Lapland: Santa Claus and Northern Lights. New Year in Oulu. New Year with children in Lapland Optional extras

Prices are for 4 nights, arrivals on Fridays: 01/26/18 - 03/23/18

Tour program:

1 day (Friday). Rovaniemi
Departure to Rovaniemi (if a tour with air travel is booked). Transfer airport - hotel, accommodation. Free time.

Day 2 (Saturday). Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel.
11:00 - excursion to Santa Claus Village. Lapland, northern mysterious land, familiar to many from children's fairy tales. The country of the Sami, reindeer and Santa Claus. Any child knows that this is where Santa Claus lives, or Joulupukki in Finnish. You can meet him in his office.
14:00 - excursion around Rovaniemi with a visit to the Arktikum Museum. The visible part of the museum, the glass pipe, is 172 m long. The roof is made up of more than a thousand panels of special, especially durable glass and is oriented from north to south. Under the roof of the palace is located local history museum, telling about northern life, people and customs of the Arctic region, history and culture local residents. The museum displays exhibits of northern flora and fauna. Undoubtedly, the hall of culture and life of the Sami will attract attention.
22:00 - in search of the Northern Lights by car, 2.5 hours (optional for extra charge).
See Northern lights- this is a great success and an unforgettable experience for a lifetime! In the evening, the snow-covered Lapland Forest looks magical, and this trip will give you the opportunity to see it for yourself. The snow reflects the light of the moon and stars, the trees twinkle mysteriously in the headlights. We will take you away from the city lights and find you open place to admire the sky. The guide will light a fire, and you will try your luck and try to see the Northern Lights. Around the fire, everyone will be able to indulge in the Finns' favorite pastime - frying sausages, while the guide will prepare hot glegi for you.
Cost: 95 euros/adult, 75 euros/child. (4-11 years old).

Day 3 (Sunday). Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time or extra excursions.
10:00-15:00 - trip to the Ranua Polar Zoo (optional for an additional fee). The zoo is located 80 km from Rovaniemi and the journey by car or bus takes approximately 1 hour. An entertaining walk through the zoo, where you can see animals and birds living in the natural conditions of northern latitudes. You will have the opportunity to visit souvenir shops, the Fazer factory store, and a wine shop where you can buy unique wines made from wild berries: cloudberries, lingonberries, blueberries, etc.
Cost: 95 euros/adult, 85 euros/child. (4-11 years old).
16:00-19:00 - snowmobile safari, 3 hours (optional for extra charge).
This safari begins with learning how to operate a snowmobile. You will have a great opportunity to ride a snowmobile through a snow-covered forest and river.
The price includes: program, special clothing, hot drink and sausage during the rest.
139 euros/adult on a two-seater snowmobile, 184 euros/adult. on a single-seater snowmobile, 70 euros/child. in a sleigh.

Day 4 (Monday). Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time or extra excursion.
11:00-13:00 - visit to a reindeer farm (optional for an additional fee).
By car we will go to a local reindeer farm. You will get acquainted with reindeer and the peculiarities of life of reindeer herders. You will undergo a rite of passage into Laplanders. And of course, you will ride in a reindeer sleigh and take unforgettable photographs of northern animals.
Cost: 110 euros/adult, 80 euros/child. (4-11 years old).
13:00-15:00 - visit to a husky farm, dog sled safari (optional for an additional fee).
Professional dog breeders will introduce you to the life of a husky on a farm, daily work and everyday life. You will take a short course as a “young dog breeder”, after which you will go on a safari (5 km) on a dog sled (1-2 people in a sleigh). Upon your return, hot tea or coffee with cookies awaits you in a traditional Finnish kota.
Cost: 85 euros/adult, 75 euros/child. (4-11 years old).

Day 5 (Tuesday). Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel. Rooms are available until 12:00. Transfer to the airport or train station.
Departure to Moscow (if a tour with air travel is booked).

Attention! It is possible to book extra. overnight at the hotel.

Santa Claus Village in Finland is located next to small town Rovaniemi. A small village called Joulupukki invites you to visit the Finnish Santa Claus all year round. Fabulous Lapland is not only a place where you can see the northern lights, but also the permanent habitat of the real Santa Claus.


People no longer want to celebrate the New Year in tropical countries, but rather head to the snowy region to Santa’s homeland. Even teenagers who have not believed in Santa Claus for a long time will believe in the fairy tale again when they find themselves in Lapland. They'll want to write a letter to Finnish Santa Claus and enjoy the kaleidoscope of entertainment it has to offer magical place.

Even if the New Year's celebration is planned at one of the ski resorts in Finland, visiting Santa Claus is very simple and does not take much time. From any city you can buy a plane ticket and fly to Rovaniemi, and there any public transport will take you to fairy village literally in 10 minutes.

How to get there


The address of Santa Claus in Lapland is the village of Joulupukki, which is located 8 kilometers from the Finnish town of Rovaniemi. It is located 1000 kilometers from Russian border. From St. Petersburg, with a visa, you can get there by train, plane or bus in just a few hours. First you need to get to the capital of Finland, then to Rovaniemi, and from there there are buses every hour.

Rovaniemi has an airport and a railway station, so residents of St. Petersburg have the opportunity to buy tickets to Santa Claus Village directly. From the railway station in Rovaniemi you need to take bus number 8. If tourists decide to travel to Finland in their own vehicle, then enter the name of the village of Joulupukki into the navigator device and you will arrive exactly at Santa’s house.

Story


Everyone knows that the real birthplace of Santa Claus is Lapland. They say that it was this magical symbol of the New Year that created the famous Northern Lights. The first tourist to visit this place was Eleanor Roosevelt. In her honor, the Finns built a hut, which can still be seen today.

Visit the village of Santa Claus better in winter, but Santa Park and the elves are working there and in summer period. After all, there are many children on earth and everyone writes letters that need to be processed and delivered to their destination. Santa reads every letter without exception, even if it was sent by email.

Santa Claus's summer house is located in the same village as the winter office; it began operating in 1950. There, on the shelves, volumes of books are crowded, containing the scoundrels of the whole country and obedient children who receive gifts from Santa every year. Finnish Santa Claus is helped by fairy-tale elves. To get to this magical house, you will have to go through a clock mechanism.

On a note! In the village you can always go with a group, where the guide will talk about the history of this place, and buy memorable souvenirs. Be sure to write a letter from Lapland and send it to your family, the envelope will have the seal of the Arctic Circle.

Opening hours, ticket prices


Finnish Grandfather Frost welcomes guests all year round, but there are also days when it is impossible to get into the village. To plan a train, it is better to know the exact schedule of reception days:

  • From September to the end of November: from 10 am to 5 pm.
  • From January 7 to the end of May - from 10 am to 5 pm.
  • From June to the end of August - from 9 am to 6 pm.
  • From December 1 to January 6 – enhanced schedule from 9 am to 7 pm.

Children under three years old can see Finnish Santa Claus for free, adults will pay about $40, and children from three to 18 years old will pay $35. This price includes not only a meeting with Santa Claus, but also a visit to Santa Park.

Letter to Santa Claus


In the village of Joulupukki, not far from Santa's house, there is a post office, which is crowded at any time of the year. Here you can write and send a letter to anywhere in the world with an imprint of the Arctic Circle, and also leave a message to Santa Claus. Be sure to purchase unique cards with the wonderful landscapes of Lapland and the Northern Lights.

Santa Claus' assistants, fairy-tale elves, work at the post office; they will help you compose an interesting text. If the child is small and does not yet know how to write, the elves will write a letter for him in any language in the world. Each visitor will have the opportunity to have a photo session with all the village residents, warm up by the fireplace and watch the elves deliver mail bags to Santa.

The residence of Father Frost in Finland has an official website, where every inhabitant of the earth also has the opportunity to send a letter to Santa Claus electronically.

Write down the addresses of the resources and be sure to send the treasured message:

  • santaclausvillage.info;
  • santaclausholidayvillage.fi.

On a note! Sending one letter costs about $15. Remember, no matter what time of year the letter was written, if you put it in the red box, Santa Claus will read it on Christmas Eve.

Winter fun


Santa Park Rovaniemi is designed like a fairyland. It will be interesting for people of any age. There you can go on rides, visit an elf school, and take part in games and competitions. Each child can attend calligraphy writing classes and Mrs. Claus's bakery, which bakes fragrant Easter cakes. You can not only try delicious gingerbread cookies, but also take part in the process of their preparation.

Near and in Rovaniemi there are many ski resort. You can organize your holiday there and visit Santa Claus on one of the days of your stay on Finnish territory. If you forget your equipment at home while on vacation, it’s no problem, you can buy it in any Finnish store.

Although the village is open all year round, experienced tourists I advise you to come there winter period. Snow-covered paths and New Year's lights perfectly highlight the eve of the New Year. Walking along snow-covered paths, you involuntarily begin to believe in magic. You can make snowmen and play hockey with your whole group.


