Yes, Santa’s village is worth it, because, even though touristy, it is quite a unique place – like a winter wonderland. It preserves the magic of Christmas throughout the year, as you can meet Santa even in July. It feels like it’s been taken out of a Christmas movie set and chances are, if you’re visiting Lapland, you’re there, at least partly, because of Santa. But the village is much more than just him, read on to find out more about what you can see and do there, so that you can make up your own mind whether or not you should visit.
What You'll Find In This Post:
How much is the ticket for Santa Claus village?
Santa Claus village is free entry, and you don’t need a ticket to visit. It is a relatively big open area just outside Rovaniemi with different restaurants, hotels and attractions. Keep reading for more information on what you can do there.
How to get there?
How to get to Santa Claus village by car?
Getting to the village is relatively straightforward, even though it’s located about 8 km (5 miles) away from the city of Rovaniemi (Google maps link
).
If you’re renting a car, there’s ample parking space (it’s also free), and it’s a quick drive from the airport (just across the street actually) and about 10–15 minutes from Rovaniemi train station.
Are you worried about driving in the arctic conditions? – Check our article on driving safely in Lapland here.
How to get to Santa Claus village by public transport?
The village is also easily accessible by public transport. Bus number 8 will pick you up from the railway station and drive you there in about 35 minutes. A single ticket costs 3.60 EUR and you can buy your ticket directly from the bus driver. There is a bus every 45 minutes starting from 6 am during the week, with the last one departing a little after 6 pm. Beware that at the weekends, the bus service is limited – there is a bus only every hour from 12 pm to 5 pm. You can check the current timetable here.
Alternatively, there is a private bus company – the Santa Claus bus. It’s a bit more expensive than the public one (one way ticket is 4 EUR, but a return trip will cost 7 EUR). It has a few more buses operating on the weekend and you can find their schedule here.
How to get to Santa Claus village by taxi?
Taxis are another option, but they’ll be quite expensive. Expect to pay about 30 EUR for a taxi from the railway station and about 15 EUR from the airport. There are a couple of companies operating in Rovaniemi and I recommend installing their apps if you decide to use them. They are very easy to set up and user-friendly. You can see a price estimate before ordering your car and then follow the taxi closing in on your location. Note that services like Uber or Bolt don’t operate in Finland.
Is it worth staying at the Santa Claus village?
There are a number of hotels in and around the village, so you might be tempted to book your accommodation directly there. There are advantages to that, for example, most of the hotels will offer free transfer from the airport/ railway station. Moreover, you’ll be very close to Santa during your whole stay. The village also has everything you’ll need (I’ll discuss that more in the next paragraph), so if you’re the type of traveller that likes to go to a resort and have everything close by, this will be a great option for you.
You can stay at the glass resort, for instance, where you can sleep in a very fancy, modern looking cottage or you can try Santa’s igloos for a different experience. However, most of the hotels there are quite pricy, with the cheapest one – a small cottage in Santa’s holiday village – starting at about 1400 EUR for a week’s stay. We stayed for half of that in an AirBnB in the city. Prices, of course, will vary depending on the season, but expect to pay a little extra for the privilege of sleeping only a few hundred meters away from the Big Man. Another potential drawback is that you’ll be outside Rovaniemi, so if you want to go out for an evening walk in some of Rovaniemi’s great parks, it’ll be more difficult to do (that problem, of course, disappears if you have a car). Ultimately, it’s for you to decide based on your budget and your way of travel.
What can you do in Santa’s village? + Map
As you can see from the map, Santa’s village offers everything you would expect on your Lappish trip. There is a husky park, where you can go for a husky sleigh ride (an incredible experience), there is also a reindeer farm, snowmobiles and much more. If you’re staying in the village, you will have access to virtually everything you’ll probably want to do in Lapland anyway.
A few highlights with map numbers:
Santa’s main office (26)
This is where you will find Saint Nick. It’s a free entry, but you’ll most probably have to wait in line, as there is no option to book a time slot. You will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Santa privately for about 1–2 minutes. The elves will take your picture with Santa and record the whole meeting. After leaving the room, they will greet you in the next hall, offering you to take that precious moment home. You can choose hard or digital copies, prices start at 30 EUR.
Santa’s official post office (25)
This is a real working post office where you can send your loved ones postcards from the Arctic circle. There are two boxes – one that will be emptied daily and a second one where all the postcards are stored and will be sent out in time for Christmas. The choice is yours, the post stamps cost the same, irrespective of which box you go with. Furthermore, you can see the letters that Santa’s received from anywhere in the world, with the best ones exhibited on a pinboard.
Get your certificate for crossing the Arctic circle (19)
You can receive an official document stating that you’ve crossed the Arctic circle at that location, if you want to brag about it. It costs 5 EUR and they finalise it in front of you. It’s a bit stupid, but if you collect funny awards, this might be for you.
Mrs. Santa Claus cottage (15)
Here you can have a quick break, with something hot to drink and a chat with Mrs. Claus, who is always eager to welcome visitors and tell stories about Lapland. You have to pay to enter, it’s 5 EUR, and you can book online in advance or right there on the spot. If you want to have a picture with her, it will set you back another 20 EUR.
The Elf’s farmyard (10)
This is something like a petting zoo and is great if you are visiting with kids. Entry costs 15 EUR for adults and 10 for kids. You can also book a walk in the forest with a reindeer, with prices starting at 35 EUR (this includes your entry ticket) for a 15-minute walk. There’s no need to pre-book, you can buy your tickets on arrival.
Where to eat in Santa’s village?
There are a number of restaurants to choose from and most of them are decent, but we had two absolute favourites that were really on another level.
Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi (13)
This is a small and cozy place in the shape of a traditional Finnish Kota (hut). It has an open fire in the middle and the tables are positioned in a circle around it. The turnover is quite good, so even if there’s no space available when you get there, you shouldn’t have to wait too long to be seated. The menu is relatively short, but you will find every Lappish staple here – creamy salmon soup, sautéed reindeer and grilled arctic salmon. The food is delicious and the staff – extremely friendly and accommodating. One thing you should really try while there is the traditional Lappish coffee, served with cloudberry jam and squeaky cheese. Ask your server to explain how you’re supposed to drink it.
Santa’s Salmon Place (33)
This place has a very unassuming look from the outside, but trust me, it’s fantastic! It only serves one thing – fresh salmon cooked over an open fire. It is to die for! You must also try their squeaky cheese, which comes with homemade cloudberry jam and it’s great to enjoy together with some hot berry juice!
You may also like:
How To Dress In Winter In Lapland? – Ultimate Guide With Packing List
5 Amazing Day Trips From Rovaniemi You Must Experience
7 Fun Activities To Try In Lapland In Winter
Essential Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Rovaniemi
How To Visit Lapland On A Budget? – Complete Guide
Heavenly Lappish Foods You Will Love – With Restaurant Recommendations
Final words
I hope you found my guide helpful and it provided you with a complete picture, so that you can decide on your own if you should go there or not. If this is your first time in Lapland, or you’re visiting with kids, I’d say it should go on your must-do list of activities. I personally wouldn’t stay there, as the price is just too high for me, and if you’re renting a car, getting there won’t be a problem at all. However, if Christmas is not really your cup of tea, feel free to skip it altogether. Whatever you decide, have fun on your adventure and safe travels!
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