may not have to queue. 

But unless you are stuck, this would not be my first, second or third choice. 

#5 Invite Santa Claus to your cabin

If you are lucky enough to be staying onsite in one of the Classic Cottages, suites or cabins at the Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel, you can arrange to have Santa and a friend visit your kids in your classic SCHV cottage one evening. 

While we didn’t do this, we watched as he was driven in a black van from cabin to cabin around the village, visiting family after family, gifts in tow.

This is one for those families who have a spare 150 Euro up their sleeve, and who want a very special personalised experience with Santa in your own private space.

Santa stays for around 10-15 minutes. 

I think it’s the perfect Santa meet-and-greet for children under 5, especially if you only want to make your ONE Santa experience as magical as can be, and will simply avoid/skip the other ones in town.

(That’s actually quite easy to do, without them knowing.) 

Hot tip: Parents do need to supply the gifts for this experience. Drop your wrapped treasures to the reception before your booking. If you haven’t brought any from home, drop into the Christmas House shop secretly, and pick up a soft toy you can wrap up in a jiffy. 

PS: The answer to ‘Can I hire a Santa in Rovaniemi’ is YES. 

Is Santa Claus real? 

If you are in any doubt… He is real.

We met him. 😉 

There’s no better place to meet the real Santa than in Finland. No one will ever be able to tell me different.

The Magic of Christmas is NOT just for kids.

Take a trip here, and I bet you’ll agree. 

No.3: Visit the Santa Claus Post Office at Santa Village

Did you know you can visit the MAIN SANTA POST OFFICE in Rovaniemi, Lapland in REAL LIFE?

You can.

The Santa Post Office is located just metres from the Arctic Circle crossing line. 

The Santa Claus Main Post Office in Rovaniemi is the other main attraction in Santa Village. 

This is the official Santa’s address in the North Pole, operated by the Finnish postal service, just like all other post offices. 

Santa Claus Village Post office address: Santa Claus Main Post Office, Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland
Santa Claus Post Office Rovaniemi website: Click here

Santa Claus post office hours 

All the normal post office services are available: 

• From 7th January until 31st May:  10am to 5pm 
• From 1st June to 31st August: 9am to 6pm
• From 1st September to 30th November:  10am to 5pm 
• From 1st December to 6th January  9am to 7pm
• Open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve from 9am to 5pm  
• Open New Years day from 12 noon to 5pm  

Santa Claus Main Post Office is open 365 days a year. 

It’s free to visit. 

It’s Christmas ALL YEAR ROUND in these parts.

But the post office does experience a surge in visitors during November, and December in the lead up to Christmas Day, that’s for certain. 

REMEMBER: Santa is NOT in the Post Office, but resides year round in the MAIN SANTA CLAUS OFFICE, just 100 metres away from the Official Post Office to the left.

Over 1/2 million letters each year arrive for Santa! 

In a normal year, over 500,000 letters from children (and adults) around the world arrive here for Santa.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Santa’s Main Post Office in Lapland has received almost 20 MILLION LETTERS from almost 200 countries since 1985? 

Surprisingly, there’s LOTS of letters from older teenagers and adults too.

Most of these kinds of letters come from Asia, India and Sri Lanka, where Santa is seen as a kind benefactor to all, regardless of age, as well as from children in Poland, Italy, China and the UK

Sometimes, the post brings gifts FOR Santa himself.

Rovaniemi Post Office Displays

Gifts FOR Santa arrive at the Post Office too!

The best ones he receives each year are on display in the cabinet by the counter. 

I heard his favourite ever gift was a pair of cosy slippers, just his size.

Shaving Kit for Santa

But this shaving kit must be the most useful! 

I do like the handmade doll he received too.

Take a look above!

Santa’s Elves in Lapland Post Office

Head into the Santa Claus Post Office in Rovaniemi to meet the Postal Elves who help Santa keep on top of this big job. 

Santa’s elves in the Santa Post Office are kept very busy all year round.

They spend their time helping Santa to answer all the letters, and assist collating all the lists of children’s Christmas wishes.

They also serve the thousands of customers who come to take a peek at the real Santa post office when they visit Santa in Lapland.

Sometimes, they have the privilege of helping first-time writers on  “how to write addresses and where to put the postage stamp”.

(Or if you are really lucky and can visit Lapland someday, you can deliver your letter to Santa in person at the Main Office!)

They also offer all the normal post office delivery options including post office shipping, post office tracking, and Father Christmas post. 

The Official Santa Postmark Stamp 

Did you know that the main Post Office for Santa has it’s own unique postmark?

The current postmark, featuring Santa Claus and his reindeer, was introduced in 2012.

Letters sent from the official post office of Santa are stamped with this specially-created Arctic Circle postmark.

It’s the only Santa Claus postmark available anywhere in the world. 

The very first Arctic Circle’s special postmark was created in honour of a visit to Rovaniemi by Eleanor Roosevelt. 

This Arctic Circle postmark featured a reindeer’s head, as pictured above. 

Click here to see all the different postmarks that have been used since that time. 

How do I get the Santa postmark on my letter? 

Head inside the Rovaniemi Post office and you will find not just one Santa post box, but two.  

Pick the correct Santa mail box, either the one for regular mail, or the RED Chrismas mail box, and pop your letter in. 

You don’t need to do anything special to get the postmark, except buy a postage stamp for your letter from one of the elves, then post your letter as normal.

The Arctic Circle stamp will be automatically stamped on all outgoing post, no matter what the destination, or when it’s posted.

You can also write your wish list and post letter to Santa at  at any time of the year. 

Lots of visitors write a letter home FROM the Santa Claus Main Post Office, just to prove they’ve really been there, but don’t want their letters arriving till much later. 

If this is you, be sure to put your letter in the RED box with the sign CHRISTMAS mail. 

The elves keep all Christmas post on hold until later in the year and post it so that it will reach its destination in good time. 

Most visitors to the post office come because they’ve made the trek to see Santa in Lapland in real life, and want to see where all the letters, including the ones they’ve posted over the years, actually go too. 

Visitors to the Official Post Office in Lapland’s Santa Claus Village come from:

• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Great Britain
• Italy
• Russia
• Asia
• America,
• with a sprinkling of guests from those far away places, Australia and New Zealand too.

Between them, Mail Office elves speak around 10 different languages so no-one ever feels left out or misunderstood. 

Santa’s Post Office in Finland is found almost as far north as you can go, save for a few small towns at the very top of Lapland.

8 Fun Things to Do at Santa’s Post Office in Lapland

Take a look at our list below.

No.1: Write a letter to your friends and family from the Arctic Circle 

Take a seat in Santa’s family room area, and write your cards and letters to a friend or family member.

Pop on the stamp, and post it in the box.

Wait to hear the excitement from your friends when they receive it, complete with the special one-of-a-kind postmark!

No.2: Add a red spot to mark your Home Town on the wall map

Just inside the entrance, you’ll see the official Santa Post Office map, tracking where all the visitors to the post office come from.

Peel off a red dot sticker and add your home town.

We were surprised to see only a few stickers from Australia.

The UK was by the far the most common place. 

No.3: Take a peek at the Wall of Letters to Santa near the entrance.

The postal elves keep extra special lovely drawings from those who write.

Elves put a selection of these notes in frames for visitors to read.

Ones on display are changed from time to time. 

Many children and adults draw, doodle and collage on their letters.

Some paint pictures for him too. 

If you are lucky, your letter might end up there one day too! 

No.4: Look at the Envelopes addressed to Santa

Letters to Santa always get to him, even when they don’t have any kind of proper address at all. 

Here’s just a few examples:

• Santa Clause, 1 Elf Close, Candycane Lane, Sleighville Lapland!
• The Elves, The Toy Workshop, the Secret Snowy Mountain, Lapland
• Mr Cringles, 1 Snowflake Lane, North Pole
• Santa, c/o the North Pole. Turn left at the North Star.

The last one brought nostalgic happy tears to my eyes! 

No. 5: Take a peek at the Letter Cabinet too

Are there any letters from your country in the collection? 

It’s worth a look. 

No. 6: View Santa’s Cabinets of Gifts 

The gift cabinet is my favourite thing in the room.

This is where the elves keep a selection of special gifts that have been sent TO Santa over the years.

One little girl made this hand-crafted Moomin inspired chess set for Santa and his best elves, although her letter states she’s worried he won’t have enough time to play.

She’s hopeful he will find some time though! 

Traditional dolls & customary gifts

People send traditional dolls and gifts too, including this Japanese origami crane. 