The village of Joulupukki offers entertainment for all ages:

  • You can go ice skating on the frozen lake.
  • Ride on snowmobiles, reindeer or dog sleds.
  • Visit the ice houses and even have a tea party there.
  • Try Finnish traditional dishes.
  • Go ice fishing or take a steam bath in a Finnish sauna.

On a note! Every visitor to this fabulous place should meet Santa Claus's reindeer. They live not far from the magical grandfather's house.

Shops and restaurants

Dress warmly if you visit Finland in winter and after seeing the local attractions, go shopping. In each you can buy New Year's souvenirs at competitive prices.


If children visited the elf workshop, they will be able to take all the handicrafts they made with them. Be sure to buy Christmas decorations, slide paintings of the Northern Lights and Finnish delicacies.

Hello, friends! What to do if newfangled routes for celebrating the New Year under palm trees on the seashore and ocean no longer tempt you. And I want a real Russian winter with all the winter entertainment: real frosts, fluffy snow, skating, sledding and skiing, building snow fortresses and towns and a cheerful New Year celebration under a real Christmas tree in a real forest.

But there is a way out: you need to go not just anywhere, but to Lapland - the kingdom of the Snow Queen and to the habitat of Santa Claus. In one of the articles, I already talked about traveling with children and how, having visited this country, it is impossible not to visit where Santa Claus lives. This amazing place is located far to the north beyond the Arctic Circle, 9 kilometers from the capital of Lapland - Rovaniemi in the village of Joulupukki (Joulupukin Pajakyla).

Mysterious and unique Lapland

Lapland, an inexplicable and fabulous province located in Finland, with fantastic nature and unique culture, is, of course, close to us in many ways. We are also accustomed to severe frosts, like the Finns, and we have loved winter fun since childhood.

But what you can see in Lapland will undoubtedly evoke many unexpected emotions. Crowds of tourists come to these places with primeval nature with forests and mountains, many rivers and lakes, the cleanest air, and the polar night every time on New Year’s Eve, who dream of not only enjoying local beauties, but also to return once again to a distant fairy tale from childhood.

And for children, this is an opportunity to see in person those places about which so much is already known from the books of Hans Christian Andersen and the Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf. The adventures of Kai and Gerda, a reindeer who comes from Lapland, in the land of the Snow Queen and the heroes from the book “Nils’s Wonderful Journey with wild geese"in Lapland - the first acquaintance with this northern country, which, without a doubt, requires continuation.

And we will begin our journey with Rovaniemi

The history of this northern city, the largest in area in Europe, begins in the 15th century. It is located 8 kilometers from the Arctic Circle, 800 kilometers from Helsinki and 1025 kilometers from St. Petersburg. This one northern city in winter it becomes the most beloved resort in Lapland by children and adults.

And it's easy to explain. These are exactly the places where the beloved New Year's character, Santa Claus (in Finnish - Joulupukki), spends most of his time worrying about and preparing for the Christmas holidays. After all, it is here, just a few kilometers from the city, that the famous Santa Claus village is located.

It is clear that Santa Claus is almost the same as ours, but in a European manner. But the history of its origin is somewhat different. It is assumed that Saint Nicholas became his prototype: Santa - “saint”, Klaus - “Nicholas”. During his lifetime, this common Christian saint secretly helped poor people and children. And the tradition of giving gifts on St. Nicholas Day later transformed into the tradition of giving gifts to children at Christmas. And this is what modern Santa Claus does with great pleasure.

According to legend, Santa's permanent home and secret workshop, where Christmas gifts are prepared for children, are located on Mount Korvatunturi. But, since rumors began to spread among people about his secret place of residence, Santa Claus, in order not to be completely declassified, decided to appear to people and chose a place for this on the Arctic Circle not far from Rovaniemi.

Here in Lapland, in a small village, Santa established his working residence, which is now known throughout the world. He comes here every day, receives visitors from all over the world, reads letters from all over the world (which can be sent to: Santa Klaus, 96930 Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, Finland), and from them he learns what children dream of and what gifts they give waiting for Christmas.

But in fact, Santa Claus Village appeared back in 1950. And this was connected with the visit of the wife of the American President Eleanor Roosevelt to these places. For her arrival, a small wooden house was built as Santa's temporary home. It has survived to this day and is located near Santa Claus's office.

That’s how, somewhere far beyond the Arctic Circle, among forests and snow sparkling in the sun, Santa’s village appeared many years ago. I'm glad what it is wonderful place You should definitely eat and visit it at least once in your life.

