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Which Christmas in Lapland tour suits you?

  • Satu Vänskä-WestgarthSatu Vänskä-Westgarth

A practical guide for families, couples and first-timers.

Choosing the right Christmas tour in Lapland can feel overwhelming, especially with so many festive trips to compare. Each trip has its own personality, pace and accommodation style, and some are better suited to younger children, larger families or adults seeking a quieter festive escape. The guide below sets out the key differences, so you can find the right trip for your family or group.

Contents

  • Quick comparison: the best match for each traveller type
  • How old are your children?
  • Adults only and adult friendly festive options
  • Choosing based on room type: triples, quads and family suites
  • Choosing based on experience style: Santa focused, aurora stays, boutique hotels and more
  • Adding something special before or after Lapland
  • Planning ahead and next steps

Quick comparison: what type of traveller are you?

Family of four needing one room

Äkäslompolo

Family with very young children

Finland-Christmas-Santa-and-Mari-Äkäslompolo

Family with teens

Arctic Treehouse Hotel

Couple wanting an adults only festive retreat

Festive Adventure at Nivunki Village

Couple wanting luxury and auroras

Cahkal Hotel

Family wanting glass cabins

Image credit: Julia Gal and Moments of Gregory - Levi Igloos

Family wanting lots of space

Apartments at Ranua Zoo

How old are your children?

Different tours suit different age groups. Younger children need gentler days and warm indoor breaks, while older children and teens can enjoy more active or extended winter experiences.

Ages 3 to 8: gentle activities, Santa magic and family togetherness

Best matches include:

shutterstock Finland Reindeer Family BlueOragne Studio

Ages 8 to 12: maximum Santa excitement and winter adventures

Best matches include:

Santa in Lapland

Ages 12 and over, or very active families

Best matches include:

Arctic TreeHouse Stay in Finland

Adults only and adult friendly festive options

Not everyone wants a Santa centred holiday. Some travellers prefer a peaceful winter escape with auroras, wellness experiences and refined dining. These Lapland festive stays suit couples, friends and adults wanting a quieter Christmas or pre-Christmas break.

Festive Adventure at Nivunki Village (Premium, independent, 16+)

Built for couples or small adult groups, this exclusive village of glass-roofed kota huts sits in a quiet forest setting away from the peak family crowds. Activities include husky safaris, snowmobiling, reindeer experiences and a traditional Lappish ceremony. With a minimum age of 16, it is one of the few genuinely adults-only festive stays in Lapland, and the dark Arctic skies give a real chance of the Northern Lights late into the night.

Puolenpäivän huskysafari

Lapland Festive Stay at Juutua (independent, 16+)

This pre-Christmas stay at the boutique Wilderness Hotel Juutua has a minimum age of 16, so it suits adults and older teens rather than young families. The appeal is in the dining and the setting: a five-course dinner at Restaurant Aanaar, an Arctic sauna and jacuzzi overlooking the Juutua River, and aurora camp evenings. Husky safaris, snowmobiling and snowshoeing round out a quiet festive escape before the peak holiday season begins.

Hotel Juutua

Choose based on room type, especially important for families of three or four

In Lapland, accommodation style varies. Some properties allow quads, while others take only two guests per room. This can be the deciding factor for families.

Tours with excellent family rooming (triples and quads available)

Best if you want everyone together in one cabin, suite or apartment.

These are the top choices for larger families wanting to stay together.

Edited - Finland äkäslompolo Kurunkolo cabin interior - Destination Lapland

Tours with limited rooming (mostly doubles, or suites sleeping two or three)

These work well for couples or families with one child.

Arctic Treehouse Hotel Nest

Choose based on experience style

Every tour has its own personality. Here is how to match the feel of the trip to the Christmas you have in mind.

A. Classic Santa and snow fun Christmas

web20150222-_MG_3264

B. Aurora and distinctive accommodation (glass cabins, suites and igloos)

Aurora Village 2021 3

C. Boutique, stylish or relaxed festive stays

CAHKAL DRINKS 4 (3)

D. Wilderness Christmas for active travellers

Cahkal Hotel

Add something special either side of Lapland

Consider adding one or two nights before or after your Lapland stay. It makes travel smoother and adds a festive touch.

Some favourites include:

  • Christmas Markets in Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen or Tallinn
  • Celebrating New Year’s Eve in a Nordic capital

Tallinn Christmas Market

Ready to plan your Christmas in Lapland?

With high demand for festive travel, especially cabins, glass igloos and family suites, planning early gives you more options. For more on this, our Finnish CEO explains why the days either side of Christmas week are often the better time to travel.

If you would like advice tailored to your family size, children’s ages or preferred Christmas style, our Nordic specialists are here to help.

You can join our Santa’s helper list to be first to know when next year’s Christmas tours open, or get in touch for personalised planning.

See All Pre-Christmas Packages

See All Festive Packages

See New Year's Packages

Also read our article Think Santa Lives Only in Santa Claus Village? Think Again., When to visit the Nordics for Christmas, as well as other travel articles on Nordic Christmas.


About the author

Satu Vänskä-Westgarth is Director of Product at 50 Degrees North. Finnish, and living in Norway for close to 20 years, she has worked across the travel industry from raft guiding and travel writing to product strategy, and designs the company's Nordic journeys around authentic, local experiences. A keen photographer, she travels widely across the north, from Lofoten to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Read more about Satu.

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