He’s been given knitted socks, and gloves to keep him warm, and lots of yummy food snacks too.

No. 7: See the funniest thing in the post office

Yes, it’s true.

Santa receives many, many, many dummies and pacifiers each year.

These are posted by the very young children who send their favourite dummy to Santa as proof they should be on the good list for being so big and brave to finally let it go.  

Santa is definitely visiting them!

No.8: Order your Santa Letter 

You can even order your Santa letter in store, and have it sent anywhere in the world, along with a Certificate of Niceness.

Or send a gift from Santa to be delivered at the right time! 

Order Santa Post Office Merchandise

You can also order merchandise from the Official Santa’s Post Office too, including:

• a Reindeer soft toy
• A Santa Post Office Santa Hat with bell and Santa Post Office logo (for adults and children)
• Santa Claus Main Post Office Christmas Calendar
• Durable cotton tote bags in red or blue with Santa Post office logo (seen above)
• Special suitcase belts
• Red or blue tube scarves with Post Office Logo
• Touch screen pens with post office logo.

They make the perfect gift for a Christmas lover. 

How do I send a letter to Santa? 

If you want to send a letter to Santa Claus this year AND get a reply, we have all the tips.

The best way to write a letter to Santa and get a reply is to click this link.

This will take you to the Official Santa Post Office page, where you can set up a personalised letter delivery from Santa to your child or children via the Finnish Postal service online shop. 

These official letters from Santa can be ordered from around mid year. These Personalised letters from Santa are a real treat. 

Where to send letters to Santa? 

Post office Santa Address:

The official post office address for Santa is:

Santa Claus Main Post Office, Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland

What is Santa’s postcode? 

Postcode is 96930 

What is Santa’s email address?

Santa’s email address is: [email protected]

What is Santa Claus Home Address?

Oooh, we can’t tell you Santa Claus offical address in the forest, but did you know you can visit in person?

No.4: Go shopping at the Official Santa Post Office Rovaniemi 

There’s LOTS of one of a kind Lapland souvenirs here. 

Choose gifts and souvenirs from their delightful range of stationery, cards, Lapland souvenirs and more.

There’s even a dedicated section of Christmas and Santa stationery, including letter writing kits and Christmas cards.  

This is where you can buy Christmas cards, pens and paper to write to your people. 

Don’t forget to buy stamps for your letters and cards! 

(See our Santa Post Office Shopping Guide to see a sneak peek of what you can buy in the Post Office Shop in Lapland.) 

No.5: Check the Christmas House Exhibition

Head into Christmas House Restaurant and Coffee Bar. Entry is free to the exhibition.

It’s a beautiful building with gorgeous architecture.

The Christmas Exhibition will fill in some time after a visit to the Christmas House shop, or while you are waiting to be collected for a tour. 

Turn left for a walk through of the Christmas Exhibition, a showcase of all the traditions of Christmas from around the world, featuring the many ways people celebrate Christmas around the world, and the Elves Toy Workshop display.

You’ll find the Christmas House Santa waiting for you at the end of the displays.

Christmas House Opening Hours

The Christmas House Santa and Exhibition is open from 9am to 5pm during the Christmas season.

Hours may vary outside of the busy season. 

Christmas House Exhibition telephone: (via reception) + 358 400 306 273 
Christmas House Santa opening hours:  9am to 5pm. (subject to change depending on season) 
Christmas House Exhibition website: Click here

How to get to Christmas House Santa Village Lapland Finland

You’ll see Christmas House to the RIGHT of the Three Elves Restaurant and Santa Claus Village check in, looking from the road.  

A Sneak Peek at the Christmas House Exhibition

Firstly, you’ll wander through a timeline of how Christmas has evolved over the centuries, throughout the world.

Celebrating a Finnish Christmas

You’ll learn how Finnish families celebrate a Finnish Christmas, following much loved old traditions on Christmas eve. 

Families bring in the Christmas tree, watch the declaration of Christmas Peace broadcast on TV from the old Finnish city of Turku (much like English people watch the Queen’s Christmas Message each year.)

Then it’s time for a Christmas sauna, listening to old Christmas tunes while the family waits for it to heat up. 

Finnish families traditionally gather for their feast on Christmas Eve. Old lore says this was the only day of the year where people could eat till they were full. 

The special guest on Christmas Eve in Finland is called Joulupukki, from far-off Lapland.

His visit is the highlight of the year for the kids, just like Santa visiting is for us.

The big difference is Joulupukki visits Finnish homes and gives the gifts to children personally on Christmas eve. Can you imagine the excitement as you wait for the knock on the door?

The permanent Christmas Exhibition includes:

• displays of popular toys from yesteryear
• posters and archives of old graphics and prints celebrating Christmas from around the world
• Christmas Traditions from around the world (Father Frost pictured above) 

Famous Finland Transport

• famous modes of Finnish transport
• information about the history of Santa Claus of Lapland

Myths & Legends of Christmas

Find explanations of the many different Santa traditions from around the world including:

• Father Frost
• St Nicolas, and
• the somewhat scary “the Yule Lads of Iceland” (pictured above)

Christmas Tree origins

There’s four Christmas trees dressed up as they were through the ages, from the 16th century until now.

You’ll see:

• a tree suspended from the ceiling (16th C)
• a tree decorated with apples and pine cones, (17th C)
• a tree decorated with round sweetmeats such as stuffed walnuts, gingerbread cookies and tiny Christmas cakes (18th C) and
• a tree decorated with sugar coated, cakes, straw ornaments, gold and silver coloured nuts, shaped gingerbreads and wooden ornaments. (19th C). 

History of Christmas ornaments and decorations

See:

• Decorations and Christmas ornaments from around the world 
• Letters and gifts sent to Santa over the years

Story of Christmas beginnings 

Including: 

• The history of how the Christmas Card came to be a special tradition and booming industry
• The origin of Christmas markets in Europe, Germany and the Nordic countries 

Christmas Toy Displays

There’s an exhibition at the very end of some of the familiar Christmas toys children receive around the world. 

Plus, 

• Christmas LEGO displays 
• Christmas videos, including the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s historical television broadcasts about Finnish Christmas traditions.

Look down!

Hot tip: Do look down and up, and in all nooks and crannies.

You may just spot the traditional Christmas ‘nisse’ working away making toys. 

The exhibition is interesting, but dimly lit, making it hard to see and consequently, not so captivating for kids.

It’s not a necessity. 

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi

No.6: Christmas House Souvenir Shop

The main hub of the building as you walk in has the Christmas House souvenir shop in Lapland.

There’s LOTS of souvenirs and Christmas ornaments and gifts to purchase.

Christmas House Gift Shop telephone: (via reception) + 358 400 306 273 
Christmas House Shop opening hours:  8am to 10pm. 
Christmas House Souvenir Shop website: Click here

Guide to Christmas House Gift Shop in Rovaniemi 

Shop for the best Lapland Souvenirs at CHRISTMAS HOUSE Rovaniemi. 

The Christmas House Rovaniemi gift shop is chockablock FULL of Lapland souvenirs, most of which would make a wonderful gift for friends and family back home.

And it’s decorated with festive Christmas lights, fairy lights, stars, Christmas trees, and other Christmas House decor. 

You may even spot a few trolls!

THIS is the spot to do your souvenir shopping in Lapland. 

Best Lapland Souvenirs to buy in Finland

Wondering what kinds of souvenirs you can buy in this Christmas village?

Here’s the most epic list of the BEST souvenirs from Lapland.

You can find most of them here inside the popular Christmas House Gift Shop below.

Official Santa Claus Coin

The first thing you’ll see when you enter the shop is this Official Santa Claus Coin machine.

The ideal gift for someone who has everything!

Nordic & Finnish Food souvenirs

At the back of the Christmas House gift shop, near the entrance to the restaurant, there is a section full of traditional Finnish food, including:

• vacuum packed salami
• tinned reindeer meat
• Finnish porridge and granola
• Finnish jams,  jellies and marmalade
• Lingonberry cordial
• Finnish gingerbread biscuits
• Finnish tea bags
• Finnish chocolate

Food from Finland makes a great, easy carry, lightweight gift too. 

Novelty Socks, Wool Socks, & Snow Gloves

We purchased a new set of snow gloves for 15 euro when Ned left his pair on the tour bus. 

They have quite a decent range of quality snow gloves and merino gloves for both kids and adults, from 13 -20 euro in price.

It’s not as cheap as buying them at home, but we were so grateful to find a pair of new snow gloves in the Santa Claus Village so Ned could continue to play in the snow that cost was not a factor. 

