Top 10 Visit Santa Claus Village, Lapland

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Santa Claus Village (Lapland): what to see? What to do? 

A must-do stop on your trip to Lapland, experience the magic of Christmas in the village where Santa Claus lives. Surrounded by vast fir trees, this village is only 8 kilometres from Rovaniemi, the Finnish capital of Lapland. What you will love: authentic landscapes with its wooden chalets, decorations like in Christmas movies, meeting the elves, seeing reindeer in their natural habitat and of course, the Santa Claus Village lit up at night. 

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Here are 10 activities to do at Santa Claus Village:

1. Write your letter to Santa Claus and send it from the main Post Office

The Santa Claus Post Office, located on the village's central square, is a must-stop for visitors. Open every day, this office receives nearly 500,000 letters every year from all over the world, sorted by Santa's elves. At the Santa Claus Office, you can buy and send postcards and greeting cards with stamps. Children can postmark them with the Arctic Circle stamp by sliding them into the Office's red letterbox. They will then be kept and sent until the next Christmas, if this one has already passed.  

Want more magic? You can buy a letter from Santa Claus that will be personalised for your child only. The elves will take care of sending it so that they can receive it a few days before Christmas.

2. Meet Santa Claus, the real one!

Little Father Christmas, when you come down from the sky… Wait, did you think you saw a shooting star? Maybe it was Santa's sleigh… You know, that famous gentleman dressed in red with his white beard who comes to put presents under the tree on Christmas Eve when the children are asleep… 

Whatever the time of year, you can meet him in his office at the Santa Claus Office, located next to the village square. Elves will welcome you there and lead you to him. If you are curious, watch the elves at work through the peepholes in the doors. Santa will be delighted to exchange a few words with you. Then comes the moment to take a photo with Santa to capture this magical meeting.  

Another option for seeing Santa is to go to the Christmas House Santa, Santa's House which looks more like a surprise shop! It is in a charming holiday village with pretty red cottages, the Santa Claus Holiday Village.

Practical info: Having your photo taken with Santa in his office is free, but if you want to take it home, allow an average of 34 euros and 45 euros for the video. 

3. Cross the Arctic Circle, eyes full of stars

A symbolic crossing if you come to visit Santa Claus Village in Lapland, the Arctic Circle is crossed on the central square and filmed in real time by a webcam. A chance for you to wave to your loved ones if you feel like it. 

You will see this imaginary line, represented by posts marked "Arctic Circle" linked by a blue garland. FYI, the Arctic Circle is a special latitude where, at certain times of year, the sun does not set for 24 hours or does not rise for 24 hours. This is what is called the midnight sun in summer and polar night in winter. Did you know that in Rovaniemi, the day of polar night is observed on 21 December?

Wandersand tip: After crossing the Arctic Circle, you can ask for your certificate (paid) at Santa's post office. Go around 6 or 7pm to avoid the crowds. 

4. Listen to stories told by Mrs Claus 

At the Santa Claus Christmas Cottage, a magical experience awaits children. They can sit and listen to Christmas tales, read by Mrs Claus. Unforgettable memories they can tell their friends when they get home. A warm atmosphere and captivating moments that mark their stay at Santa Claus Village in Lapland forever. 

Practical info: At the Santa Claus Christmas Cottage, meeting Mrs Claus costs €5. To get there, go directly to the Santa Claus Reindeer Resort.

5. Go sledging at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Sledging in Lapland is not just a sport, it is a celebration of the joy and beauty of winter in a spectacular natural setting. All around the village, your children can race down the snowy slopes by climbing the sledging hills. This family activity offers a perfect combination of fun and adventure in a winter landscape. 

6. Stroke alpacas and feed the reindeer at the Elf's Farm Yard  

Connect with nature by visiting the animals of the Far North at Santa Claus Village, Lapland. The Elf's Farm Yard offers a unique opportunity to discover various animals such as reindeer, alpacas, ponies, goats, sheep, rabbits, donkeys and even special birds. In addition, it is possible to take walks accompanied by reindeer or alpacas in the village.

Practical info: Entry to the Elf's Farm Yard in Santa Claus Village is €15 for adults and €10 for children. This price includes interaction with the animals, as well as access to sledges to play around the area. For an experience combining the farm visit and a 15-minute reindeer ride, allow about €35 per adult and €25 per child

7. Visit Santa Park Rovaniemi and meet the elves 

After visiting Santa Claus Village in Lapland, extend the experience by going to this Christmas-themed amusement park, only 3 km from Santa Claus Village and close to Rovaniemi. It is open from mid-November to early January, with a fairly high entry price, ranging from €39 to €45 for adults and from €33 to €38 for children, depending on the period. However, once inside, all the attractions are included in the entry price, unlike Santa Claus Village where each activity is paid for. The park, which was named "best Christmas destination in the world", offers an even more magical and immersive atmosphere, although its commercial side is also present.

