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Rovaniemi or Saariselka to visit Santa??

St Helens, United...
Level Contributor
179 posts
7 reviews
10 helpful votes
Rovaniemi or Saariselka to visit Santa??
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Good morning,

I have my heart set on booking a 3 day visit to Saariselka with Espirit this December.

However, the Santa Clause village in Rovaniemi looks fantastic also.

Can anyone let me know about their experiences visiting either please?

Many thanks

Arsy, France
Level Contributor
3,328 posts
88 reviews
212 helpful votes
1. Re: Rovaniemi or Saariselka to visit Santa??
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i have not been to the santa village and tbh, it does not have a draw to me, nor does Rovaniemi, its a city to start with - it does not appeal at all

saariselka is magical and will give you that true lapland magic wilderness experience and there will be reindeer wondering about, Rovaniemi, whilst you can still do all the santa things etc, to me, just is not magical, cars, buses, people etc, not magical

Rovaniemi, Finland
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3,398 posts
2. Re: Rovaniemi or Saariselka to visit Santa??
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You truly have not been to Rovaniemi if you think this place is crowded... :) The town center is quite small and most of the stuff you do doesn't happen there anyway. As the nature is so close here, we actually have excellent conditions for any outdoor activity maybe except for downhill skiing.

But still you can't compare the two. Rovaniemi still is a town and Saariselkä a resort in the north. Some like to be closer to a town and some prefer their solitude also in the evening.

For the Santa-part Santa Claus Village (and SantaPark next to it) can't offer the same intimate experience as specialized Santa programmes can. But in winter it is quite a nice place to spend a day. They are building something new every year, and its gradually turning into a mini-resort with outdoor activities, safari companies etc. Not solely relying on Santa which is good.

If you want something more intimate in Rovaniemi, check Joulukka: http://www.joulukka.com/

Rovaniemi, Finland
Level Contributor
3,398 posts
3. Re: Rovaniemi or Saariselka to visit Santa??
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Snow conditions are also one thing to consider. Early December Saariselkä is a much safer choice for snow activities - especially for any longer tours. Rovaniemi depends a little. Rivers should be frozen for snowmobiling, shorter winter trails open and some snow on the ground too, but it's not often we get a thick cover before Christmas.

Edited: 9 years ago
4. Re: Rovaniemi or Saariselka to visit Santa??

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