Best things to do in Lapland with family

Skip the glossy travel brochures that try to sell you a fairytale. Lapland with family can be magic, but it can also be freezing, absurdly expensive, and exhausting if you fall into every tourist trap along the way. From meeting Santa Claus in his snowy hometown to gliding through frozen pine forests behind a team of enthusiastic huskies, the Arctic Circle can offer experiences your kids will remember for the rest of their lives.

However, planning a trip to the arctic enviroment with children also comes with practical questions: How cold does it actually get? How do you keep kids entertained? And which activities are genuinely worth time and money?

Here is the raw, candid truth from locals about visiting Lapland with kids. What is genuinely worth your time and money, what is a total waste, and how to survive the winter without losing your sanity.

1. Meet the “Real” Santa Claus in Rovaniemi

For most families, meeting Santa Claus is the absolute crown jewel of a Lapland holiday. Meeting Santa is why most families fly to Rovaniemi (or anywhere in Lapland), but how you do it makes the difference between a core memory and a nightmare.

• Santa Claus Village: Entrance is free year-round, and Santa is there 365 days a year.
  • Off-season (Autumn/Spring): Actually worth it. It’s quiet, relaxed, and Santa actually has time to chat.
  • Peak Season (December): It is practically a horror show. You will wait in line for hours in sub-zero temperatures with miserable kids, only for a 90-second photo op on a commercial conveyor belt.
  • Note that personal photos are strictly forbidden, and buying theirs costs around 45€.

Would I still visit Santa Claus Village? Absolutely! Village it self is magical without meeting the big man on a high season. And don’t worry, you do not accidentally meet Santa in the Village.

• Santa in Rovaniemi City Center: Free, authentic, and far less chaotic than Santa Claus Village. Popularity is growing, but it’s still much calmer and Santa himself is amazing.
  
• Santa Park: Entrance ticket includes meeting with Santa! Santa Park is amazing underground cave, with a ton of Christmas athmosphere, but It is little more suitable for young children. (teenagers might get little bored)

• Private Santa Meetings: Rovaniemi is the Santa capital, but Santas know their business and stay out of sight so kids don’t spot three different Santas in ten minutes. Booking a private Santa to visit your cottage/ hotel/ apartment, or taking a snowmobile ride through the forest to meet Santa in a private cabin, is 100% worth the extra money.

• Santa Around the Rest of Lapland: You won’t find free walk-in Santa spots outside Rovaniemi (that I know off), but private experience packages are sold everywhere. Mainly Finnish Santa characters are amazing, but I’ve heard couple incidents where the man is so old they basically don’t remember what they are doing. Otherwise, very safe 🙂

2. Go Husky Sledding & Reindeer Sleigh Riding

Animal encounters are an absolute highlight for children, but choosing the right tour distance is crucial when traveling with young kids.

Husky Safaris (High Energy & Loud!): Working in tourism, I can tell that huskies are almost always the #1 favorite for kids because of the speed and playing with the dogs.

• WARNING: If your child is afraid of dogs or isn’t used to them, husky farms can be traumatizing. These are heavy, hyperactive, extremely loud working dogs barking constantly in packs.
• Stick to a short 1–5 km trail if you have younger kids. Long rides can be freezing!

Reindeer Sleigh Rides (Calm & Gentle): There are more reindeer than people in Lapland, so rides are everywhere. They move at very a slow pace. Perfect for kids who get scared by fast huskies, but can also be extremely boring for the kids who love fast pace. Sleigh rides range from 5-minute spins to 30-minute forest trips or evening aurora rides.

• Most farms end with hot berry juice and stories around a fire inside a traditional kota hut.
• Crucial note: December activity slots sell out months in advance, so book early or get left out!

3. Hunt for the Northern Lights (Without Keeping Kids Up Until 2 AM)

Don’t drag exhausted, crying children on 6-hour midnight minibus tours in -20°C weather. Think about renting a cottage away from streetlights or book an early, family-friendly aurora tour with a heated hut or camp where kids can roast marshmallows while keeping an eye on the sky.

• The Kaamos Advantage: In December, Lapland experiences Kaamos (the Polar Night), where the sun barely pops above the horizon and daylight lasts only about 2 to 2.5 hours in Rovaniemi.
• Early Dark Skies: Because it gets pitch black by 3:30 or 4:00 PM, you don’t need to stay up until midnight. The Northern Lights can appear as early as 4:30 PM if the sky is clear!

