Finland
Santa Claus and his post office
Rovaniemi is located directly on the Arctic Circle and is surrounded by a labyrinth of lakes, rivers and endless forests.
Santa Claus runs his very own post office near the Finnish town.
And It Does Exist
Joulupukin Pääposti, 96930 Napapiiri, Finland – letters from all over the world are guaranteed to arrive at Santa’s address. Santa Claus, as he is known, spends most of his time in Rovaniemi dealing with Christmas mail from all over the world. Before Christmas, he floats away in the dark of night on his reindeer-drawn sleigh to deliver presents to children all over the world.
Rovaniemi is a medium-sized town with 65,000 inhabitants. The capital of the northern Finnish region of Lapland is considered the gateway to the north of the country. Forestry, wood-processing industries, ore mining, and tourism form the economic backbone of the region. In business terms, however, a jovial old man with reading glasses and a beard dominates the scene.
Santa Claus is the biggest economic factor in the region. Every year, half a million people from all corners of the planet travel to Rovaniemi to visit him and his post office. Tourism provides many locals with secure jobs and a good income.
The Home of the Post Elves and Gnomes
Since 1985, Santa Claus has received around twenty million letters from exactly 199 countries around the world, according to statistics. In the sales room of his post office outside Rovaniemi, he receives active support from postal elves who sell special Santa stamps and press them onto outgoing cards and letters. Even gnomes, who play an important role in Finnish folklore, are said to be at work behind the scenes. The story goes that this is the only way to sift through the 1,500 or so cards and envelopes that arrive every day.
But because reality sometimes doesn’t even stop at a legend, Santa’s post office is a real post office operated by Posti, Finland’s national postal company. On the upper floor of the post office, helpful elves guide visitors into a mysterious chamber, where an expansive red armchair stands in front of a row of comfortable benches. And suddenly there he is – Santa Claus himself. With his snow-white beard, he looks just like in a thousand pictures. He greets children with a broad smile and shakes hands heartily with adults.
After he has given a group of tourists from all corners of the planet an insight into his busy life, it’s „photo time.“ For a fee, which goes towards the upkeep of the post office, you can have your picture taken with Santa Claus. These photos are probably one of the most popular souvenirs in Finland.
Since 2010, Rovaniemi has called itself the „official home of Santa Claus.“ Folklore has it that the good-natured old man moved here thirteen years ago and set up his very own post office. By moving here, he wanted to conceal his true home – the mysterious Korvatunturi „Ear Mountain.“ The mountain is said to be shaped like a large ear that can hear the Christmas wishes of young and old all over the world. Thanks to his magic, Santa Claus can be found in Santa Claus Village all year round. However, his village is particularly charming in winter. The snow-covered landscapes, the short days, and the inviting coziness in the stores, restaurants, and post office create a unique atmosphere.
A Whole Village
Towering fir trees groan under the weight of fresh snow. Along the road, piles of snow pushed aside by a plow tower up like endless mythical creatures. Apart from the low hum of an articulated lorry suddenly emerging from the darkness of the polar night, no other sound can be heard in the snow-covered winter landscape. Between the buildings of Santa Claus Village, fairy lights twinkle against the starry sky in the freezing winter cold.
In addition to the legendary post office, Santa Claus Village is home to numerous stores selling souvenirs and high-quality arts and crafts. A huge culinary selection in restaurants, cafés, and bars completes the offerings. The Arctic Circle runs right through the middle of Santa’s village and is clearly marked on the ground. This imaginary dividing line indicates the geographical altitude north of which the sun does not set on at least one day in summer and does not peek over the horizon on one day in winter.
Next door, visitors can experience unforgettable encounters at Elf’s Farmyard animal park. The reindeer, alpacas, and llamas seem unaffected by the freezing cold. If you have a little more time on your hands, you can go on reindeer and llama hikes through the snow-covered winter wonderland of the surrounding area.
