See Santa Claus in Lapland, Finland
Visit Santa’s Grotto and the Santa Village on the Arctic Circle
Oct 13, 2009
Santa Claus receives visitors daily in his office in the Santa Claus Village, on the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi in northern Finland. The busiest times in the Santa Claus Office are the weeks in the run-up to Christmas and around Christmas and New Year, but the Santa Claus Village is open every day throughout the year.
How to Meet Santa in Santa's Office
The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi was founded in 1985 and includes the Santa Claus’ Office and the Santa Claus Main Post Office that deals with all the letters to Santa (over 700 000 every year). The Sensational Experience Corridor leading to the Santa Claus Office is decorated with a display of Santa’s activities, and explains Santa’s secrets, such as how he can fit down the chimney on Christmas Eve and how he can bring gifts to all children around the world. Other attractions in the Santa Claus Village include a permanent Christmas Exhibition, a Snowmobile Park that offers snowmobile rides, and several handicraft and souvenir stores.
The Santa Claus Office is open every day from 10.00 am to 17.00 pm during November, and in December the office is open daily from 9.00 to 19.00 pm. On Christmas Eve the office closes early at 15.00 pm and on Christmas Day it is open from 12.00 noon to 17.00 pm. Admission to see Santa in his office is free.
How to Visit Santa Claus in Finland
The Santa Claus Village is located just 2 km from the Rovaniemi airport and an 8 km drive from the city of Rovaniemi in the north of Finland. The Santa Claus Village in Finland is open every day of the week throughout the year.
Several international tour companies arrange Santa holidays, but independent travellers can also visit Santa in Finland easily by flying to Rovaniemi via Helsinki. The Rovaniemi Airport is the official Santa Claus Airport and is located an easy 2 km taxi or bus ride away from the Santa Claus Village.
Santa Claus in Finland’s Folklore
According to Finnish folklore Santa Claus (Joulupukki in Finnish) originates from Korvatunturi, the Ear Mountain, a 483 metre high mountain in eastern Lapland on the border between Finland and Russia. As the shape of the mountain resembles an ear, legend says Santa can easily hear all children around the world. As the legendary Ear Mountain is inaccessible to anyone except Santa, his wife and his elves, the Santa Claus Village was founded to enable visitors to meet Santa every day of the year.
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