This is a perfect place to come and enjoy the best of Lapland! The best way BACK from Santa Park to Santa Claus village is by bus. A chance to show off or learn some culinary skills with gingerbread. - Map Ooh, what a cool place! Santa Claus Village isnt the only Christmas attraction in Rovaniemi, but it is no doubt the most famous. In early April, the last of the Northern Lights displays can be seen. The Santa Claus Village husky rides run every day of the year. Its the only place IN THE WORLD where youll cross the Arctic Circle UNDERGROUND, although that in itself is a bit underwhelming. Become a Lapland Midnight Sun Ambassador in June - July 2022. (You can buy a certificate to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event). Visit Rovaniemi - your true Midnight Sun experience on the Arctic Circle, Lapland Finland. You can see their other tours here. The Northern Lights start appearing in late August, and September and October are ideal Aurora viewing months. Just look for all the families photographing themselves jumping or running across it! - Partner up! Start by sending the big man himself a letter to his official address in Lapland: Santa Claus, Santa Clauss Main Post Office, 96930 Napapiiri, Finland. Admission 15 Adults, 5 children 7-15 yrs, under 7s free of charge. We were there between 19-23 Dec18. Fishing trip under the midnight sun? Santa Park in Finland is open at these times below: Exception: Christmas Eve is open from 10.00 16.00. Santa Park has adorable elves, its best quality. This one is culturally immersive, with activities from wilderness skills workshops to an insight into a reindeer herders day at a Sami farm and an aurora dinner in a traditional kota hut. If you want the full-on winter-Christmas experience, head to Santas Village in December-January when temperatures drop and the snow has had a chance to accumulate. Because this once-in-a-lifetime trip does not come cheap and there are so many similar holidays on the market, youll want to be certain to plan the perfect magical getaway and choose the right option for your family. Santa Claus Secret Forest - Joulukka is an exclusive destination where you can experience the magic of Christmas either privately or in small groups. Apermanent snow cover is expected in late November. Towards the end of April, nights are too light for the Auroras to be spotted. Embark on a family-friendly excursion with a guided tour of Santa Clause Village in Rovaniemi. All prices in EURO, unless otherwise stated, Santa Park address: Tarvantie 1, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland Christmas House is a large gift shop that also includes some Christmas exhibitions. The performance schedule for the day is posted near the entrance. Visit Rovaniemi - your true Midnight Sun experience on the Arctic Circle, Lapland Finland Welcome to the Official Hometown of Santa Claus and a place full of magic! These experiences are best for tours in Rovaniemi: Aurora Hunting Photo Tour with Barbeque; Husky, Reindeer Farm and Santa Village Experience; Snowmobile & Ice Fishing Experience; Northern Lights Snowmobile Hunt; Call of the Wild Morning 90 minute Self driven Husky Safari; See more tours in Rovaniemi on Tripadvisor -Hotels - Cottages If you click and buy a product, we may earn revenue. RELATED: Everything you need to know about SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE Attractions. - Brochures - Arctic Circle - Sights and attractions The entrance fee to Snowman World also includes access to the Instagrammable ice bar and ice restaurant that are filled with beautiful ice and snow sculptures. This is a great place to go if you are looking for a warmer alternative as it is more enclosed and there are even lockers to keep coats and bags. Adults 39-42, children 3-12 years old 33-36. The Ultimate Guide: 10 Things to Do in Santa Claus Village - Activities However, many locals would say the year consists of up to eight seasons, each with their own distinct characteristics. Plus a whole lot more for an emergency bottle of water, as we were all dying of thirst and Id forgotten our bottle. Have some fun and send a letter from here either to yourself or a friend, complete with a special Arctic Circle postmark. We highly recommend this experience for children and adults alike. The Midnight Sun also known as the nightless night or polar day can be seen in Rovaniemi from early June until early July, and nights are white throughout the summer. From Santa Claus Village its just a short drive to SantaPark. Cottages and luxurious villas. You can see all of their attractions here. You can find everything from handmade knives, antler crafts, t-shirts, artwork, and much, much more in the shops at Santa Claus Village. Why not travel further afield beyond the Arctic Circle to explore the remote Arctic wilderness. Read more about the changing seasons and the annual cycle here. Santa Claus Village Lapland is primarily set up like an outdoor mall. Things To Do In Helsinki Finland: Amazing Experiences In Helsinki For Families, 10 Of The Best Family-Friendly Wildlife Experiences In The World. December to Early January 10.00 18.00 daily, Early January to Mid January 10.00 17.00 daily, How to get to Rovaniemi Lapland by airplane (update coming soon). