How involved it is to get to Rovaniemi will naturally depend on where in the world you’re coming from. We live in the United States, and a quick flight search didn’t return any non-stop options from the major U.S. airports I checked. Many flights are routed through Helsinki.
When we traveled to Lapland, we were coming from our adult daughter’s house in extreme western Austria, where we had spent Christmas. We went to Lapland after New Year’s. At the time, she lived about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Munich Airport and about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Zurich Airport. We chose to fly to Lapland from Munich via Finnair, with a layover in Helsinki. Unfortunately, our plane had a mechanical issue in Munich, which delayed our departure. As a result, we missed our connecting flight to Rovaniemi that night. Since it was the last flight out of Helsinki to Rovaniemi that evening, Finnair put us up in a hotel, and we were able to fly out early the next morning.
Another way to reach Rovaniemi is via the Santa Claus Express, an overnight train that departs from Helsinki. The journey takes around 12 hours, and as of this posting, there are direct options available (no need to change trains en route). However, you still have to get to Helsinki to take this train. We opted to fly from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, which only took about 1 ½ hours. The Santa Claus Express offers sleeper cabins in addition to regular train seating and restaurant cars. If we’d had more time, this would have been an option I would have loved to experience.
Arrival
We chose to rent a car for our time in Rovaniemi instead of using the city bus system. First, we didn’t want to stand around in the Arctic air waiting for a bus. Second, we like the flexibility that a car offers. Third, we planned to visit sites outside Rovaniemi that were beyond the reach of the bus system. If you’re not comfortable driving, you can opt for a transfer service to reach many places beyond the bus network. However, a car was more convenient for us.
My husband did all the driving in Lapland, and it didn’t seem too stressful for him. The roads there are mostly "snow roads," meaning they aren’t cleared down to the pavement, but they appeared well-packed. You do have to be cautious about not veering off into a snowbank since the edges of the road can be hard to see when covered in snow. It snowed lightly during our visit, but we didn’t encounter any blizzard-like conditions that made driving dangerous.
One thing that surprised us was the lack of covered parking anywhere we went. You’d think a region with so much snow would have plenty of covered or underground parking, but that wasn’t the case. Be sure to give yourself extra time each day to clear the snow from your car windows.
Rovaniemi Airport has a convenient rental car pickup system right at the airport—no shuttle bus required. The airport is small, and most (if not all) of the rental car companies have counters inside the terminal. While there was a bit of a wait to pick up the keys, it was a quick walk to the parking lot afterward. Again, there was no covered parking, so our rental car had quite a bit of snow on it. My son and I waited inside the airport while my husband brought the car to the front, making it easy to load our luggage. Unlike some airports, there wasn’t a police officer rushing us to move along as we loaded up. Overall, Rovaniemi is a laid-back and easily manageable airport.
What to Pack for a Lapland Arctic Adventure
I’ve been asked by quite a few people how to dress for Lapland during the winter. We initially brought the ski clothes we wear in Colorado and Canada, but they turned out to be inadequate for the extreme cold. I ended up renting a snowsuit and snow boots for both my son and me. Before we were married, my husband climbed mountains as a hobby, so his cold-weather gear was sufficient for him.
The problem with my ski gear was that my snow pants were fitted, so I could only wear thermals underneath. Because of this, they weren’t warm enough in the Arctic cold. The snowsuit I rented was loose enough that I could layer thermals, a sweater, and sweatpants underneath, with my puffy jacket over it. (If you plan to rent a snowsuit, make sure your jacket is large enough to fit over it.)
I also brought rain/snow boots from the U.S. that I had bought at Academy, but their soles weren’t thick enough for the Arctic cold. The snow boots I rented with our snowsuits had very thick soles and a wool-like lining. I wore two pairs of wool socks, which are critical for staying warm. Apparently, wool socks are better than cotton because wool has tiny air pockets that trap heat and wick away moisture. These properties are essential for keeping your feet warm and dry in subzero temperatures. My son also rented snow boots and wore two pairs of wool socks.
For our hands, we wore wool gloves with fingers underneath waterproof mittens. Lapland is the only place I’ve ever been where my hands felt like they were on fire if I didn’t have gloves on. Yes, it’s that cold. This made taking photos challenging.
To keep our faces and noses warm, we wore balaclavas in addition to ski beanies, which we layered under the hoods of our snowsuits. Electric hand warmers were also incredibly useful, and I highly recommend them!
Where We Stayed
We stayed in an apartment in Rovaniemi, but there are plenty of unique lodging options in the area, including hotels, accommodations at Santa Claus Village, snow hotels, and glass igloos. We booked our trip about two weeks in advance (yes, you read that correctly), but if we had planned further ahead, we might have considered staying in one of the more unique lodging options.
Our son is a very picky eater, so having a kitchen was a big reason we chose an apartment over a hotel. However, I recommend planning your trip well in advance, especially if you want to stay in one of the unique accommodations for multiple consecutive days. Availability can be limited, and it’s possible you won’t be able to book a 5+ day stay at one place if you don’t plan ahead, as these options tend to fill up quickly.
Best Time to Visit Lapland - Seasons of Magic
We arrived in Rovaniemi early on January 8th and left late on January 12th. A perk of visiting after Christmas was that the town and attractions weren’t too crowded. I imagine prices were also cheaper after Christmas and New Year’s. Since we homeschool, we had the flexibility to travel once school was back in session for many children across Europe and the United States.
