Developments in travel are following each other up at a rapid pace. Everything has to be more sustainable and better for the environment. Train travel is often mentioned as a good and better alternative to flying.
On our most recent trip to Lapland we traveled to Rovaniemi and direct flights only start from the end of October. So the only way to get to Lapland outside of the winter season is via Helsinki. This can be done by taking a connection flights in Helsinki or by taking the overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi.
The thought of an overnight train adventure from Helsinki to Rovaniemi made us really excited. A new way of traveling for us that we were eager to discover. We decided to take on the adventure both ways.
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Lapland and Rovaniemi seem to increase in popularity every year. So we want to introduce you to this way of traveling to Santa's hometown and hope that you can benefit from it!
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She recently travelled from Helsinki to Rovaniemi with Santa's Express, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
Why you should choose the Santa Claus Express
There are so many reasons why traveling by train is really fun and recommended. We list the most important and convincing ones
Adventure
We really enjoyed the whole adventure of the overnight train and Santa's Express. Searching for and discovering your cabin is a fun start to the trip. Having your own closed cabin means that you have a tiny hotel room on the train, where you can make it as cozy as you want for the next 12 hours.There is something special about traveling across a country in 12 hours and waking up the next morning to a completely different landscape.
Comfort
We had never traveled by overnight train before, but we have traveled across Germany by train. That was a real eye opener. It's an incredibly relaxing way to travel. It is also great fun to stroll through the train, discover other parts and have a snack or drink in the on-board restaurant.
But you can also just as easily lie on the bed, read a book or relax, the choice is yours! There is nothing better and more relaxing than boarding the train in Helsinki in the evening and waking up the next morning feeling fresh and fit in a new destination.
Sustainable
As previously indicated, sustainability is an important factor. Perhaps the most important reason to take the train and not the plane. I used an online tool to compare the CO2 emissions of a return train journey Helsinki - Rovaniemi with a return flight on the same route.
The return train journey Helsinki - Rovaniemi with Santa's Express generates 9 kg of CO2. The return flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi generates 688 kg of CO2. Same starting point, same destination and approximately the same distance. The train is so many times more sustainable than the plane. A convincing reason to choose the train!
Price-wise
The last but certainly not the least reason is of course the price. We have to compare it fairly. Because on the overnight train you also have a bed. If you take a flight, you will also have to spend the night in Rovaniemi or Helsinki. So you actually have to compare the price of the overnight train with a flight plus one night hotel accommodation.
Our return trip Helsinki – Rovaniemi on Santas Express was €586 EUR. That is €293 EUR per person for this return train journey. For a single trip that is €146.50 EUR per person. Included for this price is a private cabin with ensuite shower and toilet as well as (checked) luggage. I think it's quite a challenge to get a one-way ticket Helsinki - Rovaniemi, checked luggage and also a night in a hotel for 146.50 per person.
In addition to the above reasons, Santa's Express is suitable for every traveler! Pets are welcome on board. You can also take your bike or skis on board and you can even take your car with you. Please note, surcharges may apply.
How to book your train ticket?
In Finland all trains are operated by VR Group. They are a government owned railway company in Finland. Tickets can best be booked directly through VR.
There are several ways to do this directly with them. You can use their website, they also have an app and there are also ticket machines at most stations.
Please note that bookings are required for Santa's Express overnight train.
Train travel classes
Single seats
You can book individual seats, but that can be a bit uncomfortable for such a long train journey. This is of course the cheapest option. This is ideal for solo travelers.
Downstairs private cabin
If a single seat is not suitable for you, they also have two types of cabins to choose from. The first are the cabins downstairs. These are only equipped with a bunk bed and a sink. Toilets and showers are shared facilities. If you want a cabin as a solo traveler, you will need to book the whole cabin.
Upstairs private cabin
last but not least there are also private cabins upstairs. Solo travelers will again need to book the whole cabin. The difference with the downstairs cabins is that these actually have an ensuite toilet and bathroom.
Yes, the upstairs cabin has an actual shower inside the bathroom
Perfectly suitable for people who prefer not to share the sanitary facilities and would like to take a refreshing shower in the morning.
Onboard services
Traveling with Santa's Express overnight train is relaxed and comfortable. The onboard services definitely make the journey more comfortable.
Santa's Express has an on board restaurant which will serve you during your train journey. Just a coffee or tea, a soft drink, some breakfast, lunch or dinner, they got you sorted.
You can pre-order breakfast when booking your ticket. By doing this, the meals you have ordered will be delivered to your cabin or seat 120 to 30 minutes before the train arrives at the destination.
If you download the VR app you get a discount on some selected items in the onboard restaurant.
A must try, which unfortunately we didn't do, is their most famous and best sold dish of the menu: Meatballs and mashed potatoes. I'm still bummed we didn't try this one, hopefully next time we travel by train to Rovaniemi.
WiFi
Santa's Express also has onboard Wi-Fi. However, please note that Wi-Fi coverage can be bad in some parts of the journey. From our own experience I have to say that the Wi-Fi was actually very disappointing.
When traveling to Finland make sure you have a tourist sim card or an eSIM with EU roaming. Don't get stuck with high roaming costs, read all about it in our guide on How To Buy a Prepaid Sim Card in Finland.
Did you know?
During the busiest nights in the winter season, as many as five overnight trains depart from Helsinki, two to Kolari and three to Rovaniemi.
The longest overnight trains are approximately 450 meters long, that's almost half a kilometer!
If you activate your tickets via the app approximately 30 minutes before departure, the conductor will no longer personally check the tickets and you can go to sleep straight away.
Our experiences on board of the Santa Claus Express
We recently traveled with Santa Claus Express from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, and back to Helsinki again a week later. On September 15th from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and back on September 23rd from Rovaniemi to Helsinki.
We departed Helsinki at 11.13 PM and arrived the next morning in Rovaniemi at 11.03 AM. A week later we departed Rovaniemi at 8.57 PM and arrived the next morning at 9.15 AM back in Helsinki.
For this journey we booked the upstairs private cabin as we wanted our private bathroom with shower and toilet instead of shared facilities. Next to these private sanitary facilities these cabins have very comfortable beds with sheets and pillows, two towels per person and a bottle of water per passenger. These cabins also have a private thermostat, so you can regulate the temperature in your cabin yourself.
We slept surprisingly well on this overnight train. The beds are really comfortable and you often don't even feel that the train is moving. We also really liked having the shower and toilet in our cabin. That makes it easier and more relaxing to get ready in the morning after getting up. Before we arrived in Rovaniemi we walked to the restaurant for breakfast. This was also a very nice and special experience. Even though we only had a juice and a croissant, it was fantastic to sit at a table and watch the Finnish landscape flash by.
After truly enjoying two overnight train adventures, I dare to say that we really discovered a new way of traveling. It is great fun to travel across a country by train. You wake up with a completely different view and also very well rested.
To anyone thinking of traveling to Rovaniemi this winter, consider Santa's Express. You immediately get into the right Christmas atmosphere and it is a unique way to travel to Rovaniemi.
One last travel tip, Finnish trains run exactly on time! So don't be late, because you are guaranteed to miss your train. Santas Express is often at the station about 30 minutes before departure. Arrive well in advance, so that you can find your seat or cabin at your leisure.
We hope that this travel blog about the Santa Claus Express made you excited to travel to Rovaniemi by train. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions.