{"id":19006,"date":"2025-12-20T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/2025\/12\/20\/i-took-my-kids-to-lapland-on-the-santa-claus-express-but-will-the-big-man-deliver-lapland-vacations\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T07:00:00","slug":"i-took-my-kids-to-lapland-on-the-santa-claus-express-but-will-the-big-man-deliver-lapland-vacations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/en_us\/2025\/12\/20\/i-took-my-kids-to-lapland-on-the-santa-claus-express-but-will-the-big-man-deliver-lapland-vacations\/","title":{"rendered":"I took my kids to Lapland on the Santa Claus Express. But will the big man deliver? | Lapland Vacations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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aspirate<\/span>Christmas is just a few days away and Finland’s capital Helsinki is filled with festive cheer as you sip hot and spicy beer and explore Tuomaan Markkinat in Senate Square. Gl\u00f6gi<\/em> (mulled wine), and bite Zulutortu<\/em> (Jam-filled puff pastry in the shape of Catherine’s wheel) A cold front had brought a lot of snow and in -8 degrees it was a bit painful to breathe, but nothing could dampen the shivers of excitement.<\/p>\n

I’m here with my husband and two young daughters to take the Santa Claus Express to the northern city of Rovaniemi, the heart of Finnish Lapland and the "official” home of Christmas. Operating as a regular commuter train all year round, the Santa Claus Express is Finnish Railways’ flagship service and offers the ultimate sleeper train adventure. The girls’ cheeks were pink and their eyes sparkled from all the golden light around them as they checked their watches and announced that it was finally time to head to Helsinki Central Station.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span> Illustration: Guardian\/Graphics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The majestic Art Nouveau building of the station, which opened in 1919, swept us away as our footsteps echoed beneath its neoclassical, chandelier-draped ceilings and arches.<\/p>\n

Our train was almost 20 minutes late and the anticipation was palpable as passengers moved from one fur-trimmed boot to another and piled high in parkas and puffer jackets. The children in the hats were out of breath and just looked at all the trains coming into the station. This is a bucket list trip filled with snow scenes, cheery elves, reindeer rides, husky sleigh rides, and the Northern Lights. But I was quietly scared that something could go wrong. Cancellations or long weather delays may occur.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Helsinki Central Station.<\/span> Photo: Ryhor Bruyeu\/Alamy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, at exactly 7:45 p.m., the Santa Claus Express appeared, its red tail lights glowing and it backed out of the darkness, dispelling my fears.<\/p>\n

When I was a kid, this train would have made all my dreams come true. But who was I kidding? Even as an adult, this is still the case. A green and white double-decker with Santa’s jolly face painted on the side pulled up, the doors hissed open and we rolled onto our bellies and climbed upstairs to our cabin. There was a bed on one side and an en suite bathroom converted into a shower area on the other. It was perfect, with hot water, underfloor heating and a window seat to watch a slideshow of nature outdoors.<\/p>\n

Children up to 10 travel free as long as they share a bed with another passenger, and the bed was large enough for my husband and I to climb in with the girls. I have traveled on over 100 sleeper trains over the last 15 years and this was by far the best I have found.<\/p>\n