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: st. m. pl. Vosstaniya, corner of 2nd Sovetskaya and Grechesky lane. Passing the border. Accommodation at the SPA hotel Runni (we recommend taking swimwear 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. Time to shop. Departure to Oulu.
~14:00 Arrival in Oulu - the most Big city Northern Finland on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. Short excursion around Oulu. After 14:00, check-in at the Scandic Oulu hotel. Visit to the Eden water park*.
Dinner at the hotel*.

Day 3: Oulu - Rovaniemi
Breakfast in the hotel.
08:00 departure to Rovaniemi (220 km). A short excursion around Rovaniemi - the capital of Lapland. Then we will go to Santa Claus Village, where you can meet and talk with Santa Claus in his office, take a photo as a souvenir *, send greetings to your friends and family from the Santa Claus Post Office, buy souvenirs and receive a diploma about 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.
Trip to the Arctic Zoo Ranua * (160 km). Close proximity to natural conditions allows animals to behave according to their natural instincts. While walking along the 2.5-kilometer alley of the zoo, we will see more than 200 of its inhabitants and learn about their habits and behavioral characteristics. Those who wish will be able to ride a dog sled * or a reindeer *. After a walk in the fresh and frosty winter air, enjoy a delicious lunch* of traditional Lapland cuisine in the cozy zoo restaurant. We will also be able to visit the store of the famous Fazer chocolate factory and a wine shop made according to home recipes from northern berries. 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

Breakfast buffet.

Three wonderful days in a Finnish winter fairy tale!

The surroundings of the SPA hotel are a real winter fairy tale whitest snow, picturesque panoramas of snow-covered lakes and green pine forests with snow-white caps! Right in the relict pine forest, along picturesque lake laid numerous ski slopes. This is a unique opportunity to spend the whole day in the crystal fresh air, and after intense active walks enjoy a hot sauna park, swim in outdoor or indoor pools or relax in an excellent SPA center! At your servicerenovated SPA complex “Blue Lagoon”, which has 10 swimming pools of different temperatures, including Jacuzzi and children's pools, an outdoor hot pool, water slide, Finnish sauna and aromatic Turkish bath (hammam), wellness center offering massages, therapeutic and relaxing baths, physiotherapy, beautician services, gym and sports halls, badminton hall, climbing wall and bar. (Visiting the SPA center is without restrictions and is included in the price, services health center for extra fee)
Pearl of the SPA hotel "" is the largest black steam room in Europe. The unusually fragrant steam of a bathhouse heated with specially dried birch firewood for 8 hours and swimming in the snow or (for the bravest) in an ice hole, give an incredible charge of vigor and health! (Visiting hours from 16.00 -20.00, price for guests " " - 8€ / adult, 4 € / child. 4-14 years old.)
There is also a magical Santa Claus House where you can enjoy traditional Finnish treats and Christmas entertainment! You will be able to take part in master classes on making Christmas decorations and baking Christmas gingerbread, sing to the accompaniment of the accordion, treat yourself to hot Christmas mulled wine or ice-cold beer, have lunch in Santa Claus's hut, and outside try hot sausages from the fire and the freshest smoked Finnish salmon. (master classes and refreshments - additional fee)
To enjoy traditional Christmas shopping, you just need to take the city bus that stops next to the hotel, and in 15 minutes you will find yourself in the central square of the Finnish city of Kuopio.
Kuopio is the “capital” of Eastern Finland, a charming and calm Finnish town. Along the perimeter main square Kuopio has many large shopping centers where you can do traditional European Christmas shopping and buy yourself some great Finnish souvenirs! (transfer to Kuopio and Christmas shopping on your own)
In Kuopio you can visit tropical island in the middle of winter by visiting the luxurious, modern water park Fontanella. 10 swimming pools with cold and hot water, the longest water slide in Finland with light effects and a gentle slide for calmer descents, a jacuzzi, massage showers, saunas, a Turkish bath, an infrared sauna, children's pools with funny animal fountains and a play pool - here you can have a great rest and relaxation for the whole day day! (additional fee)
The picturesque ski resort of Kasurila is 20 km from the hotel.. Magnificent illuminated slopes, the most modern equipment and lifts, rich infrastructure and a variety of entertainment - the Finnish resort of Kasurila is not inferior to the most famous European ones ski resorts. (On one's own)

New Year in Rovaniemi - the village of Joulupukki - Finnish Santa Claus. Traditions. How to get there. Santa Park. Things to do. Prices New Year's tours and hotels.

