Santa Claus Reindeer is a local, family-owned company offering year-round reindeer experiences in Rovaniemi, Lapland.
In Santa Claus Village, reindeer sleigh rides and easy, family-friendly encounters with reindeer are part of the experience at the Arctic Circle, together with opportunities to learn more about the iconic Arctic animals.
At Taava Reindeer Farm, guests spend more time close to the reindeer and discover how their lives are connected with the surrounding nature, local people and everyday life in Lapland.
Discover winter reindeer experiences in Rovaniemi in two different settings. Enjoy reindeer sleigh rides and family-friendly encounters in the heart of Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, or visit Taava Reindeer Farm, where peaceful Arctic nature, time with the reindeer and the knowledge and care of our Reindeer Guides create space to experience, learn and take part.
Explore our winter experiences below and find the one that suits your visit.
From: 35 €
Feed the herd and spend time at the reindeer fence, at your own pace. Available in Santa
Claus Village any time of year.
Meet and feed Santa Claus’s reindeer in the heart of Santa Claus Village while discovering fascinating facts about their life in Lapland. Complete your magical winter encounter with warm glögi and traditional Finnish gingerbread.
From: 100 €
Skip the queues and enjoy a magical 800-metre reindeer sleigh ride through Santa Claus Village, followed by a warm drink by the fire and a souvenir Reindeer Driving License.
From: 30 €
Experience the magic of Christmas on a charming reindeer sleigh ride through Santa Claus Village, where festive memories come to life. Perfect for all ages, this short and enchanting adventure is available with tickets purchased on-site only.
From: 50 €
An 800-metre ride through the forest, right in Santa Claus Village. Tickets bought on-site.
Discover the magic of Christmas on a traditional reindeer sleigh ride in Santa Claus Village. A charming Arctic experience for all ages, with tickets available on-site only.
From: 139 €
A longer sleigh ride starting from Santa Claus Village, ending with warm drinks by the fire.
Pre-booked.
Discover Lapland on a peaceful 30-minute reindeer sleigh ride through snowy Arctic landscapes in Santa Claus Village. Complete your adventure with warm drinks, light snacks, and local reindeer stories by a cozy campfire.
From: 160 €
Escape into Lapland’s snowy wilderness with a peaceful 30-minute reindeer sleigh ride, followed by an unforgettable visit to Taava Reindeer Farm, where you can meet and feed the reindeer.
From: 169 €
An evening safari from Taava Reindeer Farm, with a stop by the fire in the log kota. If
conditions are right, you might see the Northern Lights dance across the sky.
Experience the magic of Lapland on a peaceful reindeer sleigh ride beneath the Arctic sky, with a chance to witness the Northern Lights. Meet and feed the reindeer at Taava Reindeer Farm, then enjoy traditional Finnish treats by a cozy fire.
Reindeer are part of life in Lapland throughout the year, and every season brings something different to see and learn. Santa Claus Reindeer welcomes guests year-round in Rovaniemi, both in Santa Claus Village and at Taava Reindeer Farm.
Taava Reindeer Farm offers year-round reindeer experiences in Rovaniemi, surrounded by peaceful Arctic nature. Guests can stay close to the reindeer and our local Reindeer Guides – to observe, ask questions, learn and, depending on the experience, take part.
Every season brings something different to Taava. Reindeer calves arrive in spring, new antlers grow through the summer, autumn changes both the animals and the surrounding nature, and winter brings reindeer rides and experiences to the snowy forest.
At Taava, visits are unhurried and personal. Our Reindeer Guides share their knowledge openly, the reindeer are cared for with attention, and the surrounding nature is treated with the same respect. There is room to observe, ask, learn and simply be present.
In winter, the Daytime Reindeer Experience offers a calm way to spend time with the reindeer and our Reindeer Guides in the snowy forest. In the evening, the In Search of the Northern Lights Reindeer Safari offers another way to experience Taava after dark, with the Northern Lights as a possible addition to the night.
