Santa Claus Reindeer is a local, family-owned company on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, one of the trusted experience providers in Santa Claus Village. Even here, among so much to see, meeting the reindeer is personal: real animals, known individually and cared for with the same attention, every day.
Take a sleigh ride around our reindeer area, or spend time at the reindeer fence feeding and getting to know the reindeer. Talk with our reindeer guides and cross the Arctic Circle line while you’re here.
What’s on offer changes with the season, here’s what to expect depending on when you visit:
Whichever you choose, our Reindeer Guides make sure you leave knowing something about the herd you didn’t know before.
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: 19 €
Meet Santa Claus’s reindeer in their peaceful summer home at Santa Claus Village and discover fascinating stories about reindeer life in Lapland. Enjoy a cozy coffee break by the fire during this family-friendly experience.
From: 19 €
Discover the beauty of Lapland’s autumn as you meet Santa Claus’s reindeer surrounded by the golden colours of Santa Claus Village. Enjoy traditional campfire coffee and fascinating stories about reindeer herding and Arctic life in a peaceful setting.
Santa Claus Village is a destination on the Arctic Circle, in Rovaniemi – The Official Hometown of Santa Claus, with dozens of companies offering a variety of memorable activities and experiences, from Santa Claus’s own office to huskies and shops along the way. Here, guests can get to know reindeer up close, at our enclosure right behind the Santa Claus Office.
For many guests, this is the first time meeting a reindeer up close, one of the moments they remember longest from their visit in Lapland. Our reindeer guides are there to answer questions, whether you’re here for a reindeer sleigh ride or a visit to the reindeer fence to feed and watch the reindeer. The sleigh ride has long been at the heart of a winter visit here, and more guests each year choose to simply spend time at the fence instead, getting to know the animals at their own pace.
The Arctic summer and the Midnight Sun bring a completely different atmosphere to Rovaniemi. In Santa Claus Village, guests can meet reindeer at the Arctic Circle in an easy, family-friendly setting. Every visit is guided by our Reindeer Guides, who share knowledge about reindeer, their lives and local life in Lapland.
Summer is also the season when reindeer calves can be seen alongside the herd and new antlers are growing. At Taava Reindeer Farm, guests can spend more time with the reindeer in the surrounding nature, feed them and learn more about the animals and the people who care for them.
Autumn brings ruska to Lapland as the forests turn shades of yellow, red and gold. Reindeer are preparing for winter too: their coats grow thicker and their antlers continue to develop before the colder season.
Guests can meet and learn about reindeer in Santa Claus Village, while Taava Reindeer Farm offers another way to experience reindeer and the changing Arctic nature.
As the first snow settles, reindeer sleigh rides return to Santa Claus Village, on wheeled carts at first until there’s enough snow for runners.
Winter is the traditional season for reindeer sleigh rides in Rovaniemi. In Santa Claus Village, guests can easily experience a reindeer ride at the Arctic Circle, or meet and feed the reindeer at the fence with Meet Santa Claus Reindeer, learning more about them with our Reindeer Guides. For those looking to spend more time with the reindeer, the Winter Adventure offers a longer guided experience.
At Taava Reindeer Farm, winter reindeer experiences take place in the snowy forests and surrounding Arctic nature. Guests spend time with the reindeer, meet local Reindeer Guides and learn more about reindeer life in Lapland. In the evening, the In Search of the Northern Lights Reindeer Safari offers a special way to experience the forest after dark, with the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights along the way.
Taava Reindeer Farm offers year-round reindeer experiences in Rovaniemi and welcomes guests throughout all 12 months of the year. Each season brings changes in the reindeer, the surrounding nature and the work around them, giving guests something new to see and learn throughout the year.
Visits at Taava are shaped by time, presence and personal attention for the guests, the reindeer, the people working there and the nature around the farm.
Santa Claus Reindeer is at Joulumaantie 13, right behind the Santa Claus Office, on the Arctic Circle. It’s 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.
For current opening hours, see our Info page.
Layered clothing, warm boots, gloves and a hat make the biggest difference in winter, especially for children. We provide reindeer hides in the sleigh for extra warmth, but not clothing itself; our reindeer guides check that every young rider is warmly dressed before the sleigh sets off. In summer and autumn, ordinary walking shoes are enough for a visit to the reindeer fence, just dress for the weather of the day.
For more of what’s on in Santa Claus Village, see santaclausvillage.info.
A reindeer’s hooves change with the seasons: they spread wide and firm up in winter, working almost like snowshoes, then soften again in summer for better grip on wet ground. Watch closely on a winter ride, and you can see the tracks they leave behind.
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.
Every working day is planned around the reindeer
In Santa Claus Village, each reindeer’s working day is planned according to its age, individual needs and how much work suits that particular animal. Working days include regular breaks and rest, and our Reindeer Guides follow the reindeer closely throughout the day.
When a reindeer team is on a break, the sleigh and harnesses are removed and a sign lets guests know that the reindeer are resting. This gives the animals a clear pause from work and helps visitors understand when they should give them space.
Reindeer can also be encountered at the reindeer fence throughout the seasons. These guided visits give guests the chance to observe the animals, ask questions and learn from our Reindeer Guides about reindeer behaviour, care and individual differences.
For us, We Love Reindeer means knowing the animals well enough to recognise what each one needs and helping our guests understand them better too.
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.
Santa Claus Reindeer is open almost every day, year-round, with a pause in May. Winter (December–April) is when the reindeer sleigh rides run. Summer and autumn (June–November) bring Santa Claus Summer Magic or Autumn Magic instead, our guided seasonal programme with the reindeer. You can meet the reindeer at the fence any time of year.
Reindeer Path, Forest Path, Meet Santa Claus Reindeer and Santa Claus Summer or Autumn Magic are bought on-site. The reindeer safari is booked in advance.
No. Santa Claus Village is our enclosure in the heart of the village. Taava Reindeer Farm, about 20 minutes away, is where guests spend more time with the herd, in peaceful Arctic nature, transfers included so there’s no need to arrange your own way there.
Yes. Meet Santa Claus Reindeer, the reindeer sleigh rides and Santa Claus Summer or Autumn Magic are all suitable for all ages.
No. Santa Claus Village is the wider destination on the Arctic Circle, home to many companies. Santa Claus Reindeer is the reindeer experience within it.
