14 best things to do in Lapland with kids

Last updated on April 16, 2026

Lapland in winter is without a doubt one of the best family destinations in the world. It’s the stuff of childhood dreams, and it doesn’t all have to be about Santa. It’s a place that often feels like walking through a real-life winter fairytale and it easily enchants kids and adults of every age.

We’ve now been to Lapland twice – once as a couple, and again with our two children, aged 5 and 8 – and it’s one of those rare destinations that works brilliantly for families and adults. It’s magical without being overwhelming, adventurous without being exhausting, and full of experiences that genuinely feel special rather than gimmicky.

This post rounds up our favourite things to do in Lapland with kids, from husky safaris and reindeer sleigh rides to Santa experiences and snow play. You’ll also find tips on what’s worth prioritising, what can be skipped, and how to make it work for your family.

Is Lapland good for kids?

Out simply: yes, Lapland is fantastic for kids.

The combination of snow, animals, Santa and gentle adventure is an incredibly easy win. Our boys were completely absorbed: riding husky sleds, searching for amethyst in the snow, zooming down ice slides and, of course, meeting Santa in the Arctic forest.

What I love most is that it doesn’t feel frantic (well at least, it doesn’t have to). Nature is the main event, plus activities tend to be well organised, distances are manageable, and there’s plenty of space for slow moments – snow play, hot chocolate breaks, warming up by a fire. It’s exciting without being overstimulating.

That said, it is an expensive destination if you try to do everything, so choosing the right activities (and pacing them properly) makes a big difference to how enjoyable and relaxed the trip feels. Make sure to read our guide to how to plan a family trip to Lapland, and a guide to how much a Lapland trip costs.

Bridges and Balloons’ favourites

If I had to narrow Lapland down to a few standout family highlights, these would be them:

• Driving our own husky sled through the forest
• A quiet, story-led Santa experience away from the crowds
• Hunting for amethyst at Lampivaara Mine (real-life Minecraft!)
• Snowman World’s ice slides and snow tubing
• Reindeer sleigh rides through snowy woodland
• Staying somewhere cosy and special, ideally with a sauna and view of the Northern Lights

The best things to do in Lapland with kids

1. Go on a husky safari

A husky safari is one of Lapland’s most unforgettable experiences, and it’s just as magical for adults as it is for kids.

There are places that offer husky rides all over Lapland, ranging from super short 2-minute taster rides to 4-hour long safaris. In many places you get to drive the sled yourself with your child as the passenger. I was a bit nervous about this, but you are given a lesson beforehand, and it’s easier than it sounds And if you really don’t want to, there are providers that will drive the sleds for you.

The key thing is to choose your provider carefully. Check the reviews and make sure the huskies are treated well. We went with Korvalan Kestikievari, a family-run husky farm that I couldn’t love any more. In fact, we loved it so much the first time we visited, we returned on our second trip and stayed overnight (see our guide to special places to stay in Lapland).

Both times, we did a 4km trip, which lasted about 20 minutes. It was enough to feel like an adventure, but I could also happily have done longer!

The experience at Korvala also involves a tour of the kennels, where you get to meet some of the dogs, plus some warm refreshments in the cosy house afterwards.

Kids can be a passenger from age 2, and a driver from age 13.

Good to know: Husky experiences vary hugely. Very short rides (especially in busy places) can feel rushed and disappointing, so it’s worth choosing a smaller farm and a longer safari if your budget allows.

2. Meet Santa (and choose the right experience)

There are many ways to meet Santa in Lapland, and not all are created equal. I’ve written a full guide to how to meet Santa in Lapland, but here are the key takeaways.

You can meet Santa for free at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi (queues can be long, photos are expensive), or opt for a more immersive forest-based experience. We did the Searching for Santa experience at Northern Lights Village in Pyhä, and it was one of the most special things we’ve ever done as a family.

Rather than a quick meet-and-greet, it’s a slow, story-led journey through the forest involving elves, gingerbread baking, reindeer rides and finally a quiet, personal meeting with Santa in his cabin. Our kids were completely convinced – and we were impressed too.

Read my post for the full rundown of ways to meet Santa in Lapland.

3. Visit Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village is a Marmite stop – some people love it, others find it too busy and commercial. We enjoyed it more than we expected, and I definitely think it’s worth visiting if you’re in Rovaniemi.

It’s free to enter and wander around, and it works best if you’re selective. The highlights for us were:

• Snowman World – ice slides, snow tubing, skating and ice art (more on that below as it deserves its own spot!)
• Mrs Santa’s Christmas Cottage – small, cosy and calm
• Reindeer sleigh rides – short but atmospheric
• Mini snowmobiles – expensive, but fun!
• Free sledges dotted around the village for easy snow play

If you’re already doing a Santa experience elsewhere, I’d consider skipping Santa here and focusing on the snow play and paid activities instead.

4. Play at Snowman World

If you’re choosing just one paid activity in Santa Claus Village, Snowman World would be my pick. It’s one of the most fun activities for families in Rovaniemi, and one that suits a wide age range – I think we had as much fun as the kids!

It’s essentially a winter playground made of snow and ice, with ice slides, snow tubing, skating, a snow maze and ice sculptures. There’s even an ice restaurant and bar (drinks served in ice glasses!).

The same people also run the Snow Hotel just outside of Rovaniemi, which is also worth a visit. You can even stay the night in a room made of snow!

5. Go on a reindeer sleigh ride

Reindeer sleigh rides are gentle, calm and wonderfully Christmassy, especially for younger kids.

You can do short rides in Santa Claus Village, or opt for a longer, quieter experience at a reindeer farm. We loved Kopara Reindeer Farm, where the visit included a longer sleigh ride, time with the animals and a meal by the fire.