If you’ve arrived unprepared, or just need a top up of dry socks, the Christmas House store in the Santa Village can definitely help with:

• merino wool socks
• gloves
• beanies
• scarfs
• mittens, and
• neck warmers. 

Emergency clothing supplies 

There’s a small selection of warm jumpers, sheepskin slippers, fleece pants, and long sleeved shirts that could be used as spare clothes in an emergency when the kids are cold and wet, and you’ve run out of spares. 

There’s also a few aisles with:

• thick pullover jumpers/sweaters
• snow jackets
• thermal jackets made from gore tex
• polar fleece jackets, and
• thermal puffer jackets. 

The VERY Useful Toy Shop

Surprisingly, you’ll find a range of random commercial toys in the shop too including:

• My Little Pony
• Tonka Trucks
• Nerf guns
• Matchbox cars
• Frozen 2 dolls
• Defa Lucy (similar to Barbie) 

HOT TIP: Purchase Toys for a Private Santa visit

There is a selection of toys available in store for those parents staying on site who have arranged a visit from Santa to their cabin, and need to purchase a gift to wrap so it can be delivered during the surprise greeting. 

Basic Essentials for Sale

Happily, there’s also a range of basic essentials including:

• tissues
• sanitary pads and tampons
• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• deodorant
• hair brushes
• wrapping paper
• disposable slippers
• wipes
• make up remover
• perfume 
• shampoo, conditioner and body wash

As I’ve discovered, you never know when you’ll need something like this. 

No.7: Arctic Circle Husky Park

If there is one MUST-DO in the Santa Claus Holiday Village other than saying hello to Santa, this is it. 

The boys, including Roam the Gnome, rate this experience as their Number One of their favourite things to do in Santa Village Lapland. 

The husky park is home to 113 charming, genuine Siberian Huskies, including both Working Line, and Show Line dogs. 

The huskies love, and thrive, in the cold natural environment of this Rovaniemi forest.  

You can book a husky ride on the spot at the office entrance desk.

They offer both short and medium length rides. 

Our tip is to book the Husky cuddling adventure.

This gets you up close and personal to the dogs, patting and cuddling them. They may even try to kiss your nose.

Ned could not believe his luck!   

You can also book longer Husky safaris, where you may be given the chance to drive the husky sled! 

It’s wise to book this one ahead and factor it into your itinerary.

No.8: Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

Trying to pick and choose what Santa Claus Holiday Village activities and tours you should book?

Add at least one snowmobile tour through snow-filled forests during the day to your Lapland Christmas itinerary. 

Snowmobile tours in Lapland are a once in a lifetime opportunity for kids and families, and not something you can do everyday, like many of the Rovaniemi attractions. 

Make sure to include a Snowmobile ride in your Lapland budget. 

Address: Arctic Circle Snowmobile Tours is at Joulumaantie 5, 96930 Arctic Circle
Telephone: + 358 (0) 504720023 
Email: [email protected]
Website: Click here

A 30 minute self-drive snowmobile ride is plenty for a novice. (Remember to bring your regular drivers licence from home, or else you can’t drive.) 

It’s bumpy, and exhilarating, and so much fun, but also tough on the bladder, and on your throttle-pressing thumb. 

 

If you’ve forgotten your driver’s licence, or would prefer to ride behind an experienced snowmobile driver, take a sled ride on the back of a snowmobile. 

A snowmobile sled (alt: snowmobile sleigh) is also the best way for families to experience a snowmobile ride through the Lapland forests, as you can all sit together.  

Sled rides are a win for solo parent travellers too. 

While the boys rode in the sled behind the snowmobile tour leader, I had the extreme fun of driving the snowmobile at speed through the bumps, twists and turns of the snowy path.

The kids rode in comfort, sitting on warm reindeer hides, with heavy woollen blankets over their knees. 

Me, the last rider in line, holding on to the handlebars and twisting the throttle in the freezing cold, trying my hardest to keep up with the group without running into a tree! 

What a sight. 

It’s been a long time since I laughed so hard, EXHILARATED by this awesome adventure in Lapland. 

Kids ride in a sledge behind the snowmobile tour leader. 

On a three hour snowmobile tour, you’ll cover up to 70 kilometers of track. 

Driving into the unimaginable landscape of the Arctic Circle with an expert guide is the only way to truly appreciate the snowy forests. 

Snowmobile gear (overall, boots, socks, gloves, helmet and balaclava) and transfers if necessary, included in tour price. 

• Book 2 hour snowmobile safari here
• Book 3 hour snowmobile safari here (food and drinks included)

The Arctic Circle snowmobiles also offer a snowmobile tour COMBINED with a visit to a reindeer farm.

This is a great Snowmobile tour option if you are keen to take the kids to see real reindeers in Lapland, as you need to leave the Santa Village for this experience.

(There are a couple of reindeers kept in the village for reindeer rides but it’s not the same.)

Check Latest prices: Snowmobile Tour with Reindeer Farm Experience

Mini Snowmobile Ride at Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

You can also book the kids anytime in for a ride on the Snowmobile Park skidoos. The mini snowmobile circular track for the skidoos is in front of the Arctic Circle Snowmobile park office. It circles through the trees.  

This picture above is taken at 3pm. 

Luckily, the mini skidoos have headlights, and there’s spotlights in the trees, so they don’t ride in complete darkness.

The kids are given verbal instructions in English, teaching them how to start the mini snowmobiles, and how to slow down, and brake, and what not to do, such as run into trees!

Or the person in front!

The kids are well spaced out, but it’s amazing how one speed demon can still catch up to someone in front.

(Jack!)

Cost is 20 euro per person for 10 minutes on the track.

Enquire at the office. 

Mini snowmobile Rovaniemi hire runs all day long from 10am to around 3.30pm 

Once the kids have helmets, gloves and suits on, there’s some play toys in the office to keep them busy (and warm) before the adventure begins.

Stay inside as long as you can, because there’s nothing worse than kids complaining (and possibly crying) because of cold hands and feet from waiting around too long.

If some members of your group are too young, or are not joining the tour, you can also wait here and keep the kids busy until the rest of the family return. 

No.9: Snowmobile Ride to Northern Lights 

You can also book night time snowmobile rides, or a snowmobile-led sledge ride through the snowy forest to see the Northern Lights.

There’s no guarantees, but your best bet starts when it’s a cold night below -10 degrees celsius, and a cloudless sky.

For this reason, we’d suggest holding off booking your Northern Lights tour until you are in town and can check the weather maps, and Northern Lights tracking websites. 

Our last night, we took a snowmobile tour away from the city lights on our attempt to see the Northern Lights.

Sadly, for us, cloud cover was too strong.

But the late night trip into the dark forest was magical in this unusual light, and worth every penny. 

Book now: Northern Lights Sledge ride pulled by snowmobile 

PS: Thanks to the team at Rovaniemi Snowmobile Park for their kindness and help with warming up Jack’s frozen hands and toes! 

MORE Snowmobile Tours by Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

An ice fishing dxperience is a unique Lapland adventure.

Ice Fishing and Snowmobile Safari Combo Day

If you are staying in one of the Rovaniemi hotels, book this family package:

Family Day of Snowmobile ride, Arctic Animals and Santa Village (includes buffet lunch) 

The Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park in Rovaniemi is located IN the Santa Claus Holiday Village itself.

To get there from the central Santa Village plaza area near the Main Office of Santa Claus (where the OFFICIAL Santa is) find one of the pathways that heads up back from the main road in the direction of Snowman world, and walk left for about 50 metres.

You’ll see a log cabin of sorts, set back from the main road (pictured above).

This is the office of the Arctic Circle Snowmobile rides. 

You can book shorter snowmobile rides in Rovaniemi on site, but we recommend booking your snowmobile tours in advance, so you don’t miss out.

Time (and light) is limited to do all the fun activities on Lapland holidays in winter, so it’s a big pain when you have to rejig your Lapland itinerary when you can’t join the tour you’d planned on. 

No.10: Snowman World in Santa Claus Village

Snowman World is home to the best playground in Santa Claus Village!

Glide at pace down the indoor ice slide.

Brave the giant ice tube slide. (The kids did. I didn’t) 

If you are lucky, and time it right, you can meet real life SNOWMEN! 

(All equipment included in the entry price) 

There’s also ice-skating. (Although this was not yet in operation when we visited) 

Head inside the Ice Restaurant and Ice Bar before you go, to see the magnificent ice sculptures and enjoy a drink in this freezing cold (but once in a lifetime) attraction. 

