Christmas in Rovaniemi

Christmas lives eternally in Rovaniemi, as Santa Claus himself resides at the Arctic Circle. It is possible to meet Santa Claus at the Santa Claus Village located on the Arctic Circle every day of the year. Annually, over 700,000 friends of Christmas, and especially Santa Claus, arrive from all over the world to see him. It is our shared wish, as well as Santa Claus’s, that he could bring peace, warmth, and a little bit of Christmas magic to each of us.

Many have the misconception that Christmas events in Rovaniemi are only active for a very short period. This is, of course, not true, as the Santa Claus Village located on the Arctic Circle is open all year round. At the same time, you have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus himself. You might even meet a few of Santa’s elves.

During Christmas, Rovaniemi is full of beauty. The glowing lights amidst the polar night, the Northern Lights, and the beautiful decorations in Santa Claus’s hometown are something unforgettable. Santa Claus’s departure, which takes place annually on December 23rd, is a globally watched event, broadcast live online around the world.

You can find Santa Claus’s departure and other Rovaniemi Christmas events in our city guide, which is updated throughout the year.

Christmas and December are also a great time for hunting the Northern Lights. In Rovaniemi, the darkest day of the year is December 21st, just a few days before Christmas Eve. On the dark night sky, it is then possible to see the flaming and beautiful Northern Lights.

By visiting Rovaniemi during Christmas, you can combine two of our city’s most magical experiences.

Below you can learn more about hunting the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi, find the best Northern Lights tours, and book accommodation for your holiday.