Rovaniemi with Children: 9 Things Kids Love (and What They Cost)
Wondering whether there’s much to do in Rovaniemi with children? Absolutely, and more than you’d expect.
While Lapland is famous for fast snowmobile rides and late-night northern lights hunts, Rovaniemi is actually one of the most family-friendly destinations in Finland. Whether you’re travelling with a baby, a toddler or older children, there are plenty of fun, age-appropriate things to do, from reindeer rides and forest adventures to hands-on museums and winter sports made just for kids.
Here’s our guide to the best activities in Rovaniemi for the whole family, with the practical details for each: where it is, how to get there, what it costs and what’s included. To see how they fit into a week, our 7-day Lapland itinerary with kids puts each one on the day that suits it, along with the stories from our own trips.
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Prices and opening hours are for the 2026–27 winter, checked in October 2026.
1. Meet Santa Claus at Santa Claus Village
📍 Santa Claus Office, Joulumaantie 1, 96930 Rovaniemi
🚗 10 min by car or taxi (free parking) or 30–40 min by bus
🕘 Every day: 9am–7pm from 16 November, 8am–8pm from 30 November to 3 January, 9am–6pm from 4 January to 31 March
💶 Free to meet Santa; photos and video from €57
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s crowded during high season. But meeting Santa in his official hometown is still an experience worth having, especially for little ones.
When you arrive at the Santa Claus office, you’ll get a time slot to go in and see Santa. You can’t book a regular visit ahead, so in December go first thing in the morning. But here’s the catch: once inside, you’ll find another long queue that can test the patience of even the most mellow child, and the wait can feel like forever. Make sure to pack snacks, a drink and maybe a small toy or book to keep them entertained.
Santa greets children in their own language (he speaks around a dozen) and takes a few moments to chat. Some kids are star-struck; others might cry. Totally normal. If your child has written a letter or made a drawing, they can give it to him themselves. And if you’d like Santa to hand them a present, the elves sell a surprise gift (€35) before the meeting. You can’t bring your own.
Photos and video: you can’t use your own camera or phone during the meeting itself, only in the rest of the office. The elves take professional photos and a video of every visit, and you decide afterwards whether to buy them. Downloads start at €57 for up to five people (€5 for each extra person), and a printed A4 photo is €42. Expensive, yes, but they’re the only pictures you’ll have of the moment.
How it went for us: In January the queue inside took us about 25 minutes. In late November, with a 10-month-old and a 2.5-year-old, it took about an hour. We bought the photo and video package both times.
Skipping the queue: the Christmas Express Pass gets your family a booked time and a private meeting of about five minutes, photos and video included, for €500. We haven’t used it ourselves, and with the normal photos at €57 it only makes sense if your child really can’t queue, which is most likely in December. Book early, because there’s no refund if you cancel within 14 days.
👉 Our Santa Claus Village guide: the post office, crossing the Arctic Circle and the rest of the village
👉 Day 1 of our Lapland itinerary with kids: how the visit fits into a day with small kids
2. Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park: Ice Skating Through a Forest
📍 Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park
🚗 15 min by car or taxi, or Kotatieva’s free shuttle (see below)
🕘 Daily 10am–5pm, 5 December to 21 March, snow permitting
💶 €59 adults, €49 ages 3–11, under-3s free; all equipment included
Tickets: Kotatieva’s day ticket on GetYourGuide lets you cancel for free until 24 hours before or pay later, which helps if a cold snap is forecast. It costs more than on Kotatieva’s own site and doesn’t include the free shuttle, so book there if you’re not driving.
Kotatieva Winter Leisure Park is a family winter park in the forest, about 10 km from Rovaniemi. The big draw is an ice-skating trail that winds between the trees, and one ticket covers the whole day: skating, sledding, snowshoeing, kick sledges, ice bowling and the gear for all of it.
Even if your child isn’t ready to skate, they can still join in the fun. Toddlers can ride alongside you on a kick sledge or toboggan, and even buggies are allowed on the ice. Skates, helmets and skating supports are included in the ticket, so beginners don’t need anything of their own.