The attractions of Santa Park include: 

• meeting Santa Claus, 
• the elf school, a workshop with them and one of their shows
• a post office, 
• a bakery where you can taste homemade gingerbread, 
• a magic train, 
• an underground Arctic Circle passage, 
• an ice gallery 
• and finally, last but not least, a sleigh flight simulator. 

Note that most of the park's activities take place indoors. To get there, you can take your car or local buses, with bus no. 8 or the Santa Claus Bus, departing from the centre of Rovaniemi. 

Practical info: Santa Park is open from November to January. Entry prices vary from €39 to €45 per adult and from €33 to €38 per child, depending on the time of year.

8. Go on a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride in winter

At Santa Claus Village in Lapland, behind Santa's Office, set off on a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride. A romantic experience for couples, magical for children, thanks to its fairytale atmosphere. To do so, you will have the choice between several routes with different prices. The shortest includes a 400-metre circuit while the longest offers a 3 km route. For this activity, reservations are compulsory. 

If you want a more authentic experience, but at a similar price, we advise visiting a traditional reindeer farm. You can also take part in a reindeer sleigh safari, feed the animals and learn more about reindeer herding.

9. Have fun at Snowman World and go ice skating

Live a unique winter adventure in this one-of-a-kind amusement park. Admire impressive ice sculptures, creating a fairytale landscape like in Frozen (for those who know it!). As a family, you can have fun sliding down the snow slides, sitting on big rubber rings, or take shelter in the various igloos. Snowman World also has an ice rink. It's time to put on your skates. Fits of laughter guaranteed ! 

Practical info: Entry to Snowman World costs 29 euros per person. As the park is quite popular in winter, we advise you to book your tickets now. 

10. Drink a hot chocolate at the ice bar or dine at the snow restaurant 

In the same amusement park, you can warm up at the Ice Bar over a tea or hot drink. If you are hungrier, you can stay for dinner by settling comfortably into the snow restaurant. In a setting of sculpted ice, you can taste traditional dishes to discover Finnish gastronomy. 

Lapland Santa Claus Village: practical info and prices 

Find below all the information for your next holiday in Lapland.

How to get to Santa Claus Village?

Located about 8 km from the centre of Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village is easily accessible. You can choose to take local bus number 8 or the Santa Claus Bus, with affordable return fares for adults and children, bought directly from the driver. Buses leave the centre of Rovaniemi about every hour. If you prefer to drive, a large car park is available on site. For a taxi ride, allow around €25. Conveniently, the village is also accessible from Rovaniemi airport which is only 3 km away, with shuttles running every day.

Is Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi paid?

Good news, note that visiting Santa Claus Village is free and includes access to the Village, meeting Santa Claus, crossing the Arctic Circle and visiting the post office. However, some activities are paid if you want to extend the experience or stock up on memories (private meeting with Santa, official photos, etc.). 

At the Elf Academy for example, children can get their Elf diploma after learning a trade. Allow  €39. Note also that the activity is in English only.

When to visit Santa Claus Village in Lapland?

The best time to visit Santa Claus Village is from November to March, when snow covers Lapland. It is the ideal season to experience the magic of Christmas and enjoy winter activities such as snowmobile safaris, husky sledding or the northern lights. But the village stays open all year round.

How to dress in Lapland?  (Amazon accessories shop) 

To face the cold in Lapland, good layering of clothing is essential. To do this, use the 3-layer technique on top: 

• The first layer should be a long-sleeved wool T-shirt to keep warmth in. 
• Then put on a thick fleece as the second layer. 
• Finish by putting on a warm coat as the third layer, ideally a down jacket. 

For the legs, wool tights and ski trousers as a second layer are recommended. As for the feet, it is advisable to wear two layers of socks, a thin wool one and a thicker one, with suitable snow boots. Opt for slightly larger shoes so as not to restrict blood circulation.

And finally the hands! Putting on a combination of wool liner gloves and mittens is ideal. Remember also to cover your head with a hat or an ushanka. If needed, add a fleece balaclava. Recommended especially if you go on an excursion. You are now ready to face the polar cold!

FAQ Santa Claus Village (Lapland): 

Here are our answers to your most frequently asked questions if you want to come as a family:

Where is the real Santa Claus Village?

The real Santa Claus Village is in Rovaniemi, in Finnish Lapland, on the Arctic Circle. This is where Santa Claus officially lives and receives visitors from all over the world. The place houses his office, the official post office and many winter activities. You also meet his reindeer and elves.

What is the best Santa Claus village in Lapland?

The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is considered the most authentic and the most famous. It is Santa's official residence, open all year round, with attractions for children and families. You will also find unique experiences such as crossing the Arctic Circle, sleigh rides and meeting Santa Claus himself.

That's it, our special article "Santa Claus Village Lapland" ends here. We hope all this information is useful to you. All that's left is to wish you a wonderful stay in Finland, and more particularly in Lapland!