Santa Claus Village Websites:

Where Santa Claus lives, childhood lives

This is the kingdom of Santa Claus, where reality and fairy tales are so closely intertwined, and on its territory, inhabited by fairy-tale characters, such amazing events take place that they make you believe in the reality of what is happening and in the possibility of miracles and happiness not only for small children, but also for adults aunty and uncle.

The village of Santa Claus is the office and post office of Santa Claus, Santa Park, cottages for tourists, many shops and restaurants, and a small deer farm. In winter, numerous slides are built on the square, from which you can ride for free. Near the village there is another amusement park - Arctic Winter World.

According to one of the hypotheses (I don’t know, scientific or also fairy-tale), the place for this magical village was not chosen at all by chance: since it is in this place that the earth’s crust is very thin, then with the help of special mechanisms Santa Claus learned to control time and in particular, slow down the speed of rotation of the Earth. And this little trick helps Santa visit everyone in the world on the eve of Christmas in one night and give everyone gifts.

The village is small, but not small either. In the center of the Village there is a large Christmas tree decorated with small flags different countries peace. Everything around you sparkles in festive attire, which immediately improves your mood.

Entrance to the village is free, but, of course, you have to pay for various services.

Santa Claus's office is the main attraction of the village

You can get to Santa's office in the office through a long fairy-tale corridor. The famous wizard himself and his constant assistants, the gnomes, joyfully greet the guests, and in the minutes allotted for the visit, you should try to tell Santa Claus about what is most important to you in this life, make a wish and sit next to him.

This is not difficult to do, since Santa has studied many foreign languages ​​well, including Russian. Santa gives gifts to good and obedient children.

Entrance to Santa's house is free. But if you want to capture yourself in a photo next to Santa Claus, then you will have to pay his assistants - gnome photographers - for this.

Playful and restless gnomes and elves help Santa entertain the guests.

In addition, they work in Santa's workshop, where they make amazing gifts for children.

Santa is a tireless worker himself. It receives guests every day, including weekends and holidays. Office opening hours depend on the time of year and holidays (in December, opening hours are longer and there may be queues).

Official website of Santa Claus office: santaclauslive.com

Santa Claus Mail

This is a must visit place after Santa's office. Almost half a million tourists come here every year.

Here you can order a letter from Santa Claus anywhere in the world. The cheerful elves will help you compose and send such a letter in the desired language (options are offered in 11 languages). Letters from children with their requests and wishes come here from different parts of the planet, which the elves parse and then pass on to Santa. Interesting statistic: Since 1980, Santa has received more than 16 million letters.

From Santa's post office you can send a Christmas card with good wishes to your family and friends. All letters and cards are stamped with Santa's special seal and are immediately sent to their destination. Here you can buy various souvenirs and postcards.

Santa Claus' post office, like the office, is open all days of the year.

There is another attraction in the Village, which is associated with an interesting ritual that everyone who visits this place likes to perform: crossing the geographical and, to some extent, fabulous border of the Arctic Circle, depicted as a white line with the inscription “Arctic Circle”.

The most “brave” (that is, those who cross the Arctic Circle) will receive a solemn presentation of commemorative certificates in memory of this event.

There is another notable geographical landmark in the village: a large pillar with direction signs for the largest cities in the world.

Santa Claus Post Websites:

  • santagreeting.net

Santa Park - the magical cave of the elves

Near the Village there is an underground (at a depth of several tens of meters) Santa Claus Park, inhabited by cheerful elves. This structure is in the form of a series of tunnels that are laid right inside the rock. Before you are greeted by elves and fairy tale characters, you have a long descent ahead of you.

Santa Park's Cave of Adventure has a variety of fun and varied activities for everyone. Children especially have fun here. At the elf school you can master all sorts of elven wisdom and learn how to sign Christmas cards in calligraphy.

And those who especially distinguished themselves will even be given a diploma on successful completion of the young elf course.

In Mrs. Claus's bakery and kitchen you can not only try delicious gingerbread cookies, but also learn how to make them yourself. Besides, this kind woman has so many sweets in store.

It wouldn’t hurt to visit Santa Claus in his office and visit the Elven Post Office again (in case not all your friends have received postcards yet).

And the kingdom of the Ice Princess (not scary at all, rather the opposite) will simply surprise you with sculptures of northern animals and fairy-tale characters in the Ice Gallery.

You can also go on a fun journey with the elves on the magical train “Seasons”, play in a huge ball filled with snowflakes, or playground Angry Birds.