Little ones will love the sledding hill, the snow toys and meeting the park’s reindeer. When it’s time to warm up, there’s a warm changing room, a café-restaurant and a Lappish hut with an open fire for toasting sausages. Lunch isn’t included (from €14 for adults and €7 for kids: soup, or the burger or pizza of the day), and neither is the reindeer ride (from €30 for adults and €25 for kids).
How it went for us: Three trips, and we still haven’t made it. The first time we heard about Kotatieva too late, at the end of November it hadn’t opened yet for lack of snow, and on our last trip it was too cold. So check the season dates, and keep Pilke or Arktikum up your sleeve in case a cold snap is forecast.
Without a car: Kotatieva’s free shuttle leaves the city centre at 10am, 11am and noon and stops at Santa Claus Village 15 minutes later. Buses back leave at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30pm, though the noon and 2:30 buses stop after 10 March. You don’t book a seat, but buy your ticket on Kotatieva’s site ahead of time, as pre-bought tickets get priority when it’s full.
👉 Kotatieva’s forest cabins: if you’d rather stay right there.
3. Kids’ Snowmobiles
📍 Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park, Joulumaantie 5, 96930 Rovaniemi
🚗 10 min by car or taxi or 30–40 min by bus; the track is in Santa Claus Village
💶 €25 for 10 minutes, ages 4–12 and up to 150 cm
Tickets: book a time directly on the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park’s site.
At the Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park in Santa Claus Village, there’s a small snowmobile track just for children. It’s a great place to let your child try snowmobiling on their own, safely, and it’s easy to combine with your visit to Santa.
Before starting, the staff make sure they’re properly geared up and give clear instructions, and parents are encouraged to stay nearby. Then the kids drive a short dedicated track for 10 minutes, and at the end every little rider gets a snowmobile driving licence, a proud moment guaranteed! We haven’t tried it ourselves since our son was still under four on our trips. If yours is too, skip this one: a reindeer ride works even with a baby.
If you’d like to drive too: on Wild Nordic’s family snowmobile safari, parents drive their own snowmobiles through the forest while the kids ride in a sled behind the guide. Afterwards the children drive mini snowmobiles in a safe area and earn a driving licence, while the guide lights a campfire for sausages, marshmallows and warm berry juice. It takes about two hours with pickup in Rovaniemi, and it’s for kids aged 4 and up. At around €160 per adult it’s a big step up from the track, so it’s only worth it if you want to snowmobile yourselves too. Bring your physical driving licence if you’re driving.
4. Reindeer Safaris: Gentle Enough for a Baby
📍 Santa Claus Reindeer, Joulumaantie 13, 96930 Rovaniemi
🚗 10 min by car or taxi or 30–40 min by bus
💶 Short rides at Santa Claus Village: €30 adults and €20 kids for 400 m, €50 and €35 for 800 m; about €10 more from 1 December to 10 January
Tickets: the short rides at Santa Claus Village are sold on the spot only, so there’s nothing to book ahead.
Reindeer rides are calm, scenic and ideal for families visiting Lapland with toddlers or even babies. The pace is slow and peaceful, and you can cuddle up with your little one under warm blankets as you glide through snowy forest trails.
There are many providers around Rovaniemi. Santa Claus Reindeer at Santa Claus Village is the most convenient if you’re visiting anyway: the Reindeer Path is 400 m (5–7 minutes), the Forest Path is 800 m (10–12 minutes), and small children ride in the sleigh with an adult.
How it went for us: We took our son on a reindeer ride when he was 10 months old, tucked in under the blankets, and it worked perfectly.
Our pick with a baby or toddler
Apukka’s reindeer journey is a 2–3 km sleigh ride with pickup included, and children under 3 ride for free (just add them to the booking). We haven’t done it ourselves, but it’s the one we’d book with a baby.
For kids from 4: Raitola, where we did our own combo day, runs a Family Day with a 30-minute reindeer ride, a short husky ride, a salmon soup lunch and a surprise gift for the kids. The farm is about 15 km from the centre, and transfers aren’t included.
