Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi – what was our day like?

Do you dream of meeting Santa Claus? Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland is the perfect place to get in the holiday spirit and travel to the magical world of the winter wonderland, which is open all year round! Today we will show you what attractions await you on site and how we spent a day full of activities here.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is located right on the Arctic Circle. It attracts tourists from all over the world not only with its Christmas attractions, but also with Lapland’s many attractions and traditions. Even if you don’t believe in Santa Claus for a long time, there is still something to do here…. and by the way, there’s a chance you’ll believe in him again ;)

In this article, we will tell you about our day in the village and give you some tips on the best way to plan such a trip in order to experience unforgettable moments and feel the true magic of the holidays.

Where does Santa Claus live?

The answer seems quite simple – in Finland, in Rovaniemi. However, it is not the only village in the world. Well, overseas, there are two other well-known locations in the US:

• Santa Claus, Indiana, USA – In the United States, the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, attracts tourists with its Christmas theme all year round. Santa’s Candy Castle and Santa Claus Museum are located here, as well as a special post office from which Christmas letters are sent.
• North Pole, Alaska, USA – Santa Claus House is a famous place full of Christmas decorations and ornaments, and visitors can buy souvenirs and send a letter with a “North Pole” stamp.

Later in this post, however, we will focus on the closest European village to us, Santa Claus. Santa Claus “lives” here all year round, attracting tourists from all over the world who want to feel the atmosphere of this unique place. In addition to Santa Claus, the village also has his helpers – elves and reindeer – who together create a unique atmosphere of a winter wonderland.

A feature of the village is a line marking the course of the Arctic Circle, which can be symbolically crossed.

How to reach Santa Claus? With a travel agency or on your own?

When deciding whether to travel to Rovaniemi, consider whether it’s better to go on your own or with a travel agency. When traveling with an agency, we are provided with transportation, accommodations, and admission to many attractions. This is a stress-free option, especially for families with children. Travel agencies often offer additional attractions, such as sleigh rides harnessed to reindeer and husky dogs.

On the other hand, traveling on your own gives you a lot of freedom to organize your time. Your own plan allows you to make spontaneous decisions, stay longer in your favorite places, and seek out lesser-known attractions around Rovaniemi. Besides, you can tailor your trip to your budget and preferences, although you should keep in mind that Lapland in the winter season can be expensive, and it’s worth booking accommodations on popular dates in advance.

We ourselves thought for a long time whether to choose a travel agency or to organize such a trip on our own, but we decided on the first option using the offer of Rainbow travel agency. Why so?

The bureau’s offer seems expensive (cheapest about PLN 2,500 per person, in more expensive dates almost PLN 4,000 per person), but organizing such a trip ourselves in December, for the whole family, we calculated that it would not necessarily be a significantly cheaper option.

In the previous year, there were not many convenient and cheap connections from Poland, although nowadays, checking flights you can find ones that take about 4-5 hours with a connecting flight in Helsinki. Their price is from PLN 1,200 per person, to which you need to add accommodation on site. It is also possible to fly to more distant cities and get to Santa’s Village (either car rental or public transportation), which extends our stay there and increases costs. Of course, if one has more vacation time available and can afford to commute locally, a self-organized trip may be a better option. In addition, you can always see more places in the area.

Pros of traveling to Rovaniemi with a travel agency:

• A direct flight to Rovaniemi,
• Everything included in the price (transportation, entertainers, rental of winter clothes on site, entrance to attractions on site, sled rides, etc.),
• The price includes food (lunch and snacks),
• We bypass the queues to the attractions – this is a huge plus! Groups are scheduled for a specific time to Santa Claus and do not have to wait with others,
• is a single, intensive day – you do not need to take additional leave.

For whom the better option will be to organize the trip themselves:

• you do not have to go in December or around Christmas (an interesting option is to travel in February, for example),
• you have more time to go and want to combine it with other attractions (you can afford a week-long trip, for example),
• you do not want to use all the attractions on site (you pay only for what is most important to you).

We do not have a definite answer as to which option is better :) Everyone has to make this decision for themselves based on their own financial capabilities, vacations, flexibility, etc.

If we were to come back here in December we would probably use the bureau’s offer again, and at any other time we would try to organize such a trip on our own, but for much longer.

What was our day in Santa’s Village like?

In the following paragraphs, we will show you what this intense day looked like: what we did, how the time on site was organized, what we ate, etc. The trip with the travel agency lasts ONE DAY. Arrival is in the morning and departure in the evening – a very intense and tiring day. We have read that children are tired and fall asleep during, but neither ours nor the other children looked tired at all even at 9 p.m.! All day on their feet, in the cold (it was -13 degrees at noon) and everyone happy in the evening got on the plane, where they just fell asleep ;)

We flew in December from Warsaw.

Departure: one hour approx. 5.30 – 6.00. At the airport, of course, you need to be early enough. We were about 2 hours before departure despite the fact that we did not send luggage (it was included in the price, but our carry-on backpacks were enough for us). Rainbow elves were waiting at the airport and there was an animation corner for children. Each participant was given a tour program and was assigned to a group (each group has its own program, so that individual attractions are enjoyed by a dozen, rather than dozens or hundreds of people).

Arrival in Rovaniemi approx. 8:00 – 8:30 local time. Here an elf was already waiting for us, who would accompany us throughout the day, as well as coaches that quickly took us to Santa’s Village.