The annual colorful costume show will add to the long list of amazing adventures.

Delicious food awaits everyone who is hungry in the underground cafe, and those who did not have time to buy gifts for their relatives can do so in the local shops and souvenir shops.

Santa Park opening hours:

Santa Park is not open every day, but only during certain periods.

From 9 to 30 November 2019 – daily from 10:00 to 17:00. From December 1, 2019 to January 5, 2020 - daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (December 24 - from 10:00 to 16:00). From January 6 to January 11, 2020 – daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (January 11 – from 10:00 to 15:00).

Santa Park website: santapark.com

Cost of tickets to Santa Park for 2019-2020:

Unlike free entry to the Village, entrance here is paid.

  • From 9.11.2019 - 30.11.2019: adults – 34€, children (3–12) years old – 28€
  • From 1.12.2019 - 21.12.2019: adults – 35€, children (3–12) years old – 29€
  • From 12/22/2019 - 01/11/2020: adults – 36 €, children (3–12) years old – 30 €.

Children under 3 years old can enter Santa Park for free. The price of the ticket, which is valid for two consecutive days, includes all the entertainment in Santa Park, and you can buy tickets at the ticket office from the elf.

Another wonderful place for children and their parents is located very close to the village of Santa Claus. But this amusement park is only open in winter - from early December to late March.

And every year this complex, which consists of a unique igloo hotel, slides for children and adults in fantastic lighting, a cafe and bar, beautiful sculptures, is rebuilt from snow and ice.

Everyone, from young to old, enjoys sledding and cheesecake rides down the ice slides.

You can conquer more and more slides all day long for a single entrance fee to the amusement park.

And after riding, you can take a break. The Ice Cafe or Bar will offer you delicious berry drinks - for children, and something stronger for adults. And all this in ice-cold glasses.

For a more complete picture of Ice world, daredevils can spend the night in a sleeping bag in one of the snowy rooms decorated with ice objects at the Arctice Igloo Hotel.

There are no other zoos in the world located this far north.

It is located approximately 80 kilometers (or an hour's drive) from Rovaniemi. More than 200 different animals and about 30 species of birds live here, including polar and brown bears, wolves and, of course, reindeer.

Excellent conditions have been created for the animals: spacious enclosures, good feeding and care. The zoo stretches out in a long strip, about 2.5 km, in the forest. Therefore, children can borrow a stroller or sled for free at the entrance to the zoo. Children usually enthusiastically prefer sleds.

In addition to the zoo, you can also visit the children's fairy-tale park – the “Mur-mur” castle (or the castle of the elves), where gnomes and elves make Christmas gifts for children, where you can enjoy delicious sweets from the local confectionery factory “Fazer” or a rare northern berry - cloudberries.

The zoo is open daily. Opening hours and ticket prices depend on the season. You can travel from Rovaniemi to Ranua by car or bus.

Ranua Zoo official website: ranuazoo.com

Ranua Zoo opening hours:

  • From September 1 to May 31 – from 10:00 to 16:00
  • From June 1 to August 31 – from 9:00 to 19:00

Cost of visiting the zoo:

From 01.10 – 09.12 and from 11.01 – 31.03:

  • For adults – 15€
  • For children 4-14 years old – 13.50€
  • For pensioners – 14€
  • Family ticket – 51€
  • For students – 13.50€

From 10.12 - 10.01:

  • For adults – 18.50€
  • For children 4-14 years old – 16€
  • For pensioners – 17€
  • For students – 16€
  • Family ticket – 59€

From 1.04 - 30.09:

  • For adults – 17€
  • For children 4-14 years old – 14€
  • For pensioners – 14.50€
  • For students – 14€
  • Family ticket – 51€

For children under 4 years old, visiting the zoo is free.

What else can you do in Lapland?

You can’t leave these places without riding reindeer and dog sleds or powerful snowmobiles.

More information about this can be found on the websites:

  • wildlifesafaris.fi
  • gulo.fi

There is a reindeer farm near Santa Claus's office in winter.

It is small, but sufficient for organizing wonderful sleigh rides pulled by reindeer.

And, of course, you will be very lucky if you manage to admire, according to eyewitnesses, the extraordinary beauty of the Northern Lights.

The timing of this inexplicable natural phenomenon is difficult to predict. But still, suddenly you find yourself in right time in the right place.

Where to live and how to get there?

There are no problems with accommodation or transportation in these places. Despite all the harshness of these places, the conditions for tourists here are excellent. You can stay on vacation in a hotel or in a separate comfortable and cozy cottage.

