Santa & Family Christmas Holidays in Scandinavia
Our range of Lapland family Christmas holidays is built on the memories of our own childhoods: sneaking the neighbour's fir tree, hunting for the blanched almond in the rice pudding...
Looking for ideas for Christmas holidays?
A Scandinavian Christmas means a great deal to us at 50 Degrees North, and for many of us it is personal. A lot of our team grew up with Nordic Christmas traditions, and our festive journeys are built to share that warmth, simplicity and sense of the season with travellers from around the world.
Some of our fondest childhood memories are of heading into snow-covered forests to collect a Christmas tree, usually with a good deal of excitement and laughter. Chopping down random trees is no longer part of the tradition, but several of our Christmas tours still include guided forest excursions where guests can take part in this old Nordic ritual responsibly. It is a small moment, but one that captures the quiet of a Scandinavian Christmas.
Food traditions at Christmas
Traditional Christmas food plays an important role across Scandinavia, and many of our boutique hotels bring these customs to life with festive meals and seasonal specialities.
In Norway and Sweden, you may encounter rice porridge with almonds served through the Christmas season. Traditionally, one whole almond is hidden in the porridge, and whoever finds it wins a marzipan pig, a symbol of good luck. In some families, extra almonds are added for fun, but the classic tradition involves just one. These small rituals are often woven into hotel dining, giving travellers a genuine insight into Scandinavian Christmas food.
Ideas for family Christmas holidays:
Our speciality lies in Christmas experiences away from the Nordic beaten path, in quiet countryside settings with carefully chosen boutique accommodation. That said, we also suggest adding a short stay in one of the Scandinavian capitals for a taste of pre-Christmas cheer.
With short daylight hours and long evenings, the city streets are beautifully lit, fir trees stand in the public squares, and outdoor ice rinks fill with locals. It is a welcome contrast to the stillness of the Arctic.
Image: Jeppe Wikström
The Nordic capitals of Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen all host Christmas markets through December, and we often suggest combining a festive tour with a city stay. It is a good way to recover from long-haul flights, and these cities are easy to explore on foot or by public transport.
Visiting a local Christmas market is one of the best ways to ease into the festive season. You can sample traditional flavours, warm up with a hot drink, and shop for handmade gifts and decorations before heading north for your Christmas celebrations.
What you can expect from our Christmas tours & packages
Let it snow!
Fresh snowfall is a key part of the Nordic Christmas atmosphere. When snow falls, the world feels quieter and more peaceful, the air crisp and clean. We encourage guests to embrace their inner Scandinavian child: build snowmen, make snow angels, try skiing for the first time, or explore the forests on snowshoes. These simple pleasures are often the most memorable.
Meeting Father Christmas
According to popular tradition, Santa Claus lives in Finland, but he appears throughout northern Norway and Sweden during the festive season as well. Christmas is naturally his busiest time, yet he still makes time to meet visitors, young and old alike.
A Scandinavian Christmas would not be complete without reindeer. Many of our tours include visits to local reindeer farms or gentle sleigh rides beneath the stars. With a little luck, you may even spot the Northern Lights shimmering across the sky as you glide through the snow.
The stunning 'blue hour'
December days are short in the Nordic region, but this is part of their appeal. Around midday, the sun hovers low on the horizon, creating a soft, glowing twilight known as the blue hour. Snow-covered landscapes take on deep blue and pastel tones, a genuine treat for photographers and travellers alike.
Family winter adventures
Our Christmas tours feature a wide range of winter activities designed for families. These may include visits to husky farms, reindeer encounters, snowshoe walks, guided Northern Lights excursions, cosy bonfires, snowmobile rides and private Santa experiences. Each itinerary is carefully paced to balance adventure with comfort and festive rest.
Explore our full range of Christmas tours and itineraries, and find the Scandinavian Christmas that suits your family best. If you are weighing up Lapland in particular, our guide to which Christmas in Lapland tour suits you is a good place to start.
Image credits: Visit Finland, Visit Rovaniemi, Visit Norway, Visit Sweden and Arctic Coast AS Foto Ørjan Bertelsen, Ruka Chalets