Top 10 Things to do in Finland on Christmas Holidays

If there could be one custom land booked for Christmas activities of Santa that would be Finland for sure! The famous Santa villages & Santa post offices in Finland along with other magical landmarks scream with all the excitement that it is one of the best places to explore during Christmas. To make it easier here I have collated a brief list of 10 exciting activities to try in Finland on Christmas keeping your tours more organized & pocket-friendly. Tell me which one lands into your favorite Christmas ritual this year!

List of 10 Activities to Try in Finland On Christmas 

1. Sleep in a Glass Igloo

Sleeping in an Igloo is one of the best things to do in Finland during Christmas. At Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle, in Rovaniemi, you get to enjoy the services of 71 glass igloo restaurants. Half of the Igloo is made of timber, while the other half is wall-to-ceiling glass, which is covered with ice. You can melt the snow off the roof through their internal thermal heating facility. You just Lay in bed and look out for the Northern Lights in the clear sky. Isn’t it dreamy enough to explore? Don’t worry about the cold, they offer reverse-cycle airconditioning, heated floors, and fluffed reindeer hides on the wall to enjoy your Finnish Christmas in complete coziness. 

Where to Find: At Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle

Highlights: Unique experience inside an Igloo with a majestic view of Northern lights & snowy Christmas of Finland.

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2. Cross the border for Christmas markets

Another incredible wonder about Finnish Christmas is the extensive line of markets organized during the holiday season. Amongst these, Tallinn’s famed Christmas markets are always the talk of the town. It is one of the euphoric marketplace offering mulled wine with 21 percent local vodka, gingerbread, woolen mittens, leather gloves, etc.  Many more quirky and affordable Christmas treats are also available at the market. You would surely love this famous thing to do in Finland on Christmas. Don’t forget to witness the end of Christmas, as all the city’s festive trees are collected from homes, made into sculptures, and later burned to save their “soul”.

Where to Find: Tallinn’s famed Christmas markets 

Highlights: Large marketplace offering mulled wine with 21 % local vodka, gingerbread, woolen mittens, leather gloves, etc.

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3. Explore Helsinki’s Christmas 

Helsinki is a leading destination of Finland during Christmas. You can easily enjoy their traditional local produce along with other options such as herring, pork legs, and salmon during Christmas feasts. One of the local Ekberg bakeries is a popular darling of the town when it comes to Christmas cake deliveries. Whereas if you wish to take back some souvenirs then Stockmann is a perfect store for antique gifts. You can also try exploring the Hotel Lilla Roberts in the Design District to gain more insights into the fashion trends of Christmas in Finland.

Where to Find: Helsinki

Highlights: Ekberg bakery’s decadent cakes, Stockmann’s store gifts, & many more famed spots to travel in Finland.

4. Try Some Craft Work

Instead of taking back, same old souvenirs, why not try out making something on your own in Finland? For that, you can head to Hornwork, where diverse craft sessions by the renowned art teacher Irene Kankaanpaa are provided using reindeer horns. Don’t worry, Reindeers lose their antlers once a year, hence there is no cruelty involved in collecting these. You can also buy various handicrafts, tools, bags, and clothes made from these antlers. Explorers can also try visiting the Finnish feast such as smoked-salmon soup and a Lappish cheese and berry dessert witnessing the traditional Lappish way of life. It is a must-try thing to do in Finland during  Christmas that you mustn’t miss.

Where to Find: Hornwork, Irene Kankaanpaa craft sessions

Highlights: Access to the classic reindeer antler’s made handicrafts & Lappish feasts.

5. Take a Husky Ride

One of the signature travel posters you could spot in Finland always involves husky rides. Through the exquisite adults-only hotel- Beana Laponia, you can try this well-known thing to do in Finland on Christmas. Every year almost 18 Alaskan breeds of huskies are trained for racing. Whereas the highlight of the visit to the hotel is a husky safari ride. This unique safari tour can run from 2 hours to 2 days. You can also learn and drive the sled along with feeding the dogs in the morning. Bean Lapponia is owned by Malls and Arki Holck, who also possess another husky farm to keep this extraordinary ritual alive further in Finnish Cultures.