Book now: Snowman World tickets (likely to sell out)

No.11: Santa Claus Reindeer Sleigh Ride Rovaniemi

Book a short reindeer ride around the Rovaniemi forest.

Why? Because a reindeer sleigh ride is on every child (and adult’s) Christmas experience bucket list!

Cross this one off in Lapland. 

There’s two choices – a reindeer path for 400 metres, or the forest path for 1000 metres. 

A Santa Claus Village reindeer ride heads out straight from the backyard, behind the Main Santa Claus Office at the Arctic Circle in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. 

The boys couldn’t wait to take a reindeer ride at the Santa Claus village reindeer farm. 

Ned was less enthused when he realised the slower than expected speed of a reindeer ride… 

(He preferred the speed of the Arctic Circle snowmobile park skidoos, and the lightning speed of the husky ride) 

But Jack was kept entertained the whole way round by the antics of the extra reindeer friend who tagged along with us, his head – and antlers- right by ours! 

Santa Claus Reindeer Address: Joulumaantie 13, Rovaniemi
Website: Click here

Reindeer sleigh rides on the Arctic Circle Crossing

This reindeer ride takes you across the Arctic Circle crossing line, led by your trusty reindeer through an archway monument marking the fact. 

It’s possible to have an official commemorative photo taken here by one of the Santa Claus reindeer team. 

Enquire at the office when you book. 

Cost: 

• 14 € / photo
• Includes Certificate of Crossing the Arctic Circle also. 

Reindeer rides are much, MUCH slower than we expected.

In fact, the reindeers of Santa Claus plod along at their own pace.

Much unlike the Husky dogs that pulled us at the speed of light.

(If you have the need for speed, the husky ride is a better bet.) 

A short ride along the forest path was plenty of time to soak up the once-in-a-lifetime Christmassy experience. 

Book short reindeer ride experiences (between 5 minutes and 15 minutes long) on the day.

They run on demand from 10am until close.

The wait is never very long. 

Stay warm by the fire pit out front until it’s your turn. 

A reindeer ride is well suited to smaller children who are happy to sit in the sleigh with a loved one, bottoms warmed by a reindeer hide underneath and cosy blankets on top. 

A sleigh ride pulled by reindeer through snowy forest is romantic, and a must-do for honeymooners.

Hot tip: Reindeer Driver’s Licence

• Anyone over 5 years can instruction from the driver and learn the ropes of driving reindeer sleights.
• Apply for and purchase a Reindeer Driver’s Licence after your ride for 5 euro from the office. 

Hot tip: Reindeer do not like their antlers being touched but are more than happy for you to pat their rump. Steer clear of unexpected antlers. Those things could be lethal! 

Santa Claus Reindeer Safaris 

If reindeer rides are your thing, book a longer 35 minute Reindeer safari.

The Winter Adventure Reindeer safari starts in the same place as the short rides, at the Santa Claus Reindeer Office in Santa Claus village, right behind Santa’s office.

This 3 km long ride goes deep into the forest, so dress warmly. 

Enjoy a drink of hot juice – a Finnish favourite, and tasty sausage cooked on the open fire after your ride. 

This reindeer safari in Rovaniemi departs at 9am and 3pm during the November to January months once snow has arrived.

From late November, until end of January, the afternoon departure time is 4pm. 

Morning safari start time changes to 10am from February to April. 

Prices in 2020:

• Child 55 €
• Adult 70 €/person

(Minimum 2 passengers to embark on this trip.)

Santa’s Village Reindeer Opening Hours 

• Santas Reindeer is open from 10am to 5pm during the Christmas season
• Check the Santa Claus Reindeer website for updates on reindeer visits and rides

Where to book tickets for Reindeer Sleigh Rides in Lapland?

To book short reindeer rides in Santa Village, walk up to the office. (Pictured above)

Book and pay at the desk. 

Reindeer Ride prices in Lapland 

How much is a Reindeer ride in Lapland?

It all depends on the length of the trail you choose. 

Bookings for one of these two short reindeer experience not required. 

Reindeer Path – 400 metres long

• Approximately 5 minutes
• Children: 14 €/person Adults: 18 €/person

Forest Path – 1000 metres long

• Approximately 15 minutes
• Children: 23 €/person Adults: 29 €/person

NB: Child’s price is for children between ages 3-12.

Under 3-year-olds can take the ride free of charge.

Children 12+ pay adults prices. 

Where to find Santa’s Reindeer at Santa Claus Village

Take a look at the picture above to see the pathway leading to Santa Claus Reindeer office from the Santa Claus main square area.

The Santa Claus reindeer ride at Santa Village can be found right behind Santa’s Main Office and the Iittala outlet store building.  

If you hope to see lots of reindeer, and want to visit a real Reindeer Farm Rovaniemi style, you need to head out of the Santa Claus Village. There’s only a few reindeer in harnesses kept in the village itself.  

Book Now: Traditional Reindeer Farm Visit with Sledge Ride & Reindeer feeding

No.12: Cross the Arctic Circle line at Santa Claus Holiday Village

Visit the Arctic Circle in Santa Claus Village, and take a selfie as you complete the crossing of the Arctic Circle line in Rovaniemi.

Anne, from Visit Rovaniemi, explained to us why the Arctic Circle line is so revered. 

“The Arctic Circle line is circle of latitude that runs 66°33′45.9″ north of the Equator. 

Once you cross it, you’ve entered the home of the Midnight Sun, and the Polar Night (“Kaamos”). 

During Summer, the sun can stay above the horizon for up to 24 hours a day, giving almost continual daylight.

In the deepest winter, it’s the opposite, where the sun almost never rises. 

Right now, in December, the daylight only lasts from around 10.30am to 3pm before it gets dark again.”

The Arctic Circle runs right through Santa Claus Village, and it’s clearly marked with stone pillars and a blue light that runs above it.

If you want a souvenir to remember this adventure, head into the Arctic Circle Tourist Information office to buy a personalised Arctic Circle crossing certificate. 

READ MORE: Roam the Gnome’s guide to visiting the Arctic Circle Crossing (Coming soon)

No.13: MORE Santa Claus Holiday Village Lapland activities

Elf Farm Rovaniemi

Kids will love Elf’s Farm Yard petting zoo.

They can pat:

• reindeer
• sheep
• goat
• rabbits
• hens and,
• a rooster.

It’s also possible to try snow-sliding on the traditional Lappish snow-skis, and cross the Arctic Circle line on these wooden skis. 

Santa’s House of Snowmobiles

There’s a small museum of snowmobiles at the Santa Claus village.

 See snowmobiles from the past five decades here, including Santa’s favourite and one made by Harley Davidson.

The permanent exhibition includes all snowmobile makes as well as the necessary snowmobiling clothing, articles and equipment. 

Kids can take the challenge of a PlayStation snowmobile game, and a paper-based activity too. 

You can book more snowmobile tours from here too. 

It’s free to enter. 

Find it in the same building as the Santa’s Pizza and Burgers, the next building past the Balmuir store. 

WHERE TO EAT AT SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE FINLAND

There’s a few different choices of restaurants in Santa Village.

No.1: Christmas House Restaurant & Coffee Bar

The main restaurant is Christmas House Restaurant and Coffee Bar.

If you book a package with meals included, such as a half board package, this is where you’ll eat. Take a sneak peek by clicking the link above. 

(NB: Those staying in the Superior or Deluxe cabins may be invited to eat breakfast at the Three Elves Restaurant instead.) 

No.2: Three Elves Restaurant

The Three Elves Restaurant and Lobby Bar is another family favourite.

You’ll find the Three Elves in the same building as the Santa Village hotel reception, at the back. 

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi 

No.3: Snowman World Ice Restaurant

You can book lunch or a sumptuous dinner at the Snowman World Ice Restaurant if you dare.

This traditional Lappish meal includes salmon soup for lunch, and grilled salmon or reindeer fillet for the dinner main.

Plus decadent Finnish desserts. 

It’s one to tick off the bucket list. 

No.4: Santa’s Salmon Place

Santa’s Salmon Place is next to the Roosevelt cottage and Santa Post Office, inside a traditional kota hut.

This is the place to try fresh salmon cooked over the open fire.

You may need to book ahead, as it is ALWAYS busy. 

No.5: Santa’s Pizza and Burger

Santa’s Pizza and Burger is a short walk past the Info Centre, and beyond the building housing the Santa Chocolate and Candy Store.

They have all the usual burgers, including a children’s burger, a salmon burger and a vego burger.

The perfect place for fussy eaters. 