How to celebrate New Year in Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village (Joulupukki) in Finland

A well-known saying says: how you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it. If you want your life to be bright and rich, give yourself and your loved ones unusual holiday– a trip to Santa Claus in Finland.

Father Frost or Santa Claus

Every person knows from childhood that Santa Claus lives far in the north. For the New Year, he appears with his fabulous retinue, gives gifts, fulfills cherished wishes and returns to his mansion in the snowy forest.

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 Father Frost lives.

According to legend, his prototype was the Christian Saint Nicholas, known in Russia as Nikolai Ugodnik. In his earthly life, the saint helped everyone who found themselves in difficult situations, and especially favored the poor and children. To please them, he secretly left gifts for them. This is where the tradition comes from: at Christmas, everyone finds a gift from Santa Claus, as Father Frost is called in Finland, under the tree.

© skeeze-272447 / www.maxpixel.net / CC BY 2.0

Where does Santa Claus live?

If the Russian home of Father Frost and his retinue is located in Veliky Ustyug, the European Santa Claus lives in Finland, and not in magical palaces, 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. Or rather, the geographical parallel runs precisely through the territory of the settlement. Its coordinates are 66° 33" 07", and vacationers have fun crossing the Arctic Circle line several times a day.

There is a legend that the real house of Santa Claus is located in one of the caves of the three-headed Korvatunturi hill, 78 km from Murmansk on the border of Russia and Finland. So that no one would try to disturb his secluded home, Joulupukki (that’s his name) local residents) decided to move closer to people. Now the village of Santa Claus is open to guests, and anyone can see him and tell him about their wishes. A fairy-tale character comes to the office every morning on a reindeer sleigh, 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 a high-ranking guest and at the same time show beauty northern nature, they arranged it for her fabulous trip. They built a cozy wooden house in a deep forest, decorated a live spruce, hung lanterns and installed Santa Claus.

I liked the idea. Over time, a whole village was built here, an entertainment program was thought out, and tourists from all over the world bring their children to visit Santa Claus. Now he has a new residence, but the first temporary home still exists.

Fabulous Lapland, the domain of Father Frost, amazes the imagination with its pristine beauty from the first minutes. Tall snow-covered spruce trees, deep snow, ringing silence and, if you're lucky, the mesmerizing northern lights - the landscapes create a feeling of unreality from the first minutes. Even adult tourists willingly immerse themselves in a fairy tale and begin to believe in miracles again.

The Finns assure that the place was not chosen by chance. Allegedly, this is where the earth's crust is so thin that the Finnish Santa Claus is able to control time and slow down the rotation of the earth. Time manipulation is needed so that Santa can visit all the houses on the planet in one night. There is a clock mechanism installed in his house. Visitors make their way to the treasured door along passages and suspended walkways, while gears spin under their feet and molten lava gurgles.

Joulupukki House is open to everyone from 10 am to 5 pm every day absolutely free. Santa Claus is especially busy at Christmas, 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 young travelers.

The estate of Father Frost, the Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi hotel complex, the post office, cafes and restaurants stand around the square, in the center of which rises a decorated Christmas tree. There is no charge for visiting the village and visiting Joulupukki, but all other services are paid.

