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Are you looking for the dream train ride, perhaps with snowy scenery beyond the Arctic Circle? We’ve got you covered! In this article about the Santa Claus Express from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, you’ll find all the necessary information about the journey, our personal experience, and helpful tips to make your trip unforgettable.
Of all the train routes you could take, the Lapland Express—an overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi—should be on your list.
This train is called the Santa Claus Express for a reason. After an overnight journey, you’ll wake up to Nordic landscapes, just a short distance from the place considered to be Santa Claus’s home- Rovaniemi.
Consider connecting your Santa Claus train journey with other activities as hunting the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi or visiting Santa Claus in Santa Claus Village in Lapland.
➡️ Read our article about Iron Ore Train here ⬅️
Table of Contents
SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS
The double-decker Santa Claus Express night train, operated by Finnish Railways (VR Group), is a comfortable way to travel to Lapland. The journey to the polar region is an adventurous experience, and you can enjoy watching the Finnish landscapes change while relaxing in your cabin.
Santa Claus Express is an overnight train that takes 12 hours, covering almost 900km.
The Santa Claus train schedule includes two departures in the evening, with the train arriving at Rovaniemi in the morning.
The train offers several options for travelers, including second-class and first-class sleeper cabins. It also features a restaurant car with seating.
Don’t forget to book your ticket for the Santa Claus Express in advance, as the cabins might sell out during the high season.
CABINS ON BOARD THE SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS NIGHT TRAIN
STANDARD SEATS
The most affordable option on the Santa Claus Express is the seating car. The seats are comfortable, and there is a power socket between them. You can also purchase an adjacent seat for added comfort. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the train.
However, sleeping in a seating car can be uncomfortable, especially if the journey lasts 12 hours.
➡️ Read our article about the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi here ⬅️
SEATING COMPARTMENTS
Small enclosed compartments with two or four seats offer more legroom, power sockets, tables, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi.
Finnish Railways does not sell individual seats in a compartment. The entire compartment will be for you and your group.
DOWNSTAIR CABIN
The mid-range option is the sleeper cabins on the lower level.
The cabin has two bunk beds with blankets, pillows, and bed linen. It also includes a small sink with a towel, blackout curtains, temperature control, AC, two sockets, and free Wi-Fi. Toilets and showers are shared in the corridor. There is a small bottle of water in each cabin per person.
UPSTAIRS CABIN
It’s like a small hotel room on a train, with an en-suite toilet and shower in each cabin.
The cabin has everything you would find in a lower-tier cabin, plus shower towels, a mirror, and a small countertop. It is the most luxurious option on this train.
On the upper floor, there are also cabins suitable for travelers with pets, each with its en-suite shower and toilet.
En-Suite Toilet And Shower In Upper Cabin
ACCESSIBLE CABINS
These cabins are located right next to the entrance door. Inside, you’ll find everything that is in the cabins on the lower level, along with an SOS button, support rails, and wider automated doors. They are also suitable for travelers with a personal assistant or guide dog. The accessible toilet is located opposite the cabin.
PET-FRIENDLY CABIN
These cabins are a comfortable option for travelers with pets. They have everything the cabins on the lower level have, including two beds and bedding for two people and a small sink with a towel. Toilets and showers are shared in the corridors. The maximum capacity per cabin is two dogs or two pet carriers.
TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN?
Children aged 0-10 travel for free on the Santa Claus Express when sharing a berth with an adult. There is a toilet with childcare facilities and a potty on the lower deck. You can also pre-order a safety net for the bed. Strollers can be taken into the cabin or stored in the luggage car.
Note that VR Finnish Railways doesn’t sell individual berths to solo travelers. You’ll have the entire cabin to yourself. The price is per cabin and is not dependent on the number of passengers.
RESTAURANT CAR
Each Santa Claus Express train has a dining car offering a variety of options for both adults and children. The menu includes a children’s menu, salads, vegetarian options, sandwiches, breakfast items, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The dining car closes at 2:00 AM and reopens at 4:00 AM.
Download the Finnish Railways VR Matkalla app and get a discount on selected drinks and snacks in the restaurant car.
SERVICES ON THE BOARD
The train has a restaurant car for passengers, storage space for oversized luggage (for an additional fee), and toilets in each car.
Planning to visit Rovaniemi soon?
🛏️Booking hotels: Booking.com
1.Motelli Rovaniemi (Affordable)
2.Arctic City Hotel (Mid-range)
3.Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle (Luxury)
🏄🏻♂️Booking tours: GetYourGuide, Viator
1. Hunting the Northern Lights (3hours)
2. Santa Claus Village (3hours)
3. Snowmobile Safari (3hours)
🚗Car renting: Discover Cars
🚑Insurance: Ekta
📲Sim-cards: Airalo e-sim
HOW TO BOOK A TICKET FOR SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS?
