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Christmas in Lapland with kids – planning, Santa and alternatives

Snow, candles, Santa on the Arctic Circle – Christmas in Lapland is a dream for many families. A planning article with everything you should know early.

Editorial team polarlichtreise.comLast updated: 6 min read

Illustration: Christmas cabin with tree, reindeer and ice lanterns in Lapland
Illustration: Christmas cabin with tree, reindeer and ice lanterns in Lapland
Contents
  1. Planning timeline
  2. When to book?
  3. Rovaniemi and Santa Claus
  4. Quieter alternatives
  5. Example: 5 days over Christmas
  6. Light and cold
  7. Holidays in Finland
  8. With toddlers
  9. Common mistakes
  10. Budget
  11. Packing extras for Christmas
  12. Frequently asked questions

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In short: Christmas is the most sought-after time in Lapland. Plan early (many book in spring), expect very little daylight and temperatures well below zero, and check opening hours around 24–26 December. Rovaniemi is the classic Santa destination; quieter alternatives are Levi, Ylläs, Saariselkä or Inari. Keep the programme short – the best moments are often snow, sauna and candlelight in the cabin. As of October 2026.

Planning timeline

When What
February to May Fix dates, compare and book flights and accommodation – popular cabins go early
June to September Reserve popular activities (huskies, reindeer, Santa programmes), book a rental car
October Check your gear: what is missing, what can be rented? Review travel insurance
November Check holiday opening hours, reserve Christmas dinner or plan your shopping
One week before Watch the weather, tick off the packing list, prepare the children for cold and darkness

When to book?

Flights, accommodation and popular activities around Christmas often sell out early. If you are tied to school holidays, start planning in the spring or summer before. With packages, check what is included (transfers, clothing, activities, Christmas dinner) and the cancellation terms. Christmas is the most expensive week of the winter – budget framework in What does a family trip to Lapland cost? The cost factors.

Rovaniemi and Santa Claus

Santa Claus Village lies right on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, about eight kilometres north of the centre and close to the airport. Entry to the village is free, and so is visiting Santa himself; official photos and many activities cost extra. There is also Santa’s main post office, which sends cards with a special postmark, and a marked Arctic Circle line.

It gets very busy at Christmas. Our tips:

  • Arrive early in the day, ideally on a weekday before 20 December.
  • Allow for queues to see Santa – with toddlers bring snacks and spare clothes.
  • Do not cram everything into one day: the village in the morning, rest in the afternoon.
  • Add calmer activities: a reindeer farm, sledging, a snowshoe walk.

Santa is not only found in Rovaniemi, by the way – many resorts and lodges organise their own visits during Advent.

Quieter alternatives

  • Levi and Ylläs: ski resorts with family facilities, cabins and hotels, local Christmas programmes.
  • Saariselkä and Inari: further north, quieter, more nature – good aurora chances.
  • A cabin in the forest: with sauna and fireplace often the most Christmassy option, but usually needs a car.

More on choosing a place: Rovaniemi, Levi or Saariselkä? Lapland destinations compared.

Example: 5 days over Christmas

  1. 22 December: arrive, shop for the holidays, sauna.
  2. 23 December: reindeer farm in the late morning, sledging in the afternoon, aurora check outside the cabin in the evening.
  3. 24 December: quiet morning, a short snowshoe walk in the midday light, Christmas dinner in the cabin or a reserved menu.
  4. 25 December: a husky taster ride (if offered) or a free day with snow forts and games.
  5. 26 December: depart or move on.

Ideally schedule the Santa visit and big activities before the 24th – services are limited over the holidays.

Light and cold

Around Christmas Rovaniemi gets only about 2¼ hours of sunshine, and further north the sun does not rise at all. It is light enough for outings roughly between 10 am and 2 pm. Plan activities for these hours and keep the evenings for sauna, games and quick aurora checks. More on the darkness: Polar night and daylight – how dark is it up north really?.

Average temperatures in Rovaniemi in December range from about −6 °C (high) to −12 °C (low); cold spells of −25 °C and below do occur. Layered clothing is essential – see Packing list for −30 °C and the polar night – also with kids.

Holidays in Finland

In Finland Christmas is celebrated mainly on 24 December – with a Christmas sauna, Christmas dinner and presents. Many shops close in the afternoon of the 24th, and much is closed on 25 December. Restaurants and some operators have reduced hours over the holidays.

  • Check in advance whether your accommodation serves dinner.
  • Stock up by 23 December at the latest.
  • Ask tour operators about special holiday times.
  • A typical Finnish Christmas meal: ham, swede casserole, salmon, star-shaped plum pastries and glögi (mulled wine, also alcohol-free).

With toddlers

  • Short programmes of one to two hours, followed by time indoors
  • A sledge or carrier instead of a pushchair
  • Bring familiar rituals: a cuddly toy, a bedtime book, your own little decorations
  • Talk about Santa beforehand – some toddlers find the costume and bustle intimidating
  • Keep presents small: suitcase space is limited, and much can be found locally

More on children and cold: Planning Lapland with kids – season, places, activities, clothing.

Common mistakes

  • Booking too late and ending up far from where you wanted to stay
  • A programme every day – children need breaks, and the days are short
  • No plan for 24/25 December – closed restaurants surprise many visitors
  • Only Santa, no nature: the best thing about Lapland is often the silence of the forest
  • Promising the aurora as a Christmas present – it is never guaranteed

Budget

Christmas is the most expensive week of the winter. Which items to plan for is covered in What does a family trip to Lapland cost? The cost factors. If you are flexible, early December or the days after New Year are often more relaxed and cheaper – and the festive atmosphere is already there.

Packing extras for Christmas

  • A few small decorations or battery fairy lights for the cabin
  • Presents that are flat and light – or buy them locally at the supermarket
  • Festive but warm clothes for 24 December
  • Warmers for the Christmas-village visit, where you often wait outdoors
  • Head torches with red light for evening walks and aurora checks
  • A thermos for cocoa or alcohol-free glögi

The full cold-weather list: Packing list for −30 °C and the polar night – also with kids.

Frequently asked questions

TipIs Christmas in Lapland a good idea with toddlers?

Yes, if the programme stays short and flexible. Toddlers need breaks indoors; long safaris often do not work.

TipAre there northern lights at Christmas?

The nights are long, so auroras are possible – but never guaranteed. More: Where and when to see the northern lights.

TimingIs Santa Claus Village open on 24 and 25 December?

The village is generally open all year, but hours of individual shops and programmes may differ on the holidays. Check current times before you travel.

TipIs snow guaranteed at Christmas?

A snow cover in Lapland around Christmas is very likely but not guaranteed. Chances are highest inland and further north.

FamilyGuide “Lapland with kids” (PDF)

Season, places, activities with age limits, cold, accommodation and budget planning – a compact PDF planner with checklists.

9,90 € incl. VAT · digital product

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Christmas in Lapland with kids – planning, Santa and alternatives | polarlichtreise.com
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