There are some spectacular accommodation options nearby, ranging from snow hotels, luxury villas, and apartments to caravan parks for the summer months. But how about admiring the green Northern Lights dancing across the sky from a glass igloo right from your bed and then falling asleep under the polar firmament?
In Rovaniemi, most things revolve around Santa Claus. But not everything, because the city is an ideal starting point for discovering parts of Finnish Lapland’s magnificent nature in both winter and summer.
Winter Wonderland
In the fall and winter, many tourists travel to see the Northern Lights. The fascinating aurora borealis is created by a solar wind of electrically charged particles that emit different types of light when they collide with the Earth’s magnetic field. The most common color is green, but the Northern Lights can also have shades of blue, yellow, pink, purple, or red.
The Arktikum in Rovaniemi is home to the Arctic Center of the University of Lapland and its regional museum. It serves as both a tourist attraction and a popular cultural site. Exhibitions take visitors on an exciting tour of Finnish Lapland and the Arctic regions. As a science center, it provides a comprehensive picture of the history, nature, and culture of Lapland and Arctic research.
Ice fishing, snowshoeing, and, of course, the sauna: in winter, Finland’s far north offers plenty of opportunities to be active and relax. Finns not only have a great sense of humor, but they also enjoy unusual activities. This includes jumping into an icy river – great fun even when the air temperature is minus 30 degrees. Wrapped up in warm, fully waterproof special suits, you can drift leisurely downstream and enjoy the unique view of the snow-covered riverbanks.
Around 200 kilometers to the east lies the famous Ruka-Kuusamo ski resort in Finland’s snowiest region. Although the mountains, with a maximum height of 500 meters, do not compare to the Alps, the region has some winter trump cards. For example, there is natural snow 200 days a year, and the lifts operate until 7 p.m. in the evening and even until 11 p.m. on Fridays. There are no overcrowded slopes or long lift queues here; Ruka-Kuusamo offers skiers fun without waiting.
For those who still don’t have enough choice with 35 slopes, there are 500 kilometers of perfectly groomed trails to explore. The plateau of this ski paradise offers typical Finnish nature in abundance: thousands of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains with valleys and gorges, all surrounded by immense spruce forests. The nearby Oulanka National Park is characterized by a species-rich flora and fauna, featuring Siberian and Arctic species, as well as some from more southern regions.
Summer Outdoor Paradise
Arctic outdoor adventures are not limited to the snowy season – endless summer days simply leave even more time to enjoy biking, hiking, canoeing, or log cabin adventures. The summer season in Rovaniemi lasts from May to August. On the seemingly endless lakes and rivers in Finnish Lapland, wonderful water adventures await, bringing you closer to the fascination of the pristine wilderness in a leisurely way and from a different perspective. Boat tours on the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers, canoeing, kayaking, and even white-water inflatable boat tours are available.
A visit to a husky or reindeer farm offers the opportunity to get to know the local fauna up close. These two animals are not only important to the Sámi, the indigenous population of Lapland. Reindeer herding is an essential part of Finnish agriculture, and even in the 21st century, sled dogs remain the first choice for many when it comes to moving purposefully and quickly in winter. On guided tours through the beautiful forest landscapes, you might also have the opportunity to observe moose. Spotting these shy forest dwellers in the wild is an unforgettable experience.
Biking has also become particularly popular in this part of Europe. Fat bikes, mountain bikes, and touring bikes – with or without electric assistance – are available to explore the surrounding area of Rovaniemi on challenging trails, shady forest paths, and signposted cycle routes. Just outside the town is Ounasvaara, where an 18-hole course invites you to play a challenging round of golf.
For those who prefer a more leisurely approach and are less interested in outdoor sporting activities, relaxation can be found in a Finnish institution that can be found in practically every household: the sauna. Few things are as typical of this country in the far north of Europe as the sauna. There are said to be three million of them throughout the country, with statistically just two Finns sharing a sauna – which also leaves plenty of space and choice for guests.
