Christmas in Lapland: The Ultimate Guide to a Finland Festive Trip

Why Lapland Is the Home of Christmas

Finnish Lapland is the original Christmas destination — Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus, and the whole region delivers everything the festive imagination wants: snow-laden forests, reindeer, sleigh bells, cosy log cabins and the Northern Lights overhead. For families, spending Christmas here is a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime way to celebrate, far removed from the commercial version back home.

What You Do on a Lapland Christmas Trip

A festive package combines the full Arctic experience: meeting the real Santa at Santa Claus Village, crossing the Arctic Circle, husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobiling across frozen lakes, and guided Northern Lights hunts in the evenings. Select packages add a glass igloo night so you can watch the aurora from your bed. Days are short and magical, with just a few hours of soft blue daylight before the stars return.

Is Christmas in Lapland Good for Families?

It is arguably the best family trip in the world for children who still believe — and plenty who do not. The pace is gentle enough for grandparents and exciting enough for kids, and almost every activity (reindeer, huskies, Santa, snow play) is built around shared family moments. Our packages are designed with mixed-age groups in mind.

How Cold Is It, and What Do You Wear?

Expect temperatures from around −5°C to −25°C in the Christmas period. It sounds extreme but is very manageable with the right clothing, and dry Arctic cold feels less biting than damp cold at home. We provide thermal oversuits, boots, gloves and hats on tour, so you only need good base and mid layers of your own.

When to Book Christmas in Lapland

Christmas and New Year are the single most in-demand dates in Lapland, and festive batches are strictly limited — flights, glass igloos and visa appointments all fill up early. We strongly recommend booking four to six months in advance to secure your spot. Our festive departures (around 21–28 December) include the complete Lapland experience.

See our Finland Christmas and New Year packages to plan a festive Arctic trip the whole family will remember.