Christmas feels different in Lapland.
Snow settles heavily on the branches of spruce trees, the winter light fades into shades of blue and pink, and warm windows glow against the darkness. Outside, you might hear the excited voices of huskies preparing for a run or the soft movement of a reindeer through the snow. Somewhere deeper in the forest, hidden away from the busiest streets and Christmas crowds, Santa Claus is waiting.
For Christmas 2026, Polar Lights Tours invites families to experience Finnish Lapland at one of the most atmospheric times of the year. Our winter experiences are running throughout the Christmas season, from husky and reindeer adventures to horse experiences and Northern Lights tours, while our accommodation in Levi and Posio gives you a warm place to return to when the Arctic day is over.
And this Christmas brings something new. Our new Christmas experiences in Levi take families away from the busiest Christmas attractions and into the snowy forest, where the journey to meet Santa Claus becomes part of the story itself.
What is Christmas in Lapland like?
Christmas in Finnish Lapland is not defined by one attraction or one moment. Much of its magic comes from the landscape itself.
December brings deep winter to Levi, with snowy forests, frozen trails and long Arctic evenings illuminated by lanterns, stars and, when nature allows, the Northern Lights. It is the season when many of the experiences people dream about before travelling north become part of everyday life. A morning can begin behind a team of huskies, the afternoon can bring a peaceful reindeer encounter, and the evening can end beneath a dark sky far from artificial lights.
Our husky experiences are among the most memorable ways to enter this landscape. Once the dogs begin running, the sounds of everyday life disappear behind you and the forest takes over. For a quieter connection with Lapland traditions, our reindeer experiences offer a completely different rhythm, while horse experiences let you discover the winter landscape alongside our horses.
Christmas is also part of the Northern Lights season. An evening Northern Lights experience can take you away from the brighter lights and towards darker skies, although the aurora is always a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed.
This combination is what makes a Lapland Christmas holiday so special. You do not simply come north to celebrate Christmas. You step into winter itself.
Meet Santa Claus in his secret cabin in Levi
This year, we wanted to create a Santa Claus experience in Lapland that feels personal from the very beginning.
The Story of Santa Claus: A Journey to the Heart of Christmas begins with a journey through the winter landscape to Santa’s hidden cabin. Families can choose to travel into the forest by a snowmobile pulled sled or make the journey by husky sled. Instead of arriving at a large Christmas attraction, you find a warm and intimate cabin waiting among the snow covered trees.
Inside, Santa personally welcomes your family and shares the story behind Christmas through Finnish folklore, northern traditions and gentle storytelling. Guided by elves, children and adults can join simple Christmas preparations, from decorating the tree and making crafts to playing traditional games. There is time to listen, talk and enjoy the moment together, making the meeting much more than a quick photo stop.
Every child receives a personal gift presented by Santa, while parents receive The Story of Santa Claus keepsake book to take home. Elf hats are also included for everyone. The personal meeting with Santa in his cosy private cabin lasts approximately 45 minutes, allowing families to settle into the story and experience the atmosphere without feeling rushed.
The feeling is deliberately intimate. Candlelight, a Christmas tree and the warmth of a wooden cabin replace crowds and queues, while outside there is only the darkness and silence of the Arctic forest.
You can discover the new programmes and start planning your visit on our Christmas Experiences page.
Travel to Santa’s secret cabin by snowmobile or husky sled
There are two ways to make the journey to Santa, and each gives the experience a very different beginning.
The Santa Claus’ Secret Cabin by Snowmobile experience carries you through the winter scenery in a snowmobile pulled sled before you arrive at Santa’s cabin. The complete programme lasts approximately one hour and is designed for small groups.
For families who want the journey itself to become one of their Christmas highlights, Santa Claus’ Secret Cabin by Husky Sled combines the Santa experience with one of Lapland’s most iconic ways of travelling through the snow. The eager huskies, crisp winter air and silent forest create a natural transition from everyday life into Santa’s hidden world.
Because the programmes are intentionally kept small, families planning a Christmas visit should reserve their preferred experience well in advance. Explore both ways of reaching Santa’s cabin on our Christmas experiences in Levi page and choose the journey that feels right for your family.
What winter activities can you do in Levi at Christmas?
Meeting Santa may be the moment children talk about for years, but it does not have to be the only adventure of your Christmas holiday.
December is made for discovering Lapland outdoors. A husky safari in Levi brings energy and excitement to a snowy day, while a reindeer experience introduces a slower rhythm and a tradition deeply connected with northern life. Our horse experiences in Lapland offer another beautiful way to discover the winter landscape.