First of all, guests go to Santa Claus's house. At the entrance they are greeted by elves and dwarves in colorful costumes. After asking the adults what kind of toy their child would be happy with, the elf puts a badge with the desired image on 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 covered with candles. You hand him the prepared list cherished desires, take a photo, receive a gift. This ends the audience. The next baby comes into the office, and other entertainment awaits you. By the way, a photo with Santa Claus costs 25-30 euros. It is prohibited to use your own camera.

Leaving the house, you find yourself in shopping arcades where Christmas souvenirs, decorations, dolls in national costumes, Finnish knives, and designer dishes are sold. Having bought a souvenir they liked, tourists go to the main post office.

© jeaneeem / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Santa Claus Mail

It is not difficult to send a letter to Santa Claus in Finland. Even if you don’t know the exact address, just write on the envelope: Santa Claus Village, Finland. Rest assured, the letter will reach its fabulous recipient. The elves sort the mail and convey your wishes to Santa. The exact address Santa Claus in Lapland for letters: Joulupukki, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland. Every year about 600 thousand letters arrive at the local post office.

Official website of the fairytale village – santaclausvillage.info.

If you are lucky enough to visit Santa Claus, the same elves will help you write a congratulatory letter to required language and send it to your family and friends anywhere in the world. Each letter or card will have a special Santa Claus stamp on it. Correspondence is sent on the same day.

© Cédric Puisney / commons.wikimedia.org / CC BY 2.0

Fabulous entertainment

What else will make a visit to Santa Claus enjoyable? 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 this significant event, you can purchase a confirmation certificate.

Children and adults will find it interesting to visit:

1. Husky dog ​​kennel. Entry costs €5 per person or €15 per family. There is an additional cost for dog sledding;
2. Deer farm. You can ride a reindeer for €28 (1 km) or €60 for a 3 km loop. Children's tickets are cheaper – €25 and €50;
3. 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, palaces of the ice princess, hotel and bar made of ice. Twice a season - on one Saturday in November and on 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, invited to ride down a hill on a “cheesecake”, and offered drinks from ice mugs.

Santa park

Not far from the village there is an underground Santa Park; Finland built it to attract tourists. The cost of entrance tickets in winter is 25 € for children, 33 € for adults.

Guests descend through a magical tunnel built deep into the rock. Here they are met by elegant elves, and fun entertainment awaits them:

• Mrs. Claus's bakery, where Joulupukki's wife will teach you how to decorate gingerbread cookies;
• a school of elves that teaches magical wisdom;
• the Nativity House, where exhibitions are held, products made from felt and wool are sold from reindeer skins;
• Angry Birds children's attractions;
• ride on the magic train “Seasons”;
• costume show;
• ice cave.

You can satisfy your hunger in a cozy, warm cafe, and buy a memorable 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 above the Arctic Circle. Just an hour by bus separates Rovaniemi from the kingdom of reindeer, bears, foxes, wolves and almost 200 other species of animals. Spacious enclosures stretch for 2.5 km in the middle of the forest. To prevent children from getting tired, sleighs and strollers are offered to guests at the entrance.

Tired visitors are welcome at 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 800 km from Helsinki.

There are several ways to get to the place yourself:

1. By plane. A modern international airport has been built in Rovaniemi, accepting flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg. If in November a one-way flight will cost at least 8,840 rubles, then before the New Year prices rise to 15,600 and higher. An option with a transfer in Helsinki is possible.
2. By railroad. Get to Helsinki by high-speed express " " from St. Petersburg (RUB 6,500 one way) or by train "

   

   © timo_w2s / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

   What is the price of the issue

   To make your dream come true, you need to decide on your finances. So, a trip to Lapland to see Santa Claus, cost:

   1. Organized tourists are offered bus tours from St. Petersburg from 26,000 rubles for 4 days;
   2. A children's tour from St. Petersburg costs 20,000 rubles;
   3. A tour to Lapland for 6 days with departure from the capital will cost €1,100.

