The bike park, called Santa’s Backyard Bike Trails, was opened in summer 2025 right next to Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle. This free-to-use park offers easy and playful cycling trails for everyone who enjoys smooth and relaxed riding.
In the forest next to Santa Claus Village, four short and clearly marked mountain biking trails wind through the landscape. Three of them – Loiva, Hupi and Lysti – are one-way trails, while the two-way Luppo trail connects the others. The routes (0.5–1.5 km) run through an enchanting forest with gently rolling terrain, allowing cyclists to enjoy mild curves, rocky sections, and smooth gravel surfaces. The focus is more on fun, movement and a little forest adventure than on competition.
The new trails connect seamlessly to the Ounasvaara ski stadium and Rovaniemi city centre via light traffic routes, making them easily accessible to both locals and visitors.
The starting point of the new bike park is located next to the official bus stop of Santa Claus Village, at the intersection of Joulumaantie and Tähtikuja streets, near Santa Claus Holiday Village. The distance from the starting point to the four aforementioned trails is about 800 metres. Travellers can rent bicycles at the reception of Santa Claus Holiday Village or from its online store. Information about bike rental.
Photos: © City of Rovaniemi| 📸 Jonne Kunnari / Allegra Nordics
Based in Rovaniemi, Lapland X Tours offers a variety of small-group and personalized adventures, specializing in Northern Lights Photography Tours, Private Experiences and Full Day Trips. Our passion shines through every journey, creating unforgettable memories that last a lifetime. Committed to reliability, transparency, and superior service, we are a trusted partner dedicated to delivering high-quality experiences that prioritize customer satisfaction and build lasting connections. All tours provided by us have maximum capacity of 8 persons for tour.
We offer year-round experiences.
Autumn, winter and spring activities:
– Trip to Ranua Zoo with lunch and tickets included
– Private/Customized Tours
– Northern Lights Photography Tour – Small Group
Summer activities:
– Lapland Adventure Day: 5 in 1 – Full Day Tour to Lapland’s Top
Attractions
– Private/customized Tours
– Round Trip to Sweden
At Lapland X Tours, we strive for excellent customer service. You can
book our activities at https://www.laplandxtours.com/activities-in-rovaniemi
Porovaara in Rovaniemi is a family-owned reindeer farm and private nature retreat with an own unique Santa’s House. Porovaara Hill is located just 20 minutes drive from Santa Claus Village. Escape the crowds and discover authentic Lapland activities, surrounded by the peaceful silence of nature. We specialize in personalized experiences with small group sizes and local guides for a truly unique adventure in the heart of Lapland.
We offer year-round experiences:
Winter Activities:
- Reindeer Sleigh Rides
- Electric Snowmobile Tours
- Private Meetings with Santa Claus
- Snowshoe Trip to Meet Reindeer
- Visit to a Real Reindeer Farm
- Northern Lights Trips
- Electric Fat Bike Tours
Summer / autumn activities:
- See Newborn Baby Reindeer (early summer)
- Private Meeting with Santa Claus
- Visit to a Real Reindeer Farm
- Electric Fat Bike Tours
- Northern Lights Trips (autumn)
- Reindeer, Berries & Fire
- Fishing Trips
Each activity includes a visit to our private reindeer pasture, where you can meet and hand-feed the reindeer, enjoy snacks by the campfire, and relax with transportation provided both ways.
Whether you’re seeking a peaceful winter escape or a summer adventure in nature, Porovaara is your perfect getaway for authentic, unforgettable experiences in the heart of Lapland. Book your trip today and experience authentic activities in the silence of nature here: https://porovaara.fi/product/
The nature of the Arctic Circle Hiking Area is enchanting, just beyond Santa Claus Village. The distance from Santa Claus Village to the hiking area is only 15 km. The stunning rapids of Raudanjoki river, and the Vaattunkiköngäs and Vikaköngäs waterfalls, which run through the area, are just a few steps away. The accessible routes also invite those traveling with prams to enjoy a day outdoors among the rapids surrounded by forest. You can usually walk the trails even in winter. In winter, hikers can also travel via skis or snowshoes to the area’s extensive aapa marshes.
Suitability: well-suited for a day trip for the whole family. Accessible routes.
Auttiköngäs is one of Finland’s most spectacular waterfalls, and the destination offers the peace of a taiga forest. Auttiköngäs’s wonderful day trip destination is about an hour’s drive from Santa Claus Village.
Even the drive along the beautiful Kemijoki river tributary towards Auttiköngäs is an experience. The nature trail that goes to Auttiköngäs takes you over one of Finland’s finest waterfalls. The trail leads you to the peace of northern primeval forests and to an observation tower high on the rock, to look deep into the green of old-growth forests. Auttiköngäs is a great excursion destination, no matter the season. In winter, you can visit Auttiköngäs, for example, on snowshoes.
In Auttiköngäs you can also find the cozy Auttiköngäs Café.
You can visit the magical Santa’s Forest, full of Christmas trees, following a 2 km guided trail from Santa Claus Village (watch HERE Infomap). The Forest was established in the early 2000s, and hundreds of spruce trees of varying age grow there. Planting spruces was originally a Japanese idea.
The nature trail at Santa’s Forest begins at the northwestern edge of Santa Claus Village. Please keep in mind that the path is NOT maintained or cleared after snow has fallen.
During the hike, you will walk along a marked nature trail through mires, marshes, backwoods and dry moorland. Parts of the trail have duckboards. Along the path there are four benches and information boards explaining the surrounding nature. In late summer, an astute and lucky passerby can pick blueberries along the way, which are a common delicacy on this nature trail. The road ends at the gates of Santa’s Forest. After this, you are free to walk along the undulating gravel path through Father Christmas’s forest. There is a sheltered rest area in the middle of the forest.
In Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, you’ll find the welcoming Santa’s Pets (in Finnish: Tallitontun piha). Visit and feed our kindly reindeer and meet fluffy alpacas, goats, sheep, rabbits, donkeys and different birds or enjoy winter fun by coasting down the little hill on site! Guests can also use our Lapland hut (kota) & campfire / barbecue.
As an extra service, Santa’s Pets also offers nice reindeer walks and alpaca walks in the forests of Santa Claus Village. These activities must be booked in advance from our online shop. More info and bookings on our website: https://santaspets.fi/
Welcome to the official safari booking office in Santa Claus Village – Rovaniemi Safari Center! We are a safari provider and also the Info center, right on the Arctic Circle Line.
Get all information about traveling and safari activities in Rovaniemi, available to book directly with the front desk.
You can also cross the Arctic Circle Line at our office, get your Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate and become one of the fearless explorers! Come visit us and have an unforgettable experience in Santa Claus’ Hometown!