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. - Local food Overnight Santa Claus Village. For a three-night stay including flights, transfers, activities, accommodation, some meals and cold-weather gear, youre looking at roughly 1,500 per person, while a week will set you back around 2,500. Elf performances are full of energy, laughter and fun. If you are looking for something special, make sure you talk to the shopkeepers. Read more about the changing seasons and temperatures. Showcasing life in a local farmhouse one hundred years ago, the Rovaniemi Local Heritage Museum is a wonderful museum for children of all ages to visit and explore items dating from 19th and 20th centuries. */. There are snow sculpture workshops as well as a variety of other educational activities to do with children. At the Elf Workshop, theres elf craft activities to do. - Events - Autumn Color - Places, ROVANIEMI CONGRESSES (Another extra cost, of course, and you had to serve it yourself. Joulukka is by far the best place for santa claus visits in Rovaniemi, the atmosphere is so different from the purely commercial "Santa Claus Village". Day 6 Santa Park Elf School. There are also family ticket options. Have you ever visited Santa Claus Village in Lapland? Magical wintry nights at Santa Claus Village Smelov/Shutterstock.com. best santa experience for kids? - Rovaniemi Message Board - Tripadvisor Plus, youll have the added bonus of being able to explore the village at night when no one is around, but the lights and music are still playing. Become a Lapland Midnight Sun Ambassador! Ounasvaara - Rovaniemi year-round Sport Resort. Please see more on activities here. Children do not get gifts from Santa in this meeting. Koskikatu 12 It does not store any personal data. We made the flight for a family trip to the northern capital of Rovaniemi from Canada in December. You can check the pricing and availability here. Yes, but only with children no older than 5. Fishing trip under the midnight sun? See Rovaniemi, home of Santa Claus, on this virtual tour - 10Best In Rovaniemi there are two places to meet the man himself and both are located close to each other. A three to four-night stay is the minimum if you want the trip to be reasonably relaxed, with time to do the whole Santa thing, throw in some snow fun and see the northern lights come out to play. Ounasvaara Lakituvat chalets are located in Rovaniemion top of hill Ounasvaara near to the Arctic Circle. The Grand Opening of Christmas Season 2022. Santa Claus Village is in Lapland. Beyond Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland has some snug, low-key resorts up its sleeve, such as Suomu, Levi*, Inari and Pyha-Luosto, where you can ski, hole up in a log cabin, aurora gaze and dive wholeheartedly into the Narnialike surrounds of frozen forests, fells and deep downy snow. - Other Services, FEATURES The cost for a 10 minute series of laps around the circuit is 20 . (Lunch break 12-13. Become a Lapland Midnight Sun Ambassador! And yes, youll also see Santa. Rovaniemi, the Arctic Capital of Finnish Lapland, is situated on the Arctic Circle. This is done by remembering your preferences on repeat visits. There is no dedicated pathway in the snow, and its sketchy to walk alongside the cars on slippery roads! The earlier you book, the better. In Rovaniemi, theres white stuff on the ground for approximately six months of the year. Typical daytime temperatures in the autumn: Lapland is in the continental climate zone. Glass igloo accommodation. 3 euro each, to decorate a cookie with a squeeze of icing sugar glue and sprinkles. However, locals think the conditions are in a constant state of change and say there are up to eight seasons in the year: midwinter, snowy spring, spring, summer, harvest season, autumn leaf colour, first snowfall, and Christmas. THE 10 BEST Rovaniemi Tours & Excursions - Tripadvisor But there is food for nearly every taste. These shirts makes a fun but quality gag gift for soccer fanatics. Wondering how to book a safari? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Experience, -Other Lapland destinations - Venue search You want them to be able to remember the experience, so four or five is the golden age, though older kids get more out of the Lapland activities, some of which are off limits to younger kids (snowmobiling, for instance). There is also a winter playground for the younger ones to kill some time in between activities. +358 16 311 485, yllas@safartica.com Your information will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy. (The Elf School and the Elf Show are tops!). However, Lapland is a beautiful year-round destination, so expect crowds throughout the year. - Architecture When Is The Best Time to Visit Santas Christmas Village? - Who we are Let your children stand on the line and contemplate in awe their position on the planet. Its an all-you-can-eat buffet meal, open from 11am to 4pm. ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SANTA PARK ROVANIEMI FINLAND FOR KIDS - Roam the Gnome Yes - Snow accommodation Sleigh bells ringing in snow laden forests, reindeer frolicking in the glistening snow; Finnish Lapland is all this and so much more. Daytour to Santa Claus Village, Reindeer and Husky Safaris, Photo, and Lunch. But you still couldnt miss it. Not only is it filled with incredible Christmas attractions, but its also home to the Santa Claus Main Post Office. This is the Arctic Circle Snowmobile museum that showcases the history of snowmobiles in Lapland. . - Our services Here you'll find Rovaniemi's essential services on the map. Welcome to the Official Hometown of Santa Claus and a place full of magic! Mon-Fri 9-12 and 13-16. The Grand Opening of Christmas Season 2022. Media influencer or news media representative? Subscribe for weekly inspiration and deals from The Times and The Sunday Times. Temperatures start dropping below zero in October, and first snow usually falls at around the same time period. Under 7s are free. But if you want to experience everything Lapland has to offer, staying for a few days is best. Our 7-year-old, C, did a more involved experience with Access Lapland while we were looking for things to do in Rovaniemi. In 10 years of parenting, we have traveled through four continents and encountered a lifetime worth of food, wildlife, and cultural adventures along the way. Theres free parking if you are driving by car. best santa experience for kids? - Rovaniemi Forum - Tripadvisor CHOOSING THE BEST ROVANIEMI SANTA CLAUS TO VISIT - GUIDE - Roam the Gnome To find out what a year in a nutshell is like in Rovaniemi, see below. - Sights and attractions Should You Visit Santa Park Finland While In Rovaniemi? You find the Santas Express shuttle schedule here. - Meet in Rovaniemi Some companies let you upgrade to a glass igloo for maximum aurora-spotting potential for a surcharge and its worth it seeing the northern lights dance overhead while snuggled up in bed really is special. +358 40 660 8571, saariselka@safartica.com Within the Lapland Santa Claus Village are many tour operators offering attractions such as snowmobiling, Northern Lights flights or safaris, reindeer sleigh rides, and much more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 Wandering Wagars - Adventure Family Travel. - Camping, SEE & DO - Facts, figures, highlights Tickets to Santa Park last for two days and prices vary depending on the dates you visit. The one for the bigger kids is a dual ball competition where two teams try to beat one another throwing balls into a hoop, working against the clock. Where to go and what to see in Rovaniemi? - Programme samples Should You Visit Santa Park In Rovaniemi? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". - Polar Night Our views remain our own. Check out the rest of Santa Claus Village dining options. Fishing trip under the midnight sun at the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi. - When to go These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. There is also a Christmas exhibition offered annually which is well worth visiting with children. Explore Lapland further here. - News Unless you plan to just hang out in Rovaniemi, a Lapland holiday is best organised as a package, both logistically and because it is cheaper. The line is well lit with a series of posts topped by a blue string of lights. If you are keen to give your family a magical Lapland Christmas, book a Forest of Joulukka tour today. The lines are long, but they wind through a magical path through caves and Santas workshop. Laplands food culture is directly linked to its pristine nature, and Rovaniemi is a great place to explore the fresh produce of northern forests and waters. (Until we met the Husky dogs of course, but that's just because Ned is an animal lover.) She is riding a bicycle against cancer! At the end of May, nights are white. A night at the Arctic Circle is a wonderful experience all year round. Would you like to receive these? - Facts, figures, highlights Located just 3.5km from the city centre it is easy to access by car or local public transport. There are some great attractions here that make it very easy for people to get a good taste for what the amazing Lapland activities and culture are like. Top 10 Santa Experiences in Finland - Trips To Discover Even though Rovaniemi has its own town centre it is located between . You can hire a car at the airport for a self-drive holiday. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. - Snow accommodation Similar to Santa Claus Office, there is no fee for visiting Santa Claus. There is no bad time to visit here, although if you have specific expectations, you may want to schedule around those. However, some people prefer a quieter, more remote and less commercialised option through specialist tour operators further north of the Arctic Circle. Whether youre a Santa believer or bah-humbug, youre eternally five years old and fizzing with excitement on a trip to see St Nick in Lapland. Authentic Scandinavias Rovaniemi Santa Claus Adventure is a cracker, with three nights at the Santa Claus Holiday Village. - Meeting packages - Media bank, ABOUT We rented a car with Hertz Rovaniemi, so we were able to drive ourselves. Santa Claus Village is Lapland's best-known attraction and a resort in its own right. Football fans should keep an eye out for the red and white Adidas shirts with SANTA CLAUS 25 on them, on the right as you exit. We would love to share in your travels! The Korundi Contemporary Art Museum gives a great insight into the art culture of the area. 