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Visiting Santa’s home is every kid’s dream, and thankfully this can become a reality by visiting the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi! For those unaware, this is the official residence of Santa Claus, where you can meet him in person, send letters from his post office, ride on his reindeer sleighs, and enjoy many other festive activities.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about visiting Santa Claus Village. This should equip you with all the information you need to plan your perfect trip and make your Christmas dreams come true!
1 What is the Santa Claus Village?
The Santa Claus Village is a theme park and resort located about 3 km away from Rovaniemi Airport or 8km from the city center. It was founded in 1950, when Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the US president, visited the area and wanted to see where Santa Claus lived. A cabin was built for her visit, which marked the spot of the Santa Claus Village. Since then, the village has grown into a popular tourist attraction that attracts over half a million yearly visitors.
The Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year, from 10 am to 5 pm (or 6 pm in the summer). It is divided into several areas, each with its own attractions and services.
2 How Much Does it Cost?
Entry to the Santa Claus Village is completely free. However, expect to pay for every activity that you do. This can obviously quickly add up, so set a budget in mind and spend wisely!
Looking back at our credit card bill, we spent a total of €97 on the day for two people. This is definitely on the cheaper side of things. Nevertheless, our day felt magical because it was snowing continuously and the overall atmosphere felt very Christmassy!
A husky mushing tour is a must-do activity – it’s honestly so much fun and well worth the money (trust me). If you don’t already have a separate mushing package booked with your hotel, I would strongly recommend you do this 30-minute husky mushing tour at the Santa Claus Village. It is the best-priced tour I’ve managed to find that covers a good amount of distance.
We didn’t opt to do the Husky Mushing at the Santa Claus Village because we had already pre-booked a 1.5-hour package for €135 per person at our next hotel, Guesthouse Husky. Additionally, we managed to save money by petting and seeing the reindeer up close for free by following a simple trick (see below)!
Activity | Cost |
---|---|
Taxi to Santa Claus Village | €15 |
Luggage Storage (2 large suitcases) | €8 |
Lunch (Santa’s Salmon Place) | €56 |
Souvenir | €4 |
Postcard + postage | €6 |
Bus to city (2 people) | €8 |
Total | €97 |
Total with Husky Safari (2 ppl) | €195 |
3 Getting There and Luggage Storage
Transportation
We went directly from Rovaniemi Airport to the Santa Claus Village. Taking the bus would’ve cost €16 so we opted to take a taxi, which was slightly cheaper but easier to manage with all our luggage. When returning to the city at night, we took the bus from the Santa Claus Village bus stop back to the town centre.
Transportation Mode | Rovaniemi Airport to Santa Claus Village | Rovaniemi Town Centre to Santa Claus Village |
---|---|---|
Taxi | 5-minute journey, around €15 | 10-15 minutes, around €25 |
Airport Shuttle | 5-minute journey, around €8 per person | 15-20 minutes, around €8 per person |
Car Rental | Rent a car | Rent a car |
Santa’s Express Bus | 5-minute journey, around €8 per person | 15-20 minute journey, around €4 per person |
Make sure to take note of the bus schedule!
Luggage Storage
Luggage storage is available on-site at the Santa Claus Gift House or the Santa Claus Office (pictured below). Expect to pay between €4 to €5 per piece stored.
If you opt to store your luggage at the Santa Claus Office, you will have to lug your suitcases up a flight of stairs since there’s no elevator.
4 Activities at the Santa Claus Village
Santa Claus Post Office
One of the most iconic features of the Santa Claus Village is the Santa Claus Post Office, where you can send letters and postcards with a special Santa Claus stamp. You can also buy souvenirs, gifts, and Christmas decorations from the shop.
Lots of postcards to choose from! We picked one up for €3.5.
Postcards posted from the Santa Claus Office have a special Arctic Circle postmark that’s not used anywhere else in the world!
After writing our postcard, we dropped it off at Santa’s Mailbox. Postage costs €2.5, and we ended up receiving out specially marked postcard about 2 weeks later back home in Hong Kong!
The post office is run by Santa’s elves, who are always happy to help you with your mail. You can also see the huge pile of letters that Santa receives from children all over the world, and maybe even spot your own letter among them.
Meeting the Reindeers
Going into the Santa Claus Village, one of the main things we wanted to do was to pet and see the reindeer. However, this all costs money. The cheapest sleigh ride would have set us back about €50 for the two of us, and it only covered a short 400m distance.
Instead, we made our way over to the Reindeer Sleigh Ride area and walked across the bridge to the other side. From here, you can freely pet and take photos with the reindeer!
We decided to spend our budget on a husky safari instead, which is a lot more fast-paced and exciting than a slow reindeer stroll!
Husky Mushing Rides
A must-do activity at the Santa Claus Village is taking a husky sleigh ride through the snowy forest. You can choose from different lengths and routes, depending on your preference and budget.
As I mentioned above, this is the best bang-for-buck husky package offered at the Santa Claus Village. If you need to choose between the husky ride and the reindeer ride, go with the husky one since it’s way more fun!
The Official Arctic Circle Line
Snap a pic at the official Arctic Circle line! One second you’re in the Arctic, the next second you’re not!
