Prices are given for 4 nights, arrivals on Fridays: 01/26/18 - 03/23/18
Tour program:
1 day (Friday). Rovaniemi
Departure to Rovaniemi (if the tour with air flight 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, deer and Santa Claus. Any child knows that Santa Claus lives here, in Finnish - Joulupukki. You can meet him in his office.
14:00 - tour of Rovaniemi with a visit to the Arktikum Museum. The visible part of the museum, a glass pipe, is 172 m long. The roof is made up of more than a thousand panels of special, extra-strong glass and is oriented from north to south. Under the roof of the palace there is a local history museum that tells about the northern life, people and customs of the polar region, the history and culture of local residents. The museum presents exhibits of northern flora and fauna. Undoubtedly, the hall of culture and life of the Saami will attract attention.
22:00 - in search of the Northern Lights by car, 2.5 hours (optional for an extra charge).
Seeing the Northern Lights is a great fortune 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. 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 space to admire the sky. The guide will make a fire, and you will try your luck and try to see the Northern Lights. By the fire, everyone will be able to indulge in the favorite pastime of the Finns - to fry sausages, and the guide at this time will prepare hot glegs for you.
Cost: 95 EUR/adult, 75 EUR/child. (4-11 years old).
Day 3 (Sunday). Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time or extra excursions.
10:00-15:00 - a trip to the Ranua polar zoo (optional for an additional fee). The zoo is located 80 km from Rovaniemi and it takes about 1 hour by car or bus. An entertaining walk through the zoo, where you can see animals and birds living in the natural conditions of the northern latitudes. You will have the opportunity to visit souvenir shops, the Fazer factory shop, a wine shop where you can buy unique wines from wild berries: cloudberries, lingonberries, blueberries, etc.
Cost: 95 EUR/adult, 85 EUR/child. (4-11 years old).
16:00-19:00 - snowmobile safari, 3 hours (optional for an extra charge).
This safari begins with learning how to drive a snowmobile. You will have a great opportunity to ride a snowmobile through the snowy forest and the river.
The price includes: program, special clothes, hot drink and sausage during the break.
139 euro/adult on a double snowmobile, 184 euros / adult. on a single snowmobile, 70 euros/reb. 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 extra charge).
By car we will go to the local reindeer farm. You will get acquainted with the reindeer and the peculiarities of the life of reindeer herders. You will pass the rite of initiation into the Laplanders. And of course, you will ride in a reindeer sleigh, take unforgettable photos with northern animals.
Cost: 110 EUR/adult, 80 EUR/child. (4-11 years old).
13:00-15:00 - visiting a husky farm, dog sledding safari (optional for an extra charge).
Professional dog breeders will introduce you to the life of a husky on a farm, daily work and life. You will complete a short course "young dog breeder", after which you will go on a safari (5 km) on a dog sled for 1-2 people in a sleigh. Upon your return, hot tea or coffee with biscuits awaits you in a traditional Finnish kota.
Cost: 85 EUR/adult, 75 EUR/child. (4-11 years old).
Day 5 (Tuesday). Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel. Before 12:00 pm release of rooms. Transfer to the airport or train station.
Departure to Moscow (if a tour with an air flight is booked).
Attention! It is possible to book additional night at the hotel.
Description |
Inexpensive bus tour to Rovaniemi from St. Petersburg. An exciting trip to Lapland! |
Route |
St. Petersburg - Oulu - Rovaniemi - Ranua* - St. Petersburg |
Excursions |
visiting the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi Eden water park * Museum of the Arctic in Rovaniemi * trip to Ranua Zoo* * additional fee |
Included in the price |
hotel accommodation in Oulu * additional fee |
Dates and Availability
02.01.2020 03.01.2020
Tour program
Day 1: St. Petersburg - Iisalmi
08:30 Departure by bus from St. Petersburg. Departure point: metro station pl. Vosstaniya, corner of 2nd Soviet and Grechesky per. Passing the border. Accommodation in SPA hotel Runni (we recommend to bring bathing suits with you). Dinner*.
Day 2: Oulu
Breakfast in the hotel.
A short acquaintance with the city of Iisalmi, during which you will see the smallest restaurant in Europe, the Olvi brewery, the Orthodox Cathedral, and also learn the history of the military events of 1809. Shopping time. Departure to Oulu.
~14:00 Arrival in Oulu - the most Big city Northern Finland on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Short tour of Oulu. After 14:00 check-in at the Scandic Oulu hotel. Visit to Eden Water Park*.
Dinner at the hotel*.