No.6: Loft Cafe

Loft Cafe is a popular spot with close-up views of the Santa Village playground from the terrace seating, so you can grab a coffee and sweet or savoury snack while keeping an eye on the kids outside.

No.7: Cafe-Restaurant Napatapuli

Tucked away behind the souvenir shops in the Santa Claus gift shop, you’ll find Cafe-Restaurant Napatapuli.

It’s the oldest restaurant in the village, having been in place for more than 20 years.

Try their berry pies, cakes, Finnish coffee, hot chocolate, burgers, sandwiches, and pastries.

They also serve delicious soup – an excellent lunch time meal in the cold. 

No.8: Shell fuel station Santa Village

There’s also a quick service restaurant at the Shell fuel station across the road if you want to find another option close by. 

Where is the closest supermarket to the Santa Claus Holiday village? 

If you are wanting to buy cheap grocery supplies, or snacks to last you the week, head to one of these two Rovaniemi supermarkets. 

The nearest grocery store, K-Market Nivanvaara, is about a two kilometre walk from the village.

You can also take a taxi to the giant Citymarket supermarket which is five kilometres from the village. 

The Shell service station (fuel station) across the road from the Santa Claus Village is good for emergency chocolate supplies and basic necessities. 

You can also find a range of Finnish food, including vacuum-packed salami, snacks, biscuits, jams, tea, and chocolate in the Christmas House shop in the Santa Claus Village.

The food section is to the left of the Christmas House restaurant entrance. 

SHOPPING AT SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE

There’s a number of gift shops in Santa Claus Village

Scroll to the end of the post above to find the list which includes: 

• the excellent Christmas House shop (our go-to for Lapland Souvenirs)
• the Santa Claus Post Office shop
• the Main Office of Santa Claus
• the Marimekko outlet store
• the Moomin store inside Santa Claus Gift House (super cute!)
• the Marttiini store with traditional Finnish knives and woodwork 

Arabia Iittala Outlet Store

Iittala Arabia is Finland’s favourite.

Pick up traditional Finnish glassware from the Iittala outlet store.

Iittala outlet shop also stocks brands such as Fiskars, Hackman, and Arabia kitchenware including a delightful Moomin range of cups, plates and bowls. 

If you are lucky, you might even find them on special. 

What to buy in Lapland?

You’ll find soft toys such as:

• Husky dogs
• Cute fluffy reindeers
• Santa toys, and
• Moomin dolls.

You cannot walk 10 metres without spotting hundreds of variations of Nordic Christmas gnomes with big noses and lots of white hair, alternatively called Tomten, Tomte, or Tonttu.

Or Christmas ornaments.

Look further, and you may find Nordic trolls and the less common Nisse elf dolls, potentially dressed in traditional Sami clothing.   

The Karl Fazer Chocolate Shop

Do stop by the Karl Fazer Chocolate shop (also called the Santa Claus Chocolate and Candy Shop) – it’s upstairs in the log house, above the Balmuir Store.

Find the shop by walking north from the Arctic Circle crossing line, towards the Marimekko store and playground.

Pass the Santa Village playground on your right, and the Santa Claus  Gift House and Arctic Circle Information Centre on your left.

Address: Joulumaantie 2 B, Log house in the Northern end of Santa Claus Village
Telephone: +358 40 1207900

The next building is home to the Karl Fazer Chocolate shop in the Santa Village.

It’s called Santa’s Chocolate and Candy Shop Arctic Circle. 

(Note: There’s quite a large gap between the buildings.) 

Head up the stairs, and you’ll be in fine chocolate heaven.

And… Fazer Candy Store

You will find candy options too. 

In the centre of the shop, there’s a whole section dedicated to lollies. 

Check the shelf for:

• Candy Tacos and
• Candy pizza.

All gifts bought at the shop shall receive Santa’s unique Santa Claus Holiday Village stamp to certify that they were purchased on the Arctic Circle in Finland – proof of your visit to Santa’s home town.

The Santa Claus Gift House (home of the Arctic Circle information centre)

The Santa Claus Gift House is worth a few minutes of your time if you are prepared to dig for a treasure amongst the commercial rubbish in most of these tacky Lapland souvenir shops. 

Most of the shops are open 9am to 7pm year round, with extended hours during the busy Christmas season.

Find more locally made hand-crafted gifts and souvenirs at any one of the Santa Claus Gift shops inside, including:

• Wooden dolls, and fabric dolls in National Finnish dress 
• Finnish food souvenirs 
• traditional hats, gloves, and footwear
• traditional Kuksa coffee cups – every Finn has one. 
• Finnish flags 
• Traditional Reindeer jerky, and tinned bear meat (?!) 
• Reindeer hides 
• Local handicrafts made from reindeer, birch, juniper, curly birch and reindeer leather

We loved all of these shops. 

Santa Claus Village Opening Hours 

Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi opening hours are different for each shop, and activity. 

Stores and activities are open for longer durations during the busy Christmas season. 

Most Santa Village attractions (such as Husky Park) open at 10am, some at 11am (Snowman World), and stay open until 5 or 6pm. 

Souvenir and gift shops open earlier, around 9am, and stay open until at least 7pm during December. 

How to get to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi 

How do I get to Santa Claus Village from Rovaniemi train station?

If you’ve arrived via VR overnight train from Helsinki, take the Santa Express bus from the Rovaniemi train station, or the Local Bus No.8 from the Rovaniemi train station. 

There’s no need to rush.

The bus will wait for a good 10 – 15 minutes after the train’s arrival. You have plenty of time to get on. 

The Rovaniemi to Santa Claus village bus takes about 25 minutes.

If you prefer, call a taxi.

A taxi from Rovaniemi to Santa Claus Village will cost you around 25-30 euro to drive the 8km distance.

The bus is better value, and easy.

There’s really no need for a taxi. 

Taxi’s are EXPENSIVE in this part of the world. 

Or if you are staying on site in the Santa Village cottages, request a pick up from the Santa Claus Holiday Village reception on their airport shuttle bus. (additional cost)

How to get to and from the Rovaniemi Airport

From Rovaniemi airport to Santa Claus village, you can also catch the Santa Express bus.

THE INSIDE SCOOP: Santa Claus Holiday Village Booking

Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in euro, unless otherwise stated

You can book your Santa Claus Holiday Village package online here.

If you are looking to book a stay in December, you need to book at least 12 months in advance.

Email the hotel directly, as we did, to secure your accommodation.  ([email protected]) 

Note: you may be required to do a minimum three night stay during the busy period.

We suggest booking at least three or four nights minimum so you have time to soak up all the Christmas/Winter goodness!  

A shorter stay is not enough.

You’ll kick yourself. 

Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel address: Tähtikuja 2, 96930 Rovaniemi – Finland
Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel email address: [email protected]
Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel telephone number: +358 400 306 273 
Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel website: Click here

What is included in the price of a stay at the Santa Claus Village cabins? 

The daily hotel fee in a standard cottage includes:

• a buffet breakfast in the Christmas House restaurant
• use of towels and bedding
• a free parking place with a car heating post
• cleaning after check-out

Our hotel package, being so close to Christmas, included half board meals, which also included a delicious dinner at the Christmas house.

The Santa Claus Village restaurant where you will eat depends on the type of cabin you booked.

Visitors staying in Standard cabins eat breakfast and dinner in the Christmas House restaurant & coffee bar. 

Those staying in Superior or Deluxe cabins eat breakfast in the Three Elves Restaurant, and dinner in the Christmas House.

Click here for detailed information on what kinds of food were on offer for package deals at the Christmas House restaurant & coffee bar.

(The ala carte meals include burgers, pizza, pasta, soup, and sauteed reindeer!)

If you wish to have daily cleaning, please arrange this with reception.

It’s an extra charge.  

Free daily cleaning is included with:

• Superior cottages
• Classic holiday suites, and
• Family suites.

Discounts at Santa Village

Your accommodation card (door card) gives you 10% discount in:

• the Christmas House Souvenir Gift Shop,
• in both the Three Elves and Christmas House restaurant (except alcohol), and
• at the Christmas House Exhibition and Santa shop.

Please show your card before making a purchase.  

Parking at Santa Claus Holiday Village 

If you are holidaying on site, you will find parking at Santa Claus Holiday village is included in the price of your stay.

A dedicated parking place with a car heating post is situated next to your cabin.

There is plenty of FREE parking out front of the Santa Claus Holiday Village for visitors to the village. 

Santa Claus Holiday Village Map 

Hot tip: It’s a great idea to download and print the Santa Claus Village map before you go. 

