Finnish Lapland, Finland
Destination guide
An unspoilt wilderness and outdoor adventure paradise. Summer and winter bucket list experiences galore – husky dog sledding, igloos and the Northern Lights – plus the real home of Santa.
Travel bucket list idea:
Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, Finland
Bucket List Experience
Credit Shutterstock.com/marcela novotna
Not to be confused with SantaPark, the nearby ‘village’ just down the road is also home to a (smaller) Santa grotto and post office. It is, however, more of an activity centre.
You can sign up for the usual mix of winter activities: reindeer and husky sleigh rides, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, swimming in ice holes, and so on – so plenty for older kids, not just the youngsters. There’s a reindeer farm and husky farm close by. In winter months, Snowman World – an icy playground within the village – has ice slides and ice skating.
For parents, Santa Claus Village hosts stores selling three of Finland’s top design brands – Iittala, Arabia and Marimekko. There’s even an ice restaurant and ice bar for parental escapism.
The village is a 25-minute bus ride from downtown Rovaniemi. A shuttle bus runs every hour. You can also grab a taxi (8km).
You don’t need to book in advance to get in or to see Santa – just turn up.
It’s open all year round, seven days a week – and yes, you can meet Santa every day. The Christmas season officially opens with a ceremony in late November.
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Finnish Lapland, Finland
Destination guide
An unspoilt wilderness and outdoor adventure paradise. Summer and winter bucket list experiences galore – husky dog sledding, igloos and the Northern Lights – plus the real home of Santa.