   Independent travelers must take care of the roof over their heads themselves. During the holidays prices go up. Having studied the reviews of predecessors, tourists prefer to stay in Rovaniemi or in one of the roadside hotels. In the village itself, housing is expensive. Judge for yourself: “Santa Claus Holiday Village”, cottage - for 5 nights with breakfast you will have to pay 217,482 rubles. for two. And this does not take into account the New Year's program.

   The Santa Claus Hotel, Rovaniemi will cost less. Per night in standard room parents with a child under 13 years old must pay 3,900 rubles. (with breakfast) or 4270 rub. (half board). Gala dinner is included in the price.

   The New Year will not lose its charm if you celebrate it outside the home. New Year's tours to the estate of Santa Claus will give you a cozy evening by the fireplace and a unique atmosphere of a fairy tale.

New Year - magical time. Adults expect holidays and changes for the better, children expect magic and gifts. If you want to give your child a real New Year's fairy tale and plunge into the atmosphere of children's happiness, you need to go to the ends of the world - to Lapland! New Year's Eve in the homeland of Finnish Santa Claus - Joulupukki - is real magic; such a trip will be remembered for a lifetime.

In Finland, as in Europe in general, the main event of winter is Christmas, and according to the old style, December 25th. New Year is not celebrated so widely. So by the time the New Year arrives, Joulupukki will have already given Christmas gifts to Finnish children and will be entirely occupied with us, the guests. Joulupukki Residence is located 9 km from the city of Rovaniemi, right on the border of the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Village (Joulupukin Pajakylä) – this is the office and post office of Santa Claus, Santa Park, cottages for tourists, many shops and restaurants, a small deer farm. In winter, numerous slides are built on the square, from which you can ride for free. Near the village there is another amusement park - Arctic Winter World.

In the center of the Village there is a large Christmas tree, sparkling in festive attire, this immediately improves your mood!

Joulupukki Residence

There is about Santa Claus's house (Joulupukki) interesting legend: since it is in this place that the earth’s crust is very thin, with the help of special mechanisms Santa Claus learned to control time and, in particular, slow down the speed of the Earth’s rotation. And this little trick helps Santa visit everyone in the world on the eve of Christmas in one night and give everyone gifts. In order not to disturb the structure of the clock mechanism, guests move along suspended bridges;

Here you can watch and even pet a deer completely free of charge. The reindeer camp is located behind the main house;

You can get to the office to meet Santa Claus through a long fairy-tale corridor. The famous wizard himself and his gnome assistants joyfully welcome the guests. This happens every day, without weekends or holidays. There may be queues in December. Finnish Santa Claus speaks many languages, including Russian!

After the office, be sure to visit Santa Claus Post Office. Letters from children come here from all over the world with their requests and wishes, the elves sort them out and hand them over to Santa. You can find yours among the stacks! Write a letter with your child in advance and send it to the central Santa Claus post office: Santa Klaus, 96930 Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, Finland. You can send cards to family and friends from Santa Claus's post office. All letters and cards are stamped with Santa's special seal and are immediately sent to their destination. A nice souvenir for your beloved grandmothers.

Entrance to the residence is free. Reindeer ride - 85 euros. Snowmobiling - 150 euros. Postcard - 2-4 euros. Souvenirs from 20 euros. An audience with Santa is free, a photo with Santa in his house is 17 euros.

Bus number 8 runs from Rovaniemi train station and takes you to Santa Claus Village.

Santa Claus Village Websites:

• santaclausvillage.info
• santaclausholidayvillage.fi

Santa Park

2 kilometers from the village of Finnish Santa Claus there is a Santa Park for children theme park entertainment.

The legend is this: Once upon a time, Santa Claus was returning from a Christmas trip, and he was so captivated by the beauty of the local nature that right here, on the Arctic Circle, Santa and his elves set up a real amusement park for their many guests. In a huge cave, carved out of the rock by tireless dwarves, there is a whole underground city. This magical place is the only place in the world where you can cross the Arctic Circle underground and receive a certificate in honor of this geographical achievement! Magic coordinates of the Arctic Circle – 66° 33" 07"

Santa Park is a huge structure in the form of tunnels that are laid right inside the rock. Before you are greeted by elves and fairy tale characters, you have a long descent ahead of you. Carousels, activities with elves, colorful costume shows, cafes and souvenir shops.