When darkness arrives, the atmosphere changes again. The forests become silent, the stars appear on clear nights and attention turns towards the sky. Our other winter activities and Northern Lights experiences allow you to continue exploring long after the short December daylight has faded.
There is no need to fit everything into a single day. Staying for several nights gives Christmas in Lapland its rhythm. One day can be filled with huskies and snowy trails, another with Santa Claus and reindeer, while an evening can simply be reserved for seeing what the Arctic sky decides to do.
Where should you stay for Christmas in Lapland?
Where you stay changes the character of your Christmas holiday almost as much as the experiences you choose.
For travellers who want to be close to the winter experiences and Christmas atmosphere of Levi, our accommodation in Levi gives you a comfortable base for your Arctic holiday. Levi makes it easy to combine Santa Claus with several winter experiences during the same stay while still allowing you to escape into the forests and quieter landscapes beyond the centre.
Posio offers another kind of Christmas. Here, the landscape feels spacious and wonderfully quiet, with snowy forests and frozen lakes creating a peaceful setting for slower winter days. Our accommodation in Posio is an inviting choice for travellers who want nature and tranquillity to play an even greater part in their Lapland holiday.
For some families, the perfect Christmas may even combine the two. Begin with the Christmas atmosphere, Santa Claus and winter experiences around Levi, then continue towards Posio for quieter days surrounded by Lapland nature.
Why spend Christmas in Finnish Lapland?
There are many places where you can see Christmas decorations. Lapland offers something harder to recreate.
Here, the snow is not scenery added for Christmas. The forests, animals, darkness and cold are part of life in the north, and the traditions of the season belong naturally within that landscape. When Santa’s story is told inside a wooden cabin in the forest after travelling there behind huskies or through the snow in a sled, imagination and reality begin to feel remarkably close.
That connection matters to us at Polar Lights Tours. The animals you meet are not simply part of the scenery, and the forest is more than a backdrop. Our experiences grow from the place we live, the animals in our care and a northern environment that deserves to be experienced with time and respect.
For families, Christmas in Lapland can become a collection of wonderfully simple moments. Snow gathers on children’s mittens. Huskies wait eagerly to run. A warm cabin feels even cosier after the cold outside. A reindeer moves quietly through the winter landscape, and somewhere among the trees, Santa is waiting beside a glowing Christmas tree.
Some Christmas memories do not need to be made bigger. They need enough space to feel real.
Make Christmas 2026 a story your family will remember
Christmas is one of the most special times to visit Lapland, and small group experiences and accommodation can fill well before December arrives. If you are planning Christmas 2026 in Levi, it is worth arranging the experiences that matter most to your family early.
Stay with us in Levi or discover the peaceful surroundings of our Posio accommodation. Spend your winter days with huskies, reindeer and horses, venture beneath the Arctic night sky, and follow the snowy trail into the forest to meet Santa Claus in his secret cabin.
Make this Christmas a journey into the heart of Lapland. Discover our Christmas Experiences and start planning your Christmas in Levi.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas in Lapland
Is December a good time to visit Levi, Finland?
Yes. December brings the winter atmosphere many travellers associate with Christmas in Lapland, with snowy landscapes, short Arctic days and long evenings. Polar Lights Tours’ winter experiences run during the Christmas season, making it possible to combine Santa Claus with huskies, reindeer, horses and other winter activities during the same holiday.
Can you meet Santa Claus in Levi?
Yes. Polar Lights Tours’ new The Story of Santa Claus: A Journey to the Heart of Christmas takes families through the winter landscape to Santa Claus’ hidden cabin. Inside, Santa personally welcomes the family for storytelling and Christmas activities.
You can explore the programmes on our Santa Claus and Christmas Experiences in Levi page.
Can we visit Santa by husky sled?
Yes. The Santa Claus’ Secret Cabin by Husky Sled programme combines the journey through the winter landscape by husky sled with the private Santa cabin experience. A snowmobile pulled sled option is also available.
What is included in the Santa Claus experience?
The programme includes the journey to Santa’s secret cabin, a personal meeting with Santa, storytelling inspired by Finnish Christmas traditions and folklore, elf guided crafts and games, Christmas tree decorating, a personal gift for each child, a keepsake book for parents and elf hats for participants.
What can families do in Lapland at Christmas?
A Christmas holiday in Levi can combine a Santa Claus experience with husky safaris, reindeer experiences, horse activities and Northern Lights tours. Staying for several nights gives families time to enjoy different sides of the winter landscape without trying to fit every experience into one day.
Where can we stay during Christmas in Lapland?
Polar Lights Tours offers accommodation in Levi for travellers who want to stay close to Levi and its winter experiences, as well as accommodation in Posio for guests looking for a peaceful base surrounded by Lapland nature.
