A Magical Trip to Lapland with our 2-year-old daughter.

We jetted off to Rovaniemi the end of November 2024, which is the capital of Finnish Lapland, located right on the Arctic Circle. And which of course is the "official" hometown of Santa Claus. We rented a car for 6 nights as transfers can be very expensive in Lapland. When we arrived, we drove into the city centre of Rovaniemi to a shopping centre to pick up so groceries for our trip. The shopping centre had so many different shops including a supermarket, which was great. We explored a little around the city as out check in wasn’t until 4pm. We Stayed in the Santa Claus holiday village in a cabin for 3 nights which was so magically. We have everything on our doorstep and the log cabin was just the perfect size for the 3 of us. It was really cosy and warm. The outside of every cabin had its very own Christmas tree and they all looked so beautiful. It was -10 most days we were there but when you are kitted out correctly you don’t really feel the cold at all. We did so much in Santa Claus village, we met Santa Claus in person! The office is open every day of the year, offering a unique opportunity to chat with Santa and take photos at an additional charge. A highlight of the village is the Arctic Circle line, which runs through the area. Visitors can cross the line and receive a certificate to bring home with you. Santa Claus Main Post Office is also here where you can send postcards and letters with a special Arctic Circle postmark. You can also see letters sent to Santa from children all around the world. While in SCHV we also went on a 2.5k Reindeer Ride, a husky tour which included a 4KM Huskey ride which was amazing, and our daughter absolutely loved every minute of it. Eabha was free into all of these activities as she was under 3 years. Santa Claus Village is located about 8 kilometres from Rovaniemi city centre which is easily accessible by car, bus, or taxi. It is open every day of the year, though specific attractions may have varying hours, especially during off-peak seasons. While entry to the village is free, some activities and attractions require tickets or reservations, especially during peak times. Santa Claus Village offers a truly magical experience for visitors of all ages, making it a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Finnish Lapland. We also visited Santa Park which is a short distance from Santa Claus village. Santa Park is an indoor Christmas themed park which I personally think is suited for younger kids. We met Santa Claus himself there in a cozy, festively decorated office where we chatted with Santa and took some photos. They also have an Elf School where we learned all the Elves secrets and earned a special diploma after mastering the art of being an elf.

In the Gingerbread Bakery we got to decorate our own gingerbread cookies under the guidance of Mrs. Gingerbread which we all really enjoyed. In Santa’s workshop we watched elves work making toys and preparing for Christmas which my daughter loved. There is also a Magic Train which we had to go on twice that took us through the enchanting scenery, including the elves’ toy factory and Santa’s secret cavern. We also got to watch an Elf Show which is on at certain times of the day, but I have to say it’s a really entertaining live performance by the elves that are singing, dancing, and doing acrobatics. In the workshop Eabha got to create your own Christmas decorations to take home which was so nice. After an amazing few hours, we heading back to our cabin and ate dinner in Restaurant Gallis which is up at the Glass Igloo resort in Santa Claus village and I have to say the food was amazing. I had made a reservation for this the week before we arrived as it can book up easily during peak season. The following day we drove up north to LEVI for 3 nights which is a 2 hour (very remote) drive but really beautiful. Levi is a ski resort, but you can also see and do almost everything you can do in Rovaniemi like visit Santa etc. We stayed in the Break Sokos Hotel Levi which couldn’t be in a better location, right beside restaurants and shops and only a 2 minute walk to the ski slope. We mostly relaxed in Levi and played in the snow as Eabha was just obsessed with the snow and her sleigh (which we bought in the supermarket). One thing we really enjoyed in Levi was Water world Levi which is an indoor waterpark that also has a pool and 2 jacuzzies outside that are heated. There was also a lovely play area there too which we visited every day. I also have to mention Campfire Barista which is at the bottom of the ski slope in Levi. The Barista shared stories and information about the local culture, nature, and traditions, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. Along with coffee, you can buy traditional Finnish snacks, such as buns, biscuits, or other local delicacies. We toasted homemade marshmallows on the fire and made smores out of them which were delicious.

For more information about Lapland, please do get in touch. I absolutely love to talk about Lapland and happy to help you book the most magically holiday whether it be as a couple, family, or solo traveller.