Lapland is Made for Families
I've taken my own children to Lapland's winter activities since they were toddlers. The good news: Lapland is one of the most family-friendly winter destinations I've ever experienced. The operators are used to children, activities are paced for young attention spans, and the whole region revolves around the idea of making winter magical for kids. Here's my honest guide to doing it right.
Best Activities for Children in Lapland
1. Santa Claus Village — The Main Event
Age recommendation: All ages (especially 2-10)
Duration: 2-4 hours
Cost: Free entry (activities cost extra)
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is the number one reason families visit — and it delivers. Meeting Santa in his office is a professionally managed experience. Santa speaks multiple languages (including English, German, French, and of course Finnish), and the elves are wonderful with nervous children. The queue moves efficiently, and you get a personal meeting of 3-5 minutes. Photos are available for purchase but not pushy.
Beyond Santa, the village has reindeer sleigh rides (€20 per person), husky rides (€30 per person), the Arctic Circle line to cross, souvenir shops, and a Santa Park indoor attraction nearby. It's touristy, yes, but my kids absolutely loved it.
2. Reindeer Farm Visit — Gentle and Calm
Age recommendation: 2+
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Cost: €60-80 per adult, kids often 50% off
A reindeer farm visit is the most child-friendly Lapland activity. It's calm, slow-paced, and interactive. Kids can feed reindeer (they're gentle and used to children), take a short sleigh ride through the forest, and warm up inside a kota (traditional Sami hut) with hot berry juice and stories. The reindeer are docile and the ride is silent except for the sound of sleigh runners on snow — genuinely magical for young children.
Many farms have indoor areas with games, colouring, and space for kids to play if they get cold. The guides are patient and love working with children.
3. Gentle Husky Safari — Family-Style
Age recommendation: 4+ (varies by operator)
Duration: 1-2 hours
Cost: €80-120 per person (child discounts available)
Most husky safari operators offer family-specific tours with shorter routes, slower speeds, and younger or calmer dogs. Children sit between an adult on the sled (or ride in a sled pulled behind). The dogs are incredibly friendly and love attention — after the ride, kids can pet and play with them.
Check age minimums carefully — some operators require children to be 6+ for safety reasons, while others accept 4+. Always book a family-specific husky tour rather than a regular safari.
Book morning slots for young kids. Afternoon activities can be too long and cold for toddlers. Morning tours start around 9-10 AM, finish by noon, and kids are still fresh. By 2 PM, even my most enthusiastic kids would be flagging in the cold.
4. Ice Fishing for Families
Age recommendation: 6+
Duration: 2-3 hours
Cost: €70-90 per person, kids often half price
Ice fishing works surprisingly well for families because the BBQ component gives kids something to look forward to. Most tours drill several holes close together, so kids can move between them. The guides show them how to jig the line, and when a fish bites (even a small perch), the excitement is huge. The open-fire BBQ with sausages and marshmallows is the highlight for most children.
5. Snowmobile with a Guide — Only for Older Kids
Age recommendation: 8+ (as passenger on guide's sled)
Duration: 1-2 hours
Cost: €80-150 per person
Kids under 12 cannot drive a snowmobile (it's illegal in Finland for under-15s to drive without a licence), but they can ride as passengers on the guide's sled. Some operators offer "kid-sized" snowmobile experiences on closed circuits with smaller machines for older children. For younger kids, skip the snowmobile and do a husky or reindeer ride instead.
Child-Friendly Tour Recommendations
Santa Claus Village & Reindeer Farm Combo
Best for FamiliesThis combo tour hits the two biggest kid-friendly attractions in one morning. You visit a reindeer farm first (when kids are fresh), feed the reindeer, take a short sleigh ride, and warm up with hot drinks. Then head to Santa Claus Village for the main event — meeting Santa, crossing the Arctic Circle, and exploring the village. The tour includes pickup and drop-off, which is a lifesaver with children — no worrying about parking or transport.
Best for: Families with children aged 3-12 who want the classic Lapland experience without logistical stress.