Hunting northern lights with young kids all night long is not hopefully on your list, as it usually is nightmare for the guides and fellow travelers. IF you really really want to hunt them, I recommend to rent a car. Pack a car with pillows, blankets, snacks and everything kids need to be entertained (or sleeping) in the middle of the freezing darkness. (Remember, there is no scenery to watch from the windows, it is going to be pitch black.) Read more about renting a car and driving in Lapland here.

If renting a car is not an option, many companies organize early hunts just for families.

4. Embrace Simple (Free!) Snow Fun: Tobogganing & Snowman Building

You don’t need to spend thousands of euros on organized tours every single day. Some of the best family memories in Lapland cost absolutely nothing:

• Sledding (Liukuri & Stiga): Almost every hotel, cabin rental, or local store in Lapland provides plastic sleds for guests. Finding a gentle snowy hill and spending two hours sledding is pure joy for kids. (NOT on the roads where cars drive!)
• Building Snowmen & Snow Castles: Sticky, fresh snow is perfect for building snowy sculptures right outside your cabin door.
• Local Playgrounds: Local Finnish playgrounds turn into frozen winter wonderlands, kids love climbing snow-covered structures.

5. Snowman World, Ranua Wildlife Park and other activity packed parks around Lapland

High energy kids might need some extra activities to do. If you want structured full-day entertainment:

• Snowman World (Rovaniemi): Ice slides, ice skating, and snow structures right inside Santa Claus Village.

• Ranua Wildlife Park (Ranua): A brilliant day trip to see Arctic animals (including polar bears) along a snowy forest walking trail.

• Arktikum & Science Centre Pilke (Rovaniemi): Excellent, affordable indoor choices when it’s -25°C outside and kids need to thaw out.

• Tonttula Elves Village (Levi): A magical, cozy stop if you are staying near Levi.

6. Family Accommodation: Traditional Cabins Beat Cramped Glass Igloos

Let’s be completely brutal: Glass igloos are a total waste of money for families.

• The Glass Igloo Reality: Lapland is flooded with 28–30m² glass “shoeboxes” sold as overpriced “luxury.” They are tiny, cramped, offer zero privacy, and have miniature bathrooms with no space for luggage or bulky winter gear. Once your kids go to sleep at 8 PM, you are trapped sitting in pitch darkness in a tiny room. Spend one night for the novelty if you must, but it will not make your trip better.
• The Real Choice: Traditional Log Cabins: Do what locals do. Rent a real Finnish log cabin (mökki). You get separate bedrooms, a fireplace, a private sauna, space to dry wet snowsuits, and a full kitchen. Having a kitchen is a money(and sanity)-saver.

7. Essential Family Survival Tips: Weather, Clothing & Driving

Traveling to the subarctic with children requires a bit of extra preparation.

How Cold Is It Really?

• In December and January, temperatures typically hover between -7°C and -15°C, but sudden drops below -20°C or -25°C are common.
• Dress in Layers: Thermal wool underwear + fleece/insulating middle layer + windproof winter suit. Never wear cotton base layers, as cotton holds moisture and makes kids cold instantly.
• Read detailed instructions HERE.

Driving with Kids in Lapland

• Renting a car gives your family maximum flexibility to move at your own pace.
• Road Safety: All rental cars come equipped with high-quality winter or studded tires. Drive slowly, double your braking distance, and keep a sharp lookout for reindeer stepping onto icy roads!
• Read more about driving in Lapland HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Lapland suitable for toddlers and infants? Yes, of course. We have kids here too! But you need to manage outdoor exposure time carefully. Frostbite is a real thing! Kids manage well in the cold, usually better than adults, but kids usually also hate hats and cloves, so remember to check that little ones always have them. Frostbite hits fingers and ears first.

Should we buy winter clothes or rent them? Most major tour operators and local rental shops in Rovaniemi, Levi, and Saariselkä offer full thermal suits, boots, and mittens for rent. If you live in a warm climate, renting is much more cost-effective than buying gear your children will outgrow in six months.

How many days should a family spend in Lapland? 4 to 5 days is the sweet spot for a family trip. It leaves enough time for Santa Claus, husky/reindeer safaris, snow play, and an aurora hunt without exhausting young children.