Christmas in Finland feels like stepping into a real-life winter postcard. The snow, the traditions, and the calm pace of the season make it one of the most interesting places to visit in December. Travelers come for the scenery, the northern lights, and the chance to experience Christmas where it’s deeply rooted in everyday life. If you’re thinking about planning a holiday trip, Finland offers a combination of culture, nature, and festive charm that’s truly hard to match.
The Magic of Rovaniemi: Santa’s “Official” North Pole
The town most travelers associate with Christmas in Finland is Rovaniemi, located right inside the Arctic Circle. It’s known worldwide as the “official” hometown of Santa Claus, and the Santa Claus Village is one of the most visited holiday destinations in Northern Europe.
The village is open year-round, but December is when it feels most alive. Visitors can walk across the Arctic Circle line, meet Santa, and mail postcards from the Santa Claus Post Office, stamped with the special North Pole postmark. Shops around the village sell Finnish crafts, ornaments, and winter gear, and the Christmas Exhibition gives visitors a look at how holiday traditions developed throughout the region.
Families especially enjoy the Elf Academy experience. While it’s designed to be fun and lighthearted, it also highlights stories, customs, and the playful “mythology” that surrounds Finnish Christmas culture. It’s not overly commercial, and the setting feels authentic rather than commercial.
Winter Activities Around Rovaniemi
A holiday trip to Rovaniemi offers more than Santa-themed attractions. The surrounding area is full of outdoor activities that make Christmas in Finland appealing to travelers who enjoy nature.
A local reindeer farm gives visitors a chance to meet the animals, learn about Sámi culture, and even help feed part of the herd. The farm is family-run, and you must book in advance, but it’s one of the most memorable experiences in the region. Sleigh rides through quiet forests are offered throughout the season.
The Arctic conditions also make Rovaniemi one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Sightings can never be guaranteed, but travelers have a good chance from December through March, especially on clear nights outside of town.
The Igloo and SnowHotel Experience
Fora unique experience, many visitors choose to stay in one of the region’s snow-or glass-roofed accommodations. The Arctic SnowHotel is one of the most well-known and sits just a short drive from Santa Claus Village.
Snow rooms are made entirely from ice and snow, with heavy sleeping bags and reindeer skins used for warmth. Glass igloo rooms offer heated spaces and clear views of the sky—perfect for Northern Lights watching. The SnowHotel also has an ice chapel, and couples sometimes choose to get married here. A warm sauna sits on the property for anyone who needs to thaw out after a cold night.
Finland’s Coastline in Winter
The coastline is another part of what makes Christmas in Finland special. Finland borders the Baltic Sea and has one of the longest, most complex coastlines in the world. More than 50,000 islands form the Finnish archipelago, creating a unique landscape of bays, inlets, and small villages.
Winter opens the door to activities you won’t find in many other places. Ice fishing is popular along the coast, and many seaside towns decorate their harbors with lights and small Christmas markets. December is cold, but it’s also peaceful, and the scenery has a quiet beauty that many travelers appreciate. Finland Winter Travel like this combines culture and natural beauty in a way few destinations can.
Traditional Christmas Foods in Finland
Food plays a big part in the season, just like it does at home. Finnish Christmas meals include simple, comforting dishes that have been part of the culture for generations.
Christmas Eve morning usually begins with rice porridge topped with cinnamon, sugar, milk, or butter. One almond is hidden in the pot, and whoever finds it is said to have good luck for the year ahead.
Other familiar holiday foods include:
- freshly salted salmon
- Rosolli salad (a beet-based dish)
- Glass Master’s marinated herring
- baked ham
- warm mixed fruit soup
- Christmas bread with orange peel, caraway, and rye
- gingerbread cookies
- Joulutortut, Finland’s famous star-shaped pastries
Glogg, a warm mulled drink, is served often during the season. A non-alcoholic version is common, especially at family gatherings.
Making Joulutortut at Home
If you want to try a bit of Finland in your own kitchen, Joulutortut are easy to make. They appear in every café and bakery throughout November and December, and they’re a staple of Christmas in Finland.
Ingredients: Pastry – 7 oz butter or margarine, 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup cold water, 1 tsp vinegar. Filling – 1/4 cup prune purée or plum jam, 1 egg (beaten for brushing)
Instructions:
- Mix all pastry ingredients quickly by hand to form a dough. Avoid over-kneading. Chill the dough until firm.
- Roll it out on a floured surface, folding a few times to create layers, then flatten to about ¼ inch.
- Cut into 3×3-inch squares and slit each corner.
- Add a spoonful of filling in the center and fold every other corner toward the middle to make a star shape.
- Brush with beaten egg and bake at 450°F until lightly browned.
Warm Mixed Fruit Soup
Another Finnish Christmas favorite is warm mixed fruit soup. It’s simple, unique, and something you can make ahead for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients: 1 lb dried mixed fruit, 8 cups water, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, pinch of salt, 3 tbsp potato starch
Directions:
- Soak rinsed mixed fruit overnight in lightly sugared water.
- Boil with the soaking liquid, a cinnamon stick, and optional salt; simmer until tender.
- Remove fruit with a slotted spoon; discard cinnamon.
- Off heat, stir in potato starch mixed with cold water; bring back to a quick boil without stirring.
- Pour thickened juice over fruit and sprinkle with sugar.
A Look at Helsinki During the Holidays
If you prefer a city-based holiday trip, Helsinki offers a very different side of Christmas in Finland. The capital isn’t as snowy as Lapland, but it’s still full of seasonal charm.
The main Christmas Market in Senate Square is one of the oldest in the country. Wooden stalls sell crafts, candles, wool clothing, ornaments, pastries, and traditional Finnish foods. The city’s design shops, bookstores, and cafés create an easy, walkable holiday atmosphere.
Helsinki also lights up beautifully in December. Aleksanterinkatu, known as the official “Christmas Street,” hangs long chains of lights across the length of the road. Visitors often pair a few days in Helsinki with a flight or train trip to Rovaniemi, making it a convenient start or end to a Finnish holiday itinerary.
Why Christmas in Finland Is Worth the Trip
Exploring Santa Claus Village, staying in a snow hotel, watching for the Northern Lights, visiting the Baltic coastline, or walking through a Christmas market in Helsinki, Christmas in Finland offers a type of holiday travel that feels both traditional and adventurous. It’s cold, but it’s also memorable, welcoming, and full of cultural traditions that might surprise you. Finland is one to keep on your December travel list.
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Christmas in Finland (Above)