While it looks daunting, everything is very close together, and within a few minutes walk of each other, although things do spread out a little at the edges of the village. 

Click here to download and print a map of Santa Claus Holiday Village 

Where is the Santa Claus Village Hotel Reception?  

Santa Village Hotel Reception is inside the same building as the Three Elves Restaurant. 

Look for the large red and black sign when you arrive.

The Santa Express bus drops you outside the Tourist Information Centre.

Turn right to head towards the reception. 

There’s also a Tour Desk opposite the reception desk where you can book all your Safari’s and Tours if you haven’t already.

(Although do compare prices with the price on the operator’s website first.) 

Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi address: Santa Claus Village Tähtikuja 1 96930 Napapiiri (Arctic Circle) Finland
Santa Claus Holiday Village website: Click here

Santa Claus Village Luggage Storage 

If you arrive at Santa’s village hotel before 4pm check in, you can leave your luggage at reception.

They’ll tag it, and transfer it to your room at no extra charge.

It’s then time to start exploring the Santas Village Finland and surrounds. 

Pick up your room keys after 4pm. 

Happy days! 

What time is check in at Santa Claus Village hotel?

Standard check-in time is from 4:00 p.m.

You can check in anytime up to midnight.

Please advise the reception by phone or email if you will be a late arrival, although the Santa Holiday Village reception is open 24 hours.

What time is check out at Santa Claus Village Hotel? 

Check-out time is between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon at the latest. 

If you are heading to the airport, please inform the staff at reception in the early morning around 7am-8am when you check out, and book a time for a transfer and collection from your room. (Additional cost)

The Rovaniemi airport is less than 5 minutes away, so you only need to leave the village two hours ahead of your flight. 

We were advised to be in our room by 12pm, with all bags and suitcases ready to go.

Transport staff collected family after family from the cottages until the van was full.

Our suitcases and gear was transported via a luggage trailer behind the van.  

This was a fabulous surprise, giving us the entire morning to enjoy last-minute activities in the snow, without having to lug our suitcases back to reception.

We also had full use of the cabin until departure, for last minute toilet stops and cups of tea. 

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE CABINS 

The Gingerbread cottage itself is two separate, standalone cabin apartments, side by side.

Entry is via a shared front door to the heated mud room area, and from here, there are separate front doors to the cabin on either side. 

Standard Santa Claus Holiday Village Cabins have two beds that can be made into one double bed, and one fold-out sofa bed, 145cm wide.

The sofa bed is large enough for two adults. 

We couldn’t hear the neighbours at all, and I’m hopeful they didn’t hear Jack’s tantrum one morning when he woke up grumpy after not enough sleep. 

Pull out Sofa Bed

Apartment cabins fit a maximum of two adults, and two children.

If you have three children, choose a Family Suite, as this can accommodate up to two adults and three children. 

Larger families and groups should book the whole cottage (two cabins). 

Amenities inside the Santas Village Lapland cabins 

Every cabin apartment also has:

•  a mini-kitchen with a two burner stove, fridge, microwave oven, a pot, and a frying pan
• dishes, plates, cups and cutlery for four people 
• washing up liquid, a sponge, wiping cloths, and a steel wool
• a TV and remote control
• bedding 

And free wifi. 

Coffee lovers will rejoice to see a coffee machine, while tea drinkers like myself will be happy with the kettle.

There is a small selection of tea, creamers, and sugar on the table, but if you love your hot drinks, you’ll need to bring your own supplies. 

Heads up: There is no UHT milk, only creamer to use in an emergency.

Buy your own milk and extra teabags from the Shell service station across the road. 

Santa Claus Village Sauna in room 

The best feature in each cabin is a private SAUNA.

Don’t be deterred by a lack of experience with saunas. 

There’s fully illustrated instructions on the wall.

Anyone can follow the prompts to kickstart the sauna in preparation for those needing to warm up their bodies after hours of snow fun. 

We booted it up every single night, and sitting in the nude, in a hot steamy room, after a full day of snow, ice, and cold feet was luxury. 

The boys were super fans! 

Other Bathroom facilities include: 

• a toilet
• handsoap
• a fabulous hot shower with excellent water pressure!  
• free shampoo and body wash
• a hair dryer
• towels

For the money it costs to stay here, we’d expect fluffy white towels to be standard. 

Not “hospital standard” style ones.

But it’s our only gripe. 

Out front of each cabin, there’s a terrace with:

• a two-person outdoor setting of table and chairs
• a magical Christmas tree wrapped in twinkly lights.

There’s space to build your own snowman, or at least continue building up someone else’s half-baked domes. 

Keep the ice and snow outside with this clever gadget by the door (pictured above) where you can brush most of the snow and ice from your boots before entering.

There’s also a shovel and broom, so you can scrape the slippery ice off your porch in the morning to stop potential slips and falls. 

The kids also used the shovel to collect piles of loose snow in a sledge for our snowman building challenge. 

The price also includes FREE use of a sledge so kids can have a ball riding on the snowy hills around the place! 

There’s always at least two or three plastic sleds, and a few of those ‘bum sleighs’ nearby. 

Jack LOVED the bum slider, seen here in red. 

We were also lucky enough to be ‘gifted’ a turn on this sledge with a steering wheel.

One of our neighbouring family found it on their terrace when they arrived, and was warned to keep a close eye on it if they took it out of the cabin area into the village. 

They passed it onto our neighbours opposite when they departed, and we received it next. 

I pulled Jack to breakfast on it one morning, and had to carry the sledge into the Christmas House restaurant with us, (and hide it in the corner behind our table) as we couldn’t dare leave it outside without it disappearing. 

We passed it on to our cabin neighbours on our last day too. 

3 MORE Reasons why this is the Best Place to Stay in Lapland 

No.1: Sledding Hills

The cabins in the Santa village are set out on terraced hills, and excess snow is driven back towards the backs of the cabins to keep the area free for car parking.

Luckily, it’s a rare event when someone needs the car parking space, so these lanes becomes the much-coveted Hill of Hills. 

Sledding, any hour of the day!

Truly, kids don’t need much more than:

• a steep hill covered in snow
• a free sledge to ride, and
• a few mates from neighbouring cabins to challenge. 

Remember that it’s dark until 10am and the sun is gone by around 3pm, so a lot of the times kids will be riding their sleds in semi darkness! 

Like this. 

If the kids are lucky, one of the adults might succumb to their pleading, and tow them home on the sled!  

But if not, there won’t be any grumbling about walking back to the room when they know the sledding hills are waiting. 

NB: This pic was taken around 4pm. The odd half-light is quite a strange thing to get used to. 

No.2: Christmas spirit in the air!

Everywhere in the village during the snow-covered months leading up to Christmas, you’ll find Christmas trees covered in lights and snow.

Could there be any place more magical? 

I think not! 

We never wanted to leave. 

No.3: Gingerbread House Kids Club

BONUS!  

If you are staying onsite during the Christmas period, kids can join in the Kids Club called Gingerbread House for FREE! 

This is the place they can join in Christmas activities such as:

• decorating Christmas cookies
• baking
• arts and crafts such as papercraft and card making
• group sledging
• skiing trips
• Elf school, and
• special surprises. 

Gingerbread Kids Club meets every afternoon from 4pm to 6pm during the Christmas season (1 December – 10 January) in the conference room upstairs in the Christmas House shop (near the entrance). 

GKC is included in the children’s accommodation fee.  

Whether or not your kids will want to join in is really dependent on who is hosting the class, and the ages of the other kids there. 

Ned was a bit old for it, at almost 12.

But had there been a young vibrant leader taking them out to the sledding slopes, he might have thought differently. 

More information on Superior Cottages and Holiday Suites

You can also book a superior cottage for an additional charge. 

Superior cottages are similar in design to the standard cottages, but have separate bedrooms and living rooms.

The B cottages also have Finnish box spring beds, a special touch for those who love a good night’s sleep. 

You can also now book the new Classic holiday suites, and Family suites, located just 5 minutes walk from the main building to the right of the classic cottages. 

These are all lovingly decorated in five different styles of Finnish design, including Northern Lights, Red Fox, Snowy Night, Snow or Reindeer. 

Extra facilities in these cabins, and the Superior cottages, include:

• bathrobes and slippers
• a high-quality GHD hair straightener
• the kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher.

Do I need to book activities and tours before I arrive?

After much research, I booked three tours three months in advance. 

The first two were family-friendly off-site tours. 

• Santa Claus Secret Forest of Joulukka – Santa’s Toy Factory 
• Santa Fun Day by Santa’s Adventures 
• Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park sledge ride to see the Northern Lights. 