You can buy tickets for the Helsinki to Rovaniemi Santa Claus Express directly on the VR Group website, through their app, VR Matkalla, or via Omio.com. Other options include purchasing tickets at train stations in Finland or by calling VR customer service.
If you have an Interrail ticket, you only need to reserve a seat, which costs half the price of the ticket. In this case, you must contact Finnish Railways customer service or purchase a seat reservation directly at the station.
If you are planning to ride the Santa Claus Express during the high season (Christmas, New Year’s, and other holidays throughout the year), you should secure your ticket several months in advance. Outside of peak seasons, booking a ticket a few weeks before your trip should be sufficient.
HOW MUCH IT COSTS?
Prices for cabins and seats on the Santa Claus train vary by season and availability. A seat in the seating car starts at €28, lower cabins from €69, and upper cabins from €94 per person in low season.
If you have an Interrail ticket, you only need to reserve a seat, which costs half the price of the ticket.
If you plan to take the Helsinki to Rovaniemi Santa Claus Express train during the high season (winter months), prices will be higher, and we recommend booking tickets early.
Other VR Trains Options
Finnish Railways offers multiple faster options for traveling to Lapland from Helsinki and back. The Pendolino train takes 8 hours. For more information, see the railways website.
➡️ Book your ticket for Santa Claus Express here ⬅️
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- The Santa Claus Express train runs twice in the evening: at 19:29, arriving at 07:20 AM, and at 23:13, arriving at 11:03 AM.
- All tickets for the Santa Claus Express must be purchased in advance. You can book them via the VR Group website, their mobile app, or at ticket counters in Finnish train stations.
- Tap water on the train is not drinkable.
- All cabins have their specific key, allowing you to lock your cabin.
- There are accessible cabins and toilets located on the lower floor of the train.
- There are designated spaces on the train for wheelchairs and bicycles.
- You can take your car or bike on the night train for an additional fee. Detailed information can be found on the Finnish Railways website or directly at the train stations.
- There is a paid luggage storage service on the train. For more information, ask the conductor.
- Both Helsinki and Rovaniemi train stations have luggage storage services, where you can pay for a locker directly with your Visa card or through mobile apps.
- The Santa Claus Express is very popular during Christmas, but it runs all year round.
- During the high season, tickets for cabins sell out quickly. Be sure to book in advance!
OTHER WAYS TO GET FROM HELSINKI TO ROVANIEMI
There are other ways to get from Helsinki to Rovaniemi besides trains. You can take a bus, with the journey taking less than 12 hours. The buses are equipped with toilets, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seats. They run several times a day, especially during peak season, operated by various companies, including OnniBus.
Traveling by bus is the most budget-friendly way to get from Helsinki to Rovaniemi compared to flights or trains.
SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS BUS
There is a bus stop in front of Rovaniemi Train Station that connects to the overnight trains from Helsinki. The bus continues to Santa Claus Village, which is 8 km from Rovaniemi, and also stops at Rovaniemi Airport.
During our visit, the Santa Claus Express bus ran every hour, with a few morning and afternoon services on weekends.
HOW TO GET BACK FROM ROVANIEMI TO HELSINKI
The Santa Claus Express train runs between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. After your trip beyond the Arctic Circle, you can return the same way or choose a different train.
For the return trip, we specifically chose the daytime train to see the Finnish countryside and nature. The journey was shorter than the overnight train and had fewer stops.
OUR EXPERIENCE ON SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS
We visited Rovaniemi on the Santa Claus Express in early February. Due to the Northern Lights season, there is a very high probability of witnessing the Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi between September and March. We were happy with our timing, as Rovaniemi was still covered in snow. We visited Santa Claus Village during the day and went Northern Lights hunting in the evening. It was a truly fulfilling experience.
➡️ Book your tour for Northern Lights here ⬅️
For our trip from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, we chose the overnight train Santa Claus Express. It is a double-decker sleeper train that runs between Rovaniemi and Helsinki twice a day. We chose the latter connection, which had a later arrival in Rovaniemi. The train was pulled up to the platform 20 minutes before departure. We chose the Upper Cabin for our train journey. It wasn’t that expensive since we had a valid 10-day Interrail pass. We had never traveled on a train with a cabin that had its own shower and toilet, so we decided to give it a try. We used the shower during the journey, and everything worked as expected, with shower gel and soap provided.
We took our food and water on the train, although there is a restaurant car where you can buy everything you need. On the way to Rovaniemi from Helsinki, we made several stops, one of which was in Tampere for about half an hour. We got out and watched as the other cars were connected to the train. This process was very quiet compared to other train journeys we have experienced. Then it was time to sleep; the berths are wider than those we usually sleep on during our travels.
After a good sleep, the Finnish Lapland winter scenery greeted us from the window in the morning. Everything was snowy, like in a fairy tale. We decided to visit the Restaurant Car, where there was a pleasant atmosphere, and the coffee smelled great. We walked around the whole train and looked at other travel options. Then it was time to pack up and get off the train.
