Travel Buddies: Private transfer from Rovaniemi to Abisko May 31, 2023 15 thousand euros in Lapland vs 2000 euros in Gulmarg May 15, 2023 Are snow/ski goggles recommended? Santa Claus Reindeer offers 400 m and 1 km sleigh rides with Santas reindeer. - Glass igloos Santa Park is definitely better suited for the younger kids, who cant stay too long outdoors in the cold. - Shopping Yes, but only with children no older than 5. Dreamy 8-Day Cyclades Sailing Adventure: Part 1, The Ultimate Guide To Boat Charter in Greece: Part 1, A Percy Jackson Inspired Adventure In Greece. Santa Claus Village isnt the only Christmas attraction in Rovaniemi, but it is no doubt the most famous. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Santa Claus Village is not just a Santa Claus experience though. Koskikatu 12 RELATED: Everything you need to know about SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE Attractions. However, if there is one place not to miss, its Santas Salmon Place. - Brand However, many locals would say the year consists of up to eight seasons, each with their own distinct characteristics. 3 euro each, to decorate a cookie with a squeeze of icing sugar glue and sprinkles. Your information will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy. 8. Even though Rovaniemi has its own town centre it is located between . We would have loved to explore the area for a week, but our own time constraints limited us to four days. The Santa Claus Village husky rides run every day of the year. - Getting here All information on disclosures can be found in our Privacy Policy. The city goes all out for the Christmas season with festive decorations and cozy cafes to curl up in. Hundreds of thousands of letters are sent to Santa each year and make their way to his post office located within the village. Caravan park for camper vans and trailers. The underground grotto at Santa Park is a fairytale wonder for kids under 8 to 10. Rovaniemi offers plenty of activities all year round, both outdoors and indoors. There is no better one-stop shop for Lapland souvenirs. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The Santa Claus Village snowmobile park has a mini-snowmobile circuit ride that allows children as young as 4 years old to learn to drive a snowmobile. Husky, Reindeer Farm and Santa Village Experience 2023 - Rovaniemi - Viator Weve crossed the Arctic circle countless times. A mini train seating four people takes visitors on a ride showcasing scenes from the elves workshops, wintry Lapland and various snow-filled fairytale-like scenery. These activities are similar to what youll find at the Santa Claus Village. McDonalds from Scotland. The cost for a 10 minute series of laps around the circuit is 20 . Have some fun and send a letter from here either to yourself or a friend, complete with a special Arctic Circle postmark. The longer 1 km reindeer rides take you on a loop through the snow-covered Lappish forests surrounding Santas village. But, at 5-years-old, our youngest, D, was too young for that snowmobile experience. Should You Visit Santa Park Finland While In Rovaniemi? All prices in EURO, unless otherwise stated, Santa Park address: Tarvantie 1, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland 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. Towards the end of April, nights are too light for the Auroras to be spotted. Become a Lapland Midnight Sun Ambassador! Lapland is high and comes with a price tag to match. If you are keen to give your family a magical Lapland Christmas, book a Forest of Joulukka tour today. Are you planning on travelling to Rovaniemi and wondering how things work? Dog sledding is something we love to do. 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. Catch a cab from the taxi rank outside Santa Village and drive the distance. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Twinkling Christmas lights at Santa Claus Village istock.com/dimamorgan12. Yes, its touristy, but within minutes you can give the crowds the slip and be out in the snowy wilderness, driving a husky sleigh or snowmobiling as the northern lights flash overhead. - Cottages I'd love to do the reindeer and husky rides. + 358 16 346 270, + 358 40 829 0676 - Getting here Rovaniemi in Finland is Santa central, with a proper hit of festive sparkle at the Santa Claus Village, where you can meet Santa in his. - Four seasons - Autumn Color It costs about 15 euro for the one-way trip. The Angry Birds Activity Park features a ropewalk, slides, swings and climbing frames with open space for ball games or other recreational activities. and northern lights shows. To find out what a year in a nutshell is like in Rovaniemi, see below. We rented a car with Hertz Rovaniemi, so we were able to drive ourselves. 