Arctic Winter World Park

This amusement park is only open in winter - from early December to late March. Every year, entertainment is rebuilt here from snow and ice: slides for children and adults with fantastic lighting, a cafe and bar where drinks are served in ice glasses, ice sculptures and even an igloo hotel (Snowman World Igloo), where you can spend the night in a sleeping area. heated bag...

Official website of the park: arctice.fi

Entrance to the park is paid

Santa Claus Village is very popular place visits by families with children, especially during New Year holidays. People flock here who dream of not only enjoying the local beauty, but also once again returning to a distant fairy tale from childhood. "The Snow Queen", "Nils' Journey with wild geese"- these fabulous places really exist. And if you're lucky, you can see the Northern Lights!

It is necessary to prepare in advance for such a trip. You can buy a ready-made tour, but it is much more convenient and cheaper to plan the trip yourself.

Book a hotel and buy tickets.

Option 1: You can get to the Arctic Circle by your own car. From St. Petersburg to Rovaniemi is more than a thousand kilometers. Without taking into account traffic jams and crossing the border, the drive takes 12 hours, and before the New Year there are queues at the border, which means you definitely won’t be able to do it in a day, it’s better to stop overnight in the middle of the journey. This is especially true when traveling with small children. On the way there are inexpensive houses with family rooms and a sauna:

The most convenient way to get to Santa Claus is by plane. The city of Rovaniemi and the village are located Joulupukki are located next to international airport, there are direct flights from Helsinki to the city's airport and train station. From Rovaniemi train station, bus number 8 runs every hour to Santa Claus Village. Also, at Rovaniemi airport they will put a stamp in your passport in the shape of Santa Claus.

A trip with the whole family for just 3-4 days will turn into the most memorable childhood trip for your kids.

NEW YEAR AND CHRISTMAS IN LAPLAND 2020


No places

Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland. The city that collects the largest mail in the world. And all letters are addressed to only one recipient - Santa Claus. This is where his office, fabulous gift-making workshops and post office are located. Here, in Santa's Village, is the most photographed view in Finland - a sign to the Arctic Circle. Every Guest of the city can take part in the ritual of crossing it and receive a memorable Diploma about this event. The collection of diplomas can be supplemented with a Diploma for driving a reindeer sled - this is taught professionally by the indigenous Laplanders. They will also share the tricks of driving a dog sled. The unique Santa Park, built into a cave, with original attractions and beautiful Christmas decorations is another most interesting “Santa Object” in the city. Rovaniemi - the city of eternal Christmas: here no one is surprised by encounters with gnomes - Santa’s assistants, and signs such as “Entrance only for Elves”, “Possession of the Snow Queen”, or “Trolls’ Home” are quite in the order of things. The New Year's fairy tale has taken up residence in these parts in earnest, and it begins at the ramp of an airplane arriving in official airport Santa Claus(!). We invite you to the city of the kindest winter's tale- to Rovaniemi!

In our company you can always buy tours to Lapland. tour operators in Finland in Moscow, like us, offer tours to Lapland and Filand for the New Year 2020. Lapland for the New Year, tours and tours to Finland for the New Year are very popular among Russian tourists. Urgently purchase tours to Lapland 2019 and New Year tours to Lapland. We have Lapland tours at prices that every family can afford. Most popular holiday in 2020: "Lapland Santa Claus Tour". If you need tours from Moscow to Lapland or Lapland New Year 2019 tours, then you have come to the right place. Best hotels in Finnish Lapland and cottage holiday centers are waiting for you. There is little time left to book New Year's tours to Lapland 2020! The cost of a tour to Lapland starts from 500 euros, offers and prices apply early booking We wish you a pleasant stay.