Where to Find: Beana Laponia Hotel

Highlights: Husky rides along with incredible lodging & food services of Laponia Hotel

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6. Indulge in Finnish Dining

Well if you would like to explore Finnish foods much more closely. Then why not choose the Finnish Christmas holidays to explore some of the best festive delicacies? Finns embellish the seasonal produce to craft some of the amazing delicacies of all time. Out of these Rakas Restaurant at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel (with the name translating to “love” or sweetheart” in Finnish) is one of the best ways to spend your Christmas in Finland. It is a famous Rovaniemi establishment that serves local classics such as reindeer and berries at reasonable prices that you mustn’t miss.

Where to Find: Rakas Restaurant at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel 

Highlights: Experience the local Finnish delicacies & traditional foods to enjoy.

7. Meet The Santa & Tell Your Wishes

Oh Common! Don’t we all believe in The Santa once? Well, try it one last time at the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Here you can have a chat with the Big magical guy and have your photo taken before buying any colorful Christmas decorations from the shop. Surely, it is a perfect destination for the little kids to enjoy their fantasy world in real-time. This place also offers a Santa Post Office where your Christmas cards are stamped with the official North Pole stamp if you send them back home. Mark this magical place in your “things to do in Finland on Christmas” itinerary for sure. You would also meet the elves sorting through the thousands of letters at this post. So make your wishes ready this time!

Where to Find: The Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi

Highlights: Custom selfie with the Santa and an official stamp onto your postcards along with other wonderful fun at this magical place.

8. Take Reindeer Ride 

Those who wish to go super classic and want to ride like a Santa in Finland mustn’t miss this opportunity. PoroFarmi Reindeer Farm breeds 50 Reindeers each year to offer this exclusive activity to its guests. You can feed lichen to the Reindeers, before learning how to drive a reindeer sleigh on the real snow. You can also try out the Lappish ceremony in a Kotta, where a teepee-like structure, is offered in a cup of tea or coffee by the fireplace. At this ceremony, you are honored with an international license to drive reindeers. What can be more Christmas-like than this? 

Where to Find: PoroFarmi Reindeer Farm

Highlights: Get yourself an official reindeer driving license or just go for this unique drive on Christmas amidst the sparkling snow of Finnish winters.

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9. Snowmobiling

If you are really diving into the active Christmas spirits of the Finnish Holidays. Then don’t forget to try snowmobiling. It is one of the best things to try in Finland on Christmas. It is also regarded as one of the fast and efficient ways to get from one place to another in Finland. Whereas the gorgeous scenery along the way is apparently an added bonus. But, Children under 15 years of age are not allowed to drive snowmobiles hence make sure you read the restricted age group section closely before buying the tour packages. 

Where to Find: Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Kemi, Rovaniemi all offer snowmobiling spots

Highlights: Adrenaline boosting winter sport with gorgeous scenery as added bonus.

10. Swim in the Arctic

I am not kidding! Yes, people do that, swimming in the Arctic is one of the top things to try in Finland on the Christmas holidays. You get the chance to swim in the Arctic Gulf of Bothnia included in the Sampo Icebreaker tour from Kemi. They clear the frozen water to make way for ships to reach the swimming spot. Surely, it might sound, one of the insane things to try out in such chilling weather but it does bring extreme fun.  Whereas, if you perceive you’d end up in an iceblock right after taking the first dip. Don’t worry, you’ll be provided with an impermeable flotation suit to protect you from the cold. 

Where to Find: At Arctic Gulf of Bothnia booking travel agencies

Highlights: Spectacular achievement of swimming in the coldest Arctic Gulf of Bothnia.

Hope you enjoyed the aforementioned list of 10 best activities to do in Finland during Christmas to make the most out of your winter vacations. The added locations and highlights of the respective adventures will help you to decide the most suitable tour according to your likings. To keep receiving more engaging travelogues as these support us via sharing it amongst your friends & family. Do visit our other exciting travel blogs at Adequate Travel. 

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