Finland

This is what it's like to visit Santa's House in Rovaniemi

With Santa Claus at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
With Santa Claus at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

When you consider your first trip in winter to the Finnish Lapland, and you look for the annual y essential visits, as a top they will offer you the visit of Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi.

If, indeed, it is about going to visit! santa claus house!

I assure you that this visit is not only of interest to children, but also to adults whose faces during it reflect the return to the illusions of childhood.

 
 

This enclave close to the city of Rovaniemi, one of the most important of the Lapland region in Finland, I visited it for the first time many years ago during my trip to North Cape in van

How to cross and visit the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi

And I mean the enclave, not the Santa Claus village, which did not exist at that time.

The interest of this enclave. and the reason why we then made a stop on the route is that it is the place near Rovaniemi where you can Cross the imaginary line of Arctic Circle.

At that time, in this place you could only find a sign indicating said geographical landmark, and a small wooden house next to the point on the road where a line on the road marked the aforementioned imaginary line.

Of course we tourists did the typical photo crossing the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland

Roosevelt's cabin in Rovaniemi

The aforementioned wooden house, known as the Roosevelt's Cabin, has historical importance.

On your trip to Lapland, you can sign up for a Complete tour of Rovaniemi in which you will visit its most attractive corners, with a duration of six hours and guide in spanish

It was hastily built in 1950 when the first lady of the United States decided to visit this place to find out how the reconstruction work in this area of Finland, greatly affected by the Second World War.

 
 

The cabin was intended to host the welcome ceremony, and as a curiosity I will tell you that it was built 108 meters further south of the true geographical line of the Arctic Circle.

But the truth is that, from then on, the cabin it turned into a tourist attraction.

Reindeer Sleigh Tour at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
Reindeer Sleigh Tour at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

It was an essential stop for those of us who were traveling through the area and stopped to take the typical photo, in addition to having a coffee or buying a souvenir.

Finally, in 1965 a new cabin was built in the geographically exact location of the Arctic Circle (the one I saw on my trip...), and in the 70s around 90.000 visitors a year passed through this place.

Places to visit in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

From that cabin is how, especially since the year 2000, the various attractions of a complex known as the Santa Claus Village.

It is a group of buildings located eight kilometers north of Rovaniemi, considered the birthplace of Santa Claus, and whose first office was installed in 1985.

Now when you get to Santa Claus Village, you find various attractions that in some way can remind you of a Theme Park, although not in a closed area, but open to all visitors.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland

This is what Santa Claus's visit to your home in Rovaniemi is like

The most notable corner is undoubtedly the Santa Claus House, also known as Papai Noel, the first place where all visitors go.

To give you an idea, when you enter you have the feeling of finding yourself in a small theme park attraction.

Going through different rooms decorated with all kinds of objects that refer to Santa Claus, you reach the crowning moment which is greeting the same person in person Papai Noel.

This character is waiting for you sitting in his chair and invites you to sit down to have a brief chat while, in parallel, they are taking some photos and a video of you.

Then when leaving the building, in the store remembrances is where you can purchase these graphic souvenirs.

La Santa Claus House It is open at all times of the year, not only in winter, and for the thousands of visitors who come to it every day. greet Santa Claus, you must be prepared for the possible long queue that forms to make the visit.

Here you have all the information on the Santa Claus Snowmobile Tour, and you also have this other alternative of signing up for Tour to Santa's House with a duration of four hours in which you will make the transfer in a comfortable minivan

Los Santa Claus House schedules They are every day of the week, varying according to the time of year, but starting at 9 in the morning, closing between 5 and 8 in the evening.

La Admission to Santa Claus House is free, and here you can check the schedules in detail, including special days.

Santa Claus Village Post Office: Send your letter to Santa Claus

Another place to visit is the Santa Claus Post Office, which is managed by the Finnish Post Office.

Santa Claus Post Office in Rovaniemi in Lapland
Santa Claus Post Office in Rovaniemi in Lapland

It is a beautiful establishment, very comfortable and colorful, where you can send your letter to Santa Claus, for which you have cozy sofas and the warmth of a fireplace so that writing your own letter is a very pleasant experience.

You have the opportunity to see numerous letters, and you will be surprised by the original and often endearing requests of visitors who have left their letter.

 
 

As a curiosity, when we visited it, a blackboard indicated that in said Santa Claus Post Office More than 17 million letters had already been received from 199 countries around the world.

And it is also highlighted that during the time of Christmas, Santa Claus It received about 32.000 letters a day at that post office, with China, Poland and Italy occupying the top countries of origin.

Snowman World, ice hotel and restaurant in Santa Claus Village

Another corner to visit in Santa Claus Village is the Snowman world.

Ice restaurant at Snowman World in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
Ice restaurant at Snowman World in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

These are facilities that bring together a ice bar and restaurant, as well as a small ice Hotel.

In said ice restaurant you can taste the most typical dish of the area, the salmon soup, which taken hot is very comforting.

During the visit there is also the possibility of descending on large tires down an icy ramp; It is a short experience but I assure you that you reach more speed than you expect.

Reindeer and huskies in Santa Park

At the Santa Claus village There are other activities, some very suitable for children, and within what is configured as SantaPark.

So, for example, you can take a short tour through the forest riding a husky dog ​​sled.

Husky dog ​​sled in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
Husky dog ​​sled in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Or if you prefer a quieter ride, you can opt for the sleigh pulled by a reindeer.

In short, the visit of Santa Claus Village It is an essential experience in your trip to Rovaniemi, Especially in winter; and it will surely also be an unforgettable experience.

Don't forget your Travel Insurance

Are you organizing your trip or getaway? Don't leave without take out your travel insurance before, and here we explain why. If you hire it with us, you have a 5% discount

Santa Claus House Visiting Hours in Rovaniemi

In view of a possible trip, you should consult the availability of the different areas and their schedules, since these change throughout the year.

Santa Claus Tour in Rovaniemi

In view of your visit to Santa Claus Village, you have the option of signing up for a tour from Rovaniemi.

During your stay in Rovaniemi, you can sign up for various activities such as Northern Lights Tour or Snowmobile tour, of which you have extensive information

With a total duration of six hours, from Rovaniemi you will go to the aforementioned Santa Claus house driving a snowmobile.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi in Lapland Finland

Before arriving you will visit a reindeer farm and you will take a walk in reindeer sleigh, to finally visit the Santa Claus Village, with a typical Lappish meal included.

Photos of Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Here you have more photos of Santa Claus Village attractions, which you can visit near Rovaniemi in the Finnish Lapland.

About the Author

José Luis Sarralde

Journalist and traveler throughout his life, José Luis Sarralde is the founder of Guías Viajar, where since 2008 he has been capturing his travel experiences around the world, specializing in cultural and scenic destinations in Spain and Europe.

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