Rovaniemi with Kids: Santa, Snow, Huskies, Reindeer and Northern Lights Magic
Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland delivers pure Christmas magic for families, blending snowy thrills, Santa encounters, and Arctic adventures that kids absolutely adore. Flying direct from Edinburgh to Rovaniemi, then taking the scenic day train to Helsinki, made our family trip seamless and full of wonder from start to finish - we've done the overnight train on past visits and that was comfy too.
Iconic Santa Experiences at Santa’s Village in Santa’s Hometown, Rovaniemi
Santa's Village buzzes as the ultimate must-visit spot just north of town, where kids meet the real Santa Claus himself for free - Yes there are lines, but we managed to get to see Santa in less than an hour. You can’t take photos in there and you do not get to check the photos before printing, so take advantage of the mirror in the waiting area before seeing Santa as I have a photo I’m not exactly pleased with (and I paid 50Euro for it).
Aside from seeing Santa you can take photos at the post office and send letters, cross the official Arctic Circle line marked on the ground, enjoy the elf workshops for hands-on crafts, or head to Snowman World with massive ice slides, detailed sculptures, and snow tubing that keeps everyone entertained.
Top tip: You can see Santa as his Rovaniemi Centre Post Office, the wait time is about 5-10 minutes and you’re allowed to take photos and videos when you meet Santa. If we hadn’t paid 50Euro for a photo already we would have bought it here (I liked the setting better than Santa’s Village also).
Reindeer rides in Rovaniemi
Reindeer rides glide gently through enchanted forests for picturesque photos and videos.
This is the Reindeer ride we booked - Rovaniemi: Husky Farm and Reindeer Experience - I recommend booking in advance as you can change your dates if required (check the T&C’s) it’s a short ride but it was lovely and there were not too many people at the farm. It did not feel too busy (the one at Santa’s village likely is and it was booked out online). Get your Guide quite often offers reduced prices for the tours.
Husky rides in Rovaniemi
Husky rides thrill with teams of energetic dogs pulling you through pristine powder snow whispering pines - ideal for kids aged 5+ when bundled in proper snowsuits. Reindeer sleds offer a calmer, magical glide led by traditional herders, letting families learn about Sami culture up close amid the winter wilderness. Both activities spark wide-eyed excitement and create photo ops kids will treasure forever.
This is the Husky ride we booked - Rovaniemi: Husky Farm and Reindeer Experience - I recommend booking in advance as you can change your dates if required (check the T&C’s) it’s a short ride but it was lovely and there were not too many people at the farm. It did not feel too busy (the one at Santa’s village likely is and it was booked out online).
Chasing the Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi
The Northern Lights put on nature's most spectacular light show, swirling in vibrant greens, purples, and pinks across Lapland's pitch-black skies - a bucket-list moment that leaves adults and kids speechless. Our tour chased clear patches away from city lights, but clouds forced rescheduling from Monday right through to Thursday.
Tip: Book on your very first night for built-in flexibility, as weather plays the biggest role; many operators offer free transfers. Rent all-in snowsuits (€20-50 weekly per person) from tour companies to stay fully warm and waterproof while trudging through thigh-deep drifts - our regular winter clothes left us chilly, but proper gear would have made stargazing even more enjoyable.
This is the Aurora Borealis tour we did - I recommend booking ASAP and booking the first free night as ours was rescheduled.
Other fun stuff
There’s also the SnowGlow Winterpark, in the centre of Rovaniemi, I thought it was over priced for what it was but that seems to be Europe and the UK in general atm. We made friends and Kids can ride Snowmobiles so that’s why we went - you get two tokens with your tickets which can be used on the Snowmobiles or Banana ride and everything else is unlimited. You can visit twice but if you want to ride on the Snowmobile or Banana ride and have used your tokens then it’s 10 Euro https://www.snowglow.fi/
Things to note:
Adults pay even if you’re not using the equipment so I made the most of it and went tubing (it would be cheaper to pay the full price and give the extra 2 tickets for the kids to use than buy a spectator ticket).
You can buy tickets at the door on the day (this is the only thing I recommend buying at the door) because everything sells out.
Rovaniemi Accommodation and Travel Tips in Rovaniemi
Airbnb’s right in the center of Rovaniemi outshine hotels for families, with full kitchens for whipping up cozy meals, spacious living areas for kids to unwind or play, and in-unit laundry to handle post-snow gear - plus they're walking distance or a quick ride to Snow Park and town eateries. They save money on eating out and give easy access after packed days, especially handy for those extra aurora nights.
Our airbnb was fantastic - it was probably my favourite airbnb in Europe. I kind of want to gatekeep it but here it is
It has enough room for 4 people and the kitchen is well equipped for people who enjoy cooking.
There is a washing machine, balcony, and clothes airer for your clothes.
If you prefer a hotel, on our first trip to Rovaniemi we stayed here
Tasty Family Treats
Hessburger steals the show as our go-to fast-food treat, serving up crispier, juicier chicken nuggets than McDonald's alongside their addictive spicy paprika sauce - they also have an indoor play centre. We shopped from the local supermarkets for on the go snacks and to cook in the airbnb. We cooked breakfast lunch and dinner in the apartment and bought hot chocolates and snacks when out and about. We treated ourselves to Hessburger a few times for a snack and when it was too cold we enjoyed hot chocolate (or glögi) from Santa's cafes for the full Lapland vibe.
Getting to Rovaniemi
We booked direct Edinburgh-Rovaniemi flights to keep costs low, and we booked the train to Helsinki. Both day and overnight trains to Helsinki work great with sleeping berths on the latter for comfort (We did the day train this time and previously the overnight santa express). It is very picturesque - we paid a bit more for more comfort which included a free drink. You can download the VR train app on your phone to order food, but we ordered and they were sold out so luckily we had brought drinks, hot chocolate and baguettes and snacks with us.
Practical Family Advice
Mix free village entry to Santa’s Village with paid rides and save on your accommodation and dining and spend that money on tours. Food is expensive in Rovaniemi (although not more expensive than the UK) and honestly there’s not much that stands out (most people like to try the meatballs and salmon soup but for kids there’s not a great variety). We brought snacks from the supermarket and cooked at home.
Setup a semi flexible itinerary filling your days with activities and keeping most nights free for the aurora borealis with buffer nights.
Prioritize snowsuit rentals for comfort, and layer everything for -20°C weather.
The sun comes up about 10:30am and sets about 1:30pm - so if you want to make the most of your trip, get outside during these hours.
Rovaniemi shines year-round, but winter's snow and Santa theme make it unbeatable for young dreamers - our family left with memories that'll last a lifetime
