Where Santa Claus Lives

This month it seemed to make sense that our continuing virtual journey around the world should take us to where Santa Claus lives.

Now we all know who Santa is despite never seeing him in person on the one night of the year he visits each of us. We all think we know what he looks like, who he employs in his workshop, that for 364 days a year he’s pretty much a homebody, and many of us have even sat on his pseudo-knee. But even though he’s one of the most famous people in the world, no-one knows where he really lives.

There are rumors about his address of course. And the place usually pointed to most is the North Pole. But since the North Pole is really just a collection of ice caps in the sea it would be difficult for him to have a home there let alone a fully staffed toy-making factory, regardless of how small in stature said staff may actually be.

Not to mention the fact that Rudolph and the other reindeer he uses to pull his sleigh wouldn’t have anything to eat except fish.

Different countries lay claim to different locations as Santa’s place of residence. In Norway, they believe he lives in the town of Drobak, while the Danes believe he lives somewhere in Greenland. There’s a town in Sweden called Mora which has a theme park in Santa’s honor as they believe he’s originally from there.

Some old legends even have Santa living in Turkey and the Canadians have tried to claim him as one of their own due to his supposed residence at the North Pole, of which they own parts. They also claim his iconic red and white outfit mirrors the Canadian flag,

and the Canadian postal service receives more letters to the great man than any other. There’s even reports that satellite imagery every December 24th shows Santa’s journey starting in Canada.

Another popular suggestion is Lapland (which actually encompasses sections of northern Sweden, Norway, and Finland), where people claim to have actually met the great man himself. Trips to visit Santa in Lapland are very popular and thousands of lucky children have done just that. They seem pretty convinced the Santa they met was the genuine article as his reindeer and elves were also there to vouch for him.

While some of these places might seem to make more sense than others, for the purposes of this month’s travel blog post, we had to make a decision. And we’ve settled on Korvatunturi in the Lapland area of northern Finland as the likeliest candidate. But given that Korvatunturi is a bit small, we’re going to make the larger area of Finnish Lapland the focus of today’s travelblog.

So, grab a warm jacket and fill your Saint Bernard’s water bottle with egg nog as we head out to the frozen northern reaches of Finland in search of all things Santa and more.

Korvatunturi is a fell in Lapland, on the border between Finland and Russia in the municipality of Savukoski (a “fell”, from Old Norse “fjall” or mountain, is a high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain range or moor-covered hills). In Finnish the name Korvatunturi means “Ear Fell”, or “Ear Mountain”. It’s said that the one-hundred-meter-tall ear shaped rock formation wasn’t formed by chance but was the result of an amazing engineering project. The ear mimics the structure of an elf’s ear including even a giant ear canal.

When standing on the far end of the canal it’s said you can hear even the quietest whispers from the other side of the world. Talk about Big Brother, this may be the answer to how Santa keeps track of who’s been naughty or nice all year round.

The distance to Korvatunturi from the nearest municipal center of Savukoski village is 135 km (85 miles). Savukoski is home to Finland’s second largest national park with stunning nature trails and, they claim, the world’s cleanest air.

From the gate of the Urho Kekkonen National Park it’s another 18 km (11 miles) to the Ear Fell but, since there is no road from this point, you get there either by walking, skiing, or snowmobiling along a trail used by the border patrol and reindeer herders. If you are going to the Ear Fell you will need a border zone permit which can be gotten either by local guides or by going to www.rafa.fi or www.suomi.fi

The most secret parts of the Ear Fell, the private residence of the Claus’s and their army of elves, are not open to visitors. The secrets of Christmas must be protected after all, and the elves require a peaceful working environment as they are easily distracted. You can, however, leave a message for Santa at the shelter hut of the border patrol.

Now, while you might not find any elves, you will find plenty of reindeer (they outnumber people in this part of Finland 12 to 1!), forests, stony fells, and spectacular Arctic wilderness in this northernmost region of Finland. Finnish Lapland makes up nearly one third of the country and is located above the Artic Circle. The word itself is derived from "Lapp" - Scandinavians used this word to refer to the indigenous Sami people, who have been living in the region since ancient times.

The Sami find the word "Lapland" offensive and prefer to use their own language and refer to this region as "Sápmi".

With a population of 62,000, the main city, and capital of Lapland province is Rovaniemi, located on the Arctic Circle. It’s about a ten-hour drive from Helsinki, Finland’s capital, or an 8–10-hour train ride (click HERE to book your train in advance).

Known as the culinary capital of Northern Finland, in Rovaniemi you can sample local delights such as grilled whitefish, sauteed reindeer seasoned with wild herbs, and sweet berries that have ripened under the Midnight Sun. Rovaniemi is also the official tourist home of Santa Claus.

The winter months (“True Winter” = Dalvve in Finnish) from December to March are the coldest, with average temperatures ranging from -10C to -15C (15F to 5F). Because you’re above the Artic Circle, you can expect only about 3 hours/day of sunlight in January and around six hours/day in February. We guess this is just as well for, after that one wild night a year away from Mrs. Claus, Santa probably needs a couple of solid months to sleep it off.