Day 3: Oulu - Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel.
08:00 departure to Rovaniemi (220 km). A short tour of Rovaniemi - the capital of Lapland. Then we will go to Santa Claus Village, where you can meet and chat with Santa Claus in his office, take a photo for memory *, send greetings to your friends and family from the Santa Claus Post, buy souvenirs and receive a diploma for crossing the Arctic Circle. Free time.
Visit to the Arctic Museum* where you can see the Northern Lights. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel*.
Day 4: Ranua
Breakfast in the hotel.
Drive to Ranua Arctic Zoo* (160 km). Close proximity to natural conditions allows animals to behave according to their natural instincts. During a walk along the 2.5-kilometer alley of the zoo, we will see more than 200 of its inhabitants, learn about their habits and behavior. Those who wish can ride a dog sled * or reindeer *. After a walk in the fresh and frosty winter air, a delicious lunch* of traditional Lappish cuisine awaits you in the cozy restaurant of the zoo. We will also be able to visit the shop of the famous Fazer chocolate factory and a wine shop made from northern berries according to homemade recipes. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel*.
Day 5: Oulu - St. Petersburg
Breakfast in the hotel.
08:00 Departure to St. Petersburg.
Stop for lunch*. Passing the border.
~23:00 arrival in St. Petersburg.
* additional fee
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 the permanent home of the real Santa Claus.
Note New Year people don't want to go to tropical countries any more, they want to go to the snow-covered land to Santa's homeland. Even teenagers who no longer believe in Santa Claus, once in Lapland, will again believe in a fairy tale. They will want to write a letter to Finnish Santa Claus and enjoy the kaleidoscope of entertainment this magical place has to offer.
Even if the celebration of the New Year is planned at one of the ski resorts in Finland, getting to visit 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 deliver you to the fabulous 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 all 1000 kilometers from the Russian border. From St. Petersburg, having a visa, you can get 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 buses run every hour.
Rovaniemi has an airport and a railway station, so residents of St. Petersburg have the opportunity to take tickets to the Santa Claus Village directly. From the railway station in Rovaniemi you need to take bus number 8. If tourists decide to travel to Finland on their own vehicles, then enter the name of the village of Joulupukki into the navigator device and you will arrive exactly at Santa's house.
History
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. The Finns built a hut in her honor, which can still be seen today.
Visit the village of Santa Claus better in winter, but Santa Park and the elves work there during 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 all letters without exception, even if it was sent by e-mail.
The summer house of Santa Claus is located in the same village as the winter office, it began its work in 1950. There, on the shelves, volumes of books are crowded, where the scoundrels of the whole country and obedient children who receive gifts from Santa every year are inscribed. Finnish Santa Claus is helped by fabulous elves. To get into this magical house, you have to go through the clockwork.
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 relatives, 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 impossible to get into 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 the Finnish Santa Claus for free, adults will pay about $40, and children from three to 18 years old - $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, as well as leave a message to Santa Claus. Be sure to get unique cards with the wonderful landscapes of Lapland and the Northern Lights.
Santa's assistants work in the post office - fabulous elves, they will help you compose an interesting text. If the child is small and cannot write yet, the elves will write a letter for him in any language of the world. Each visitor will have the opportunity to have a photo shoot with all the villagers, warm up by the fireplace and watch the elves deliver mail bags to Santa.
The residence of Santa Claus in Finland has an official website, where every inhabitant of the earth also has the opportunity to send a letter to Santa Claus in electronic form.
Write down the addresses of the resources and be sure to send the cherished message:
- santaclausvillage.info;
- santaclausholidayvillage.fi.
On a note! Sending one letter costs about $15. Remember, no matter what time of the year the letter is written, if you put it in a red box, Santa Claus will read it on Christmas Eve.
Winter fun
Santa Park Rovaniemi is decorated like a fairyland. It will be interesting for people of all ages. There you can ride the rides, visit the school of elves, participate in games and competitions. Each child can attend calligraphy writing classes and Mrs. Claus's bakery, which bakes fragrant cakes. You can not only taste delicious gingerbread, but also participate in the process of their preparation.
Near Rovaniemi and on its territory there are many ski resort. You can organize your vacation there, and visit Santa Claus on one of the days of your stay in Finnish territory. If you forget your equipment at home on vacation, it doesn’t matter, you can buy it at any Finnish store.
Although the village is open all year round, experienced tourists It is advised to come there in winter. Snow-covered paths and New Year's lights, just in time to emphasize the eve of the New Year. Walking along the snow-covered paths, you involuntarily begin to believe in magic. You can make snowmen with the whole company and play hockey.