The city has a railway station, and just 10 kilometers from the city and 2 kilometers from the village of Santa Claus is Rovaniemi International Airport.

Cheap flights to Rovaniemi

Where departure date Return date Find a ticket

Helsinki

Moscow

London

Copenhagen

From the center of Rovaniemi to Santa Claus Village there is a regular bus service “Santa’s Express” (route no. 8), the trip takes approximately 20-30 minutes. The cost of a one-way ticket per person is 3.80 €. A taxi from the center to the village will cost several times more – approximately 25 €.

And for complete immersion in the local atmosphere, you can get from the city to Santa Claus Village by reindeer or dog sled.

And if you want to celebrate the New Year as a family, in a cozy house by the fireplace in a fabulous atmosphere - best place You can't find anything better than fabulous Lapland.

A trip to Finland is also good because of what we have with this country common border. Therefore, the opportunity to travel to Finland from the northwestern part of our country is very simplified. For example, you can go there from St. Petersburg different types transport.

The easiest way is to get to Helsinki by high speed train"Allegro" or by car, bus, plane and even by ferry. You can also get from Russia by bus from Murmansk and Kandalaksha. Those who live in the central part of Russia can use the services branded train Moscow-Helsinki “Leo Tolstoy”.

The second advantage of this tourist destination– this is the relative ease of obtaining a visa. Finns willingly give Russian tourists visas.

Don't forget to take warm clothes with you! Happy holidays to you!

New Year is a magical time. Adults expect holidays and changes for the better, children expect magic and gifts. If you want to give your child a real New Year's fairy tale and plunge into the atmosphere of children's happiness, you need to go to the end of the world - to Lapland! New Year's Eve in the homeland of Finnish Santa Claus - Joulupukki - is real magic; such a trip will be remembered for a lifetime.

In Finland, as in Europe in general, the main event of winter is Christmas, and according to the old style, December 25th. New Year is not celebrated so widely. So by the time the New Year arrives, Joulupukki will have already given Christmas gifts to Finnish children and will be entirely occupied with us, the guests. Joulupukki Residence is located 9 km from the city of Rovaniemi, right on the border of the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Village (Joulupukin Pajakylä) – this is the office and post office of Santa Claus, Santa Park, cottages for tourists, many shops and restaurants, a small deer farm. In winter, numerous slides are built on the square, from which you can ride for free. Near the village there is another amusement park - Arctic Winter World.

In the center of the Village there is a large Christmas tree, sparkling in festive attire, this immediately improves your mood!

Joulupukki Residence

There is about Santa Claus's house (Joulupukki) interesting legend: since it is in this place that the earth’s crust is very thin, with the help of special mechanisms Santa Claus learned to control time and, in particular, slow down the speed of the Earth’s rotation. And this little trick helps Santa visit everyone in the world on the eve of Christmas in one night and give everyone gifts. In order not to disturb the structure of the clock mechanism, guests move along suspended bridges;

Here you can watch and even pet a deer completely free of charge. The reindeer camp is located behind the main house;

You can get to the office to meet Santa Claus through a long fairy-tale corridor. The famous wizard himself and his gnome assistants joyfully welcome the guests. This happens every day, without weekends or holidays. There may be queues in December. Finnish Santa Claus speaks many languages, including Russian!

After the office, be sure to visit Santa Claus Post Office. Letters from children with their requests and wishes come here from all over the world, the elves sort them out and hand them over to Santa. You can find yours among the stacks! Write a letter with your child in advance and send it to the central Santa Claus post office: Santa Klaus, 96930 Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, Finland. You can send cards to family and friends from Santa Claus's post office. All letters and cards are stamped with Santa's special seal and are immediately sent to their destination. A nice souvenir for your beloved grandmothers.

Entrance to the residence is free. Reindeer ride - 85 euros. Snowmobiling - 150 euros. Postcard - 2-4 euros. Souvenirs from 20 euros. An audience with Santa is free, a photo with Santa in his house is 17 euros.

From railway station Rovaniemi bus number 8 takes you to Santa Claus Village.

Santa Claus Village Websites:

  • santaclausvillage.info
  • santaclausholidayvillage.fi

Santa Park

2 kilometers from the village of Finnish Santa Claus there is a Santa Park for children theme park entertainment.

