Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi: Complete Visitor Guide

For Australian families (and other long-haul travellers) travelling to Finnish Lapland, Santa Claus Village is often the centrepiece of the entire trip.

On the edge of the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, is a destination that captures the enchantment of Christmas and hearts of Christmas lovers all year round. This iconic village is not only the official home of Santa Claus but also a hub of Christmas festivities all year round and unforgettable memorable adventures. Santa Claus Village is unsurprisingly a very popular destination for travellers of all ages.

Whether you dream of meeting Santa himself, sending postcards from the famous Santa Claus Main Post Office, or experience a reindeer or husky sleigh ride, the village has something for everyone.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the heart of Santa Claus Village, highlighting my recommendations to make your visit truly unforgettable.

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Visit Santa Claus at SCV

It is Christmas every day at Santa Claus Village! No matter what time of year it is you can meet Santa Claus at SCV! During the busy periods it can be busy so don’t delay checking in to get your line up time. We got there early and selected our queue start time. We were concerned about the long wait time prior to starting our wait, we’d worded the boys up to being patient, getting them to the toilet and psyching ourselves up for (perhaps) some whinging. But, to our delight, there wasn’t an ounce of negative noise come out of their mouths. The entire waiting area and queue provided entertainment, things to look at and of course plenty of photo opportunities. We had elves wondering along the queue talking to children and giving out bags and the boys found great little peep-holes in the keyholes on some doors. There is plenty to see and do!

While meeting Santa at SCV is somewhat of a production line, we actually found it to be very special. There was quite the build up and to be honest, I found myself a little star-struck when we were welcomed to sit with Santa to have our photo taken. There wasn’t a lot of interaction between Santa and us but it was a very special moment all the same. We weren’t able to take our own photos but were able to purchase them on our way out.

Meet Mrs Claus

Meeting Mrs. Claus at Santa Claus Village was a a fun experience and in my opinion, a must! While it can get busy with queues, we were lucky enough to arrive right after her lunch break and walked straight in as the first in line. This free experience is festive fun, and at the end, you can choose to purchase a photo, which is emailed to you as a keepsake.

Reindeer, Snowmobiles and Huskies at SCV

Santa Claus Village offers a range of exciting activities to make your visit truly unforgettable but I would highly recommend you book those that you can in advance. Contact Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park for snowmobiling and for a husky sled ride at Santa Claus Village, contact Arctic Circle Husky Park. Bookings will be essential for these two activities – get in early so you don’t miss out on the day and time that you want!

For reindeer sleigh rides at Santa Claus Village, you can find Santa Claus Reindeer located nearby to Santa Claus Office. In the past pre-booking is not required for this, you can just turn up on the day. But, I would always recommend contacting them directly or checking their website regularly to be sure that arrangements haven’t changed.

Snowman World

Experience Snowman World at Santa Claus Village! A day ticket to Snowman World is the perfect way to enhance your visit to Santa Claus Village, with fun activities for all ages, including tubing, ice skating, exploring the Ice Hotel and more. The restaurant (bookings recommended) and bar add to the experience, making it a great day out for families. Don’t miss the chance to go back and forth throughout the day to enjoy everything Snowman World has to offer. Plus, if you’re staying at the Arctic Snow Hotel and Igloos, entry is included with your booking!

Shops, Food and Drinks

There is a great range of shops and stalls to buy your Christmas souvenirs from Santa Claus Village. Many of them offer the same or similar touristy items but only some of them are locally made and authentically Lappish. Of course, there is a range in prices that go with the range in quality.

Our recommendation would be to shop at the one and only Santa Claus Office Gift Shop which you will walk through after meeting Santa Claus himself. That said, you do not have to visit Santa Claus to visit the shop. Some other favourites of ours were Pentik (which originated locally in Posio – you can visit the outlet year round – I visited Pentik in Posio in Autumn and loved it!)

Santa Claus Main Post Office is a must-visit as well. Take your time there, enjoy the creativity while writing your postcard or letter to send home to loved ones. Our boys thought this was very special!

The Christmas House

The Christmas House is home to a restaurant, gift shop and cafeteria. Guests at Santa Claus Holiday Village enjoy their buffet breakfast in the restaurant which is included in the cost of the accommodation. It is a beautiful spread with hot and cold selections, sweet and savoury options as well as allergies being able to be catered for. The cost is actually quite reasonable for an all inclusive meal in Lapland.

Breakfast and lunch buffets are also available to visitors to Santa Claus Village with a booking at their accommodation. You would be best to contact them ahead of time though to secure yourself a table.

Within The Christmas House, there is a store full of gifts, trinkets, clothing for all seasons and more. If you arrive in Lapland and have forgotten to bring something, I have no doubt you’ll find it at The Christmas House. Of course, items come with the price tag of merchandise in Disneyland!

There are a range of Christmas jumpers which are on the pricey side – anything from sixty Euros upwards. You will likely find them elsewhere far cheaper. I bought mine in Tallinn at a local market (not the official Christmas market) and it cost twenty-five Euros, it’s cashmere, very warm and beautiful.

Additionally, The Christmas House has a convenience store and cafeteria that is open until 6pm.

The Three Elves Restaurant

During our visit to Santa Claus Holiday Village in 2022, we dined at the Three Elves Restaurant, located within the reception building of the accommodation. We ordered burgers for four people and a drink each, with the total coming close to $200 AUD – it was the only time we ate out in Rovaniemi as these prices were outside our budget. The restaurant serves as a bar and cosy lobby, offering a beautiful (and festive) and comfortable atmosphere to enjoy a meal with good service. If you’re visiting during peak periods, we highly recommend booking ahead to secure a table. For a truly unique experience, the Three Elves also offers outdoor dining in their igloos, which are beautifully decorated and lit up at night. Reservations for the igloos are essential to enjoy this special treat.

Loft Café

On our day at Santa Claus Village, we stopped by Loft Café, a cosy spot known for its excellent coffee, tea, and locally baked pastries, many made in-house. From tasty blueberry and honey treats to unique specialties like reindeer salami, the menu offers something for everyone. The welcoming atmosphere, whether inside or on the snow-covered terrace, adds to the magic. We sat outside on the balcony, savouring hot drinks while soaking in the festive lights, cheerful buzz, and Christmas magic. As our kids played in the snow below, it felt absolutely perfect.

Kota Restaurant – Arctic Snow Hotel

During our stay at the Arctic SnowHotel, we had lunch at Kota Restaurant, and it was one of our favourite meals of our six week European adventure! Located 30 minutes from Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Village, the cosy restaurant offers an authentic atmosphere by an open fire, perfect for enjoying a meal. We watched our salmon cook over the fire in the centre of the Kota, adding to the charm of the experience, and the cloudberry liqueur we had afterward was the perfect finishing touch. Situated near one of the world’s largest snow hotels, if you have the time to enjoy lunch or dinner at Kota Restaurant while going on a hotel tour, you won’t be disappointed.

Click here for a full list of places to eat and drink at and nearby to Santa Claus Village.

Page last updated: May 2026 – Written by Erin Parker, Finnish Lapland travel specialist and founder of Finnish Lapland From Australia for long-haul travellers. All reviews reflect personal first-hand experience and connections in winter and autumn seasons only.