The village of Joulupukki offers activities for all ages:
- You can go ice skating on the frozen lake.
- Ride on snowmobiles, reindeer or dog sleds.
- Visit the ice houses and even have a tea party there.
- Try Finnish traditional dishes.
- Go ice fishing or take a steam bath in a Finnish bath.
On a note! Every visitor to a fabulous place should get acquainted with Santa's reindeer. They live near the magical grandfather's house.
Shops and restaurants
Dress warmly if visiting Finland during the winter and after seeing the local sights, go shopping. In each you can buy New Year's souvenirs at competitive prices.
If the children visited the workshop of the elves, then they can take all the handicrafts made with their own hands. Be sure to shop for Christmas decorations, Northern Lights slides and Finnish delicacies.
I keep talking about our new year holidays in Finland. So, we decided to go to Lapland and see the Finnish Santa Claus.
On the Internet, we looked that you can get there from Helsinki by train, the journey will take 12 hours. Destination is the city of Rovaniemi (the capital of Finnish Lapland). The day before the trip, we booked a hotel room. If you decide to go spontaneously like us, then I still advise you to calculate the time so that you book two or three days in advance. Because it was already difficult to find the number during the day. The prices there are more expensive than in Helsinki.
Train tickets were bought immediately there and back. There were only seats left, like in an airplane. Not the most convenient option, but nowhere to go.
So, we bought tickets for the night train. Still, it’s not a desire to waste precious vacation hours for nothing. Trains in Finland are double decker. Their compartments are designed for two people. And seating. The train is clean, comfortable, there is a place to connect to charge the phone. And there's Wi-Fi too! The only thing that overshadowed the trip is that all 12 hours will have to sit.
We arrived in Rovaniemi in the morning, at an ordinary small station. And we got a little lost. Wherever you look, there is snow everywhere. And nothing else is visible. We followed the crowd and somehow came out to our hotel, since it was nearby. Therefore, I advise you, if you book a hotel, make sure that it is located in the center, not far from the station.
We slept all day and walked around the town. It gets dark very early in Lapland. It begins to brighten somewhere at ten o'clock in the morning, and at two o'clock in the afternoon it is already getting dark.
Our hotel was located in the center, we walked a lot, went to shops and bought souvenirs. By the way, in one store we met a Russian woman, she has been living in Rovaniemi for more than ten years. And she told us that the best souvenir from Lapland is cloudberry tea and this bookmark.
Bookmark made of deer skin, with its fur and antlers. Buying such a bookmark, you can say you are buying a whole deer))) We decided to listen to it and buy it.
The next morning we drove to Santa Claus Village. In the morning, we came back to the station where we arrived and there is bus stop where the bus leaves for the village.
We drove for about 30-40 minutes.
And so they arrived. Of course, the beauty is breathtaking. Fabulous.
Music is playing, all the houses are beautifully decorated, Christmas trees are lit up.
The border of the Arctic Circle passes through the village. Let's cross it)))
Let's see what's here. There is a "Christmas House" where you can see various exhibitions dedicated to the New Year.
"Santa's Mail". Elves work here, they will help you send a beautiful card to your friends and relatives for Christmas. There are many beautiful postcards and cute souvenirs.
"Office of Santa Claus", where Santa Claus himself lives. You can take a photo with him, of course, for a fee.
The rest of the houses are cafes and shops. A lot of souvenirs.
There are also clothing stores. Of course, the Finnish brand Marimekko. In Finland, it is at every step.
New Year in Rovaniemi - the village of Joulupukki - Finnish Santa Claus. Traditions. How to get there. Santa park. Things to do. Prices for New Year's tours and hotels.
How to celebrate the New Year in Rovaniemi, the village of Santa Claus (Joulupukki) in Finland
A well-known proverb says: how you celebrate the New Year, so you will spend it. If you want life to be bright and eventful, give yourself and your loved ones an unusual holiday - a trip to Santa Claus in Finland.
Santa Claus or Santa Claus
Everyone knows from childhood that Santa Claus lives far in the north. By the New Year, he appears with his fabulous retinue, gives gifts, fulfills his cherished desires and returns to the snow-covered forest in his tower.
To visit Santa Claus is the dream of every child. But not everyone knows why in Europe they call him Santa Claus, and where the Finnish Santa Claus lives.
