Napapiiri: Santa Claus Mail and Reindeer Experiences

Napapiiri brings together Santa Claus’s special mail with reindeer experiences that vary by season. Admission to Santa Claus Village is free. Whether you want to explore the letters at the post office or plan an encounter with reindeer, the season gives your trip its own focus.

Mail with a special postmark

At Santa Claus’s Main Post Office in Napapiiri, visitors can send mail with a special Napapiiri postmark that is not available at other post offices. This means it is not only the destination’s image that becomes part of the mail: the postmark itself also refers to Napapiiri. The post office also offers a glimpse of the letters that reach Santa Claus. Hundreds of thousands of letters arrive from all over the world every year. Looking at this mail turns a short visit into an opportunity to learn about the international correspondence surrounding Santa Claus.

Reindeer experiences in different seasons

In winter, reindeer rides and safaris are available at Santa Claus Village without advance booking. Check current operating dates before your trip. On reindeer rides, visitors can obtain a reindeer driving licence or a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle by reindeer. In summer, visitors can feed and pet Santa Claus’s reindeer at Santa Claus Village. In spring and autumn, short reindeer rides in a cart are offered. The type of encounter therefore varies depending on when you travel: rides and safaris in winter, feeding and petting in summer, or short cart rides in spring and autumn. If you are planning a trip with children, you can consider a specific question: Is the post office visit, a ride, or an encounter with the animals the main focus you want? Seasonal activities should suit your planned travel dates.

Rovaniemi: Nature, Culture and Lappish Cuisine

The wider destination of Rovaniemi offers additional things to explore. Rovaniemi lies on the Arctic Circle, at the confluence of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers. There are three nature trails in the city area, with information boards about nature and the surrounding area. One specific example is the Ounasvaara Nature Trail: this 4.9-kilometre circular route is suitable for hiking and Nordic walking and is open from May to October. Along the way, it leads to a shelter and a viewpoint with expansive views of Saarenkylä and the Kemijoki. Rovaniemi therefore offers both information about nature and a striking view.

Art, music and history also shape what Rovaniemi has to offer. Korundi House of Culture houses the Rovaniemi Art Museum and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra; art exhibitions, concerts and performances take place there. The cultural centre is located on the site of a former postal coach depot completed in 1933, which survived the Second World War. At Arktikum, a science centre and museum come together: there, you can explore the Arctic from the perspectives of science, history and culture. If you are interested in regional cuisine, you can discover Lappish flavours in Rovaniemi, such as wild berries, mushrooms, fish and game, prepared traditionally or in contemporary ways. Individual concert and exhibition dates may change.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first decide which experiences you want from your trip. Would you like to focus on Napapiiri, with Santa Claus mail and seasonal reindeer experiences, or also include nature, culture and cuisine in the wider destination of Rovaniemi? This makes choosing your destination the starting point for finding accommodation that suits your planned itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Keminmaa, Kaamanen, Luosto, Sirkkakoski, Tervola, Sirkka, Kemijärvi, Sodankylä.

View the wider travel guide: Lapland.