Meet Mrs Santa Claus in her Christmas Cottage in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi. A warm, personal moment with time to talk and share a little Christmas magic. Encounters can be booked in advance.
At our Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi next door, an open fire burns at the centre of the room. Guests can order reindeer stew, salmon soup and homemade blueberry pie by an open fire. No reservations, just take a seat.
Rovaniemi looks different once the snow melts. Reindeer are still very much part of everyday life, in Santa Claus Village and at Taava Reindeer Farm alike, through the endless daylight of summer and the colours of autumn.
Under the Midnight Sun, guests can meet reindeer in an easy, family-friendly setting in Santa Claus Village, this year’s calves often close by, taking part in Santa Claus Summer Magic. At Taava Reindeer Farm, guests spend more time with the reindeer and our local Reindeer Guides in the surrounding Arctic nature, with a chance to see new antlers coming in.
As autumn arrives, the forest turns to ruska colour and the reindeer grow their winter coats, Autumn Magic taking over from Summer Magic in Santa Claus Village, a different Rovaniemi to see and learn from.
Choose from easy-access reindeer encounters in Santa Claus Village, or spend more time at Taava Reindeer Farm with the herd’s summer and autumn work.
Read more about the reindeer, the seasons, and life at the Arctic Circle.
Discover what to expect from reindeer sledding in Rovaniemi, including seasonal rides, prices, ethical care, clothing, and how to book an authentic Arctic experience.
Plan your Lapland budget with a practical guide to travel costs, seasons, reindeer activities, accommodation, and memorable experiences in Rovaniemi.
Meet Lapland’s baby reindeer and learn how calves grow, follow their mothers, and become part of the herd during the Arctic summer.
Experience the Midnight Sun in Lapland through reindeer encounters, summer nature, and the unique light and traditions of Rovaniemi’s Arctic Circle.
And it shows in how we work
Every reindeer is an individual. Our herd includes working reindeer, females with calves, young reindeer and older animals, all with different needs, temperaments and rhythms. For the reindeer that work with guests, working days include regular breaks and rest days, and their condition, appetite and recovery are followed closely. Training happens at each reindeer’s own pace.
We Love Reindeer is our way of describing this relationship with the animals. It means knowing them, recognising their individual needs and sharing that knowledge with our guests. The same care and attention guide how we work with our people and the nature around us.
Janne, our CEO, reindeer owner and reindeer herder, brings this thinking together:
“Reindeer come first in the decisions we make. You have to know the animals — how they behave, how they eat, how they recover and what each individual needs. That knowledge also gives us something valuable to share with our guests.
I believe tourism can support reindeer herding, local work and life in Rovaniemi when it is done with care and respect for the animals, the people and the nature around us.”
This approach is shared across Santa Claus Reindeer in Santa Claus Village, Taava Reindeer Farm, Mrs Santa Claus’ Christmas Cottage and Kotahovi.
Reindeer Path, Forest Path and Meet Santa Claus Reindeer in Santa Claus Village are bought on-site. Longer experiences, including the Winter Adventure, Daytime Reindeer Experience and In Search of the Northern Lights, are booked in advance.
Santa Claus Reindeer is in Santa Claus Village, for an easy, family-friendly visit at the Arctic Circle. Taava Reindeer Farm offers more time with the reindeer in the surrounding Arctic nature, with transfers included so getting there is easy and hassle-free.
Reindeer are part of life in Lapland all year round. Santa Claus Village is open almost every day, with a pause in May, while Taava Reindeer Farm welcomes guests throughout the year.
Santa Claus Village is about 15 minutes from Rovaniemi city centre by car, or closer to 30 minutes by local bus 8 with its stops along the way, a good, responsible way to make the trip, check current timetables here.
Taava Reindeer Farm is about 20 minutes from Rovaniemi and every Taava experience includes transfers, so there’s no need to arrange your own way there.
The In Search of the Northern Lights Reindeer Safari from Taava Reindeer Farm takes you to a good, dark spot to watch for them. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.
