Reindeer Experience in Rovaniemi this Summer
Rovaniemi is often thought of as a winter destination, but summer reveals a quieter, greener side of Lapland. The forests turn full and green, the nights stay bright under the Midnight Sun, and the reindeer settle into their own summer routines, feeding, resting, watching over this year’s calves.
Santa Claus Reindeer offers two distinct summer settings, and it’s worth knowing the difference before you choose. In Santa Claus Village, guests can meet the reindeer as part of an easy day at the Arctic Circle, tickets bought on-site. At Taava Reindeer Farm, further out in the surrounding nature, a longer visit brings guests closer to the herd and to everyday life on a working reindeer farm.
An Easy Visit in Santa Claus Village
A visit in Santa Claus Village is a relaxed, family-friendly option for travellers who want to include a reindeer experience as part of a day at the Arctic Circle, without leaving the village area. Guests can take part in Santa Claus Summer Magic: meet and feed the reindeer, learn about them from your Reindeer Guide, and warm up with coffee brewed over the open fire in our kota, with pedal-go-carts in the yard along the way.
Long, light-filled days give summer visits here a calm and personal feel: more time to observe, ask questions and simply be present with the reindeer.
A Deeper Setting at Taava Reindeer Farm
For a quieter, more immersive reindeer experience in Rovaniemi, Taava Reindeer Farm offers a different setting altogether. Here, the forest closes in around you, the village sounds fall away, and the pace slows to match the herd’s own. Every Taava experience includes transfers, so getting there is easy and hassle-free.
Guests spend more time with the reindeer in the surrounding Arctic nature, taking part in their seasonal summer work, feeding them by hand, and learning from our Reindeer Guides how the herd is cared for through the warmer months. For those who want to go further still, Live the Life of a Reindeer Herder is a small-group, hands-on day: tracking the herd, learning traditional skills, and ending by the fire with a snack and stories from Arctic life.
Which One Suits You?
Travelling with young children, or fitting reindeer into a bigger day of sightseeing? Santa Claus Village keeps things simple: everything is close together, and Santa Claus Summer Magic tickets are bought on-site.
Looking to slow right down, and spend real time close to the herd? Taava Reindeer Farm is worth the extra distance, a quieter world of its own, just outside the city, transfers included.
Some guests choose to do both: an easy visit in the village on one day, and a longer, unhurried day at Taava on another.
Planning Your Visit
Santa Claus Village is on the Arctic Circle, about 15 minutes by car from Rovaniemi city centre, 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; every experience there includes transfers, so getting there is easy and hassle-free.
For current opening hours, see our Info page.
Ordinary walking shoes and light, breathable clothing are enough for a summer visit to the reindeer fence or Santa Claus Summer Magic. For a hands-on day as a reindeer herder, sturdy shoes and layered clothing are worth packing, Lapland weather can change quickly, and a hat and gloves are useful even in summer.
A Reindeer Fact
Reindeer see ultraviolet light, which helps them spot lichen and each other against the summer landscape, something the human eye can’t do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the two locations?
Santa Claus Village is easy to reach and family-friendly, part of a day at the Arctic Circle. Taava Reindeer Farm, about 20 minutes away, offers a longer, quieter visit with more time close to the herd.
Do I need to book in advance?
Santa Claus Summer Magic in Santa Claus Village is bought on-site. A visit to Taava Reindeer Farm and Live the Life of a Reindeer Herder are booked in advance.
Can I visit both in one trip to Rovaniemi?
Yes, many guests visit Santa Claus Village on one day and Taava Reindeer Farm on another.
Is either option suitable for young children?
Yes, Santa Claus Village in particular is well suited to families with young children. Taava Reindeer Farm suits families too, though the longer pace is worth considering for the very youngest.
Can I see reindeer calves in summer?
Yes, calves are born in spring and stay close to the herd through the summer months, often one of the highlights of a visit.