Family Husky Safari (1.5 km Ride)
Gentle DogsThis family-specific husky tour uses calmer dogs, shorter routes, and includes plenty of time to pet and play with the dogs after the ride. Kids sit in the sled between adults or in a separate sled pulled behind. The guides are especially good with children — they let them help harness the dogs, explain how the team works, and the dogs are incredibly friendly. Hot berry juice and gingerbread cookies are provided at the end.
Best for: Families with children aged 4-10 who want a gentle introduction to husky sledding.
Age Recommendation Quick Guide
| Activity | Minimum Age | Ideal Age Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Claus Village | Any | 2-10 | Even infants Santa will hold gently |
| Reindeer Farm | 2+ | 3-10 | Gentle animals, short sleigh ride |
| Husky Safari (family) | 4+ | 5-14 | Check operator age limits carefully |
| Ice Fishing | 6+ | 8-16 | BBQ makes it worth it for kids |
| Snowmobile (passenger) | 8+ | 10-16 | Passenger on guide's sled only |
| Northern Lights Tour | 6+ | 10+ | Late night, standing in cold |
| Snowshoeing | 6+ | 8-16 | Fun active option for restless kids |
Tips for Travelling to Lapland with Kids
- Dress in layers, just like yourself. Kids need the same three-layer system: merino base, fleece mid, insulated snowsuit. Most operators can't provide rental suits small enough for toddlers — bring your own or buy affordable snowsuits in Rovaniemi (Prisma and Tokmanni sell them for €30-50).
- Bring extra mittens and socks. Kids drop things in snow, get wet, cry, repeat. Pack at least 3 pairs of mittens and 4 pairs of socks. Waterproof mittens are worth the investment.
- Schedule one activity per day. A morning activity (9 AM-12 PM) followed by lunch and indoor time works well. Adding an afternoon activity is too much for most children under 8.
- Book accommodation with a kitchenette. Eating out every meal with kids in Rovaniemi is expensive and tiring. Having a small kitchen for breakfast and simple dinners saves money and stress.
- Bring snacks. Finnish food is excellent but may not suit picky eaters. Familiar snacks from home can be a lifesaver.
- Hand warmers for everyone. Stick them in kids' mittens and boots. It makes a massive difference in their willingness to stay outside.
Mia's Family Tips
The toddler and the reindeer. My youngest was three the first time we visited a reindeer farm. She was nervous about the reindeer at first — they're bigger than you expect up close. The guide showed her how to feed them lichen from a flat hand, and after one tentative attempt, she was obsessed. She refused to leave and made us buy a stuffed reindeer from the gift shop. Pro tip: let kids feed the reindeer first before the sleigh ride, it builds trust.
Santa meltdown. My niece, age 4, spent months building up to meeting Santa. When her turn came, she froze — wouldn't talk, hid behind her mum, and started crying. The elf was wonderful. She sat with my niece, showed her a toy reindeer, and slowly coaxed her onto Santa's lap for a photo. The whole interaction took 15 minutes, and Santa didn't rush. Santa Claus Village's team is genuinely trained for nervous children. It ended up being a wonderful memory.
The husky hug. Our family husky tour was the highlight of the trip for my kids. After the ride, the guide let them help unharness the dogs. The huskies were so affectionate — one dog, a grey Siberian named Luna, kept licking my daughter's face while she giggled uncontrollably. The guide explained that the dogs get as excited about the ride as the humans do. My kids still talk about Luna two years later.
Which Activities to Skip with Young Kids
- Ice floating — Minimum age is usually 12. The experience of floating in dark, freezing water is not suitable for young children, even with thermal suits.
- Aurora hunting tours — Late nights (often 8 PM-1 AM) and standing in extreme cold are tough for under-10s. If you want the aurora experience with kids, book a glass igloo instead.
- Long snowmobile safaris — 4+ hour rides are too long and cold for children. Stick to 1-hour or 2-hour options, or skip it entirely if your kids are under 8.
- Multi-day expeditions — Leave the wilderness camping and long-distance ski expeditions for when the kids are older. Lapland with young children is about short, magical experiences.
About the Author
Official Resources
These official sites provide additional planning information:
- Visit Finland — Official tourism site for Finland
- Visit Rovaniemi — Rovaniemi's official travel guide
- Finnish Meteorological Institute — Weather and aurora forecasts