Travel Buddies: Pete & Joan

Living the Dream, One Trip at a Time

Rovaniemi

Our flight to Lapland took us to Rovaniemi, the Gateway to the Arctic. Because this is the “Official Home of Santa Claus”, the luggage carousels here had a very different look than most!!

Interior view of Rovaniemi airport showcasing SantaPark display with a decorated sleigh, Christmas gifts, trees, and promotional materials.
A festive display at an airport featuring a sleigh, reindeer figures wearing colorful harnesses, and wrapped gifts, with a large image of Santa Claus in the background.

We had crossed the Arctic Circle several times during our National Geographic Cruise to the Arctic but now we had another opportunity!

A couple poses joyfully next to a large 'ARCTIC CIRCLE' sign on the ground in Rovaniemi, Finland, near a log cabin building.
Text on a sign highlighting the concept of the Arctic Circle, featuring the British flag, explaining that the sun never sets for at least one day in summer and never rises for at least one day in winter.
A group of travelers poses in front of the Arctic Circle marker in Rovaniemi, Finland, with a wooden lodge in the background.

Nestled right on the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi is home to Santa Claus Village, where we actually met Santa himself!

The entrance to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, featuring a distinctive pyramid-shaped roof and decorative signage marking the Arctic Circle.
Exterior view of Santa Claus' Main Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, featuring a wooden structure with a large sign indicating the post office's name.
A red wall sign in Santa Claus Village indicating that about 500,000 letters from 200 countries arrive at Santa Claus' main post office each year, and that elves have opened and read about 20 million wishes.
A visitor stands in front of a vibrant red display filled with letters addressed to Santa Claus, showcasing a collection of correspondence from around the world.
Sign for Santa Claus' Main Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, located at the Arctic Circle.
A display of red mailboxes filled with colorful letters and cards, labeled with country names such as 'Irland', 'Italia', 'Kirkka', 'Latvia', and 'Monaco'.
A wall display featuring various colorful children's letters and drawings addressed to Santa Claus, showcasing festive themes and decorations.
Wooden sign featuring the logo of the Santa Claus Office, located in the Arctic Circle, Finland. The sign includes the text 'SANTA CLAUS OFFICE' and decorative elements, set against a wooden background.

We actually went in to talk to Santa!  We did not sit on his lap but we conversed for several minutes!  We did not fork out the 40 Euros for the ‘official’ pictures….but we did hang on to this “preview” to prove we met the REAL guy!!!

A couple poses with Santa Claus in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, wearing bright colors and smiling.

Our eventual base for exploring Lapland is Inari, about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle.  So we hopped into what seemed like a brand new Mercedes van to start our drive north.

Along the road…we started seeing the reindeer!! While they wander freely across the landscape, none are truly wild — every reindeer in Lapland belongs to someone! They roam freely across vast areas, often appearing wild, but each one technically belongs to a herder. Ownership is identified by a unique ear mark that’s cut into the reindeer’s ear — a traditional system that’s been used for centuries.

Two reindeer crossing a road near Rovaniemi, Finland, with cars passing in the background and dense forests lining the sides.
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