One advantage of visiting before Christmas is that children can tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Many parents who visit Lapland with their children after Christmas (after Santa has already made his deliveries) have their children thank Santa for the gifts they received.
We spent Christmas in Austria in 2023 at our adult daughter’s house, and we didn’t want to ship all our son’s Christmas gifts to Austria only to ship them back to the U.S. As a result, we celebrated Christmas twice that year. We packed a few small Christmas gifts in our luggage for Austria, and Santa stopped by on Christmas Eve to leave a small gift that also fit in our luggage. Then, we had another Christmas in January after we returned home, where the bulk of our son’s gifts were waiting. Santa even made a special trip to our house in late January because, thanks to our visit to Lapland, he knew we were celebrating late.
Because of this, our son asked Santa for his Christmas wish when we visited in January. Our son loves airplanes, and his favorite is the 747. He had never flown on one before (we usually fly the 767 across the pond), so we convinced him to ask Santa for a ride on a 747. The exciting part? With a little help from dad, Santa made it happen! It was pure joy when we arrived at our gate in the Lufthansa terminal at Frankfurt Airport and saw a 747 waiting to take us back to the States.
One thing to consider when visiting after Christmas (or before) is that some attractions are not open year-round. For example, the Santa Claus Village is open year-round, but SantaPark (essentially a Santa-themed Batcavelike setup) is not. We visited SantaPark on January 9, 2024, and its last day of operation for the season was January 11, 2024. Because not all attractions operate year-round, it’s important to research the attractions in the area and check their operating dates before deciding when to visit.
That said, Rovaniemi is a year-round destination. Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year (according to their website at the time of writing), and there are activities for every season. Considering how far north Rovaniemi is, I imagine the summer temperatures would be quite pleasant for outdoor activities.
What We Did - Top Lapland Activities for an Unforgettable Adventure
Our Arctic adventure was nothing short of magical. One highlight was SantaPark, a whimsical underground wonderland where elves craft gifts by candlelight and visitors can explore ice tunnels, go elf-led treasure hunts, and create their own holiday keepsakes. At the Reindeer Husky Farm, we got up close with friendly reindeer and energetic huskies—feeding, petting, and even riding in sleds drawn by our new furry friends across pristine snowy terrain.
Meeting Santa was, predictably, a memory we’ll treasure—his workshop, the laughter, the sense that childhood magic really does live up north. We also stayed at the surreal Arctic SnowLodge & Ice Hotel, where everything from the beds to the glasses in the bar is carved of ice. It’s one thing to see pictures—another entirely to step inside and feel the crystalline chill, in the best possible way.
Just for fun, we visited what was, at the time, the world’s northernmost McDonald’s, a quirky landmark symbolizing how even fast food has made it into the extremes. And of course, no trip would be complete without spending time at Santa Claus Village—walking across the Arctic Circle line, sending postcards stamped with the official Santa Claus Post Office seal, and drinking hot cocoa in the snow while the northern lights danced above.
Meet Santa and Send a Postcard at Santa Claus Village
We began our visit to Lapland with a stop at Santa Claus Village, where you can cross the Arctic Circle! The line is clearly marked and makes for an excellent photo opportunity. There’s even a 24/7 webcam on the Arctic Circle line, so you can text or call your loved ones and have them watch you live on the Santa Claus Village Arctic Circle cam!
At the village, you’ll have the chance to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, among many other activities. You can stay on-site, with a variety of accommodations to choose from. There are also numerous dining options, a post office where your mail gets stamped with a special Arctic Circle postmark, shops selling unique items, opportunities to meet reindeer, and the chance to take a reindeer-pulled sleigh ride—and more!
Meet Santa at SantaPark and Cross the Arctic Circle Underground
SantaPark is known as the Home Cavern of Santa Claus. We spent half a day there, and it was a unique experience since it's located inside a cave! There are opportunities to meet Santa, decorate cookies, enjoy a VR sleigh ride, attend Elf school, visit the post office, watch an Elf show, and participate in an Elf workshop. You can also cross the Arctic Circle underground, take a magic train ride, shop for souvenirs, enjoy on-site dining options, and explore an ice cave within the cavern.
Reindeer Sleigh Rides and Husky Sledding
We decided to drive a bit outside the city on this day to visit a reindeer and husky farm, and I felt this was the best part of our trip! In the morning, we took a reindeer-pulled sleigh ride through a frozen Lappish forest, enjoyed a warm berry drink and a snack in a Kota hut, and then went on a husky-pulled sled ride!
Met Santa Claus at Santa Claus City Office
This was our favorite Santa! He is located in the heart of Rovaniemi City. We liked this Santa Claus encounter because it wasn’t as crowded as Santa Claus Village or SantaPark. This Santa took a lot of time with our son. Another plus (for our son) was that it is only steps away from a Burger King.
Stay in the Arctic SnowHotel or Glass Igloos
This isn’t in Rovaniemi city center, but it’s only about a half-hour drive from town. The property has famous glass igloos that allow you to sleep under the northern lights in heated comfort. It also has a famous SnowHotel, made entirely of snow! We didn’t stay in either accommodation; we just went out for the day. Luckily, you can purchase entrance tickets for the SnowHotel and explore it without having to stay there. You are free to explore all the rooms that don’t have guests in them, along with the ice bar and restaurant. There is also a restaurant on the property located inside a heated building, and they have some reindeer on-site that you can interact with.