Discover the authentic Santa Claus Village on holidays to Rovaniemi.
About a hundred years ago, by a casual traveler, the news about the existence of Mount Korvatunturi and its inhabitants, where Santa Claus himself lives, began to spread throughout the world. Santa Claus, however, wanted to keep the privacy of his home. He came up with a genius idea that would allow his friends to visit whenever they wanted, and that would allow everyone to enjoy the real Christmas spirit.
For half a century, Santa Claus has been regularly visiting the Arctic Circle, his place of work near the city of Rovaniemi. Since the turn of the millennium, the Lappish Christmas center, Santa Claus Village in the Arctic Circle became the most spectacular Santa Claus destination in the world. The popularity of the destination saw the number of visitors double. The number of international visitors, in particular, increased fourfold in a few years to over half a million.
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is not just one company, but more than 40 companies working together in the Arctic Circle area. Therefore, different companies have different opening hours, however, don’t worry because they have longer opening hours during the Christmas season between the end of November and the beginning of January. Likewise, we must not forget that we are in a Nordic country where the schedules are different from those of southern Europe (they usually close at 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.).
Top 5 things to see and do in Santa Claus Village:
Visit Central Square; Santa’s Central Town Square
The central square of Santa Claus Village is always lit by lanterns aligned with the Arctic Circle. You can try hugging the gigantic snowman or play in the playground on the left side of the square. This square is always set to Christmas music and lots of lights. Above all, it is very pleasant to walk after 5 p.m., when some shops have already closed and Santa Claus has already gone to rest, since that is when all the tranquility comes to the village.
Here you will also find the famous thermometer that indicates the outside temperature of the town. It is a good place to take a picture and show that you have been below zero, an unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime experience.
2. The official Santa Claus Office.
Located at the Central Plaza, right on the line of the Arctic Circle (Napapiiri) is Santa’s Official Visitation Center (Santa Claus Office). Its large doors lead to the lobby that leads to a corridor themed in Christmas, which will take you to the stairs of the Pendulum Tower, where on the second floor Santa Claus awaits you with open arms! Here you can visit Santa every day of the year, except on December 24th when he goes out in his sleigh pulled by his reindeer, to spread happiness and gifts around the world! When it’s your turn, you can be with Santa Claus for about 5 minutes, hug and talk to him. Of course you can immortalize the moment by taking some pictures, which you can buy in the shop at the exit if you feel like your photo or some other souvenir.
3. Santa’s Official Post Office
Welcome to a colorful world of beautiful postcards, stamps, and unique gifts! In front of his office you will find the to Santa’s post office, where Santa receives all the letters sent to him and you can send all kinds of packages, letters and postcards from here with the help of the funny elves. All mail that leaves this office is stamped with a very special stamp and The original stamp! They are a full-service post office, so you can also send postcards or letters by ordinary mail, with immediate departure the next day, you just need a stamp and leave it in the orange mailbox.
If you want to wish Christmas happy to anyone, that letter must be delivered to the red mailbox, the color of Santa Claus! The secret behind the red mailbox is that all letters will be kept here throughout the year and sent for Christmas.
Or you can make your friends and relatives happy by ordering a letter to Santa Claus for them, which will be sent by Santa Claus himself before Christmas. Did you know that every year Santa Claus receives around half a million letters at his post office in the Arctic Circle?
4. Roosevelt Cottage; the Reindeer Souvenir Shop
This reindeer antler souvenir shop is located in the historic Roosevelt Cabin, the oldest building in Santa Claus Village in Lapland. It was built in 1950 to celebrate Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt’s visit to the Arctic Circle. Reindeer antlers can be engraved on site with something commemorative as an original gift.
5. Mini Snowmobiles at Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park
To the left of the reindeer circuit of the Santa Claus Village, there is also something hidden… the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park.
Who wants to sit on the sled if you can drive your own snowmobile yourself? Kids can enjoy driving the mini-snowmobiles on a supervised circular circuit for about 10 minutes. The minimum age to be able to drive them is 2 years old. For those children who are already a little older we can arrange a 30-minute mini-safari with a guide in our private forest.
It’s always best to book, especially in the high season months so you don’t find yourself full. Appropriate clothing and gloves are required for the activity. Helmets are provided by the provider.
If you are looking for us to prepare a tailor-made holidays to Lapland , contact us and one of our Lapland Travel Specialists will design your dream trip!