Snowmobile Rides
If you are looking for more adventure and speed, you can also try a snowmobile ride at the Santa Claus Village. You can rent a snowmobile and drive it yourself, or join a guided tour with a professional instructor.
You can explore the surrounding area and feel the thrill of riding in the snow. The prices vary depending on the duration and the number of people, but you can expect to pay around 100 euros per person for an hour-long ride.
Meeting Santa at the Christmas House
Of course, the highlight of any visit to the Santa Claus Village is meeting Santa Claus himself at the Christmas House. You can enter his office, where he greets visitors every day, and have a chat with him. You can tell him your wishes, ask him questions, and take photos with him. You can also get a video recording of your meeting as a souvenir.
Unfortunately, a photo with Santa will set you back by €30!! That’s simply too much for us, so we had to pass up on this opportunity 🙁
5 Explore Around and Take Photos
Not everything has to be a paid activity. We spent a good amount of time roaming around, enjoying the atmosphere, and taking photos!
6 The Best Food to Get at the Santa Claus Village
After enjoying all the activities at the Santa Claus Village, you might get hungry and want to try some of the local food. There are several restaurants and cafes in the village, offering a variety of cuisines and dishes. Here are some of the best food options to get at the Santa Claus Village:
Santa’s Salmon Place
This is a cosy wooden hut near the end of the park, where you can watch the chefs prepare fresh salmon on an open fire. Spoiler alert, this was the best salmon I’ve ever tasted! It’s no wonder that there was such a long line to get in!
The Salmon is cooked over a wood fire and continuously rotated for about 15 to 20 minutes.
It’s then served with a potato salad, bread, and butter. You can also order tea, coffee, or soft drinks. I think each Salmon dish was about €24, and we also got a cheese dish with jam to go with it which came to a total of €56 for the both of us. The salmon pieces are huge!
The flavour was honestly amazing! Highly highly recommend!
Kotahovi
This is a traditional Lappish restaurant, where you can taste some of the local delicacies, such as reindeer meat, fish soup, cheese bread, and berry pie.
You can also try some of the local drinks, such as cloudberry wine, blueberry liqueur, or Laplandia vodka. The restaurant has a rustic and cozy interior, with a fireplace and a live band playing folk music.
7 Where to Stay in Rovaniemi?
I’d recommend staying more than one day in Rovaniemi, as there’s more than just the Santa Claus Village to explore. Accommodation-wise, you can choose everything from hotels and hostels, to apartments and cottages. Here are some of the best places to stay in Rovaniemi:
Santa Claus Holiday Village
The Santa Claus Holiday Village is the most convenient and comfortable option, as it is located right next to the Santa Claus Village. You can stay in a cozy wooden cottage, with a private sauna, kitchenette, and terrace. You can also enjoy the facilities of the holiday village, such as a restaurant, a bar, a spa, and a souvenir shop. The price is around 200 euros per night and varies based on seasonality, breakfast inclusion, and airport transfer. Check out the latest pricing below:
Scandic Rovaniemi City
The Scandic Rovaniemi City is a stylish and modern hotel that’s located in the centre of Rovaniemi. You can stay in a spacious and elegant room. You can also enjoy the facilities of the hotel, such as a restaurant, a lounge, a gym, and a sauna. The price is around 250 euros per night for a double room, including breakfast and wifi. Once again, the price depends on the season.
Hostel Cafe Koti
Hotel Cafe Koti is a budget-friendly and cozy option, located in a renovated old building in the centre of Rovaniemi. You can stay in a dormitory or a private room, with a shared bathroom and kitchen. You can also enjoy the facilities of the hostel, such as a cafe, a bar, a terrace, and a sauna. The price is around 40 euros per night for a dorm bed, or 100 euros per night for a double room, including breakfast and wifi.
8 Santa Claus Village vs Santa Park
If you are wondering whether you should visit the Santa Claus Village or the Santa Park, or both, here are some of the main differences and similarities between them:
Criteria | Santa Claus Village | Santa Park |
---|---|---|
Location | About 8 km north of Rovaniemi | About 2 km south of Santa Claus Village |
Opening hours | Every day, 10 am to 5 pm (6 pm in summer) | Mid-Nov to Mid-Jan, Mid-Jun to Mid-Aug, 10 am to 6 pm |
Entrance fee | Free entry, additional fees for some activities | Fixed fee of 34 euros, includes all activities |
Activities | Outdoor and natural, e.g., sleigh rides, snowmobile | Indoor and artificial, e.g., elf school, ice gallery |
More authentic and personal Santa experience | Theatrical and interactive Santa experience |
Our Verdict
Santa Claus Village
The Santa Claus Village is a wonderful place to visit for anyone who loves Christmas and wants to see Santa's home. You can enjoy a variety of activities, such as sending letters from his post office, riding on his reindeer sleighs, or driving a snowmobile. You can also find some of the best food options at the village, such as fresh salmon or reindeer meat. You can stay in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, and choose from a range of accommodation options, from cozy cottages to modern hotels.
PROS
- Unique and fun experience
- Magical atmostphere
CONS
- Can get costly quite quickly