Thinking of taking kids to visit Santa in Lapland? Here are our top tips for getting there by train
Introduction
Rather than fly directly into Rovaniemi airport in Lapland, many visitors making the journey north will instead arrive into Helsinki airport, which is served by many more international destinations. To then complete the journey to Lapland, the easiest way is by train.
We travelled to Lapland this way in January (2024) from where we live in Spain. After arriving into Helsinki airport, we then travelled overnight on the train up to Rovaniemi in Lapland. Along with our 4 kids, we were on a trip to see Santa Claus.
For more of our trip, see our magical 7 day winter itinerary for visiting Lapland with kids.
What is the Santa Claus Express train?
The train that travels between Helsinki in Finland and Lapland is cutely badged as the Santa Claus Express. This train runs north from the capital to Rovaniemi and beyond.
What time of day does the Santa Claus Express train leave Helsinki?
There are daily departures of the Santa Claus Express train. Trains make the journey in both daytime and overnight. The overnight trains have sleeper compartments, typically for 2 people.
How long does the journey to Lapland from Helsinki on the Santa Claus Express train take?
This depends on the time of day that you are travelling. The overnight journey from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in Lapland on the Santa Claus Express train takes around 11 hours to complete.
Top Tips for how to visit Lapland with kids on the Santa Claus Express train
Here are our top tips to help you get the most out of your journey on the Santa Claus Express train from Helsinki to Lapland with kids.
#1 Reserve your tickets early to get the cheapest deals
Dates for winter 2024/25 are available to book now.
#2 Children travel for free or a discounted rate
This is determined by their age. Phone up to add them to your booking rather than doing it online. Phone operators speak English and it is very easy to do. For larger families, it is also possible to book adjacent cabins with an interconnecting door.
#3 Travel overnight and book the earlier of the night trains
That way you can get on the train and get kids settled and to sleep sooner.
#4 Don’t book a cabin next to a toilet
They are very noisy when they flush!
#5 Pack lots of snacks to take with you
There are several food kiosks at the train station. You arrive in Lapland very early in the morning so your kids will be hungry!
#6 Pack an overnight bag or, better still, a backpack for each child
That way they can have the stuff they need to hand (pjs, toiletries, teddy, games etc.), meaning you won’t have to open up any big cases on the train.
#7 Check live train info on the website
The live train information on the vr.fi website is updated more regularly and efficiently than the information display boards in the train station lobby.
#8 Station Luggage Lockers
Both Helsinki and Rovaniemi train stations have luggage lockers that can be rented for reasonable rates. These are great if you have time to wait for a train at either station, allowing you to use this time to explore the city without having to carry all of your stuff around with you.
In Summary
Lapland is a magical place to visit with children. It really is a trip of a lifetime. Completing the journey overnight by train on the Santa Claus Express only adds to feelings of anticipation and excitement.
Despite a bit of a departure delay, we really enjoyed our journey on the Santa Claus Express train. The cabins and beds are comfortable and the staff were always friendly and on hand to help out with any extra requests. Having interconnecting cabins was also a bonus, as it meant as a big family we could share the experience all together.
We hope to return to Lapland one day and, if we do, we’ll definitely be taking another trip north on the Santa Claus Express train.
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