According to legend, the Christian Saint Nicholas, known in Russia as Nikolay Ugodnik, became its prototype. In earthly life, the saint helped everyone who found themselves in a difficult situation, and especially favored the poor and children. To please them, he secretly left gifts for them. This is where the tradition began: at Christmas, under the tree, everyone finds a gift from Santa Claus, as they call Santa Claus in Finland.
© skeeze-272447 / www.maxpixel.net / CC BY 2.0
Where does Santa Claus live
If the Russian home of Santa Claus and his retinue is in Veliky Ustyug, the European Santa Claus lives in Finland, and not in magical halls, but in real life. His homeland is distant Lapland. And the official residence is located near the city of Rovaniemi. The village of Santa Claus lies beyond the Arctic Circle. Rather, geographically parallel runs just through the territory of the settlement. Its coordinates are 66 ° 33 "07", and vacationers have fun by crossing the Arctic Circle line several times a day.
There is a legend that real home Santa Claus is located in one of the caves of the three-domed Korvatunturi hill, 78 km from Murmansk on the border of Russia and Finland. So that no one would think of disturbing a secluded dwelling, Joulupukki (that's his name locals) decided to move closer to the people. Now the village of Santa Claus is open to guests, and anyone can see him and tell about their desires. A fairy tale character arrives at the office every morning on a reindeer sled, receives guests, reads letters and sends gifts. And at the end of the working day, he returns to the mountains, to his secret workshop.
How it all started
The history of the village is surrounded by legends mixed with real events. It all started in 1950, when the wife of the American president, Eleanor Roosevelt, visited the local region. To entertain the high-ranking guest, and at the same time show the beauty of the northern nature, a fabulous journey was arranged for her. A cozy wooden house was built in a dense forest, a living spruce was decorated, lanterns hung out and Santa Claus settled in.
I liked the idea. Over time, a whole village was built here, thought out entertainment program, and tourists from all over the world bring their children to visit Santa Claus. Now he has a new residence, but the first temporary dwelling still exists.
Fabulous Lapland, the domain of Santa Claus from the first minutes amaze the imagination with its pristine beauty. Tall snow-covered fir trees, deep snow, ringing silence and, if you're lucky, bewitching northern lights - landscapes from the first minutes create a feeling of unreality. Even adult tourists are willingly immersed in a fairy tale and begin to believe in miracles again.
The Finns assure that the place was not chosen by chance. Apparently right here Earth's crust so thin that the Finnish Santa Claus is able to control time and slow down the rotation of the earth. Manipulations with time are needed so that Santa has time to visit all the houses on the planet during one night. His house has a clock mechanism. Visitors make their way to the cherished door through passages and overhead bridges, and gears spin under their feet, and molten lava gurgles.
The Joulupukki House is open to everyone from 10 am to 5 pm every day absolutely free of charge. At Christmas, Santa Claus is especially crowded, but the line moves quickly.
© Ulla / commons.wikimedia.org / CC BY 2.0
Visiting a fairy tale
Holidays in Santa's village in Finland are possible in summer and winter. But the New Year in Lapland will be especially interesting for little travelers.
The Santa Claus Manor, the Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi hotel complex, the post office, cafes and restaurants stand around the square, in the center of which a decorated Christmas tree rises. No money is taken for visiting the village and visiting Joulupukki, but all other services are paid.
First of all, the guests go to the house of Santa Claus. At the entrance they are met by elves and gnomes in colorful costumes. Having asked adults what kind of toy their child would be happy with, the elf puts on a badge with the desired image around his neck. Please note that you will have to pay for the gift!
Finally you enter. In a small room, a kind Finnish grandfather sits at a table lined with candles. You hand him a prepared list cherished desires, take a picture, get a gift. This ends the audience. The next kid comes into the office, and other entertainment awaits you. By the way, a photo with Santa Claus costs 25-30 euros. It is forbidden to use your own camera.
Leaving the house, you find yourself in a shopping arcade selling Christmas souvenirs, decorations, dolls in national costumes, Finnish knives, and designer utensils. Having bought a favorite little thing as a keepsake, tourists go to the main post office.
© jeaneeem / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0
Santa's mail
Sending a letter to Santa Claus in Finland is easy. Even if you don't know the exact address, just write on the envelope: Santa Claus Village, Finland. Rest assured, the letter will reach a fabulous addressee. The elves sort the mail, they also convey your wishes to Santa. The exact address of Santa Claus in Lapland for letters: Joulupukki, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland. Every year, about 600,000 letters arrive at the local post office.
Fairytale Village Official Website - santaclausvillage.info.