👉 Day 2 of our Lapland itinerary with kids: how a reindeer day fits into a week with small kids
5. Husky Safaris: Our Favourite, for Kids From Four
📍 Parpalandia husky farm, Rajalantie 209, 97140 Rovaniemi
🚗 Pickup from the city centre or Santa Claus Village; about 4 hours in all
💶 From €219 per person, transfers and BBQ included
Driving your own husky team through the snowy forest was hands down one of the best things we did in Lapland (the other was going hiking!). The dogs are friendly, playful and remarkably strong, capable of running up to 70 km a day, and they absolutely love to run. The basics are simple to learn, and once you’re off, it’s just you, the swish of the runners on the snow and a team of huskies working together through the silent forest. If there’s one activity we’d tell you to splurge on, this is it.
It’s a much bigger adventure than a reindeer ride: faster, deeper into the wilderness and much colder, so it’s best for kids aged 4 and up, who usually love the excitement and will remember it forever! Kids usually ride in the sled while an adult drives.
The husky tour we did
After driving instructions at the farm, you drive your own team on a 6–10 km forest trail, two to a sled and swapping drivers halfway, then warm up in a kota with hot drinks and grilled sausages. Even on a budget, it’s worth the splurge. It’s not suitable for children under 4.
For younger siblings, there’s still fun to be had: they can stay warm indoors or watch the friendly huskies being harnessed. If your kids are 4 or older but not ready for a long ride, Raitola’s Family Day includes a short 800 m husky ride alongside the reindeer.
👉 Our winter adventures guide: longer husky safaris for older kids and adults
6. Santa’s Pets: Petting Zoo Fun
📍 Santa’s Pets, Joulupukin Pajakylä, Pukinpolku 12, 96930 Rovaniemi
🚗 10 min by car or taxi or 30–40 min by bus; it’s at the north end of Santa Claus Village, near Santa Claus Office
🕘 Every day, 11am–6pm
💶 Winter (from 26 October): €15 adults, €10 ages 3–15; reindeer food €5 a bag
Tickets: buy your entry when you arrive. The walks below need booking ahead on Santa’s Pets’ site.
Located right in Santa Claus Village, Santa’s Pets is a petting zoo with alpacas, donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, a pony, different birds and, of course, reindeer, which kids can feed. We haven’t been ourselves, but close friends went with their little one: it’s not big, but with a small child you can easily spend an hour there. It’s also a few minutes’ walk from Santa, so it’s an easy way to fill the wait if your time slot is a while off.
Your ticket is valid all day, so you can leave and come back, and in winter it includes sledging down a little hill on site, with the gear provided. If it gets too cold, warm up in one of the little huts, with a glögi (the Finnish hot spiced drink) if you want one. There’s also a campfire and barbecue area, and snacks and drinks are sold at the elf’s store.
For something more memorable, you can book a guided forest walk with an alpaca or a reindeer. A 30-minute alpaca walk costs €45 for adults and €30 for ages 3–9, who walk their alpaca together with an adult. A 30-minute reindeer walk is €50 for adults and €35 for ages 10–15. Entry is included in both. The terrain is uneven and not stroller-friendly, so if you’re visiting with babies or toddlers, bring a baby carrier. And if it’s colder than about -20°C, the alpacas won’t walk.
7. Indoor Fun: Pilke and Arktikum
Lapland is famous for its snowy adventures, but if you need a break from the cold or just a slower day, Rovaniemi has two excellent family-friendly museums, both within walking distance of the centre and each other.
How it went for us: When it dropped to -32°C on our second January trip, Pilke and Arktikum are where we spent our days, with lunch at Arktikum’s café in between.
Pilke Science Centre
📍 Pilke Science Centre, Ounasjoentie 6, 96200 Rovaniemi
🚗 Less than a 10-minute walk from the city centre
🕘 Tue–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm; closed Mondays except in December
💶 €7 adults, €5 ages 7–15, under-7s free; family ticket €20
If you’re looking for a fun, educational indoor activity in Rovaniemi with children, Pilke Science Centre is definitely one of the most family-friendly museums we’ve ever been to. It’s all about forests, nature and sustainability, presented in a way that works for kids of all ages, toddlers included, and for adults as well. With a child, whatever their age, it shouldn’t be skipped, and you can easily spend a few hours there.