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 too. The winter is a great time for a number of activities both in the snow outside and experiencing local culture inside. At Snowman World, children can participate in a variety of outdoor activities. The village is not a theme park, and there is no admission to enter Santa Claus Village itself. Culture Pass is a way to experience three of the best culture attractions in Rovaniemi. The downside is the cost of entrance and souvenirs. After being greeted by an elf, you are shown around and informed of the different jobs they do including making presents. Its indoors, and that means no-one has to brave the -20 degrees celsius weather outside. info (at) visitrovaniemi.fi, Opening hours: 9. - People Or do as Jack did, and make a Reindeer face. The village is spacious, bright, filled with fun sounds and music, and beautifully lit. info (at) visitrovaniemi.fi, Opening hours: There are few places more beautiful. (Joulukka is expensive, operated by Santa Park also, BUT this tour is worth EVERY CENT. Dec 4, 2022, 1:56 PM Save We were looking for a trip to Rovaniemi but it seems fairly commercialised and we would like pretty much to give the kids an authentic experience of a reindeer ride to see Santa in a cabin or something similar, what are the best options to make this holiday a magical experience for them? Sign up here to receive email from Rovaniemi for travel information, tips and offers. And Rovaniemi has the easy-to-reach edge, with airlines like easyJet*, Ryanair and Tui* running frequent direct flights from the UK (four and half hours). - Other Services, FEATURES Fishing trip under the midnight sun at the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi. The Rovaniemi Christmas village is one of the easiest places to get a taste of Finnish Christmas festivities in a fun and beautiful location. - Trade events Our travel journalism is written and edited by independent experts to inform, inspire and advise our readers about the best choices for your holidays. - Holiday villages This unique snow and ice theme park is located within Santa Claus Village. - Midnight Sun - Shopping See them whiz down daring ice slides, try ice skating and snow tubing. Rovaniemi Church, Visit Rovaniemi - your true Midnight Sun experience on the Arctic Circle, Lapland Finland. 9. Overnight Santa Claus Village. - Arctic Circle These parks offer everything in one location with excellent access, making it a convenient option. Discover the scenic beauty of Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland via webcam. Santa Claus Village In Rovaniemi: Why You Must Visit Now Although it IS possible to walk there from Santa Village if its not too icy, I wouldnt walk if you have kids in tow. - Practical info - Eat and drink Santa Claus Village is outdoors, and you need your snow suit on to move between all the different activities. If you want to venture deeper into Lapland to a quieter resort or village, youll need longer: five days is great, a week is even better. These buttons and adverts are clearly signposted, and provide direct links through to external sites. Snowman World Winter Zone has been dubbed the best playground in Santa Claus Village. tel. The Santa Elf Train was a lovely unexpected surprise, although one we did have to queue for. Holiday apartments. The most popular destination is Rovaniemi, a city that is the capital of Finnish Lapland and the official hometown of Santa Claus. Which is the best Santa experience in Lapland? Let them dry, then take them home with you. On top of that, the sheer variety of attractions, and its convenient location make Santas Village Rovaniemi a top spot to experience Lapland in a weekend. Santa Claus Holiday Village offers a selection of cottages and suites that are perfect for couples or families looking for Santa Claus Village accommodations. Experience the Polar Night, celebration of mysterious lights on glittering snowdrifts. Rovaniemi is part of the arctic region; its climate, however, is subarctic and temperate, characterised by strong seasonal contrasts of dark versus bright and cold versus warm. Some of these are affiliate links. 4 Day Multi-Day : Best of Lapland Express : Nordic Visitor Take a warm coat and head inside the Ice Gallery to see all the frozen sculptures, and if you are game, stay in the cold icy room to enjoy a drink at the ice bar. Travelling closer to Christmas makes it all the more magical and your children. The Official Hometown of Santa Claus offers the best access to the arctic region and is a perfect place to experience the aspects of Finnish happiness and nightless nights.