We stayed in Rovaniemi for three days. Our accommodation was 8 km away from the city, as we wanted to increase our chances of seeing the Northern Lights outside of the city, where there is less light pollution
➡️ Book your stay in Rovaniemi here ⬅️
It was a unique experience for us, as having our own bathroom provided more privacy. The train was quiet and comfortable. We only found one drawback: the train only runs for 12 hours. We would have easily gone on it for 24 hours 🙂
If you’re thinking about booking the Santa Claus Express, it’s worth considering whether you need a private shower for the 12-hour journey. If not, you might want to choose a cabin on the lower level instead and save some money.
➡️ Book your tour to Santa Claus Village here ⬅️
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU ON THE BOARD OF SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS?
WATER
As mentioned above, the water on the train is not drinkable. Be sure to buy water before your journey, or you can purchase it in the restaurant car.
SNACKS
If you have purchased a ticket without breakfast, don’t forget to bring snacks for the journey. While snacks can be purchased in the Santa Claus Express restaurant car, it is cheaper to buy them before boarding.
ENTERTAINMENT
The train offers Wi-Fi in all carriages, though it may be limited in rural areas. You can bring a board game or download music and movies before your journey. We did offline work during our trip, and there was never a dull moment.
HOW TO GET BACK TO HELSINKI FROM ROVANIEMI BY TRAIN?
On the way back, we chose a day train to see Finnish nature because you don’t see everything on overnight trains. We chose individual seats (panorama seats) above the restaurant car. For this trip, we also used our 10-day first-class Interrail tickets.
TRAVELING TO ARCTIC CIRCLE WITH INTERRAIL PASS?
You can use your valid Interrail pass to travel from Helsinki to Rovaniemi on all other VR trains. However, you must make a seat reservation in person at any Finnish railway station or by calling Finnish Railways customer service directly.
We used our 10-day first-class Interrail pass, which saved us half the price of the upstairs cabin ticket.
ARRIVING TO ROVANIEMI BY TRAIN
The Helsinki to Rovaniemi Santa Claus Express trains arrive at their destination in the morning. At the small Rovaniemi Lapland station, you’ll find a car rental office and a restaurant with a café. There is also luggage storage where you can safely store your bags until it’s time to check in to your hotel. During our visit, the self-service luggage lockers were not working, unfortunately.
CONCLUSION
Finally, we would highly recommend the Santa Claus Express ride. Perhaps one trip on this train is enough, since it’s an overnight journey and you won’t be able to see much of the landscape in the evening. We definitely recommend traveling during the season when the Northern Lights are visible to make the most of your trip. If you’re traveling with children, the Santa Claus Express can be a great way to get to Santa Claus Village beyond the Arctic Circle. For the return trip to Helsinki, we recommend taking a daytime train so you can enjoy the beautiful Finnish landscape.
Q&A
Is Rovaniemi worth visiting?
Rovaniemi is a great option for a winter vacation beyond the Arctic Circle. You can spend an entire day in Santa Claus Village with your kids, enjoy the nearby ski resorts, and, if you’re lucky, end the evening by observing the Northern Lights.
Can you see the northern lights in Rovaniemi?
Yes! Rovaniemi and its surroundings are great options for you to catch the Northern Lights. In Lapland, you can see the northern lights around 200 times yearly.
Are overnight trains worth it?
Definitely! Overnight trains offer an adventurous way to travel, with nearly the same comfort as a hotel. It’s a great way to save on accommodation for the night, and you can wake up at your destination well-rested and ready to explore. If you’re looking for an efficient, comfortable, and budget-friendly way to travel, overnight trains are worth it.
OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES
Did you know…
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Accommodation: We use Booking.com where we always find great deals for hotels.
For hostels, we use Hostelworld where we find cheaper options and meet new people.
Rental cars: To rent your car with free cancellation check out Discover Cars.
Ferries: For cheap ferry tickets worldwide we use Direct Ferries.
All travel options in one place: Omio.com we use for easy travel planning where we can find trains, buses, ferries, and more.
Tours and other activities: Wherever we go we look at GetYourGuide to find the best tours and many other activities around the world!
Travel insurance: Never travel without travel insurance! Ekta works all over the world and has 10 years of experience in the industry. It is your right choice!
Reviews: Before we travel somewhere we always look at Tripadvisor, where we always find a summary of restaurants, places to visit, or hotels with current ratings and photos from people who have visited this place recently.
Luggage storage: Radical storage is such a helpful Luggage storage network! When we have a late check-in or an early check-out we don’t need to carry our luggage with us, we just simply put it in the Radical storage which operates in over 70 countries!
E-sim card: The best way how avoid all the stress of searching for local SIM cards or wifi signals and save time after you arrive in your new country is to get Airalo e-sim. Download and install a digital data pack from 200+ countries/regions!
