Meeting Santa at the Santa Claus Office
The Santa Claus Office is in Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, 8 km north of Rovaniemi. The address is Joulumaantie 1. The visit is free and the office is open on every day of the year. Normally you do not need to book online, you join the queue and wait your turn. Photos and video are for sale afterwards, and buying them is your choice.
The rest of the village is free to walk through, but its attractions are priced separately. If you want something to do after the visit, look at reindeer sleigh rides and the Arctic Circle line, which is marked on the central square of the village.
Queues and the entrance time
The free visit has two waiting stages in busy periods.
The free entrance time
On very busy days you collect an entrance time at the small red hut. It is free. It secures your place in the inner queue, and you then queue again inside. It does not reserve the meeting with Santa and it is not a guarantee of entry at a given hour.
How long to wait
For the part after entry, plan about 1 hour in peak season. Mid-November to early January is the busiest period. In December the free entrance times can be gone shortly after midday, so collect yours early.
When queues are shorter
In quieter weeks, a visit late in the day can mean a shorter wait. Do not count on that in December, when early arrival matters more. There is no reliable average wait for a given day.
Christmas in Lapland →Our pick: village visit with the Santa Claus Office
This tour stops at the Santa Claus Office, where meeting Santa is possible, and crosses the Arctic Circle in one trip.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Santa Claus Village experiences and tours
Reindeer rides, husky rides, snowmobile trips and day tours around Rovaniemi, with live prices and availability.
Opening hours of the Santa Claus Office
Daily, by season. Dates for 2026 and 2027.
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| 24 August to 23 October 2026 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| 24 October to 15 November 2026 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| 16 to 29 November 2026 | 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| 30 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| 4 January to 28 February 2027 | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| March 2027 | 9 or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so check the start before you go |
| 1 April to 31 May 2027 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
In summer 2026 the hours ran from 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. Check the timetable for summer 2027 before you plan a June or July visit. The wider village has no single set of hours, because each business keeps its own calendar.
Photos with Santa and the Christmas Express Pass
Prices as of 2026.
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Digital photos and video | From €57 | Up to 5 people; each extra person €5 |
| Extra photo file | €25 | One more digital file |
| A4 print | €42 | A printed photo |
| Christmas Express Pass | €500 per family | Up to 8 people, about 10 minutes in total and about 5 minutes with Santa; digital photos and video included |
The Express Pass is booked in advance, no regular entrance time is needed, and the number of passes is limited, so book early. For most families the free visit and one digital photo package are enough. The Express Pass makes sense if you have a tight schedule in peak December and are willing to pay for the time.
Two rules apply inside. Your own cameras and phones may not be used for recording, and you should not bring your own gifts to hand over.
Santa Claus Main Post Office
The Main Post Office is run by Posti at Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Arctic Circle, Finland. Outgoing mail posted here gets the Arctic Circle special postmark. When the post office is closed, you can drop stamped mail in the yellow mailbox outside.
Cards posted shortly before Christmas can be held back and sent later, so do not count on delivery by Christmas Eve. Posti also sells an ordered Santa letter, and delivery to some countries can be delayed. Stamps, the postmark, photos and the Arctic Circle certificate are separate purchases.
Posti's hours: 7 January to 31 March 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1 April to 31 May 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1 June to 31 August 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1 September to 31 October 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., and 1 December to 6 January 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ask about holiday exceptions on site.
Planning your visit
Where the office fits into a day.
Getting there
Bus 8 runs between the town centre and the village all year round. From the airport there is a separate bus and taxis.
Rovaniemi Airport and buses →The village itself
Entering the village is free, parking is free, and there is no ticket that covers every attraction. Use the home page for the full list of what costs what.
Santa Claus Village →Winter or summer
Santa is there all year, but snow activities depend on the season and the weather. Check the weather page before you pick a month.
Weather and best time →Santa Claus Office: frequently asked questions
Is it free to meet Santa?
Yes. The visit is free, and you do not need to pay for photos unless you want them. Digital photos and video start at €57 for up to 5 people.
Do I need to book a time with Santa?
Normally not. You queue on arrival. On very busy days you collect a free entrance time at the red hut first. A booked slot exists only as the paid Christmas Express Pass at €500 per family.
How long is the wait?
In peak season, plan about 1 hour after you have your entrance time. There is no reliable average for a given day, and December entrance times can be gone after midday.
Can I take my own photos with Santa?
No. Your own cameras and phones may not be used for recording inside the office. Photos and video are sold separately.
Can I send a postcard with the Arctic Circle postmark?
Yes, at the Main Post Office. Outgoing mail gets the special postmark, and the yellow mailbox outside takes stamped mail when the office is closed. Mail posted close to Christmas may be held back, so there is no delivery guarantee for Christmas Eve.
Is Santa-Claus-Village.com the official site of the Santa Claus Office?
No. This is an independent travel guide and has no link to the Santa Claus Office, Santa Claus Village, Posti or any tour operator.