Why Rovaniemi, Finland is the Best European Destination for Christmas Lovers

WHY EVERY CHRISTMAS LOVER MUST VISIT ROVANIEMI, FINLAND

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to spend Christmas in Europe, look no further than the Hometown of Santa Claus: Rovaniemi, Finland.

This magical northern city borders the Arctic Circle. It’s part of Finnish Lapland, the northernmost region in Finland with a subarctic climate that is peppered with lakes, forests, and reindeer.

My visit to Finland took place in the summer months. The sun never set on those warm July nights, but it wasn’t hard to picture the region covered in a blanket of snow and the soft blue glow of the Polar Nights.

I grew up in Wisconsin and spend many years or my adult life living in Minnesota. Though I live in Florida now, I’m no stranger to long, very cold winters. Truth be told, I never liked winter. I always felt cooped up and suffered bouts of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

I wondered if the people of Rovaniemi felt the same way about their long arctic winters and endless nights when the sun never rises. Surely they must get depressed, too?

With each Rovaniemi resident I spoke to, though, I realized there was something special about the wintertime for them. They embraced the cold, and even the darkness. They loved the beautiful colors of the Polar Nights when the sky looked like sunset had frozen in place for 24 hours giving a violet cast to the earth as it reflected off the snow. Most of all, they took the magical feeling of Christmas and made it a yearlong feeling.

Here is why you simply must visit Rovaniemi, Finland if you love Christmas, or you simply want to learn from the best about how to embrace the winter months.

Disclosure: My trip to Rovaniemi, Finland was hosted by Visit Finland and Visit Rovaniemi on a press trip in exchange for consideration in articles and blog posts. All opinions are my own.

This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click my link and make a purchase I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

VISIT SANTA CLAUS

Santa Claus Village is one of the top activities in Rovaniemi. While Santa Claus is available to visit year-round, I can’t think of a better way to spend the holiday season that meeting Santa with your kids.

Santa Claus welcomes visitors in Santa Claus Office, the main building in the village. You’ll likely have to wait in line for a while, but the decor and scenes of elves making toys will keep excited kids (and adults) occupied. You’ll even find pictures adorning the walls of famous people who have made the trek to visit Santa, including the Spice Girls!

Once you get to the front of the line, Santa will be waiting for you in his office. You’ll get a few minutes to chat with him and give him your letters. He had a trunk full of handwritten letters from children, as well as a box of baby items. We were confused about the baby items at first, but someone explained that little kids will bring their pacifiers or lovies that they’re giving up to Santa, making it a bit easier for them.

You are not allowed to take pictures inside Santa Claus’s office, but a professional photographer will capture a few for you. You can purchase the photo package afterward if you want.

I had an absolute blast talking to Santa! I talked to him about my kids (and passed along a few messages from them). He asked about our home towns and assured us that, of course, he knew all about them. He’s been everywhere many times!

It was such a fun experience, and families will really cherish this memory. As my mom always says, “If you don’t believe, you won’t receive.”

Visiting Santa is FREE, but remember that if you want the photos you’ll have to purchase them.

Visit Santa Claus Village official website

SEND A CHRISTMAS LETTER FROM SANTA TO LOVED ONES

The Santa Claus Main Post Office is an amazing experience for Christmas lovers.

While it operates as a normal post office, it has a few features that make it extremely special, too. Visitors can put letters and packages in a special red post box to be sent out before Christmas!

My favorite feature of the post office, though, is that you can buy and send out letters from Santa to go out at Christmas. I’m so excited for my kids to get their letter in the mail! I did ask if I could address one letter to multiple people, and they said it was fine.

Finally, it’s really cool to wander around the post office and read some of the letters and see some of the gifts kids from all over the world have mailed to Santa. So many sweet, thoughtful children out there!

You’re able to buy postcards, paper, envelopes, and mailing supplies right there in the post office if you want to send your mail out with the official Arctic Circle stamp!

TAKE A SLEIGH RIDE

What’s a visit to Santa Claus Village without interacting with Santa’s reindeer?

Since I had the chance to visit Rovaniemi in the summertime, there were no sleigh rides available. The weather was actually very lovely and almost reached the 80-degree mark!

If you’re a Christmas lover visiting during the holiday season, though, I can’t think of anything more enchanting than a sleigh ride through snow pulled by Santa’s own reindeer.

Sleigh rides are 35 minutes long and include hot sausages and juice around a fire afterward to warm up. Bring your camera, and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Book your ride here.
Adults: 70€
Children (ages 3-12): 55€
Infants (0-2): free

SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

It’s one thing to walk around your neighborhood at home and see the flashing Christmas lights your neighbors hung for the season. Imagine getting to see nature’s Christmas lights during the holiday season!

Seeing the Northern Lights is on many people’s bucket lists, and Rovaniemi, Finland is a fantastic place to see the natural phenomenon since they’re visible there on average 150 nights/year.

Of course, you can never guarantee that you’ll actually see the Aurora Borealis, but that makes it all the more exciting when you DO get to witness the stunning greens, reds, and yellows dancing across the sky.

Rovaniemi has Northern Lights Tours as well as specific hotels designed to view the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed, such as the Arctic Treehouse Hotel and the glass igloos of the Arctic SnowHotel.

Booking.com

CROSS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

Rovaniemi is a unique city due to its location on the Arctic Circle. At Santa Claus Village, the circle is clearly marked so you can not only step into the Arctic Circle, but you can get a great photo doing it as well!

The Arctic Circle marks the spot where the sun never rises in the winter and never sets in the summer. It’s a cool geography lesson for kids and adults alike.

Santa Claus Village isn’t the only spot in Rovaniemi where you can cross into the Arctic Circle. You can also book a tour that will cross into the circle via ski, sled, or sleigh.

SEE THE CITY AT CHRISTMAS

Rovaniemi is definitely a popular spot for outdoor winter activity, but sometimes it’s nice to spend a day wandering the city and admiring the Christmas decor, sipping hot chocolate, and trying local cuisine.

Take a city tour, or just pop in and out of shops, museums, and restaurants to fill your day with Christmas cheer.

I loved Arktikuum, a science center and museum where you and your kids can learn about the Northern Lights phenomenon, the history of Rovaniemi, and the nature and culture of Finnish Lapland. Enjoy the beautiful architecture on the outside, or warm up on the inside with a coffee or tea at the museum’s restaurant.

When I asked our guide, who was local to Rovaniemi, if the winters were hard with the lack of sunlight, she said she actually loved it. The blue light, snow, and Christmas decorations around town gave her a warm feeling. Experience some of that Nordic spirit with your family!