The legend is this: Once upon a time, Santa Claus was returning from a Christmas trip, and so he was captivated by the beauty local nature that right here in the Arctic Circle Santa and his elves have set up a real amusement park for their many guests. In a huge cave, carved out of the rock by tireless dwarves, there is a whole underground city. This magical place is the only place in the world where you can cross the Arctic Circle underground and receive a certificate in honor of this geographical achievement! Magic coordinates of the Arctic Circle – 66° 33" 07"

Santa Park is huge building in the form of tunnels that are laid right inside the rock. Before you are greeted by elves and fairy tale characters, you have a long descent ahead of you. Carousels, activities with elves, colorful costume shows, cafes and souvenir shops.

Arctic Winter World Park

This amusement park is only open in winter - from early December to late March. Every year, entertainment is rebuilt here from snow and ice: slides for children and adults with fantastic lighting, a cafe and bar where drinks are served in ice glasses, ice sculptures and even an igloo hotel (Snowman World Igloo), where you can spend the night in a sleeping area. heated bag...

Official website of the park: arctice.fi

Entrance to the park is paid

Santa Claus Village is very popular place visits by families with children, especially during New Year holidays. People flock here who dream of not only enjoying the local beauty, but also once again returning to a distant fairy tale from childhood. "The Snow Queen", "Nils's Journey with the Wild Geese" - these fabulous places really exist. And if you're lucky, you can see the Northern Lights!

It is necessary to prepare in advance for such a trip. Can buy ready-made tour, but it is much more convenient and cheaper to plan the trip yourself.

Book a hotel and buy tickets.

Option 1: You can get to the Arctic Circle by own car. From St. Petersburg to Rovaniemi is more than a thousand kilometers. Without taking into account traffic jams and crossing the border, the drive takes 12 hours, and before the New Year there are queues at the border, which means you definitely won’t be able to do it in a day, it’s better to stop overnight in the middle of the journey. This is especially true when traveling with small children. On the way there are inexpensive houses with family rooms and a sauna:

The most convenient way to get to Santa Claus is by plane. The city of Rovaniemi and the village are located Joulupukki are located next to international airport, there are direct flights from Helsinki to the city's airport and train station. From Rovaniemi train station, bus number 8 runs every hour to Santa Claus Village. Also, at Rovaniemi airport they will put a stamp in your passport in the shape of Santa Claus.

A trip with the whole family for just 3-4 days will turn into the most memorable childhood trip for your kids.

  • 1 day Moscow, Saint Petersburg

    Joining/detaching from a group in European cities is carried out only after written agreement with managers in the direction, before booking air or train tickets to the place of joining/detaching.

    Departure from Leningradsky station by train No. 56 at 21:24 or another train, meeting to receive documents 40 minutes in advance. before departure at carriage No. 3. For a guide, train and carriage No., see section a week before departure.

    Day 2 St. Petersburg - Helsinki

    Arrival in St. Petersburg early in the morning (~05:19). Meeting at 05:30 at the main entrance to the Gallery shopping center..

    T transfer by busin Helsinki (~390 km),museums* to choose from: Natural History Museum "Ateneum" "Kiasma"

    Overnight at the hotel

    Day 3 Tampere - Oulu

    Breakfast in the hotel.

    Morning tour of Tampere Free time.

    In the afternoon transfer (~480 km) to Oulu

    Overnight at the hotel.

    4 day Oulu - Rovaniemi*

    Breakfast in the hotel
    RovaniemiSanta Claus Villages

    Santa Park


    New Year's Eve dinner"Buffet" (included in price)will take place in a cozy restaurant.

    5 day

    Breakfast in the hotel. Inspection Oulu

    Ranua (~150 km), p visit to the Arctic Zoo

    In search of the Northern Lights*Attention!). Return to the hotel.

    Day 6 Kuopio

    Breakfast in the hotel

    In the morning transfer (~280 km) toKuopio


    -
    - Riding* on cheesecakes

    Climb* on observation tower Puyo ( from €7, payable on site).

    Day 7 St. Petersburg

    Breakfast in the hotel.

    Day 8 Saint Petersburg - Moscow

    Departure by night train No. 55 at ~01:15And or by another train. Check the departure/arrival information and carriage number in the section .

    Arrival in Moscow at Leningradsky Station at 11:20 or other.

    If you purchase tickets on your own, it is important to leave St. Petersburg for your city no earlier than the main group. A tourist's ticket for an earlier train than the main group does not constitute grounds for changing the group's schedule.

  • 1 day St. Petersburg - Helsinki

    DEPARTURE ON THE NEXT DAY FROM THE STATED DEPARTURE DATE.

    Meeting at 05:30 at the main entrance to the Gallery shopping center..

