Almost every family that writes to us before a winter trip asks the same thing: how do we actually get to meet Santa, and which way suits us? We run four different Santa Claus experiences in Rovaniemi, and they are built for quite different families — some want the full Santa Claus Village day with lunch and a guide, others want a quiet, private half hour where Santa has time for every child.
This page is our own overview of all four, written from the product pages you book from. It explains what happens on each one, what is included, the small print, and how to choose. You can see all of them together on our Santa Claus activities page.
The short answer: our main group experience is the Santa Claus Village Tour — from 169 €, 5 hours, with a guide, winter clothing, a local lunch, meeting Santa Claus and pick-up within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre. For a private meeting there is the Magical Private Santa Visit (from 249 €, 1,5 hours), the in-room Private Santa’s Surprise visit for guests of our hotels (from 199 €, 15 minutes) and the Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit (from 990 €, 2,5 hours).
At a glance
- From: 169 €
- Experience type: Santa Claus Village / Culture tour
- Duration: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Book in Advance: Cut off: 4 hours before start time
- Included: A Tour Guide in English (other languages available on request: (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German & Finnish. PLEASE NOTE LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR OTHER LANGUAGES) If another language is required. Please send us an email or WhatsApp after booking.); Winter clothing (Adult & Child size), overalls, boots & gloves; Meeting Santa Claus himself!; Local lunch; Pick-ups and drop-offs are included in the price in 10 km radius from Rovaniemi city center; Photos taken with your own device; Air conditioned car
- Cancellation: We will charge a cancellation fee of 15% if the booking is cancelled 15 days or less before the event. Otherwise, the standard cancellation policy is 24 hours before the event, after which the remaining amount is also non-refundable.
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; Not stroller accessible
StayLapland · From 169 €
5 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 4 hours before start time
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The four ways to meet Santa with us
All four experiences end in the same place — a moment with Santa Claus — but the setting and the pace are different.
- Santa Claus Village Tour — from 169 €, 5 hours, very easy. A guided family tour of Santa Claus Village with lunch.
- Magical Private Santa Visit — from 249 €, 1,5 hours, very easy. A 30-minute private meeting at Santa’s Secret Hide-out, with your own Santa’s Elf.
- Private Santa’s Surprise visit — from 199 €, 15 minutes. Santa comes to your hotel room; for guests staying at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort.
- Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit — from 990 €, 2,5 hours, very easy. About 1 km by reindeer sleigh, then 30 minutes with Santa in a private kota.
Prices are the “from” prices shown on each product page; the booking window shows the exact price for your date and group.
Santa Claus Village Tour: the full family day
The Santa Claus Village Tour is the one we designed for families with young children. Our guide streamlines the most important and interesting parts of Santa Claus Village so that everything fits in before the little ones get sleepy, and plays with the kids along the way while telling you about the village.
The experience starts at 10:00 and at 14:00 daily and lasts 5 hours. Transfers to and from your pick-up point come on top of that time, so we recommend keeping 15–30 minutes free before and after. During the day you meet Father Christmas himself, and near the end there is a chance to meet — and possibly touch — some animals. Lunch is included, served in a traditional Finnish way.
What is included, as listed on the product page:
- A tour guide in English (other languages on request, with limited availability — email or WhatsApp us after booking)
- Winter clothing in adult and child sizes: overalls, boots and gloves
- Meeting Santa Claus
- A local lunch
- Pick-up and drop-off within a 10 km radius of Rovaniemi city centre, in an air-conditioned car
- Photos taken with your own device
Magical Private Santa Visit: Santa’s Secret Hide-out
If what matters most is time — Santa sitting down with your family and nobody waiting behind you — the Magical Private Santa Visit is the one. From the moment you are picked up, your own Santa’s Elf stays with your family, guides you to Santa’s Secret Hide-out and makes sure everything runs smoothly.
Inside the cosy hide-out you have an exclusive 30-minute private meeting with Santa Claus, with warm berry juice and cookies. Each child receives a special gift from Santa, and there are unlimited photo opportunities. The whole experience takes 1,5 hours, and pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre are included.
Private Santa’s Surprise visit: Santa comes to your room
The Private Santa’s Surprise visit turns things around: Santa comes to you. It is a 15-minute visit in your own hotel room, and it is only available to guests staying at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort. Only guests staying in the booked room can take part.
Santa makes a surprise entry, shares holiday greetings and chats with the family, reads a short Christmas story or poem for the children, and there is time for photos before he leaves with a cheerful “Merry Christmas”. A lovely detail: you can hand your own gifts to Santa beforehand, so he can give them to your children during the visit.