There’s more info on the first two below. 

In hindsight, I would not have booked the Northern Lights tour until we’d arrived so I could have had a chance to see what the likelihood of seeing the lights would be for the current weather. 

It IS wise to book OFF SITE tours before you arrive, as there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to fit you in if you don’t.

These include: 

• any of the Secret Forest of Joulukka options
• a tour of the reindeer farm, and
• authentic husky sledding trails

For tours and activities that operate IN or out of the village itself, especially short activities such as a 2km Husky ride, or a short reindeer or snowmobile ride, you can book on the spot when you arrive.

This gives you more flexibility with your time. 

You’ll want time to wander and shop and snack, and the kids will be desperate for lots of sledding time on every hill they pass too. 

There are also these once-in-a-lifetime Lapland adventure tours. 

• Snow Shoeing and Ice Fishing in the Lapland Forest (The snowy forest is what you visit for!)
• One for the adrenalin seekers!  Try Ice Karting on snow and ice. Super fun!
• Try Arctic Ice Floating (daytime) and experience the sensation of floating on ice!
• Book this tour to visit a traditional Lappish reindeer farm, feed the reindeers and enjoy a sleigh ride 

Tour Tip #1: Secret Forest of Joulukka Lapland (Santa’s Toy Factory Tour)

DO NOT MISS THIS LAPLAND TOUR FOR KIDS!

Heading out into the snowy Finnish forests to visit Santa’s Toy Factory is a once in a lifetime experience, worth every cent. 

Joulukka Secret Forest is THE Ultimate place to meet and visit Santa in Lapland. 

Why?

Because Joulukka (meaning: Christmas is Everywhere) is where you meet real life LAPLAND ELVES! 

The Santa’s Toy Factory Tour to the Secret Forest of Joulukka starts the moment you are collected for your bus by a pair of friendly and very cute elves, speaking with a delightful elf accent. 

See! 

I caught them on camera. 

Two Lapland Elves invited us on a short bus ride with about 12 other families.

The Santa’s Elves in Lapland have:

• pointy pixie ears
• freckles
• rosy pointed noses (perhaps a touch of frostbite?)
• elfin coats and dresses 
• elfin hats
• and …. and, well everything an Elf should have, including bucketloads of charm! 

Totally loveable and in character 100% of the time, wearing adorable outfits full of magical Christmas charm, and if you are lucky enough to meet the elves we did, living large in their elf life.

No wonder Santa employs them! 

During the coach transfer to Joulukka forest in Lapland, the kids and I were asked to write our Secret Wish for Santa.

Ned asked for a Emerald Monitor lizard.

Jack for a green scooter. 

The magic bus led us out of town and out into the snowy forest, a picture postcard destination for those wanting a White Christmas experience like we did.

Upon arrival, we were met by MORE Elves.

Oh my, these elves were happy to see one another, with hugs, and cuddles, and bouncing up and down, and squeezes all round!

What an adorable thing to watch!

Lady Boss Elf gathered us all together in family groups.

That meant time for each family huddle and cuddle!

It was a hug fest of families from around the world!

The Lapland Elves explained to us that Santa was very busy with the last minute toy making.

But, that if we were good and kind to one another, he was happy for the elves to take us, family by family, into Santa’s Real Toy Factory for a look around.

While we waited for our turn, the kids played in the snowy forest.

We drank gallons of berry juice.

Which was delicious, but also slight problematic as there was no bathroom close by… 

Rode “Elf Taxis”

Families took turns to push one another along the forest pathways of freshly fallen snow on these so-called Elf Taxis. 

Finland Forests Fun

What a setting for this adventure!

The boys and their new mates climbed on the mini playground too. 

Marshmallow toasting on an open fire

And toasted marshmallows on the fire pit!

Also, huddled around the fire to stay warm.

Crunchy Toasty Marshmallows

I’m sure the general rule was supposed to be one marshmallow at a time, but Ned obviously skipped that memo. 

How to toast marshmallows in Lapland

Hot tip: Did you know you can dip your newly toasted marshmallows IN THE CLEAN SNOW for an extra crunchy treat?

This was a hoot.

Santa’s Toy Factory Joulukka Forest

Here is a sneaky picture of the ACTUAL Toy Factory.

Although Ned is certain it’s a front.

He believes that Santa’s real toy factory is actually underground, only accessible through a magic door somewhere inside this cabin.

Why?  

“It’s just not big enough, Mum” 

Soon enough, it was our turn!  

Family No. 4. 

We brushed off our snowy boots, and were welcomed inside by an elf we hadn’t met before.

Inside Santa’s Toy Factory

I can’t show you inside Santa’s Toy Factory, as obviously Santa needs to keep the gifts for all the children around the world hidden until Christmas Eve.

But I did snap TWO little sneaky photos. 

I also don’t want to spoil the surprise or the magic for those of you who choose to visit Santa in Lapland during the next Lapland Christmas holidays.

But I will say that’s it’s NOT your typical ‘don’t touch’ the exhibits tour.

Santa’s Toy Factory is interactive!

Notice how the elf somehow made himself all blurry in this photo above so we can’t see him properly?

I DID NOT DO THAT.

Elves have all kinds of magical powers, and this must be one of them. 

Our private meeting with Santa in Lapland

And look who we did meet!

The boys were surprised one last time in this room with a little gift, and then it was time to say goodbye. 

PS: I cried. 

Back in the snowy forest, the Santa’s helpers elves invited us to dance and sing, and then guided us into the Finnish Lavvu tent where we attended a short session of Elf School.

We learned in a jiffy to:

• wrap the presents, ready for the sleigh
• put the gifts on the shelves 
• keep warm by dancing 
• decorate the tree

It was thirsty work!

While Elves who have to attend Elf school for 99 years, or stay in school for 129 years to work with Santa at the Toy Factory, our Elf induction was fast-tracked.

Lucky us! 

How old are Santa’s Elves? 

Well that would be telling! 

But did you know Elves noses don’t begin to grow until after they are 99 years of age, so the length of the Elves noses at Joulukka is a good indiction of how old they are.

These ones at Joulukka are at least 150 years old! 

Santa Elves Names

PS: That’s NITA Elf on the left, and Whitey Elf on the right.

Minu was the boy elf who accompanied us on the bus. 

All together, there’s about 8 elves who manage Santa’s Toy Factory here, and every one of them is full of joy! 

(You’ll never ask the question again – are Santa’s elves real? You will have met them in person, like we did!) 

Finland Forest Walks

One of the thrilling things for Australians is to be outside in the cold weather, frost bitten noses and all, to stand on the thick carpet of freshly fallen snow in the strange midday light of Northern Finland.

Walking through a snowy forest is pure magic.

There were LOTS of kids, including mine, who could not resist shaking a few of the pine trees to see a snow shower. 

Inside a Finnish KOTA hut

Our walk behind the elves led us to this snow-covered Kota hut.

Inside, the Elves poured cups of sweet hot chocolate, warmed on the fire. 

And then it was all over.

(Tears rolling down cheek… ) 

Final farewell 

A final farewell to the Lapland Elves, and back to the bus we wandered. 

This whole experience of meeting Santa in Lapland has now flown up the tally to the Number One spot on our family ‘Best Activities We’ve Experienced Around the World‘ List.

I’m not sure if there’s anything that could ever top it. 

A memory we’ll never, ever forget. 

How much is it to visit Forest of Joulukka? 

Santa’s Toy Factory Tour price is not cheap. Let’s be honest. 

• The Adult rate in 2019 for the Santa’s Toy Factory Adventure was 192.00 euro per person.
• The Child rate in 2019 for this tour was 152.00 euro.
• In total, it cost me 496.00 euro. (or equivalent to around $800 Australian) for a tour running from 10am to 1.30pm, including free transport from the Santa Village hotel reception. 

But, in our opinion, worth EVERY CENT. 

Where else IN THE WORLD can you do this? 

Nowhere.

Book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

Private Programs

Private Programs are individually tailored to your own personal family, or group. 

They cost A LOT more, but you can take up to 5 to 10 people for the one group price, depending on the tour. You can invite more people for an additional per-person cost, so it may work out more affordable for big family groups, or friends travelling together.   

As well as the two main tours (Dream of Joulukka, and the NEW Santa’s Toy Factory), there are more options for private groups, including:

• a Gingerbread Masterclass,
• a Private Meeting with Santa Claus,
• a Lappish Dinner in a KOTA hut,
• and a Guardians of Lapland tour. 

Private tours are run by request. 