We’ve also been to Jaakkola farm, which offers a similar and equally magical experience.

Good to know: Because you’re staying still, you get pretty cold on a sleigh ride, so be sure to wrap up warm and don’t book a really long one!

6. Hunt for treasure at the Amethyst Mine

The Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, near Luosto, is one of Lapland’s lesser-known family attractions. Our kids loved it, especially because they’re obsessed with Minecraft.

It’s the only working Amethyst mine you can visit in Europe, and the snowy hilltop setting makes it feel even more like a hidden gem.

The experience lasts around an hour, including a short talk about the mine and the history of amethyst. But the highlight is the mine itself, where you’re let loose to dig through the rock to find your own amethyst. Small pieces are easy to find, but everyone hopes for something bigger (you can take one piece home, so long as it fits in your hand).

You can reach the mine by organised snowmobile trips, or by a snow train that leaves from a few places around Luosto. We met at the Lampivaara car park, which meant a short 10-minute journey on the snow train, which is all part of the fun.

7. Try snowmobiling (or mini snowmobiles)

Snowmobiling is a big-ticket activity that’s generally aimed at adults and older kids, but there are family-friendly options.

For the longer snowmobile safaris, adults can drive while kids ride in a heated sled, often driven by one of the guides for safety.

Or another option is for children to try mini snowmobiles, they can drive themselves on a small circuit. We did this at Santa Claus Village, and while our youngest loved it, our eldest found it harder. Like most things, it depends on the kid. Also bear in mind, it’s expensive at $25 for 10 minutes!

8. Look for the Northern Lights

Seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed – and that’s an important expectation to manage with kids and adults alike.

My top tip is to stay somewhere with minimal light pollution so you can see them from your accommodation. Tours can improve your chances by taking you away from light pollution and clouds, but they’re often late and long, which may not suit younger children.

We’ve seen the aurora on one night out of four on both our Lapland trips, and our best sightings were from directly outside our hotels. Korvala was perfect for this.

9. Visit Santa Park

You’ll often see Santa Park recommended over Santa Claus Village – and for some families, it is a better fit.

Santa Park is a fully indoor Christmas attraction built into a cave just outside Rovaniemi, only a few minutes from Santa Claus Village (SCV). Unlike SCV, which is free to wander and made up of lots of separate businesses, Santa Park runs as one ticketed experience, so it feels more cohesive and predictable.

Families often prefer it because it’s warm, less hectic, and has fewer surprise costs once you’re inside. The Santa meet itself is excellent and normally has a much shorter queue than at Santa Claus Village.

The trade-off is that it’s very themed and theatrical, almost Disney-like. That can work brilliantly for younger kids, but our 8-year-old felt a little old for parts of it (though he still loved the acrobats and meeting Santa).

10. Go ice skating on a frozen lake or local rink

Ice skating is one of those simple Lapland pleasures that kids tend to love. In winter, many lakes freeze solid and are cleared for skating, often right outside cabins or resorts (Korvala, Sunday Morning and Silver Birch all had space for ice skating). Many hotels lend skates for free or at least have them available for hire.

There are also often small rinks in the towns, especially around Rovaniemi and the ski areas.

Many of the rinks provide frames for kids so they have something to help them stand up. To be honest, I could do with one of those too!

In Rovaniemi, there’s a tiny rink at Snowman World, and I’ve also heard good things about FunOnIce, which also has ice slides.

11. Watch an ice hockey game

Ice hockey is a big deal in Finland, and catching a local match is a fun way to experience local Lapland life. If you’re in Rovaniemi, see if RoKi are playing while you’re there.

Games are lively but family-friendly, tickets are usually affordable, and it’s a great evening activity after a day outdoors. Even if your kids don’t follow the sport, the atmosphere, music and fast pace tend to keep them engaged, especially if they’ve never seen ice hockey live before.

12. Go skiing or snowboarding

Lapland is a great place for kids (and beginners) to try skiing or snowboarding for the first time. Resorts are smaller and quieter than the Alps, with gentle slopes, excellent ski schools and a relaxed, low-pressure feel.

If you’re near Luosto or Pyhä, Pyhä-Luosto is particularly good for families, with wide beginner runs and easy logistics. Levi is another popular option with more variety and a livelier resort atmosphere.

You don’t need to be an experienced skier to enjoy it – even a half-day lesson or a bit of sledging on the nursery slopes can be great. It’s the first place I ever tried snowboarding, and loved it (despite being pretty bad at it!).

13. Warm up with hot chocolate or berry juice by the fire

One of the most underrated joys of Lapland is how often activities end (or pause) with something warm to drink by an open fire. Hot chocolate is everywhere, but the real local favourite is hot berry juice, usually made with lingonberries or blueberries, lightly sweetened and served steaming hot.

You’ll find it on husky safaris, reindeer farm visits, snowshoe walks and Northern Lights tours, often served in a kota (traditional wooden hut) or around an open fire.

It’s a small detail, but it’s one of those sensory memories that stick: cold cheeks, smoky air, warm hands wrapped around a mug, and the sweet smell of a cosy drink.

14. Play in the snow!

Finally, some of our happiest moments in Lapland were completely free: sledging down small hills, making snow angels, wandering frozen lakes, and playing outside our cabin. Don’t underestimate how magical the snow itself is for kids.

Where to stay in Lapland with kids

Where you stay shapes your whole trip. Families often do best with:

• Cabins – space, kitchens, saunas, and a cosy feel
• Resorts – activities on site, fewer logistics
• Apartments in Rovaniemi – best for budget and short stays

Glass igloos are beautiful, but expensive and sometimes best as a one-night splurge rather than a full stay.

I’ve written a full guide to special places to stay in Lapland, including all the places we stayed on both trips. Also see my guide to how to budget for a Lapland trip.