The real Santa Claus Village is located in Rovaniemi, in the Lapland region of Finland, situated directly on the Arctic Circle. Known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, this year-round destination allows visitors to meet Santa, cross the Arctic Circle, and visit the main post office.
Santa Claus hails from Finland's mysterious Korvatunturi (“Ear Fell”) in Lapland. But you can meet him in Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa, on any day of the year.
More than 22 holiday films—by Hallmark, Netflix, and Lifetime—have been filmed in the state across a handful of towns, including Mystic, Hartford, Norwich, Wethersfield, and Essex.
Christmas: Santa Claus Village 🦌🎅🎄 Rovaniemi Lapland Finland Arctic Circle home of Father Christmas
Is Rovaniemi expensive to visit?
It's no secret: Lapland (and Rovaniemi) is an expensive holiday… A trip often dreamed of for a long time and for which one sometimes saves for years. And rightly so: flights, hotels, restaurants, but also tours and guided activities quickly increase the budget, even if we don't necessarily have luxurious tastes!
All the apartments and cottages in the Santa Claus Holiday Village on the Arctic Circle have been built in the 2010s, which means they are exceptional in terms of both quality and atmosphere. The building materials used and the amenities guarantee a carefree and relaxing holiday for holidaymakers of all ages.
Yes, standard Lapland UK tickets for the 2025 season (running Nov-Dec 2025) are officially sold out after the main release in March and subsequent releases in September, but you can still find tickets by checking the official website for returned tickets or exploring VIP/bespoke packages from authorized resellers like The Sincura Group.
It consistently ranks high in safety rankings, both for low crime and a stable political situation. Finnish cities, from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, offer a peaceful atmosphere, well-organized infrastructure, and a high level of public services.
To fly to Lapland, you typically fly into Finnish airports like Rovaniemi (RVN) for Santa Claus Village or Kittilä (KTT)/ Ivalo (IVL) for ski resorts, with direct flights from the UK often available, or into Luleå (LLA)/ Kiruna (KRN) for Swedish Lapland, often connecting via Stockholm. The best airport depends on your final destination within Lapland, but Rovaniemi is the most popular entry point for festive visits.
The "best" Christmas village depends on your preference, but Rovaniemi, Finland (Santa's official home) offers ultimate magic with Northern Lights and Santa visits; for quaint UK charm, Cotswold villages like Bourton-on-the-Water are idyllic; while Strasbourg, France boasts grand markets, and Poland's Wrocław provides unique gnome-hunting fun, making each a top contender for a festive getaway.
Rovaniemi is a monolingual Finnish-speaking municipality, and unusually for larger Finnish towns, it is also known by its Finnish name and spelling in the Swedish language.
Santa Claus' origins date back to about 280 A.D. when St. Nicholas was born, the History Channel reports. This would make Santa approximately 1,744 years old today.
According to the LaplandUK website, standard ticket prices for the 2025 season range between £60-£195. If you're scratching your head, wondering what could be worth the cost, you're not alone.
No, you cannot stay overnight at Lapland UK, as it's a 4 to 4.5-hour immersive day experience; however, there are many family-friendly hotels, holiday cottages, and rentals available nearby in areas like Ascot, Bracknell, and Wokingham for overnight stays, with options ranging from hotels like Stirrups Hotel and The Royal Foresters to rental homes on sites like Vrbo.
Yes, Lapland can be quite expensive, especially during peak winter/Christmas season due to high demand for flights, accommodation, and pricey activities like husky sledding and Northern Lights tours, but costs vary significantly by season and location, with budget options available by traveling off-peak (late winter/early spring) and choosing Finnish Lapland over Norway.
No ticket needed! Entry to Santa Claus Village is free of charge. You can walk around, meet Santa, and explore the Arctic Circle freely. Some activities and attractions (like Snowman World or husky rides) have their own separate tickets.
Finland's "3-Year Rule" is a tax rule for Finnish citizens moving abroad, stating they remain Finnish tax residents during their year of relocation and the next three calendar years, unless they prove they have no substantial ties (like a home, spouse, or social security) in Finland during that time, in which case they can apply to be a non-resident taxpayer sooner.
At a mid-range restaurant, a two course meal for two people is typically between £50-£75 (€60-€85) For a light lunch, like a soup and coffee, expect to pay around £13-£21 (€15-€25) A dessert or cake and coffee at a local café can cost around £5-£8 (€6-€10)
