If you have ever dreamed of taking the children to meet Santa in his snowy homeland, let me take you behind the scenes of our own family adventure. In December 2025 my husband, our two children and I travelled to Ruka in Finnish Lapland for a three‑night, snow‑filled escape. It was the perfect length of time: long enough to feel completely immersed in the magic of Lapland, but not so long that it became tiring for little legs (or little sleep schedules).

In this blog I will walk you through how a three‑night Lapland trip can look: from the journey and where to stay, to the activities that make it unforgettable. Think twinkling forests, crackling fires, husky howls and that wide‑eyed moment when your children meet Santa himself.

We flew from Dublin to Kusamo in northern Finland with Sunway on an Aer Lingus flight. The flight time is usually around three and a half to four hours, which feels very manageable with children. At the airport we were greeted by Santa’s honorary elves, all smiles and festive cheer as we checked in for our magical journey. The children each received a goodie bag with treats and activity packs to keep them entertained on board, and the elves were in full swing throughout the flight, creating a real buzz of excitement on the plane.

When we landed in Kusamo, more cheerful elves were waiting to welcome us and guide us to the coach for the short transfer to Ruka. On the way we stopped at a warehouse to be fitted with complimentary thermal clothing: a warm snow suit, sturdy boots, cosy socks and gloves, so by the time we arrived we felt perfectly prepared for the Arctic temperatures.

Ruka is tucked into peaceful forests just 60 km from the Arctic Circle, so temperatures can fall as low as minus 40 degrees. The afternoon was ours to start exploring. We wandered through the pretty village with its inviting cafés, shops and restaurants, soaking up the atmosphere and the snow‑covered scenery. We braved the snow rollercoaster and took the gondola over the ski slopes to the family park, where we tried snow tubing and tobogganing.  There was a separate cost for the Family park and snow rollercoaster not included in our package but these are optional experiences. There was also the option to take ski lessons and experience skiing on the slopes.

We stayed on a full‑board basis at our hotel, so all our meals were included. After a long first day we headed back for dinner and an early night, ready for a very exciting day two.

On day two we had an allocated meeting time after breakfast for our bus departure and a morning of adventure, including husky sleigh rides, snowmobile experiences and time with the reindeer. Between activities there were regular breaks to warm up indoors with hot chocolate, biscuits and simple, hearty meals around a lovely fire area in the forest.

Temperatures can be extremely cold, so layering is essential: think thermal base layers, fleece mid‑layers, thick socks, and good gloves and hats underneath the outer suits.

In the evenings, the elves put on entertainment and discos for the children after dinner. It gets dark from around 2 pm, and it does not really start to get bright until about 10 am, so the days feel much shorter than we are used to in Ireland. One of the big bonuses for us was that tobogganing outside our hotel was available every day at no extra cost.

On day three we set off again by bus, this time in search of Santa and Mrs Claus. We were taken into the forest for elf school and cookie‑making with Mrs Claus, the perfect way to warm up after another sleigh ride and husky experience. When we finally got to meet Santa, the children were beside themselves with excitement. He gave them lots of time, chatted away and then surprised them by producing their Santa letter, which we had posted before travelling to Lapland. Each of them received a little husky teddy as a keepsake of their visit.

Before lunch we helped feed the reindeer and had snowball fights, the kind of simple, joy‑filled moments that become lifelong memories.

On our final night Santa made one more surprise appearance, arriving at the hotel disco to speak to all the children. We were presented with a lovely family photo that had been taken during our Santa visit, a gorgeous memento to bring home.

On the last morning we had some free time for last‑minute souvenir shopping before being picked up for our flight home.

Lapland did not disappoint. It was truly a magical experience and I would highly recommend it for families. If you are an adult who has always dreamed of experiencing Finland, I can also arrange a similar style of trip tailored around the Northern Lights and Arctic adventures, even without the Santa element.

If this has sparked your imagination, get in touch and I would be delighted to chat and start planning your own Lapland adventure