Looking for some advice. I was thinking of going up to Rovaniemi/ Santa's Village and Park around Christmas-time with our 3 children under 4. My partner thinks I'm mad for even considering it as it'll be cold, dark and miserable. It would only be for a few days, but considering we haven't done a winter here yet, he might be right, but I'm looking for opinions.
Has anyone been to the Santa's village and is it worth it, is there enough to keep the kids busy for a day and will they be outside most of the time? What else is there to do? I'm into the Sami culture, but don'tknow if the kids will be interested. Would it be better to wait until Spring, is the whole Santa thing lost then?
Thanks in advance.
Lapland in mid-winter with toddlers - mad??
Re: Lapland in mid-winter with toddlers - mad??
Santa's village is expressly FOR visiting in the Winter... with toddlers., I wouldn't worry if you want to go there, then go! 
Having said that, I took my toddler in August because that's when we were there this time. We enjoyed it and there were NO real queues, only about 5 people in front of us for santa (I expect you would wait hours around christmas time....) but still enough people around in general that you didn't feel silly for being there. But yes, it slightly lacks the atmosphere you might get if there was, for example, some snow on the ground and not 30 degree heat as we had!
There are some outdoor bits (slides, climbing frame, the reindeers and sami hut to visit, for example) and you have to walk between, say, one parade of shops and the bit where Santa is, and some other shops, food outlets scattered around, but it's all very contained and don't imagine that you're going to be cold and miserable, if you (and particularly the toddlers) are dressed appropriate you'll be fine. We thought there was a lot to see... well... in Finnish terms - it's no disneyland all quite understated really.
We didn't do the park as it wasn't open, but as far as I know, that's mainly indoors? Again, it's designed for winter visits with children.....
A friend of mine took his toddler to Rovaniemi one Winter and had a good time.
Hope this helps
Having said that, I took my toddler in August because that's when we were there this time. We enjoyed it and there were NO real queues, only about 5 people in front of us for santa (I expect you would wait hours around christmas time....) but still enough people around in general that you didn't feel silly for being there. But yes, it slightly lacks the atmosphere you might get if there was, for example, some snow on the ground and not 30 degree heat as we had!
There are some outdoor bits (slides, climbing frame, the reindeers and sami hut to visit, for example) and you have to walk between, say, one parade of shops and the bit where Santa is, and some other shops, food outlets scattered around, but it's all very contained and don't imagine that you're going to be cold and miserable, if you (and particularly the toddlers) are dressed appropriate you'll be fine. We thought there was a lot to see... well... in Finnish terms - it's no disneyland all quite understated really.
We didn't do the park as it wasn't open, but as far as I know, that's mainly indoors? Again, it's designed for winter visits with children.....
A friend of mine took his toddler to Rovaniemi one Winter and had a good time.
Hope this helps
Hämä-hämähäkki kiipes langalle
Re: Lapland in mid-winter with toddlers - mad??
We went last year with two kids under 3, and had a good time. It was mid-November so there was snow but it wasn't too cold (single-digit minuses) and it wasn't very dark. I was underwhelmed by Santa's Village, in that it is basically a set of shops, so unless you want to buy knick-knacks or craft items (eg felt slippers that you see at all the markets) you can't pass a lot of time there. That said, the video footage we have of our two little ones meeting the REAL santa in his office there is priceless, and for Aussies who don't have a lot of snow experience, the village buildings in the snow were pretty atmospheric.
From Rovaniemi, we also went to the artic zoo in Ranua, which we loved. You can pull the kids around on sleds on a path that circuits the whole zoo. The animals are unfenced in the some areas, where the path turns into a skyway. If you're going that far north, take the trip to Ranua as well! I think hotels can organise transfers to the zoo.
Arktikum in Rovaniemi is also worth a visit, there is some hands-on stuff for little people to do.
We tried to book visits to a couple of the reindeer farms while we were up there, but they required 48 hours notice, so if you go, do some research and book before you leave home.
It was recommended to us that we go on the train last year. Possibly the worst night of my life! Avoid at all costs, I say. The plane is cheaper, faster and cannot possibly be less comfortable than that train.
We have just booked to go back this December when Santa Park will be open (since we missed it by a couple of weeks last year). It is probably as tacky as all get out, but I just cannot pass up the opportunity to attend elf school and ride on a reindeer sleigh...what an experience!!
Oh, one last thing, the pathway into Santa's office is a little more spooky than we had imagined it would be, and our little ones needed some reassurance that Santa was not going to be scary. It is dark and there is some odd music playing - nothing too worrying, just not the bright, happy fairytale-like place it would be in some other countries.
From Rovaniemi, we also went to the artic zoo in Ranua, which we loved. You can pull the kids around on sleds on a path that circuits the whole zoo. The animals are unfenced in the some areas, where the path turns into a skyway. If you're going that far north, take the trip to Ranua as well! I think hotels can organise transfers to the zoo.
Arktikum in Rovaniemi is also worth a visit, there is some hands-on stuff for little people to do.
We tried to book visits to a couple of the reindeer farms while we were up there, but they required 48 hours notice, so if you go, do some research and book before you leave home.
It was recommended to us that we go on the train last year. Possibly the worst night of my life! Avoid at all costs, I say. The plane is cheaper, faster and cannot possibly be less comfortable than that train.
We have just booked to go back this December when Santa Park will be open (since we missed it by a couple of weeks last year). It is probably as tacky as all get out, but I just cannot pass up the opportunity to attend elf school and ride on a reindeer sleigh...what an experience!!
Oh, one last thing, the pathway into Santa's office is a little more spooky than we had imagined it would be, and our little ones needed some reassurance that Santa was not going to be scary. It is dark and there is some odd music playing - nothing too worrying, just not the bright, happy fairytale-like place it would be in some other countries.
Re: Lapland in mid-winter with toddlers - mad??
thanks, that is so helpful.
Re: Lapland in mid-winter with toddlers - mad??
Plane, cheaper? How? Lucky you if you found it so! We travelled by train overnight from Tampere to Rovaniemi last October (there was snow!), followed by 3 hr (or was it 4) bus ride to saariselka. It was a triple bunk bed in a cabin on the train, & a tight squeeze, but we managed it having the 6 yr old on top bunk, 5 yr old in the middle bunk (vomiting most of the time, train or bus), me & the littlest, then under 1, sharing the bottom bunk with the then 3 yr old, & long suffering hubby sitting on a chair, doing his dialysis by hand during the night (he came well prepared!!!). If we were ever able to travel North again, we would choose the train every time!!!!!Must be mad 
Allie the Britmum, "äiti" to 3 boys, 10,9 and 7, & little princess, 4.