New Year's Eve to Santa Claus in Finland. A fabulous trip to visit Santa Claus in Lapland. Where does Santa Claus live?
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 tale and plunge headlong into the atmosphere of childhood happiness - you need to go to the ends 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 as 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 come here from all over the world with their requests and wishes, 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 a huge structure 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' Journey with wild geese" - these fabulous places really exist. And if you're lucky, you can see 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.
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 there is a 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).
Seeing the Northern Lights is great luck and unforgettable experience for life! 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.
Breakfast buffet.
Three wonderful days in a Finnish winter fairy tale!
The surroundings of the SPA hotel are a real winter fairy tale whitest snow, picturesque panoramas of snow-covered lakes and green pine forests with snow-white caps! Right in the relict pine forest, along the picturesque lake, there are numerous ski slopes
. This is a unique opportunity to spend the whole day in the crystal fresh air, and after intense active walks enjoy a hot sauna park, swim in outdoor or indoor pools or relax in an excellent SPA center! At your servicerenovated SPA complex “Blue Lagoon”, which has 10 swimming pools of different temperatures, including Jacuzzi and children's pools, an outdoor hot pool, water slide, Finnish sauna and aromatic Turkish bath (hammam), wellness center offering massages, therapeutic and relaxing baths, physiotherapy, beautician services, gym and sports halls, badminton hall, climbing wall and bar. (Visit to the SPA center - without restrictions and included in the price, wellness center services for an additional fee)
Pearl of the SPA hotel "" is the largest black steam room in Europe.
The unusually fragrant steam of a bathhouse heated with specially dried birch firewood for 8 hours and swimming in the snow or (for the bravest) in an ice hole, give an incredible charge of vigor and health! (Visiting hours from 16.00 -20.00, price for guests " " - 8€ / adult, 4 € / child. 4-14 years old.)
There is also a magical Santa Claus House where you can enjoy traditional Finnish treats and Christmas entertainment! You can take part in master classes on making Christmas tree decorations and baking Christmas gingerbread, sing to the accompaniment of an accordion, treat yourself to hot Christmas mulled wine or ice-cold beer, have lunch in Santa Claus's hut, and try hot sausages from the fire and the freshest smoked Finnish salmon outside. (master classes and refreshments - additional fee)
To enjoy traditional Christmas shopping, all you have to do is take the city bus that stops next to the hotel, and in 15 minutes you will be at central square Finnish city of Kuopio.
Kuopio is the “capital” of Eastern Finland, a charming and calm Finnish town. Along the perimeter main square Kuopio has many large shopping centers, where you can do traditional European Christmas shopping and buy yourself some great Finnish souvenirs! (transfer to Kuopio and Christmas shopping on your own)
In Kuopio you can visit tropical island in the middle of winter by visiting the luxurious, modern water park Fontanella. 10 swimming pools with cold and hot water, the longest water slide in Finland with light effects and a gentle slide for calmer descents, jacuzzi, massage showers, saunas, Turkish bath, infrared sauna, children's pools with funny animal fountains and a play pool - here You can have a great rest and relaxation even the whole day! (additional fee)
The picturesque ski resort of Kasurila is 20 km from the hotel.. Magnificent illuminated slopes, the most modern equipment and lifts, rich infrastructure and a variety of entertainment - the Finnish resort of Kasurila is not inferior to the most famous European ski resorts. (On one's own)
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 permanent place home 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 this magical place has to offer.
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 the fairy-tale village in just 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 work there in the summer. 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 Santa Claus receives guests all year round, but there are also days when it is not possible to enter 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 Dreamland. 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 Rovaniemi and in its territory there are many ski resort. You can organize your holiday there and visit Santa Claus on one of the days of your stay Finnish territory. If you forget your equipment at home while on vacation, it’s no problem, you can buy it in any Finnish store.
Despite the fact that the village is open all year round, experienced tourists advise coming there in winter. 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 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 fabulous place gotta meet Santa'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 for favorable 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.
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.
Day 4 Oulu - Rovaniemi*
Breakfast in the hotel
RovaniemiSanta Claus VillagesSanta 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
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- Riding* on cheesecakesClimb* 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. Availability of a tourist ticket for more early train than that of the main group is not a reason to change 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 Northern Arctic Circle and receiving personalized memory certificates. 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.Day 4 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 swimming 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.