Tour Tip #2: Santa Fun Day (Traditional Lapland Games & Activities)

This was another super fun outing with the kids where you get to play traditional Finnish games and experience a day in the life of a Finnishc child.

We spent the day with one other family with twin boys, and the four kids had a blast, snow-shoeing their way about the place, riding mini-skidoos, playing on the spinning sledge ride on the snow (see it in the video above!) and eating sausage cooked over the fire.

Read our full review about it here. 

Getting from Helsinki to Santa Claus Village

You have three choices when it comes to getting from Helsinki to Santa Claus Village:

• Overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi train station
• Flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi airport
• Self drive 

As for self drive, the distance from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is approximately 830km, and will take 9.5 to 10.5 hour to drive without stops. 

The most fun way to get to Santa Claus Holiday Village from Helsinki is to catch the VR overnight train. 

Helsinki to Rovaniemi Overnight Train in Finland Lapland

THIS overnight train ride in Finland rates as one of the best things to do in Europe, and is top of our public transport experiences. 

Read our full review about it here.  (scroll down the post quite a way!)

You can also fly direct.

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No.1: Where is Santa Claus Village?

Where is Santa Claus holiday village?

It’s 8km from Rovaniemi city centre.

Rovaniemi is 12 hours by train north of Helsinki, or 1.5 hours flying time.

It’s a magical world!

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi 

No.2: Is this where Santa lives?

Yes, it sure is.

In fact, there are a number of Santa’s who live here! 

(For that reason, pick one so the kids don’t get confused. Or read below to see how we managed it.) 

No.3: Santa Park or Santa Village?

Wondering about the differences between Santa Park vs Santa Claus Village? 

Santa VILLAGE

Santa Claus VILLAGE is FREE to enter (there’s no gates or fences), and you can wander around all the different shops, tourist information centre, activities and attractions at your leisure. 

It’s FREE to see Santa in the Main Office (and in the Christmas House exhibition), although you if you want to have a photo with Santa, you need to pay for the privilege. 

Santa Claus Village is outdoors, and you need your snow suit (or very warm snow jacket and pants) to move between all the different activities. 

The Main Santa Office, the Santa Post Office, the Tourist Information Centre, Santa Claus Gift House, the shops and the restaurants are heated inside. 

Kids will definitely need a snow suit and good snow boots, as they will be tempted by all the sledges lying around, and will want to jump in the piles of snow too. 

Santa PARK

Santa PARK is INDOORS. 

It’s 2 kilometres north of Santa Village.

Santa Park has a Santa to visit (as already mentioned) and a place to do some Christmas craft. 

And elf school! 

PS: Don’t miss the elf tumbling show – it’s THE highlight. 

Take a sneak peek inside Santa Park in our guide to the best things to do in Rovaniemi. 

Anyone who is young at heart, and who loves the Spirit of Christmas and the magic of this time of year will enjoy Santa Park. 

But it’s not cheap, and it’s questionable whether or not it’s worth the money outlay. 

(If your kids are desperate to see real elves, book one of the Forest of Joulukka tours. It’s run by the same company, BUT it’s outdoors in the magical snowy forest. THIS is worth every penny.  Read all about it below.) 

How to get to Santa Park from Santa Claus Village? 

You CAN walk to Santa Park from Santa Village if it’s not too icy, but the path is along the road, and not very safe at all for small children, or for pulling sleds.

I’d suggest you catch a cab, or organise pick up transport from the Santa Claus Village reception.

They have a fixed price service for 15 euro.

Taxi’s are the same. 

Returning from Santa park to the village is easy, and more affordable.

Simply catch the Santa Express bus for about 8 euro for a family of four. 

No.5: Rovaniemi Weather in Winter 

It’s cold in Rovaniemi in winter. 

Daytime temps can be anywhere between -25 and -10 degrees celsius during the coldest winter months of January to March.

You need special snow outerwear to survive.

A down-filled jacket or three-quarter length coat and pants is not enough.  

In December, we experienced temperatures from -3 degrees up to 2 degrees celsius during the day, but this was unseasonably warm. 

I don’t have my own snow gear. Can I hire it in the Santa Village?

There is thermal clothing rental available at reception. 

You can hire boots, and/or thermal suits at Santa Village if you are staying there. 

Santa Claus hotel in Lapland carries many different sizes, from children  size 80 to adult size 3XL. The same for the winter boots.

If you rent the set, thermal suit + winter boots, the price is 20€ for the first day and 5€ for each following day.

If you need only the suit or only the boots, the price is 10€ for the first day and 2,5€ for each following day.

(We paid 45 euro for three of us, for three days hire of the suit only. Best money spent in the village.) 

You don’t need to reserve those in advance. It is always better to try upon arrival which size fits the best.

Head to reception and a staff member will take you into the basement to get suited and booted up. 

Check out our complete guide on what to wear in Lapland in our  best things to do in Rovaniemi  blog post

No.6: When does it snow in Rovaniemi?

Only in the winter time, and better snowfalls from mid January to March. 

Not during summer.

You’ll most likely find permanent snow from early December, but sometimes earlier than that. The snow stays until the end of winter, usually in April. 

This year, the permanent snow arrived in late October. 

Luckily, if you visit when there’s no snow about, you can join in the fun Summer activities in Rovaniemi instead. 

No.7: Where do I find a current Rovaniemi snow report

Click here for the snow report in Rovaniemi. 

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi 

No.8: Can you see the Northern Lights from Santa Claus village?

The light pollution around the village makes it difficult but if you head out into the edges of the village, you might be in luck, but only if the Weather Gods are on your side. 

The best way to see the aurora borealis in Rovaniemi is to book an aurora safari, and head out into the magical Lapland forests away from lights. 

There’s no guarantee of seeing the Northern Lights even in the darkest of night as they are elusive, like whimsical sprites, and and appear only when the conditions are just right.

Our guide told us that the best chance of seeing Northern Lights happens on cloudless, starry nights when the temperature is at least below -10 degrees celsius. 

The colder the better.

Rug up!  

Hot tip: Request multiple blankets or reindeer hides on a tour, especially if you have kids in tow. Kids will freeze and cry when their hands and toes hurt from the cold. Bring extra big pairs of thermal socks to go over their gloves too, and make sure they have at least two pairs of dry socks on inside their boots.

Expect to see green lights for the most part.

The guides told us it’s more common to see different colours when you view them through a camera lens, but not so easy by the human eye. 

Good luck on your hunt!

No.9: Where is the Rovaniemi Webcam Santa Village – LIVE! 

Did you know you can view a live cam of Santa Village every day of the year? 

You can! 

Click here to access the live vision of Santa Claus Village webcam

It’s fun to spot fellow live-cam watchers do their dance in front of the camera, knowing they are being watched by hundreds! 

We rang home when we were standing in front of it so Grandma and Grandpa could see us in REAL TIME!!!

Soo fun!

DAY TRIPS TO DO SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE ACTIVITIES

Planning a 1 night trip to Lapland? 

Please stop for a minute and reconsider. 

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

The same goes for a Lapland day trip. 

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

(And it is.)

The cheapest way to Lapland is to book a day tour. 

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

Do your research and read all the reviews to find out which is the recommended and best Lapland day trip company.

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

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

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

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

If a day trip to Lapland is all you can manage, at least try to wrangle a good few hours of FREE TIME in your tour to hang about at the Santa Claus Holiday Village, so the kids can play in the snow, weather permitting of course. 

I guarantee you, all they’ll want to do is ride the sledges like all the other kids.

You’ll find brightly coloured snow sleds all over the village.

They are for the use of paying guests staying onsite, but you’ll find sleds by every tree, snow mound, outside the Christmas House restaurant, and Three Elves restaurant.

Do feel free to borrow one if there’s no ‘owner’ about.

It’s the definition of a sharing economy! 

Playing on the mounds of snow, and down the slopes is a highlight for most kids, and they want to do it for HOURS. 

Image credit: Visit Rovaniemi 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lapland in the North Pole? 

No, but it’s close enough.

Lapland is the northern-most area of Finland (and other Nordic countries.) Rovaniemi, in Lapland, is the official home of the Real Santa Claus which is why people are confused about this. 

Does Santa Claus live in the North Pole or does Santa live in Lapland?

Santa lives in Lapland, although his spirit home is the North Pole.

He relocated as there was no wifi in the North Pole, and he needed to keep up with the times! 

What is Santa’s Address Lapland? 

We can’t possibly give away Santa’s home address in the forest, but you can visit for yourself IF and ONLY IF you book a meeting (tour) to visit the Forest of Joulukka someday.