Now, while “True Winter” might seem an odd time to plan a trip to Finnish Lapland, it’s actually the best time. Because, while never a guarantee, this is the time of year when you have the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

Rovaniemi is home to one of the largest ice hotels in the region. This hotel, the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos, is made entirely of snow and ice. You’ll actually be sleeping on a bed of ice,

but there’s no need to worry about being cold with the extreme weather sleeping bags and reindeer fur they provide. (Due to the extreme cold however, the hotel does recommend a maximum stay of only one-night…..). They even have an alarm system that goes off when the Northern Lights come out, so you won’t have to worry about sleeping through them.

Visit Santa Claus Village: Since the real residence and workshop are permanently off-limits to visitors, this is the next best thing to being there. The village has all sorts of festive activities on offer, including a visit to the actual post office where Santa’s mail gets sorted. There’s a reindeer park, husky sledding through the forest, or a relaxing ice spa available.

You can check out what’s happening at Santa’s Village here at their live feed:

Snowmobiling Safari: Looking for a little adventure? A snowmobiling safari through Finnish Lapland would be a good option. These tours can be tailored to fit your needs and are a great way to see some of the most remote and beautiful regions. Keep an eye out for reindeer and elk.

Hot Chocolate in a Teepee: If you’re looking for a unique experience, this could be for you. The traditional tents are made from animal skins and are a popular way to spend an evening in Lapland.

You will learn about the Finnish culture and the Sami people from the local guides. And for help in seeing the Northern Lights - regardless of whether they’re there or not - add some Minttu Peppermint, the local liqueur, to your hot chocolate.

Dog Sledding: No matter where you are in Finnish Lapland, there will likely be a husky sled tour waiting to take you through some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. And you’ll even get to drive the dog team yourself.

Ice Fishing: Fishing is a popular pastime in Finnish Lapland, and ice fishing is one of the most challenging ways to do it. There are ice fishing tours available, but the locals know all the best spots and will be more than happy to show you how it’s done. If you’re successful, you’ll catch some super tasty fish.

A Sauna? They got a million of ‘em! Actually, there are over 3 million saunas in Finland. That’s an average of one sauna for every two people who live there (or one sauna for every 24 reindeer).

Saunas are a big part of Finnish culture and smoke saunas are popular (and not at all the same thing you might be expecting from a “smoke” sauna in Thailand or Los Angeles). These are heated with wood and the smoke from the wood gives the sauna its name. A rule to remember – the last person to throw water on the sauna should always be the last to leave. Since each time you throw water on it, the temperature gets hotter, beware of being the last person standing!

I’ll Have Mine Inside & On the Rocks: After sweating yourself silly in a sauna, might we suggest a visit to an Ice Bar for a drink. These bars are very popular and made entirely of ice. Most have an igloo-like structure, with ice walls and ice furniture. They also have ice sculptures and drinks are served in – get this – ice cold glasses! If you order bottle service and your waiter turns out to be a bit slow in checking back, you can always just chip off a piece of the table or chair to refresh your drink.

Ice Floating: You’ve heard of floating on air, but ice floating? Well, it really is a thing in Finnish Lapland. This is where you float in a hole carved out in the ice on a river or lake. You’ll be wearing an insulated wetsuit with no chance (so they say) of water getting through to your skin, so you don’t have to worry about hypothermia.

Another way to ensure that you avoid hypothermia is to schedule a second visit to that sauna instead (see above).

Cruising on an Icebreaker: How many places on the planet would you have the chance to do this? An icebreaker cruise will let you discover the frozen waters of the Bothnian Sea. You’ll get to experience the massive ice breaking power of the vessel, tour the engine rooms and visit the captain’s bridge.

Santa Claus Golf: Yes, believe it or not you can play a round of golf year-round in Rovaniemi, often with reindeer cheering you on as they like to hang around the golf course.

In June and July, you can actually golf around the clock since, here in the land of the midnight sun the sun doesn’t set at all during these two months. And during “true winter” the greens become “whites”, golf carts are swapped out for sleds, and white golf balls become bright orange ones. On the snowy fairways some of the ‘whites’ are situated on the frozen lakes of the course.

As our virtual journey draws to a close, from golf to icebreaking to Santa Claus, you can see that Finnish Lapland has a lot to offer. It’s an active outdoor destination and often referred to as Europe’s last great wilderness. We’ve focused mainly on winter activities, but in the summer it’s the land of the Midnight Sun when you can go mountain bike riding, hike through the virgin wilderness, or simply take in the views from a hot tub pretty much 24/7. There’s so much to do year-round that the locals say that there are actually eight seasons in Lapland.

So, beyond the tales of Santa Claus, the magic of this Arctic wonderland lingers in the crisp, snowy air. Finnish Lapland is a symphony of untouched nature, vibrant culture, and warm-hearted locals. It’s more than a destination; it’s a sanctuary for those seeking not just a vacation but an escape into the untamed beauty of Europe’s last great wilderness. Whether staring up in wonder at the Northern Lights, sipping hot chocolate in a traditional teepee, or racing through the snowy expanses on a husky sled, Finnish Lapland beckons with a promise – a promise of adventure, wonder, and a timeless connection with nature.

So, we suggest you bundle up, embrace the chill, and let the spirit of Lapland awaken your sense of awe. For in this frozen realm, where Santa Claus might just be around the corner, every moment becomes a cherished memory, etched into the snow-covered landscapes of your heart.

Have you been to Finland? Have you met Santa Claus? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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