Travelling to Santa Claus Village in Finland

Are you trying to come up with ideas for the perfect Christmas family trip? If you are feeling adventurous, we suggest you take your loved ones to the northernmost Finnish region to visit Santa Claus at his house and workplace. Aside from having the opportunity to hand your letter over to the staff at the official post office in person and have your picture taken with Joulupukki himself, this themed village located in the capital city of Lapland in Finland (Rovaniemi) has plenty in store for lovers of the festive season and so it stays open for visitors all year round, although its grand opening and main activities take place at the end of November, just in time for the much anticipated countdown to the magical days.

How can I get to Santa Claus House in Lapland, Finland?

The easiest and fastest way to get to Santa Claus Village implies catching a flight from Helsinki airport in Finland to Rovaniemi airport in the capital city of Lapland. Internationally renowned airline companies like Norwegian Air Shuttle and Finnair operate direct flights to Rovaniemi, their fares ranging from 70 to 124 euros per passenger.

Once you have arrived, you may take a taxi or walk for about 20 minutes to reach the Santa Claus office from the airport, or commute by bus if you are staying in Rovaniemi’s city centre. In the latter case, either Santa’s Express Bus or the local bus line 8 will take you to the themed village and back to your hotel. To skip this commute and make the most of your trip, we advise you to choose accommodation close to Santa Claus Village in Finland, since there are different types of lodging available in the vicinity and it will be easy to find the ideal place to stay for you and your travel companions. Read below for inspiration.

Your trip to Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland: cabin accommodation

Only five minutes away from Rovaniemi airport and conveniently situated within Santa Claus Holiday Village in Finland, these cabins successfully cater to the needs of travellers from all over the world by providing them with free parking spaces, spacious and cosy family units, private terrace and sauna, en suite bathroom, TV, heating and complimentary WiFi network. A daily buffet breakfast is served and shuttle services to and from the airport can be booked. Make a reservation to stay in one of these comfortable cabins in Lapland suitable to accommodate up to four people (two adults and two children) and enjoy additional benefits that will enhance your adventure in the form of reindeer and husky sledding, snow bike tours, boat trips, ski and fishing activities. What is more, you and your travel buddies will get the chance to indulge in the most delicious traditional Finnish specialties and coffee at the onsite Christmas House Restaurant.

Staying in the Snowman World Glass Resort near Santa Claus House in Finland

During your trip to Rovaniemi, you may also choose to sleep in a resort within short walking distance of the house of Santa Claus in Lapland and a short drive away from the airport (pick-up and drop-off services are available upon request). In line with other accommodation options in the area, it offers daily hot breakfast, hot tubs, saunas, cosy family units, in-room TV, kitchenette and living area, but the reason why this resort in Santa Claus Village is becoming popular among travellers is that they frequently get the opportunity to watch the Northern Lights from its privileged location, especially between the months of October and March. After visiting the post office and taking a picture with Santa Claus, we recommend that you enjoy some quality time in your private Jacuzzi, have a comforting meal at the onsite restaurant or purchase souvenirs from the gift shop.

4-star hotel close to Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland

Should you prefer a more conventional hotel stay, know that the Nova Skyland Hotel stands roughly 3 minutes away from the village on foot, and offers fully equipped apartment-style rooms and villas, as well as a daily varied breakfast buffet for guests. Each unit of this hotel close to Santa Claus Village in Finland features free WiFi, flat-screen TV, bathroom, private sauna, cosy beds, private kitchen and terrace with views. Even large groups are welcome and can stay together in the same space here; by way of example, a couple with two children may reserve a suite with forest views (which sleeps four), while families of up to eight members may book a villa with views including king-size beds and sofa beds. The onsite restaurant not only serves breakfast but also lunch, dinner, brunch, snacks, coffee and tea and alcoholic drinks.

Will you be making a stopover in Helsinki on your way back home? Then you might consider staying in a hotel in central Helsinki and spend a few days exploring the capital city of Finland.

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Innsbruck: closest airports, ski trips and Christmas markets

The capital of Tyrol in Austria is the beautiful city of Innsbruck, located in the Inn Valley between mountain ranges among which are the Karwendel Alps. Attractions like the Imperial Palace, the Wilten Abbey, the Golden Roof, the Old Inn Bridge and the Ambras Castle make it as appealing to world travellers as any other European capital, even when the most frequent reasons to choose Innsbruck as destination are its ski runs and its Christmas markets.

This Austrian city has a reputation for being a regular host for Winter sports international competitions –including the Olympics – and so is a favourite for ski and snowboard lovers. What is more, the proximity of the snowboard tracks and slopes to the city centre makes trips to Innsbruck in Austria all the more convenient: the funicular and cable cars offer frequent services to transport people between the two points in a short period of time.

Another alluring feature is the celebration of various Christmas markets around the city, although it is the one in the Old Town that attracts the highest number of both local and foreign visitors. It is inaugurated in mid-November every year and generally stays open until Christmas’ Eve arrives.

Innsbruck: closest airports and how to arrive

Flying to Innsbruck airport

If you decide to book a flight to Innsbruck in Austria, you will land in a terminal just 4 kilometres away from the downtown, thus needing less than 10 minutes to drive from the airport to your final destination. However, you will have to take into account that inbound operations to this terminal are limited and not many airlines operate scheduled flights or frequent services towards it. Austrian Airlines handles frequent operations from Vienna airport to Innsbruck and from Frankfurt airport to Innsbruck, and so do British Airways from London Heathrow, Easyjet from London Gatwick and Manchester and Transavia from Amsterdam. Other airline companies sell seats to fly to Innsbruck on a seasonal basis, so you may want to confirm whether your airline of choice offers flights to the capital of Tyrol or not on the desired dates.

Travelling from Salzburg airport to Innsbruck in Austria

If you are flying into Salzburg airport instead, travelling to Innsbruck will only imply a short commute from the passenger terminal to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof in order to catch a direct train. This hourly train service departing from Salzburg not only is the cheapest but also offers spectacular views, and reaches central Innsbruck in less than 2 hours.

Trains from Munich airport in Germany to Innsbruck in Austria

It is also a good idea to add Innsbruck as an additional stop in your Europe tour, and you can do so by making a connection by train from Munich East Station. Likewise, in view of the fact that the train commute from Munich to Innsbruck takes only 2 hours and 15 minutes and that services run every two hours, you might as well fly to Munich airport in Germany specifically for this trip.

From Zürich airport to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof

Travellers passing through Zürich International airport in Switzerland also get the chance to travel to Innsbruck by train. Different train companies run services to cover this route and, depending on which one you choose, you might need to make a transfer and change trains halfway. The average time duration of the journey is 4 hours.

Skiing trip to Innsbruck in Austria

As host city of internationally renowned winter sports events and competitions, Innsbruck is well prepared to welcome hundreds of ski and snowboard lovers from around the world. If you are already planning for this adventure, we recommend you take a look at some of the best ski resorts and accommodation in Innsbruck, most of which even afford breathtaking views of the Inn Valley.

Christmas markets in Innsbruck

In case you are visiting the city to enjoy the season’s atmosphere and purchase the coolest Christmas decorations and gifts, find a nice hotel in Innsbruck’s Old Town and immerse yourself in all the activities that are typical of this festivity, including punch and wine tasting, live music in the streets and entertainment for kids and adults alike.