If you were lucky enough to visit Santa Claus, the same elves will help you compose a congratulatory letter in the right language and send it to your relatives and friends anywhere in the world. Each letter or postcard will have a special stamp of Santa Claus. Correspondence is sent on the same day.
© Cédric Puisney / commons.wikimedia.org / CC BY 2.0
Fabulous Entertainment
What else will please a visit to Santa Claus? If you see a line with a mysterious inscription under your feet arctic circle, know that before you is the border of the Arctic Circle. You will have to go through it more than once. In memory of a significant event, you can purchase a confirmation certificate.
Children and adults will be interested in visiting:
- Husky dog kennel. Entrance costs €5 per person or €15 per family. Dog sledding is paid separately;
- Deer farm. You can ride reindeer for €28 (1 km) or €60 for a 3 km circle. Children's tickets are cheaper - €25 and €50;
- An exhibition of snowmobiles with rarities from the 60s and 70s.
Every year, with the onset of frost, the Ice Kingdom is rebuilt - snow figures, the halls of the ice princess, a hotel and a bar made of ice. Twice a season - on one of the Saturdays of November and December 23 - Santa Claus invites guests to the free attraction Snowman World - the world of snowmen. Tourists are taken for a ride in a reindeer sleigh, they are invited to go down the hill on a “cheesecake”, they are offered drinks from ice mugs.
santa park
Not far from the village there is an underground Santa Park, built by Finland to attract tourists. Price entrance tickets in winter - children 25 €, adults 33 €.
The guests go down the magical tunnel, laid in the thickness of the rock. Here they are met by elegant elves, and fun entertainment awaits:
- confectionery Mrs Claus, where Joulupukki's wife will teach you how to decorate gingerbread;
- a school of elves that teaches magical wisdom;
- the house of the Nativity, where exhibitions are held, reindeer skins are sold, items made from felt and wool;
- children's attractions Angry Birds;
- a trip on a magic train "Seasons";
- costume show;
- ice cave.
You can satisfy your hunger in a cozy, warm cafe, and buy a souvenir in a local shop.
© Samuli Lintula / commons.wikimedia.org / CC BY 2.0
Zoo
Take the time to visit the world's only zoo located beyond the Arctic Circle. Just an hour by bus separates Rovaniemi from the realm of reindeer, bears, foxes, wolves and almost 200 other animal species. Spacious enclosures stretched in the middle of the forest for 2.5 km. To prevent children from getting tired, sleds and strollers are offered to guests at the entrance.
Tired visitors are welcome at the Mur-Mur castle, where elves and dwarves invite you to enjoy sweets and delicious cloudberries.
Information about the work of the Ranua Zoo can be found on the website www.ranuazoo.com. The entrance ticket will cost adults 14 euros, children - 12.50 euros.
Road to Santa Claus
On the map you will not find a point called "Santa Claus Village", Finland is represented by several major cities. You will find the capital on south coast country, and the city of Rovaniemi is located 800 km from Helsinki.
There are several ways to get to the place on your own.:
- By plane. Rovaniemi built a modern international Airport, accepting flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg . If in November a one-way flight costs at least 8,840 rubles, then before the New Year, prices rise to 15,600 and more. Possible option with a change in Helsinki.
- Railroad. Get to Helsinki by high-speed express "" from St. Petersburg (6500 rubles one way) or by train "
© timo_w2s / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0
What is the asking price
To realize a dream, you need to decide on finances. So, a trip to Lapland to see Santa Claus, the cost is:
- Organized tourists are offered bus tours from St. Petersburg from 26,000 rubles for 4 days;
- A children's tour from St. Petersburg costs 20,000 rubles;
- A tour to Lapland for 6 days with a flight from the capital will cost €1100.
Independent travelers should take care of the roof over their heads. On holidays, prices bite. Having studied the reviews of their predecessors, tourists prefer to settle in Rovaniemi or in one of the roadside hotels. Housing in the village itself is expensive. Judge for yourself: "Santa Claus Holiday Village", a cottage - for 5 nights with breakfast you will have to pay 217,482 rubles. for two. And this is without taking into account the New Year's program.
The Santa Claus Hotel, Rovaniemi will be cheaper. For a night in a standard room, parents with a child under 13 years old must pay 3900 rubles. (with breakfast) or 4270 r. (half board). A festive dinner is included in the price.
The New Year will not lose its charm if you celebrate it outside the home. New Year tours in Santa Claus' estate will give you a cozy evening by the fireplace and the unique atmosphere of a fairy tale.
