Santa Claus Village Packages in Lapland

Santa Claus Village is the official “North Pole” residence of Father Christmas. Here you can meet Santa Claus, go for fun outdoor activities in the snow, and soak up the jolly festive atmosphere. Best of all, you can celebrate Christmas all year round!

You’ll find Santa Claus Village just outside Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland. Lapland itself is a region that covers the northern parts of both Finland and Sweden, and much of it is located within the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Village is just a few minutes’ drive from Rovaniemi’s town centre and international airport. This is why Rovaniemi is the most convenient place to base yourself for Finland Santa Claus Village tours.

Alternatively, you could stay in Kemi. This Finnish town is located on the shores of the Bothnian Bay and has an international airport. It would take you 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Santa Claus Village from here.

On a trip to Kemi, you’d get the chance to stay at the SnowCastle and ride a snowmobile over the frozen sea to the Sampo icebreaker ship. You could opt for the Arctic ice floating experience for a dip unlike any other.

Read about flights to Finnish Lapland in our travel guide. Or learn about Lapland tours from the UK.

There are so many fun things to do at Santa Claus Village in Lapland. Here are some of the top activities you can enjoy:

• Meet Father Christmas and his elves in their workshop
• Visit Mrs Claus at her Christmas Cottage
• Send a postcard from Santa’s main post office
• Head to the Snowmobile Park to zip through the forest
• See the adorable sled dogs at the Husky Park
• Savour hearty meals at Santa Claus Holiday Village
• Discover the reindeer farm and take a sleigh ride
• Shop for souvenirs at the handicraft stores

Find out more about what to do with this guide to activities in Santa Claus Village, Lapland.

Santa Claus Village is open all year long. This means you can celebrate Christmas every day of the year here! However, we recommend visiting between December and March, when you get the true winter wonderland experience.

If you’d like to be as close as possible to Santa Claus Village, the best place to stay is Rovaniemi. Here you have everything you need: an international airport, shops, restaurants, and more.

In Rovaniemi, you could either base yourself in the town centre, or in the scenic countryside just outside of it.

For the quintessential wintry experience, opt for a stay in a cosy cottage or log cabin. Imagine being snuggled up inside by the fireplace, with views of the snow-laden scenery outside your window.

Another option is to stay in Kemi. Come here for a Christmas or New Year’s break and enjoy festive activities, including a day trip to Santa Claus Village. The journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes each way.

How about spending the night in a room made of ice and snow? You can do just that at the Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi and SnowCastle in Kemi.

These are two of the best ice hotels in Finland, where you can sleep in a frozen chamber. They also have glass igloos and villas if you’d prefer to have views of the stars (and northern lights, should they appear!).

Check out these Lapland ice and snow hotel packages, or learn more about accommodation in Lapland on our travel guide.

Lapland is one of the top places in Europe to see the northern lights. The region is ideally situated within the Arctic Circle, which is where you have the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis most vividly.

Another thing to note is that Lapland lies within the “aurora zone” (or “northern lights belt”), located between 65-72°N. This means that Lapland experiences intense auroral frequency.

Take a look at these Lapland northern lights packages to start planning your aurora-hunting tour.

The best time to visit Lapland is in winter. Go between December and March to enjoy the stunning snowy landscapes. You’ll get to make the most of outdoor activities that you can only do at this time of year.

Although it snows in Lapland between October and April, it is a real winter wonderland from December to March. This is because the snow is thick, allowing you to go dog sledding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing, to name a few.

What’s more, visiting Lapland in winter gives you the best opportunities to see the northern lights. At this time of year, the night skies are really dark, which means you can make out the colours of the aurora more clearly.

In summer, daylight hours are long and the night skies never get completely dark. This makes it too tricky to spot the aurora borealis because conditions are too bright.

For more information, discover the best time and place to see the northern lights in Finland on our experts’ blog. Or check out when to go by month:

• Lapland in December
• Lapland in January
• Lapland in February
• Lapland in March

We suggest you take a few days for your winter getaway to Lapland. A short break lasting less than a week, but more than a long weekend, is ideal.

Nordic Visitor’s Santa Claus Village tours range from 4 to 5 days. This gives you time to enjoy a variety of activities and soak up the magical atmosphere.

Get insider advice and itinerary suggestions for 4-day holidays in Lapland or 5-day trips to Lapland.

All of our tours are available to reserve online, so you can select your start dates here. Please bear in mind that some accommodation in Lapland, such as the Arctic SnowHotel, is in demand, so it’s best you book as soon as possible.

Another thing to note is that certain Lapland packages have set start dates. For example, if you opt for a Christmas tour or New Year’s package, you will begin your trip in the days leading up to 24 or 31 December.

Yes, you can add some personal customisations to your tour.

Although our travel experts created these itineraries to showcase the best attractions and activities, you can still make your experience even more special by adding extras. Personalise your trip with northern lights tours and upgrades to ice hotels or glass igloos.

To customise your trip, you can either book online and add optional extras during the booking steps, or contact your dedicated travel consultant. You could also request extra days in Lapland, and include more destinations such as Helsinki and Stockholm on your tour.

All you need to do is decide which Lapland holiday package is right for you, then contact your consultant about personalising it. We want you to have an incredible time in Lapland and we’re happy to tailor your tour where we can, so that you go home with unforgettable memories.

Wait until your Nordic Visitor holiday package is confirmed before you book your flights. This is because certain activities and accommodation (such as the Arctic SnowHotel) have limited spaces. That's why it’s best to have all your tickets and tours secured before you purchase flights.

Once you’ve received all of your itinerary information from your travel consultant, you’ll be able to book the most suitable flights for your trip. Do check flight times and dates beforehand, to see what’s available.

If you have any questions, you can always contact your travel consultant for advice.

You need to prepare for the cold weather if you’re travelling to Lapland in winter. Dress warmly and wear sensible walking shoes or boots with good grip.

When you pack for your Lapland tour and Santa Claus Village visit, we recommend that you bring plenty of cosy jumpers. Make sure you have winter accessories with you, like scarves, hats and gloves.

Outerwear is provided on outdoor excursions, but do bring an extra coat just in case you want another layer.

Here is a suggested packing list for your Lapland trip:

• Thick woollen socks
• Thermal base layers
• Warm woollen jumpers
• Waterproof trousers
• Snowproof jacket or coat
• Thin wool or fleece gloves (ideal as a base layer under snowmobile gloves)
• Thick gloves, scarf and hat
• Camera
• Small rucksack
• Heat pads for hands and feet
• Power adaptors with two round prongs (Europlug Type C and F)

Learn more about what to bring in our Lapland packing guide.