Christmas is coming, whether you like it or not, and with the season comes Santa and his little helpers.
As children reach peak excitement for a visit from the big man, those a bit older in the festive spirit can get in the mood with a well-deserved holiday.
As Christmas lights twinkle on a frosty horizon, there are few adventures more enticing than a trip to Lapland, a magical destination promising once-in-a-lifetime moments and festive fun for kids big and small. Best known for its most famous resident, this winter wonderland of frozen fells, endless forests and glistening lakes is much more than just the home of Santa Claus and his merry band of elves.
The northernmost region of the Nordics is a place of exceptional beauty and strong indigenous culture, where you can hang out with reindeers by day and stand under the ethereal northern lights by night.
Where to go?
Lapland covers a vast area of northern Finland, Sweden and Norway but it’s Finland that is considered to be the home of Santa. The accolade was given in 1927 when a Finnish radio broadcaster declared that the big man’s workshop had been discovered in Korvatunturi or ‘Ear Fell’ – a rock formation shaped like an ear allowing children to whisper their wishes. Given the destination was too remote and inaccessible, the town of Rovaniemi 200 miles south was chosen as an alternative in 1985.
Today, the Santa Claus Village is the city’s top tourist attraction. Open year-round, it offers an array of fairytale fun and games, festive-themed shopping options and the chance to pop into Santa’s Office.
Read more: How to have the perfect family holiday in Lapland
Perfect timing
It’s possible to visit and experience the wintry delights of Lapland throughout the season but special family trips with a Christmas focus start towards the end of November and last around a month. For a precious few weeks, every branch and rooftop is blanketed under thick sparkling snow.
What to pack?
Layers, layers, layers! It won’t come as any surprise to hear that it’s cold in Lapland, but with average temperatures in December dropping to as low as -9C it’s important to be prepared. The central heating in most buildings is often…
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