Our first steps were directed to the costume rental shop. These are no disguises just typical winter clothes – warm overalls. If you brought your clothes with you, then here you can change and leave things and suitcases that you do not need (of course, do not leave valuables).

We then had some free time to stroll around the village, and at 12:00 a.m. a husky sled was scheduled, which is one of the most distinctive experiences in Lapland. Our group rode in several rounds, and the wait was varied with hot drinks and spice cookies in the tent. After a short wait, we set off into the winter forest in a sleigh pulled by husky dogs. The ride was not long, which is both good and bad news ;)

It was, in our opinion, too short for the dogs – from what we’ve read husky dogs are made for such sledding, they need exercise, dozens of kilometers of running a day! Here they run a lot, but too short at one time…. but we’re not experts either, we won’t get too smart just bringing it to your attention ;)

So what is the good news? That it was long enough for people – it gets really cold during sledding! Despite our warm outfits, we got cruelly cold and for us such a ride was enough. So if you are looking for a longer ride then only with multiple layers on.

At 1:15 p.m. we were scheduled to take a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride. Such a sled is definitely slower, calmer and shorter. The sled glides through the snow at a pace perfect for a ride with smaller children and people who don’t like speed.

We then headed to a restaurant for a meal. When buying the tour we had lunch included in the price. It was served in the form of a buffet – although (fortunately) it was not a buffet native to all-inclusive hotels :) The selection was of local dishes and there was plenty to choose from, drinks and desserts were also available.

After lunch we went to the Elf Farm, although the name can be a bit misleading. It is probably more of a farm managed by elves, and various animals live here: reindeer or alpacas. We recommend buying special food at the entrance so you can feed the reindeer yourself. The farm is also a nice place to just spend some time here…. There are hills made here that you can slide down (slides, mats are available), there are places to make a bonfire – very nice and atmospheric!

Finally, it was time for the most important thing – a meeting with Santa Claus, which for the children was an absolute dream come true! We had it scheduled at the very end, other groups entered at other times. What is the best thing about such an organized trip is that there is no waiting in line for an appointment. We had an appointment at a specific time and entered through a side entrance. The meeting takes place in a cozy room full of Christmas decorations, where Santa is happy to talk to guests and find time for everyone! You can even hand him a letter in person :)

As a souvenir, you can buy photos and a video of the meeting.

After this meeting there is free time, yes until 7 pm. What did we do in our free time? We walked around the village, saw Mrs. Santa’s house, visited Santa’s Post Office, where you can send postcards to loved ones with a unique Arctic Circle stamp (they arrived before Christmas!), and looked at souvenir stores. Of course, we took plenty of photos, if only at the thermometer indicating the current temperature, or at the line showing the course of the parallel that marks the Arctic Circle.

At 9:30 p.m. local time, we flew out of Rovaniemi. At the airport, the waiting time for the plane was made more pleasant for the children by entertainers.

How to prepare and what to bring on a trip to Rovaniemi?

A trip to Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi, especially in winter, requires proper preparation to fully enjoy this holiday adventure. A trip to Lapland means frigid temperatures, short days and snowy landscapes, making proper equipment and clothing crucial. Here are some tips on what to pack and how to make sure you are comfortable to make your trip enjoyable and memorable.

Winter clothing and footwear

Lapland is famous for its harsh winters, so it makes sense to rely on thermal clothing to provide adequate protection from the cold. The best solution is to dress “onions” – layers will help regulate temperature and provide insulation. It’s a good idea to bring thermal underwear, warm socks, a fleece, a waterproof winter jacket and pants to protect against moisture and snow. We opted for ski-type stuff, and that’s good, because there was plenty of space and time for typical snow fun :) If you don’t have such things suits can be rented on site.

Gloves, a scarf and a hat to protect the ears are also essential. Sturdy, waterproof shoes with thick soles are a must, as you will essentially be outdoors most of the time.

Cosmetics and skin protection

In Lapland’s dry, cold climate, skin can easily dry out, so it’s a good idea to stock up on the right cosmetics, such as frost creams for the face and hands and lip balm. It’s also worth remembering sunscreen – even in winter, snow reflects UV rays that can cause sunburn. We took Mustela cream in a stick with us and it worked very well for us.

Also remember to have a well-prepared first-aid kit with basic medicines, such as pain pills, something for a fever, plasters and something to disinfect.

Practical things, food and other accessories

Don’t forget your documents, of course – an ID or passport and a booking confirmation are the bare minimum.

Take some provisions with you on your trip – sandwiches and snacks are sure to come in handy, even if you choose the option of traveling with an agency. Of course, there are stores and restaurants on site, so you won’t go hungry, but the prices are quite high ;)

Disguise clothing, pocket warmers and a waterproof bag for personal belongings can also come in handy.

Also, don’t forget your phone or camera, a powerbank and possibly a tripod.

Our opinion – is it worth flying to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi?

Was it worth flying to Rovaniemi for a day to see Santa Claus? How else! This is such a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The children still recall this visit today – they remember meeting Santa Claus, riding in the sleigh and would love to come back here.

This place looks especially magical just in winter, when there is a lot of snow, and in the evening, thanks to the lighting and decorations, you can feel like in a fairy tale!