    T transfer by busin Helsinki (~390 km), tour of the city with an accompanying person: Senate Square, Esplanade, Assumption Cathedral, monument to Alexander II, City Hall, monument to Sibelius, Presidential Palace, sculpture "Havis Amanda". Free time. Possible visitmuseums* to choose from: Natural History Museum (€15 adults / €7 children under 18 years old), museum visual arts"Ateneum" (€17 adults / children under 18 years old - free), contemporary art gallery "Kiasma" (€15 adults / children under 18 years old - free).

    In the evening transfer to Tampere (~180 km).

    Overnight at the hotel

    Day 2 Tampere - Oulu

    Breakfast in the hotel.

    Morning tour of Tampere with an accompanying person: Cathedral, Town Hall, Kaleva Church, Art Nouveau architecture, national landscapes of Tammerkoski, etc. The city is located between two I lakes - Nasijärvi and Pyhäjärvi.Free time.

    In the afternoon, transfer (~480 km) to Oulu - one of the largest northern cities in the world, located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia.

    Overnight at the hotel.

    Day 3 Oulu - Rovaniemi*

    Breakfast in the hotel
    Free time in Oulu or full day trip (~190 km) toRovaniemi* (€60/€54 up to 12 years, transfer + entrance tickets, purchase and payment only with the tour), visit to Santa Claus Village - meeting with the real Santa at his residence, visit to the magic post office, where you can order a “real” letter from Santa at Christmas, the largest center for Christmas-themed souvenirs.

    Crossing the Arctic Circle and receiving personalized certificates as souvenirs. Excursion to Santa Park- a fabulous elven cave, here you can ride the Christmas train, see the workshop of Santa Claus and his assistants - elves and gnomes, take part in making Christmas gifts with the elves, watch a fairy-tale dance performance, etc. Return to the hotel.

    Only for the date 28.12: New Year's Eve in Oulu!
    New Year's Eve dinner"Buffet" (included in price)will take place in a cozy restaurant"Torilll" hotelSCANDIC OULU 4* (includes 1 glass of wine*). *alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are ordered and paid additionally on the spot.
    The evening's program includes competitions, fiery music and space for dizzying dances...
    23:40 departure from the hotel. Celebrating the New Year with a glass of champagne inin the very center of the city near the shopping and pedestrian streets of Rotuaari and Ainola Park. Holiday festivities and fireworks.

    4 day Oulu - Ranua (Arctic Zoo)*

    Breakfast in the hotel. Inspection Oulu with an accompanying person: Cathedral, library, theater, trade area etc. The market policeman is considered the symbol of Oulu; his statue is located at the entrance to the Kauppatori market.

    Free time, for those who wish, a trip* to Ranua (~150 km), p visit to the Arctic Zoo * (€45/€42 up to 14 years old, transfer + tickets, purchase and payment only with the tour) - more than 60 species of rare animals (reindeer, lynx, wolverine, etc.) with demonstration feedings.

    In the evening, an excursion is possible* In Search of the Northern Lights (€25/€20 up to 16 years old, transfer + ferry + small picnic;*Attention!It is important to remember that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, which depends on the whim of nature and cannot be guaranteed). Return to the hotel.

    Day 5 Kuopio

    Breakfast in the hotel

    In the morning transfer (~280 km) toKuopio. Tour of the city with an accompanying person - the Puyo Tower on the mountain of the same name - the symbol of the city, the Cathedral in the neoclassical style, the museum quarter - small wooden houses of the 17th-19th centuries, where the life and crafts of past centuries have been preserved, in the center of the modern city.

    At your leisure or for those interested:
    - Husky dog ​​sledding* approx. 1 km (€35 adults / €30 children under 13 years old. 10 USD - mandatory non-refundable prepayment for the excursion when purchasing a tour, additional payment on the route);
    - Cheesecake ride* (€9 adults - 1 hour, booking and payment when purchasing the tour);

    Climb* to the Puyo observation tower ( from €7, payable on site).

    In the evening, check into the hotel, relax and visit the pool, sauna and jacuzzi at the hotel.

    Day 6 St. Petersburg

    Breakfast in the hotel.

    In the morning, transfer (~300 km) to the border with a stop for lunch*, if there is time.
    Transfer to St. Petersburg (~195 km). Arrival in St. Petersburg after 23:30 pm, to the Gallery shopping center, delays at the border are possible, the time indicated is approximate.
    If you arrive early - free time without using the bus, luggage can be left in the storage room at the railway station.

 

It might be useful to read: