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Guide · Family
Reindeer Farm in Rovaniemi with Children: Making It a Lovely Day
Short Walks, a Quiet Sleigh Ride, and Animals to Watch: Here you will find which farm tour fits families and how children can have fun even in the cold.
Check availabilityfrom $217 · free cancellation
Editorial team rentierfarmrovaniemi.deUpdated on October 3, 20266 min read9 sources
In short
- 01For Families
- A farm visit with sleigh ride lasts 2.5 hours, with pickup, from $101.
- 02Feeding
- A private family visit lets children feed and touch the animals.1
- 03Full day
- For Families There Is a Day with Huskies and Reindeer, 5 Hours.
- 05Very short
- A husky ride in Santa Claus Village lasts 30 minutes.
Reindeer farms with kids: why it works so well
Visiting a reindeer farm in Rovaniemi with children is a special moment for every family on a Lapland trip. Reindeer are calm, large enough to impress, but not scary, and the sleigh ride is leisurely rather than wild. Children who may have only seen pictures of Santa Claus reindeer before suddenly find themselves standing in front of a real animal in the snow.
Unlike a husky safari, a reindeer farm has no barking or commotion, but silence and slow movements. This suits small children well, who can get scared by loud dogs. Older siblings are also well catered for: they can ask questions, watch the feeding, and learn how the reindeer herders live and work with their animals.
To make the day a success, the length of the tour is the most important factor. Small children lose patience in the cold faster than adults, and a long day on the bus with many stops can quickly become too much. Choose a tour that fits the age and stamina of your children, and plan enough time to rest and warm up afterwards.
How it works
A family day with the reindeer
-
The evening before
Discuss the rules
Walk slowly, speak quietly, never go into the enclosure alone.
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In the morning
Dress warmly
Layer by layer against the cold.3
-
Pickup
Head to the farm
The farm visit with sleigh ride includes pickup.
-
On the farm
Animals and sleigh
First watch, then a quiet sleigh ride.
-
Later
Warm up
Warm meal and a break at the hotel.
The short farm tour for families
The tour that fits this guide is a farm visit with a sleigh ride. It lasts 2.5 hours, pickup is included, and the guide speaks English. It is long enough for a sleigh ride and time with the animals, but short enough for even younger children to manage. You are back in the warmth by midday or the afternoon. That leaves energy in the afternoon for a snowman in front of the hotel or another round on the sleigh.
The price starts at $101 per person. This makes it the cheapest farm visit in comparison, which matters a lot for families with several children. Guests rate the tour 4.25 out of 1,582 reviews. Read the more recent reviews before booking to get a feel for the flow and the length of the ride.
You pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the scheduled time. This is especially valuable with children: if one gets sick or the day simply does not work out, you do not lose any money. When booking, ask whether there is a minimum age and whether child seats are available on the bus, as each operator sets this themselves.
Duration
How long do the family tours last
Hours
Compare
Tours for families
| Tour | Duration | Reindeer | Rating | From price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husky ride in the village | 30 min | No | 4,66 | from $73 |
| Farm with sleigh ride | 2.5 hours | Yes | 4,25 | from $101 |
| This day tour | 6 hrs | Yes, with huskies | 4,57 | from $217 |
| Family day | 5 hrs | Yes, with huskies | 4,85 | from $241 |
According to the offers on GetYourGuide; the prices are starting prices per person. The offers do not state a minimum age.
Decision helper
Which tour fits your family?
Choose what suits your children best.
Farm with Sleigh Ride
2.5 hours with pickup.
Family day
5 hours with huskies and reindeer.
Day tour
6 hours with the Santa Claus Village.
Husky ride in the village
30 minutes, wheelchair accessible.
Ask beforehand
During a private family visit, children are allowed to feed.1
Your children have the opportunity to feed the reindeer and even touch them and then hold reindeer antlers of different weights in their hands.
What children experience on the farm
For children, feeding is often the highlight. Whether it is allowed depends on the farm. On a private family visit, as presented by Visit Rovaniemi, children may feed the animals, touch them, and afterwards hold reindeer antlers of different weights.1 On other tours, ask beforehand so there is no disappointment.
The antlers especially fascinate children. Tell them that both female and male reindeer carry antlers, which fall off each year and grow back.4 Children usually only know antlers from deer and are surprised that reindeer mothers carry them too. If you like, look for shed antlers on the farm and ask the herder how heavy they are.
The sleigh ride is a quiet adventure for small children. They mostly sit with an adult in the sleigh, wrapped in blankets or furs, and watch the reindeer as they run. If the ride is short, all the better: small children prefer a short ride followed by a pause by the fire to a long stretch during which they get cold.
Checklist
For families on the reindeer farm
01
Clothing for children
- Bottom layer: wool or thermal base layer
- Waterproof snow suit
- Mittens and spare gloves
- Hat and buff
02
For the day
- A warm drink in a thermos flask
- Snacks for the trip
- Discuss the rules in advance
- Free cancellation up to one day before
Video
Winter at the Arctic Circle: reindeer, Santa Claus, and snow
The video loads only after you tap Play.
Cold weather and children: how to keep it enjoyable
In winter the temperatures in Rovaniemi average between -10 and -20 °C.2 Children cool down faster than adults, especially in their hands, feet, and face. Visit Rovaniemi recommends several layers of winter clothing.3 For children this means wool or thermal underwear next to the skin, a fleece layer on top, and a waterproof snowsuit on the outside.
Pay special attention to the feet. Insulated winter boots with a bit of room and thick wool socks are more important than any jacket. Mittens keep hands warmer than finger gloves, and a spare pair in the backpack saves the day if one pair gets wet. A hat that covers the ears, and a scarf or buff over mouth and nose, go with it. Apply a rich cold-weather cream to the faces beforehand. Strollers are little help on snowy paths; a carrier or a children sled is more practical.
Plan for the light as well. In mid-December, the sun is above the horizon for an average of only 2.3 hours.5 A late-morning tour makes the most of the limited daylight. In March, it is already considerably brighter, with the sun above the horizon for 11.4 hours in mid-month, and the days feel much more relaxed for families.5
Longer days with huskies and Santa Claus
With older children, a full day is worthwhile. The day tour with reindeer, huskies, salmon soup, and Santa Claus Village lasts 6 hours and starts at $217. In the reviews, families say that the children were especially excited about the huskies. However, for very young children such a day can be long.
A family day with huskies and reindeer is designed for families. It lasts 5 hours, starts at $241, and is rated 4.85 out of 27 reviews. Pickup is included, with three pickup locations to choose from. It is a bit shorter than the full-day tour and specifically tailored to families.
If you only want a brief impression, Santa Claus Village offers a husky ride that lasts 30 minutes and costs from $73. It is wheelchair accessible, and you do not need to stand in line at the ticket counter. With a rating of 4.66 out of 1,584 reviews, it is popular with guests. There are no reindeer on this ride, though, so it rather complements the farm visit.
Farm rules that children should know
Explain to your children before the tour how to behave around reindeer. Walk slowly, speak quietly, and do not run. These are the most important rules. Reindeer are used to people, but they are not stuffed animals, and a sudden noise can startle them. Children who know this beforehand are more relaxed on the farm and often get closer to the animals.
Every reindeer in a Finnish forest has an owner.6 On the farm, this person decides what is allowed. Children should never go into the enclosure alone, never approach an animal from behind, and never touch the antlers unless the herder explicitly allows it. Do not bring your own food, not even cookies or apples.
For photos: flash off, and do not hold the camera directly in front of the animal face. The best pictures are those where child and reindeer are at eye level, so get down on your knees with your child. And if an animal does not want to come, that is fine. Patience is the best rule on the farm, for children and adults alike.
Family excursions around Rovaniemi
Santa Claus Village is a fixed program point for families. It is open every day of the year, and children can cross the Arctic Circle there.7 Plan enough time, because with children everything takes longer, and the shops and stalls attract small visitors in a magical way.
At Ranua Wildlife Park, children can see forest reindeer among many other animals.8 This lets them compare the farm animals with their wild relatives. If it is too cold outside, the Arktikum is a good alternative. Under its roof are the Regional Museum of Lapland and the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland.9 And if the weather simply does not cooperate, an afternoon in the museum is often more exciting for children than you might think.
Families traveling with children should not pack too much into one day. A farm visit in the morning, a warm meal, a nap after lunch, and a quiet afternoon at the hotel are often more enjoyable than a full schedule. The trip does not become better for children by seeing everything, but by being able to experience what they see at a relaxed pace.
Book the tour
Reindeer, huskies, and the Arctic Circle in one day.
Book now, pay later, and cancellation remains free of charge up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
From what age can children go on the farm?
That is up to each farm. Ask about the minimum age before booking. Small children usually sit with an adult in the sleigh.
How long does the family tour last?
2.5 hours. The farm visit with sleigh ride lasts 2.5 hours, and pickup is included.
Can children feed the reindeer?
At some farms, yes. On a private family visit children may feed and touch the animals.1
How much does the farm visit cost?
From $101 per person. Whether there are child prices, you will see when you book for your date.
Is there a family day with huskies?
Yes. A family day with huskies and reindeer lasts 5 hours and costs from $241.
How cold is it in winter?
On average -10 to -20 °C. Dress children in several layers, with a snowsuit, mittens, and warm boots.2
Is the Santa Claus Village open all year?
Yes. It is open every day of the year.7
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1Visit RovaniemiFamily Reindeer Farm Visit Private↩
- 2Visit FinlandWeather and climate in Finland↩
- 3Visit Rovaniemi8 Safety Instructions For Winter Travellers↩
- 4Reindeer Herders' AssociationReindeer↩
- 5↩
- 6Visit FinlandWhere can I see a reindeer in Finland?↩
- 7Santa Claus VillageWelcome to Santa Claus Village | Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi Lapland↩
- 8Visit FinlandTrip to Ranua Wildlife Park↩
- 9Arktikum Science Center & MuseumVisit - Arktikum Science Center & Museum - Rovaniemi↩
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