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. safartica@safartica.com Canterbury Travel drops you straight into a snow globe with its four-night Christmas at Luosto package, basing you on the felly fringes of Pyh-Luosto National Park, with log cabin accommodation, meals, loads of activities, elf parties and a search for Santa on Christmas day. - Getting around Ooh, what a cool place! Santa Claus Village is in Lapland. Its a bit hit and miss for older kids, although the boys were entranced by the two Elf shows. This Rovaniemi Santa experience tends to be for those who dont want to wait in the line for the Santa experience at Santa Claus Office. Elf School was very very busy with day tripper crowds, so we had to wait for a second session, but the Elf teachers were accommodating and tried their very best to keep everyone happy. Final Thoughts On The Lapland Christmas Village, Rovaniemi activities that happen off-site, the best hotels for families in Rovaniemi here. See them whiz down daring ice slides, try ice skating and snow tubing. Besides the guests who stay on-site, there are day visitors coming in from Rovaniemi. Santa Park in Finland is open at these times below: Exception: Christmas Eve is open from 10.00 16.00. Most of these are based onsite which makes Santa Claus Village a convenient choice to visit. see what happens in the daily life of an Elf as they go about their business. While its not Disney, this ride is actually very cute once you are inside, and it takes you through many different worlds of Christmas. PLANNING A LAPLAND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY TO VISIT SANTA GUIDE - Roam the Gnome There is no bad time to visit here, although if you have specific expectations, you may want to schedule around those. - Four seasons Entrance to Santa Park Finnish Lapland lenisecalleja.photography/shutterstock.com. Let your children stand on the line and contemplate in awe their position on the planet. Best Christmas experience in Rovaniemi. - Review of Santa Claus Secret You can even schedule a visit from Santa to drop gifts off to your cottage. The village is fairly large and offers gift shops, a variety of cafes and restaurants and a number of winter activities suitable for both children and parents. Welcome to the Official Hometown of Santa Claus and a place full of magic! Now I hope to take my daughter there some day! We were there between 19-23 Dec18. Santa Claus Village is Lapland's best-known attraction and a resort in its own right. -Other Lapland destinations THE 10 BEST Rovaniemi Tours & Excursions - Tripadvisor 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. There are many choices to make but the most important ones are what kind of an experience are you after and where your base should be. Become a Lapland Midnight Sun Ambassador in June - July 2022. If you make a purchase or booking after clicking on a link on Roam the Gnome, we may receive a small affiliate commission at NO COST to you. Overnight Santa Claus Village. - Lists Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The Santa Express bus runs in one direction, so you can catch it BACK from Santa Park to Santa Holiday Village but not on the way there (unless you want to travel the whole loop). Glass igloo praphablouilarpprasert/shutterstock.com. However, we couldnt resist making a brief stop here and managed to fill a few hours with a tremendous amount of Christmas spirit and we wouldnt hesitate to return again. The village offers the greatest choice of accommodation outside the city centre with treehouse cabins, wooden cottages and even glass igloos, along with all the standard AirBnB options. Here you'll find Rovaniemi travel brochures in different languages. There is also a winter playground for the younger ones to kill some time in between activities. This runs in 20 minute slots and a diploma and elfs hat are awarded to the most dedicated. - Other Services, FEATURES - Brochures Rovaniemi celebrated The Grand Opening of Christmas Season in 19th of November 2022 in the Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Meet Alexandra! 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. But, if you are looking for one place where you can do it all as stress-free as possible, this is the place for you. - Action 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. Have you got concerns ahead of your trip to Rovaniemi or are you not sure how things work once you've arrived? How much do you know about the northern lights? This winter wonderland is packed with ice slides, snow tubing, ice skating, and lots of snowmen. Or make a Christmas card using paint and popsicle sticks. The BEST Santa Claus Village Tours 2022 - GetYourGuide document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This looks absolutely magical, especially for kids!! If you prefer local transport, the number 8 bus goes from Santa Claus Village to Rovaniemi centre and the railway station. The Santa Claus Village and nearby areas offer the most wonderful accommodation options: Hotels and even a snow hotel. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';fnames[5]='BIRTHDAY';ftypes[5]='birthday';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); A Family Travel Guide To Finnish Lapland . This Arctic wilderness is beautiful beyond belief and you can explore it by snowmobile and husky sled for the thrill of a lifetime. Finally, arrive at the Santa Claus Village and enjoy free time to browse the shops, meet Santa, or post a letter from the . Kids can hop on the magic train and take a ride through the enchanting magical worlds of the Elves headquarters. Interactive exhibits serve as an excellent introduction to the local people and the landscape of Lapland. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Welcome to the heart of Lapland! Lumberjacks Candle Bridge Rovaniemi IlkkaKoivula/shutterstock.com. 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. - Architecture If you need a bit more breathing space, Apukka Resort*, a 15-minute drive out of town, has a pretty location astride a frozen lake. - Trade events Culture Pass is a way to experience three of the best culture attractions in Rovaniemi. 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. The experiences there are much closer to the Lapland reindeer sleigh rides that we did near the town of Saariselka during our Christmas in Finnish Lapland tour. - Brochures Rovaniemi - Experience the Home Town of Santa Claus - Safartica Join elves in their magical world, taste classy gingerbread in Mrs. Gingerbread's Kitchen, see Ice Princess' Gallery and take memorable ride in a Magic Train. Restaurant Valdemari, Concert by YL Male Voice Choir. The Ultimate Guide: 10 Things to Do in Santa Claus Village Our Head Elf teacher was hilarious, full of life, and simply fabulous. See & do - experience Rovaniemi - Visit Rovaniemi We chose a four day epic adventure which took us north of the Arctic Circle. Typical daytime temperatures in the spring: The Midnight Sun period officially lasts from early June until early July, but nights are white throughout the summer in Rovaniemi. Kids can decorate their own gingerbread cookie in Mrs Gingerbreads Kitchen, and then eat them in this cosy place. Hot tip: Head over this way when Elf School is about to start and youll miss some of the crowds. Visit Rovaniemi - your true Midnight Sun experience on the Arctic Circle, Lapland Finland. You can experience this lively city with its events and culture, but at the same time step right into the pure nature from your backdoor and enjoy the magical views. Rovaniemi: Snow Restaurant Dinner Tour Visit the world of snow and ice right at the heart of Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland. Our guide, Alex from Spain, was super nice and thoughtful. - News But we couldnt have expected just how special meeting Santa at Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi would be. - B&B's and apartments You can see some of their other activities here. Arctic Circle Crossing Certificates are also available from the Arctic Circle Information Office and make a great souvenir for children to bring home. - Webcams, STAY Santa Claus Village doesnt offer the most extensive version of each attraction. Visit this fascinating museum and science centre housed in a modern building. Welcome to Santa Claus Village | Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi Lapland Experience the Midnight Sun only on the Arctic Circle and above. Santa Claus has made Lapland in Northern Finland his home for centuries, and the Arctic Circle is close to his heart because many Christmas secrets are rooted in this magical place. Several weather service providers keep you up-to-date try Foreca, or the Finnish Meteorological Institute, for example. 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland Santa Claus Village is a beautiful place. Bookmark this page so you can find us again. +358 40 838 8285. Christmas is there, underground, all year. these are as As the name suggests, you have an encounter with Santa Claus in an enchanting indoor Christmas theme park. - When to go info (at) visitrovaniemi.fi, Opening hours: FUN FACT: Joulukka means "Christmas is Everywhere" Highly recommended for a fun-filled few hours. Santa Claus Office in the village is considered the official place to meet Santa Claus in 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. Pretty much every Lapland break covers some activities, from reindeer sleigh rides to dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tobogganing and northern lights safaris. Right now. - B&B's and apartments -Hotels This open air playground inspired by the Angry Birds characters is located on the riverbank by Valtakatu Street, within walking distance from the city centre. Youre going all the way to the Arctic, so why rush? The Santa Village in Rovaniemi is located on HWY E4 about 10 minutes north of the city center. The biggest draw to Rovaniemi is Santa Claus Village and being just 8km away with a variety of transport available, the city centre makes an ideal base. ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SANTA PARK ROVANIEMI FINLAND FOR KIDS - Roam the Gnome Theres free parking if you are driving by car. These parks offer everything in one location with excellent access, making it a convenient option. (Lunch break 12-13. - Camping, SEE & DO Rovaniemi Santa Park is home to Cafe Kotakahvio. - Meet in Rovaniemi You are not allowed to take photos and videos of the experience yourself. 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. At the Elf Workshop, theres elf craft activities to do. -Hotels You wont miss out on much if you skip them entirely. Rovaniemi combines the northern nature with urban surroundings, self-confident localness and open-minded internationality. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Plus a whole lot more for an emergency bottle of water, as we were all dying of thirst and Id forgotten our bottle. We spent more time at Santa Park than we did at Santa Claus village and had a blast. from. The village is spacious, bright, filled with fun sounds and music, and beautifully lit. We also feature properties and itineraries from a specially selected list of trusted operators. Id much prefer to spend the time playing in the snow at Santa Village, and see the Elves at Joulukka Forest. Highlights of Rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village+Reindeer & Husky Sledge Ride) 4. You can cross the Arctic Circle here as well and enjoy other activities such as the Princess Ice Bar but try to stay clear of tour group arrival times to avoid long queues. Nature trails and ski trail networks, downhill ski slopes, golf centre, and sports & wellness facilities of Santasport are in its immediate proximity. - Get a quote, TRADE Phone +358 600 301 203 (1,50 + local charge) Website santaclaussecretforest.com. Prices for entrance at the time of our visit: 10 /adult, 5 /child (4-12 years), family ticket 20 (1-2 adults + 1-3 children). Signpost to Santa Claus (Joulupukki) office istock.com/alxpin. If you love a day of fun-filled activities and you don't mind a little bit of cold, your whole family will love it! best santa experience for kids? - Rovaniemi Message Board - Tripadvisor An extraordinary opportunity to learn about elves in Santas elf school. 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. Our views remain our own. - Sights and attractions If youre going it alone, expect to pay between 50 and 120 per activity. When families are looking for the best things to do in Rovaniemi, they will inevitably arrive at Santa Village at some point. - Map For those who opt to visit Snowman World, a pricey, but unforgettable restaurant is the Snowman World ice restaurant. 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. The best way BACK from Santa Park to Santa Claus village is by bus. Let Rovaniemi surprise you with easy access to plenty of routes and scenery spots to marvel the fiery landscapes of Autumn Color. Kids adore this place! Date of experience: December 2013 Ask RoutaRescueTeam about Santa Claus Secret Forest - Joulukka 1 Thank RoutaRescueTeam There is a large choice of restaurants in and around Santa Claus Village catering to a wide variety of tastes, all being family friendly. It is also fairly dark to set the mood (and a little dismal in places), unlike Santa Village which is light and bright. Where Santa Claus Village is a mall, SantaPark is an immersive Christmas-themed experience that shouldnt be missed. 5 Dec 2022, 5:56 am 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? Fishing trip under the midnight sun? - Activities Other visionaries have also embellished the city with landmark structures. Charming restaurant in remote part of Finnish Lapland. - Snow accommodation Ounasvaara - Rovaniemi year-round Sport Resort. Kids also love the more Disneyfied Santa Park, with glitzy Christmas rides, elves baking gingerbread, ice sculptures and another Santa (spoiler: theres more than one). Theres plenty of Santa Hats, but the most practical gift is a Santa Park water bottle. Youll find answers to the most frequently asked questions here. Once youve had your fill of Yuletide cheer, there is plenty to do and see in the city. These white reindeer toys cost 19,50 euro each. Would you like to receive these? This was our favourite thing at Santa Park, even though we had to sit on the floor to watch it. - News In Rovaniemi there are two places to meet the man himself and both are located close to each other. Your email address will not be published. Here are the best packages from Tui* and Expedia*. Fishing trip under the midnight sun at the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi. Wander through colourful town streets and learn about traditional Smi culture. They dont offer much variety, but they are experts at what they do make. - Facts, figures, highlights - Programme samples While this does take away from the intimacy that many people are hoping for when they visit Santas village, it also makes for some excellent shopping. Santa Claus' Village is a magical experience even if you only have one day to squeeze it in. A chance to discover the best Santa experiences in Finnish Lapland and revel in the enchanted atmosphere is likely to top most childrens wish lists and maybe even some adults too! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Koskikatu 12 If ever a place felt like the inside of a Christmas card, this is it. Read about our personal experience in A Quest to Find Santa In Finnish Lapland. What is the best Santa experience in Lapland? - Lapland Forum Visit a place where it is Christmas all year round on a tour to Santa Claus Village from Rovaniemi. Most companies also provide cold-weather gear and youll need it, with temperatures dipping as low as -25C. - Architecture In Lapland, there are several areas with their own local flavours and characteristics, but all share one common trait: stunning natural beauty. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Autumn leaf colour paints the landscapes in earthy shades, and days are perfect for hiking and other nature related activities, as nights are best reserved for Aurora spotting. You can see all of their attractions here. As Santa Claus Village is so popular, it does get extremely busy, particularly around Christmas time. In terms of the lights, there are no guarantees, but the remoter you go and the longer you stay, the better the chances. There are even diggers and tree choppers to climb up into. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Why not travel further afield beyond the Arctic Circle to explore the remote Arctic wilderness. Luckily, the Elf workshop is right next door, so if your kids are more into craft than ball games, you can still keep on eye on both of them while they do their thing. - Where to stay One way tickets are 3.50 euro for adults, and 1.80 euro for kids. There are additional costs for the sleigh and carriage rides as well as hiking and snowshoeing with the Huskies. Begin your Lapland experience with a convenient pickup . These shirts makes a fun but quality gag gift for soccer fanatics. The only thing we never seen was the Northern lights. . Many operators offer single day trips all the way up to one week epic adventures. Responsible Travel ups the sustainable game with its off-the-beaten-track, sevennight Northern Lights Family Christmas in Lapland trip, which whisks you to the silent white wilderness of Menesjarvi, right up near Lake Inari. There are few places more beautiful. Rovaniemi celebrated The Grand Opening of Christmas Season in 19th of November 2022 in the Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Meet Alexandra! Apply now! Children have the opportunity to decorate the gingerbread confectionary that comes out of the oven. The downside is the cost of entrance and souvenirs. - Sights and attractions It's all about keeping that Christmas magic going year-round. However, during the summer months, there are no rides. Some visitors find it far too commercialised and busy, with an impersonal atmosphere. With Rovaniemi being the official hometown of Santa, Santa Claus Village is as close as you can get to the myth and the legend. Elf performances are full of energy, laughter and fun. Sleigh bells ringing in snow laden forests, reindeer frolicking in the glistening snow; Finnish Lapland is all this and so much more. - Authenticity, PLAN Seeing Santa as the hook for a longer, more varied trip to the Arctic keeps both kids and parents happy. - Action If you click and buy a product, we may earn revenue. We highly recommend this experience for children and adults alike. - Brochures We use cookies on our website to give you the best experience. Santa Claus Village is a Christmas village tour park just north of Rovaniemi Finland in Finnish Lapland. Because of the Lapland Santa Claus Villages proximity to Rovaniemi, its very easy to stay in the city and make a day trip out to the park. The summer in Lapland can offer an interesting variety of weather conditions, with a longer warm spell expected in July. - Santa Claus Christmas House is a large gift shop that also includes some Christmas exhibitions. Subscribe for weekly inspiration and deals from The Times and The Sunday Times. However, the attractions within are privately and independently run. Theres no place like Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, for a genuine Christmas experience. 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. Visit Rovaniemi - your true Midnight Sun experience on the Arctic Circle, Lapland Finland. Visit a reindeer farm and have chance to ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, then visit a husky dog farm, where you can meet the dogs and puppies, and hop aboard for a short sled ride. Confused and not sure which one to visit? Please note that all mail will need the appropriate postage stamp which can also be purchased at the post office. However, some people prefer a quieter, more remote and less commercialised option through specialist tour operators further north of the Arctic Circle. - Hits - Who we are - Authenticity, PLAN At the end of May, nights are white. Rakas Restaurant and Bar is a popular spot selling local Scandinavian dishes. - Visit Rovaniemi Privacy Policy. There are plenty of things to do in Rovaniemi in the summer, and with 24 hours of light,theres no limits to time of action. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This is the southernmost latitude (66 33) that experiences at least one full day of the polar night during the winter and one full day of the midnight sun during the summer. travel Here you'll find listed travel agencies that organise trips to Rovaniemi from all over the world. ), LOVE 2023 Husky, Reindeer Farm and Santa Village Experience - Tripadvisor 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. For some people, they're a sign of good luck. It is home to approximately 50 draws in the form of activity companies, shops, restaurants and cafs.