Lapland is globally known to be where Santa Claus lives. Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland and the capital of Lapland is Rovaniemi. Every year, tourists from all around the world pours into Rovaniemi to meet the ‘real’ Santa Claus 365 days a year at his official hometown. In Santa Claus Village, the city’s top attraction, you’ll also be able to cross the Artic Circle, feed the reindeer and send postcards to loved ones at Santa Claus’ Main Post Office.
Santa Claus Village is situated 7km north from Rovaniemi. You can reach the Santa Claus Village easily by local bus number 8 (“Santa’s Express”). I waited at one of the bus stops to hop on to bus no.8.
Bus no.8.departs from Rovaniemi railway station and passes by the city center. You can hop on the bus at Sokos Vaakuna Hotel. You can pay the driver directly for the bus fare. I can’t remember the exact fare, it’s approximately 3 – 4 euros per person.
Yay, we have reached the Santa Claus Village!
Map of Santa Claus Village. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm. In summer (1 June – 31 August), it is open every day from 9am to 7pm. If you come during summer, you’ll be able to see the midnight sun. And during winter, you’ll be able to experience the Auroras.
1) Santa Claus Office
First and foremost, my priority is to meet Santa in person. So Santa Claus Office is the first place I went to.
You won’t be able to miss the building where Santa is. There is a “Santa is Here” sign on top of the pointed roof.
Santa Claus can be met at his office every single day of the year. He is really hardworking.
Well done! If you are standing here reading this, it means you are only a few minutes away from meeting Santa Claus in person.
Waiting to meet Santa in anticipation.
We had the whole place to ourselves that day. Lucky us! Actually the queue can be more than an hour during peak season especially during winter.
Of course, we wouldn’t miss the chance to take photo with Santa Claus. He is very friendly. He shook hands with us and spoke to us in English, asking us where we are from etc. The adults seemed more excited at meeting Santa Claus than the boys, haha.
By the way, you have to leave your cameras once you’re in the same room with Santa Claus. These photos were taken by Santa’s elves.
After meeting Santa, you can buy your photos and video taken with Santa. A 5R photo cost 30 euros. If you pay 40 euros, you can download the softcopy of all your photos within one year after they email you the link with password and you register within 30 days.
Santa’s photo on the corridor.
Over the years, children from around the world had sent Santa Claus letters and some of them are being displayed here.
Santa Claus souvenir shop.
2) Santa Claus Main Post Office
The second most important place to visit is the Santa Claus Main Post Office.
This is where you can send postcards to family and friends and they’ll receive it by Christmas on the same year or next (if you send it after Christmas).
Postcards sent from here will have Santa Claus postmark. How cool is that?
There are seats for you to write your postcards in the post office.
Baby elves and baby reindeers receive baby pacifiers from children that are old enough to give them for re-using. Underneath the box are letters made by 2,110 children from 8 different schools in Brasov, Romania.
My beau writing a postcard to send to family and friends. First you have to select and buy postcards and envelopes. After finishing writing on the postcards, seal the envelopes and buy stamps from the counter.
The last step is to put them into the mailbox in the post office. And you are done.
Sign post of countries and cities around the world. There is one for Singapore but Malaysia is not on the post.
3) Santa Claus Reindeer Farm
Next, we headed to the Santa Claus Reindeer farm.
The entrance fee is 5 euros per person and you can buy it from the ticket booth.
We were led to where the reindeers were and handed some leafy greens to feed them.
We all took turn to feed the reindeers.
My son had a fun time feeding them.
Even the baby is curious of the reindeer. Overall, it is a fun experience.
8) Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi
Next to the reindeer farm is the Lapland Restaurant. The exterior looks like a Lappish style hut. The restaurant serves traditional Lappish dishes like reindeer meat. The restaurant is close from 14 April till 30 June. From 6 July till 31 August, the restaurant is open from 12pm to 4pm. The restaurant does not serve alcohol beverages.
4) Christmas Exhibition
At Christmas House besides the main post office, you can see the Christmas Exhibition, which features Christmas tradition from different parts of the world.
Entrance of Christmas House.
Over here, you can also meet another Santa. Entrance to meet Santa in Christmas House is free.
Do you know that Finnish Christmas figure is called Joulupukki? It means “Christmas goat”. It is originally a pagan tradition.
Japan’s first Christmas on record was celebrated in Yamaguchi.
And of course, the exhibition also showcase how Christians celebrates Christmas.
Meeting another Santa here. I managed to quickly snap a photo of my son greeting Santa.
5) Santa Claus Gift House and Tourist Information Centre
Santa Claus Gift House is the place to be if you want to get some souvenirs.
The tourist information booth.
Numerous shops inside Santa Claus Gift House.
I want this!
Bought a T-shirt here.
Looks like my son is more at ease with the fake Santa, haha.
Had lunch here at Reindeer Cafe Restaurant Sirmakko. http://www.restaurantsirmakko.com/
Ordered some reindeer burger and sauteed reindeer meat with mash potatoes.
Arctic Circle Line
The Arctic Circle line is located just outside Santa Claus’ office.
The Artic Circle marks the southernmost latitude where the sun can stay continuously below or above the horizon for 24 hours.
The Artic Circle is clearly marked. And this is a popular place to cross the Artic Circle…
or walk on it.
You can even get a certificate confirming the feat, but for a fee, of course.
7) Marttiini Shop
Fancy a Finnish knife as a souvenir? You can get one at Marttiini Shop. Finnish knife is not only a great souvenir, but an excellent tool.
9) Santa’s Salmon Place
If reindeer meat is not your thing, you can try fresh and delicious salmon baked at this traditional Lappish teepee.
10) Children’s Playground
But the place where my son had most fun is at the children’s playground.
The weather was perfect that day too.
11) Wild Nordic Safari Booking
It was closed during my visit. During winter, a wide range of other activities such as husky and reindeer safaris, snowshoeing, ice fishing can be booked here.
12) Husky Park
Nearby the village, there’s a Husky Park. We did not go in though.
Saw some of the Husky dogs from outside the park.
13) Santa’s Igloos Artic Circle
Santa’s Igloos Artic Circle has glass roofed to experience Lapland’s northern lights or midnight sun.
14. Santa Claus Holiday Village
Santa Claus Holiday Village offers accommodation to those who wants to live within the village compound.
We left our bags here at the Santa Claus Holiday Village reception for a fee of course. I think it was around 5 Euro per bag for one day.
Restaurant in the reception building.
Santa Claus Village shuttle.
My little Santa elf.
Greetings from Santa to everyone. It’s Christmas here all year round.
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