22 Best Rovaniemi Activities with Kids: Winter Safaris, Santa & Family Itineraries

22 Best Rovaniemi Activities with Kids in 2026: Winter Safaris, Santa & Family Itineraries

Escape Australia's summer heat or the UK’s wet winter for Rovaniemi's Arctic Circle magic - Santa's official hometown delivers snow safaris, aurora hunts, and midnight sun for families from Australia, Asia. This ultimate guide for notsocasualtravel.com outranks page 1 competitors by offering 2026 updates, AUD costs (€1=AUD1.7), age-tailored 3/5/7-day itineraries, Aussie packing hacks, and winter/summer breakdowns.

Why Rovaniemi Tops Family Travel in 2026

Rovaniemi blends Finnish Lapland's nature with kid-safe English-speaking adventures, drawing 2M+ visitors yearly for 200+ aurora nights (Aug-Apr). Direct Finnair flights from Sydney/Melbourne make it Aussie-friendly and 3 hour flights from the UK with various travel providers make it affordable and schedule friendly.

Santa meet
Reindeer petting
Husky walk
Arktikum
Snowmobile
Safartica float
Husky safari
Icebreaker
ATV
Ranua Zoo
Reindeer sleigh
elves
Igloos
Aurora hunt

3-Day Itineraries by Age Group

Toddlers (2-5)
Kids (6-12)
Teens (13+)

5-Day Itineraries by Age Group

Toddlers (2-5)
Kids (6-12)
Teens (13+)

7-Day Itineraries by Age Group (Full Lapland Experience)

Toddlers (2-5)
Kids (6-12)
Teens (13+)

Top 22 Rovaniemi Activities with Kids

1. Santa Claus Village & Office (All Ages)

Meet Santa daily, mail North Pole letters, feed reindeer (AUD34). Cost: Free entry; photos €35-€55. Map: 66.5501° N, 25.8794° E. visitsantaclaus.fi

2. Arktikum Science Centre (6+)

Aurora simulators, Sami exhibits, igloo building. Cost: Kids free, adults AUD30. arktikum.fi

3. Bearhill Husky Sledding (5+)

Winter 5km safari; summer puppy walks. Cost: AUD170/kid winter. bearhillhusky.fi

4. Safartica Lake Floating (5+)

Float in neoprene suits under auroras/sun. Cost: AUD85/adult, AUD42/kid. safartica.com

5. Hornwork Crafts (4+)

Make antler necklace, eat blueberry cake. Cost: AUD40/pp. hornwork.fi

6. Snowman World

Ice slides, rink, labyrinth. Cost: AUD $65/$75 AUD

Kids under 2 years free of charge

7. Ranua Zoo

Polar bears, lynx in Arctic habitats. Cost: AUD35/kid. ranuazoo.com

8. Icebreaker Sampo (150cm+)

Float on frozen sea, BBQ lunch. Cost: AUD250/adult.

9. Reindeer Sleigh

1.5km forest ride, herder stories. Cost: AUD60/family.

10. Elf Academy SantaPark

Gingerbread decorating, elf school. Cost: AUD40/kid. santapark.com

11. Kakslauttanen Igloos

Aurora glass domes. Cost: AUD400+/night. kakslauttanen.fi

12. Electric Snowmobiles (13+)

Eco-friendly forest trails. Cost: AUD150/pp.

13. Ounasvaara Snow Park

Free sledding, ski jumps. Cost: Free (rentals AUD20).

14. Northern Lights Hunt

Pro tours, campfire stories. Cost: AUD120/adult.

15. Arctic SnowHotel

Ice sculptures, vodka glasses. Cost: AUD30/pp.

16. Gold Panning (Summer)

Lampivaara mine dig. Cost: AUD50/kid.

17. Mrs. Claus Cottage

Storytime, cookies. Cost: Donation.

18. Pyhäkuru Ziplines (8+)

Fells adventure park. Cost: AUD80/kid.

19. Kotatieva Winter Park

Tobogganing, ice sculpting. Cost: AUD25/entry.

20. Finnhorse Sleigh

Gentle horse pulls. Cost: AUD70/family.

21. SnowGlow Winterpark

Circus lights shows. Cost: AUD30/ticket.

Winter vs. Summer Decision Matrix

FactorWinter (-15°C)Summer (20°C)ActivitiesHuskies/igloosFloats/hikesCrowdsHigh (+20%)Low (save AUD1,000)Auroras80% nightsNone

Aussie Family Packing List

• Layers: Uniqlo Heattech AUD49, Blundstone boots AUD200

• Kids: Car seats (Sixt AUD20/day), Vegemite snacks

• Tech: EU adapters AUD10, Anker battery AUD40

• Winter: Balaclavas, hand warmers AUD25

Free PDF Checklist: [Email opt-in form]

FAQ

Is Rovaniemi safe for toddlers in winter? Yes—insulated activities everywhere.

Family of 4 cost (no flights)? AUD5,000/5 nights.

Best time from Australia? Dec (Santa) or July (sun).

What to buy before your trip:

Invest in:

Winter Clothes

A Flask - Hot water (for tea, noodles, coffee), Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Soup, Pasta, Hot foods - we bought two of these thermos

2026 Cost Breakdown

Category3-Day (AUD)5-Day (AUD)7-Day (AUD)Flights SYD-RVN4,8004,8004,800Arctic Light Hotel1,0501,7502,450Activities9501,8002,550Total6,8008,3509,800