StayLapland · From 249 €
1,5 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 12 hours before start time
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Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit
Our Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit combines two Lapland moments in 2,5 hours. A personal Santa’s Elf picks you up and accompanies your family to the reindeer farm. The sleigh ride through the snowy forest is about 1 km, led by a professional reindeer herder, and along the way you hear about the life of reindeer and their connection with the people of Lapland.
After the ride, your elf takes you to a private Lappish kota where Santa Claus is waiting by the fire. You have 30 minutes with him, with hot berry juice and cookies, unlimited photos, and a special gift for each child. If the weather does not allow a sleigh ride, the tour is arranged as a reindeer walk instead, and the product may be cancelled or rescheduled in extreme weather. To see more of what we do with reindeer, have a look at our reindeer activities.
Which one suits your family?
We would rather you book the right experience than the most expensive one, so here is how we usually advise families:
- Book the Santa Claus Village Tour if you want a full, guided day with lunch, winter clothing and Santa included, and you are happy to be part of a small group.
- Choose the Magical Private Santa Visit instead if your children are shy, or you simply want an unhurried half hour with Santa in a quiet setting.
- Choose the Private Santa’s Surprise visit if you are already staying with us at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort and want the surprise to happen in your own room — it is short, easy, and listed as accessible for everyone.
- Choose the Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit if meeting reindeer is as important to your family as meeting Santa, and you want the whole experience to be private.
Please note that the Santa Claus Village Tour, the Magical Private Santa Visit and the reindeer sleigh experience are listed as not wheelchair accessible and not stroller accessible. The recommended minimum age on the Village tour and the sleigh ride pages is 3 years, as winter conditions can be too harsh for infants. If you are unsure, write to us before booking.
The small print, from our product pages
- Santa Claus Village Tour: at least 2 people are required on weekdays and Saturdays, and at least 4 on Sundays and public holidays. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price. A 15% cancellation fee applies if you cancel 15 days or less before the event; after the standard 24-hour limit the remaining amount is non-refundable. Booking cut-off is 4 hours before the start.
- Magical Private Santa Visit: free cancellation up to 7 days before; a 100% fee applies within 7 days. Cut-off 12 hours before the start. The same group-size and under-13 rules as the Village tour are listed.
- Private Santa’s Surprise visit: free cancellation up to 7 days before; 100% fee within 7 days. Cut-off 1 day before.
- Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit: free cancellation up to 7 days before; 100% fee within 7 days. Cut-off 12 hours before the start. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price.
- For the experiences with pick-up, please be ready in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your pick-up time.
Combining Santa with your stay and other tours
Our meeting point is Postikatu 1 in Rovaniemi, the address of Postmaster Hotel, and all three pick-up experiences collect guests from Postmaster Hotel and Aurora Hill Resort as well as from many other hotels in town — custom pick-up is possible on request. Staying with us also opens up the in-room Surprise visit, which is only sold to our hotel guests.
Many families pair a Santa experience with one of our other winter days. If you are planning early, our post on how our book-early winter code works explains the current offer and which tours it covers, and our earlier story Meet Santa Claus in Rovaniemi has more background on our Santa activities.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Santa Claus Village Tour start?
It starts at 10:00 and at 14:00 daily and lasts 5 hours. Transfers to and from your pick-up point are outside that time, so keep 15–30 minutes free before and after.
Is winter clothing included?
Yes. On the Santa Claus Village Tour, overalls, boots and gloves in adult and child sizes are included, and our FAQ confirms we provide warm clothing for our activities in all sizes.
Do you pick us up from our hotel?
Yes, for the Village tour, the Magical Private Santa Visit and the reindeer sleigh experience we offer a complimentary pick-up from any location within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre. Add your address when booking, or email booking@staylapland.com.
Does every child get a gift from Santa?
On the Magical Private Santa Visit and the Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit, each child receives a special gift from Santa. For the in-room Surprise visit, you can hand your own gifts to Santa beforehand.
Can anyone book the in-room Santa visit?
No. The Private Santa’s Surprise visit is only available to guests staying at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort, and only guests staying in the booked room can take part.
What happens if there is not enough snow for the sleigh ride?
If the weather conditions do not allow a sleigh ride, the tour is arranged as a reindeer walk instead.
Can we have a guide in another language?
English is standard on the Village tour. Other languages are available on request with limited availability — contact us in advance so we can confirm.
Ready to book?
StayLapland · From 169 €
5 hours · Very easy · Cut off: 4 hours before start time
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Questions before you book? Email booking@staylapland.com or WhatsApp +358 40 128 7846 — we are happy to help you choose.
You may also like
- Magical Private Santa Visit — from 249 €, 1,5 hours
- Private Santa’s Surprise visit — from 199 €, 15 minutes
- Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit — from 990 €, 2,5 hours