Your kids can build towering structures with wooden blocks, test their minds with hands-on logic puzzles and try simple video games. One of the highlights? Climbing into a full-size logging machine, a thrill for little explorers! The atmosphere is relaxed, and no one will mind if your child runs around or gets a little loud.
Before you leave, don’t miss the gift shop. It sells handcrafted local items, from wooden cutting boards and jewellery to toys and homeware, and it’s our go-to spot for authentic Finnish souvenirs.
Arktikum Museum
📍 Arktikum, Pohjoisranta 4, 96200 Rovaniemi
🚗 Less than a 10-minute walk from the city centre
🕘 10am–6pm, daily from December to February; closed Mondays in November; closed 24 December
💶 €22 adults, €54 family, under-7s free
Tickets: Arktikum’s day ticket on GetYourGuide costs the same €22 per adult as Arktikum’s own, and you can cancel for free until 24 hours before or pay later. With two school-age kids, Arktikum’s own family ticket (€54) works out cheaper.
Arktikum is a great indoor stop, especially if you’re visiting with older kids or just want a slower-paced day. It’s all about Arctic nature, science and Sámi culture, with beautifully curated exhibits and cool visuals. One of the highlights is a short film showing how nature in the Arctic changes through the seasons. It’s super calming and really captivating, the kind of thing you could watch on repeat.
It isn’t built as a playground the way Pilke is, so it suits kids who are a bit older, but it’s still great for a few hours exploring Arctic life and the history of Rovaniemi.
Lunch at the café: when we went, the lunch buffet was one of the best in Rovaniemi and great value for money, and you don’t need a museum ticket to eat there. The café has had a new operator since September 2026, so the menu may look different now; the buffet costs €18. In November the café is closed at weekends.
The gift shop at Arktikum is even larger than the one at Pilke, with everything from beautifully designed postcards and handcrafted gifts to Arctic berries, natural skincare and even reindeer meat.
👉 Days 5 and 6 of our Lapland itinerary with kids: how we fit the two museums into a cold week with a toddler
⭐ Culture Pass: if you’d like to see Korundi, the art museum, too, or go back to Arktikum on another day, the Culture Pass on GetYourGuide covers both for seven days with unlimited visits, for €30, or €65 for a family. Since November 2025 it no longer includes Pilke.
8. Ranua Wildlife Park: Arctic Animals in a Peaceful Forest
📍 Ranua Wildlife Park, Rovaniementie 29, 97700 Ranua
🚗 About 1 h by car; the bus from Rovaniemi stops right at the entrance, or a day trip with pickup includes the transfer and your ticket
🕘 Daily 10am–4pm in winter
💶 €24.50 adults and €20 ages 4–14 online (€2 more at the gate), under-4s free; family €74 online
Tickets: Ranua’s entry ticket on GetYourGuide lets you cancel for free until 24 hours before. With two or more kids aged 4 to 14, Ranua’s own family ticket works out cheaper.
Ranua Wildlife Park is perfect for a day trip from Rovaniemi with children. Set in a quiet forest, this walk-through wildlife park feels more like a nature trail than a typical zoo. It’s home to over 50 Arctic and subarctic species, including lynxes, wolves, arctic foxes and Finland’s only polar bears.
👉 Our complete guide to Ranua Zoo: getting there by car or bus, tickets, food and when to go
What makes Ranua stand out is the layout of the park. In some sections you walk above the habitats of large carnivores, so kids and adults alike can watch them from above.
The entire trail is stroller-accessible. In the summer months there’s also a petting zoo, plus playgrounds for kids to enjoy. Ranua is a calm and engaging place that works well for toddlers and older kids alike.
How it went for us: We went with our 10-month-old, arrived just after the 10am opening and didn’t leave until 3:30pm, without rushing. He slept through two hours of it.
👉 Day 4 of our Lapland itinerary with kids: Ranua as a day trip from Rovaniemi
9. Kid-friendly Winter Hikes
🕘 Go in daylight: in early January there are only about 5–6 hours of it
💶 Free: the trails, lean-tos and firewood cost nothing
Can you go hiking in Lapland with kids? Totally, and it’s actually super rewarding. We did the hike to King’s Lean-to with a 2-year-old and a 10-month-old, and all of us, kids and adults, enjoyed it.
There are plenty of guided tours, though most require children to be at least 5, and plenty of self-guided trails you can tackle at your own pace.
⭐ Our best tip: ask your host to come along. We hiked to the Korouoma frozen waterfalls with our host on the first trip and to King’s lean-to with Sanna, our host, on the second, and both were awesome. Locals know the trails, can tell you how much snow there is right now and whether you’ll need snowshoes, and at Korouoma our host even had snowshoes for us.
Just bundle up, pack snacks and a thermos of hot berry juice, and spend the day out in nature. Fresh air and wide-open spaces have a calming effect on kids (and parents!), so you’ll find everyone a bit more relaxed.
For gear, we swear by normal baby carriers, toddler hiking carriers and sleds. Kids absolutely love being pulled through the snow, and it’s all part of the Arctic adventure.
Is Lapland too cold for kids? Not at all, as long as they’re dressed right. Most of the time it stays between 0°C (32°F) and -15°C (5°F), and local toddlers play outside every day. What to dress them in, and what we did when it dropped to -32°C, is in our guide to Lapland with a toddler.
Here are three trails near Rovaniemi that work with children, from easiest to most rewarding:
Ounasvaara nature trail
📍 Ounaspaviljonki car park, 3 km from the centre
Just 3 km from Rovaniemi’s centre, the Ounasvaara Nature Trail is super easy to get to and perfect for a half-day family outing. The route winds through short loops and forest paths, so you can let your toddler toddle along safely or pull them in a sled if the snow’s deep.
In winter, the city also maintains a separate winter walking trail on Ounasvaara, so if the nature trail is deep in snow, that’s the easier option.
Pikkurompa Trail
📍 Makialampi car park on Road 4, about 25 km north of the centre
This easy 4 km route is perfect for families. You’ll wander through a mix of marshy wetlands and snowy forest at a relaxed pace to a Lapp hut halfway, where you can warm up by the fire and have lunch, then come back the same way. The full loop over Sortovaara hill is 4.5 km, and its second half is a little harder. It’s a popular spot for hikers and snowshoers, though the trail isn’t maintained in winter, so after fresh snow you may need snowshoes.
King’s lean-to (Santavaara hill)
📍 Top of Santavaara hill, about 8 km north of the centre; parking at the start of the trail
The hike to King’s Lean-to is a gentle uphill walk through peaceful forest trails, perfect for families with kids. On our way, we even spotted a few reindeer. Later in the winter, with deeper snow, you may need snowshoes, so ask your host before you go.
How it went for us: We went in November, when there wasn’t much snow yet. It took us about 40 minutes to reach the shelter, and our son fell asleep in the baby carrier on the way up. We had lunch over the fire, then sledded part of the way down.
At the top there are two lean-to shelters with fire pits, and firewood in the woodshed next to them. We grilled sausages there and took in the views of the Ounasjoki River, especially beautiful at sunset. The best part? You can sled part of the way back down, fun for kids and adults alike.
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👉 Day 7 of our Lapland itinerary with kids: our King’s lean-to hike with a local and her husky
Final Thoughts: Rovaniemi Works Well for Young Families
Lapland doesn’t need to be all adrenaline and late-night tours. Travelling to Rovaniemi with children means slowing down, enjoying the small everyday moments and seeing the Arctic through your child’s eyes.
From meeting Santa to watching polar bears, from skating through a forest to cuddling goats, there’s so much to do in Lapland that’s not just possible with small kids, it’s wonderful.
Let the snow slow you down. Plan less, embrace more. And don’t forget the snacks!
👉 Planning your trip?
For how it all fits into a week, including a plan B for the coldest days, see our 7-day Lapland itinerary with kids.
Where we’d stay in Rovaniemi with kids: cottages, family hotels and what to look for
Lapland with a baby or toddler: getting there, packing and how cold it really gets
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