Traveling to Lapland with children is a magical and exciting experience that will be etched in their memories forever. This unique place offers a perfect combination of natural beauty, winter adventure, and the chance to meet Santa Claus. To ensure your trip is a success, we have compiled some practical tips to help you make the most of this wonderful family experience. Get ready to dive into a fairy tale world!
CHOOSE THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN:
Lapland offers a wide variety of activities throughout the year, but if you are traveling with children, winter is especially magical. The snow, the Northern Lights, and the chance to meet Santa Claus create a unique atmosphere. However, make sure to check the weather conditions and the availability of activities before planning your trip.
Throughout the winter, you can enjoy a variety of child-friendly activities such as visits to reindeer farms, the husky park, Santa Claus Village, and the Arctic Museum. It’s important to know that Santa Claus is available 365 days a year at his office in Santa Claus Village, but outside the Christmas season, the trip can be more economical, there will be more availability, and the kids won’t miss out on delivering their Christmas letter to Santa.
During the Christmas period, it is the most idyllic time to visit Rovaniemi with children as both the Secret Forest of Joulukka (the secret forest of the elves and Santa Claus) and SantaPark (Santa's theme park) open only for the Christmas period (approximately November 11 to January 13). During this time, the little ones can enjoy games with the elves in the forest, a meeting at Santa's house, meeting the Ice Queen, baking gingerbread cookies, enjoying the elf show, and many more activities. Moreover, Santa Park is an indoor theme park, making it a great place to shelter from the cold with the little ones. It is worth noting that these are the most sought-after dates for families from all over the world, causing prices to rise significantly and availability to be very limited. During peak times like Christmas and the December long weekend, we recommend booking the trip almost a year in advance to avoid exorbitant prices for flights and accommodations.
RECOMMENDED AGE:
The recommended age for traveling to Lapland with children can vary depending on several factors, such as the weather, the activities you wish to do, and your family’s preferences. However, generally speaking, children aged 3 or 4 and older can fully enjoy the magic and activities that Lapland offers.
The activities described earlier during the Christmas period are suitable for children from the age of 2, as they are usually in indoor spaces where children can play without fear of the low temperatures. On the other hand, for other activities, it’s important to ensure the duration and type of activities are appropriate.
Examples of activities:
In snowmobile tours, children under 150 cm travel in a heated sled pulled by the guide, allowing them to enjoy the experience without getting too cold.
There are various tours to enjoy husky sled rides. On our website, you can find safaris ranging from 30 minutes to two hours, where parents are responsible for driving the husky sleds. Similar to snowmobiles, children travel in the sled, but this time it is not heated. Therefore, it is important to dress them in appropriate clothing if you plan to do this activity, as it is one of the coldest activities!
Aurora borealis tours with children can be a bit challenging. Typically, December is often the worst month for viewing the auroras due to cloudiness, which coincides with the best time for traveling with children. Aurora tours vary in price and activities offered. It all depends on the weather; if the sky is clear and there's expected good solar activity, you can combine this activity with others like reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling, or husky safaris, among others. However, if the sky is cloudy, your best option is to ensure you book a less crowded tour where the guide has the freedom to drive away from the city and find the best spot (many tours are restricted to city outskirts or involve crowded bus trips). The best tours are usually planned on the same day, as it's impossible to guarantee weather and activity conditions from one week to the next. In our case, our guides will inform you upon arrival of the best day for the tour and the departure time, which may vary and sometimes require driving several hours.
For all these reasons, we do not recommend the trip for children aged 2 or younger, especially outside the Christmas season. On our website, we prefer to differentiate between trips with children and without children. This way, we ensure that every member of the family enjoys the experience to the fullest extent possible.
It's also important to note that children over 12 years old are considered adults for all tours.
DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE COLD:
The weather in Lapland can be extremely cold during winter, so make sure to pack suitable clothing to protect your children from the cold. As explained in the article "How to pack for Arctic cold", wearing too many layers can be counterproductive, as children are more likely to sweat without good breathability. They'll likely be unable to resist jumping and rolling in the snow. The best way to keep little ones warm is with ski suits, which allow for unrestricted play, better heat retention, and prevent snow from getting inside during play. Underneath, layer with a good thermal shirt and a thick sweater or fleece, along with thermal leggings.
For extremities, mittens are best for retaining heat; make sure they're slightly loose to fit a thin glove underneath. Thick wool socks are ideal; if layering socks, ensure both are breathable to avoid moisture retention (avoid cotton). Waterproof footwear with good thermal insulation is crucial; snow won't soak through, but cold can penetrate (be cautious of rubber boots without insulation). Remember, cold that seeps through boots is more uncomfortable than wetness. Lastly, protect the head and neck with wool hats, scarves, or balaclavas, which are less likely to fall off during play.