Santa Claus Express: The Ultimate Guide to the Helsinki–Rovaniemi Sleeper Train
If you’re planning a family trip to Lapland, you’ve probably heard about the Santa Claus Express. It’s the hugely popular overnight sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi that many families choose to start their magical Lapland adventure.
You can fly straight into Lapland, but flying into Helsinki and taking the sleeper train was much cheaper for us. It also felt far more exciting – climbing into cosy bunks for the night and waking up in a snowy winter wonderland. It was the perfect start to our DIY Lapland itinerary.
That said, the train does take a bit of research and planning. When we were organising our journey, we found ourselves checking lots of different sources, trying to work out the cabin options, what the train was actually like, how early to book, and what to expect with kids.
This guide pulls together everything you need to know about the Santa Claus Express in one place. You’ll find out how to book it, the different cabin types, what it’s like onboard, and plenty of tips to help you plan the journey smoothly and stress-free.
Then all that’s left to do is look forward to waking up to the magic of Narnia – a moment and a view that will live rent-free in your head forever.
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Quick Links to help plan your trip
Here are the tools we used to plan and book our Lapland trip:
🛏️ Our Accommodation: Marski by Scandic (Helsinki) Northern Lights Stay Apartment (Rovaniemi)
🚗 Car Hire: Discover Cars
✈️ Flights: We always use Skyscanner for the best deals
💸 Flight Tips: Follow our guide on How to Find Cheap Flights
What Is the Santa Claus Express?
The Santa Claus Express is the overnight sleeper train that runs between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, operated by VR (Finland’s national railway). There are daytime services but many families choose the night service.
Instead of spending the day travelling or waiting around airports, you can settle into your cabin, and fall asleep whilst the train makes its way to Lapland. The overnight journey takes around 12 hours, giving you plenty of time to fall asleep in a cosy bed in Helsinki and wake up to Lapland’s snowy wilderness.
The Helsinki to Rovaniemi Route
The most popular route on the Santa Claus Express is Helsinki to Rovaniemi, calling at several stops along the way. There are usually two overnight departure times daily from Helsinki during the winter season.
There’s also a route from Helsinki to Kolari, which some choose for onward journeys to Levi and Ylläs. This may be a better option if you’re heading on a ski trip or exploring deeper into Finnish Lapland.
No matter which route you take, the trains are double-decker with regular seats and a range of sleeper cabins with comfortable bunks, and shared or private facilities.
Cabin options and sleeping arrangements
Standard seats and sleeper cabins
Both standard seats and sleeper cabins are available on all trains, and while the seats are the cheaper choice, most families tend to go for a sleeper cabin.
We found that having your own space and comfortable beds is part of the excitement, and it makes a huge difference to how well everyone sleeps before that first magical day in Lapland. Unless you’re keeping to a very tight budget, the sleeper cabin is absolutely worth it over standard seats for comfort and rest.
Sleeper Cabins: Upstairs vs Downstairs
The trains are all double-deckers, with the upstairs cabins offering a private toilet and shower. Downstairs cabins don’t have these facilities inside the room; instead, there are shared toilets and showers along the corridor.
As you’d expect, the upstairs cabins are a bit more expensive. We chose a downstairs cabin to save on cost and found it absolutely fine. The shared toilets were close by and clean.
Bed layout
Most cabins have two comfortable bunk beds with one upper and one lower bed. Some trains have the older-style cabins that have triple bunks. We had one of these on our journey to Rovaniemi which was much more convenient for our family of five, but we couldn’t secure the same layout on the return trip. If you want one, it’s worth booking early.
Adjoining cabins for families
If you book two adjacent lower-level cabins, they come with an interconnecting door. The conductor can unlock this for you once you’re on board, which is ideal for families.
What else do you get in the cabins?
You’ll also find fresh towels, a bottle of water, a mirror, and a small sink. The top bunks also have safety nets, which is reassuring if you’re travelling with younger children. There are plug sockets in every cabin too, so don’t forget to pack your adapter.
How much does the Santa Claus Express train cost?
Prices for the Santa Claus Express vary depending on the season, cabin type, and how early you book. Winter, especially December, is the most expensive time of year. We travelled to Rovaniemi on 31 December in a triple-bunk cabin and returned on 6 January in a double-bunk cabin, paying £366.72 in total.
After checking several dates for the 2025/26 season, prices generally start from around €199 for a two-berth sleeper cabin. This estimate is based on two adult tickets (one-way), with children under 10 travelling free as long as they share a bed with an adult.
If you need more beds, you’ll either need a three-berth cabin (available on some trains) or two adjoining cabins. I explain in more detail below.
How to Book the Santa Claus Express
Start With the VR Website
The best way to book a cabin on the overnight sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is directly through the VR Website.
Start by entering From: Helsinki, To: Rovaniemi (or Kolari if heading for Levi/Ylläs), Departure and return dates, Number of passengers (see additional guidance below).
Once you’ve entered this, select “Show cabin prices for night trains”. This ensures you only see overnight services and the correct sleeper cabin options.
Decide How Many Beds You Actually Need
This takes some consideration as a family, because kids under 10 travel free if they share a bed with an adult.
A standard cabin has two bunk beds, one upper and one lower bed. So if you only need two beds, enter two adults in the search. Do not enter children under the age of 10 if they’re sharing with you.
After booking, you will need to contact VR customer service to add the children to your booking for free. We found the simplest and free way to do this was through Facebook Messenger.
If You Need More Than Two Beds
If you have a larger family and need extra sleeping space, you’ll need to either book a three-bunk cabin (although these are available only on certain trains and in very limited numbers), or book two separate two-bunk cabins.
For example, if you are a family of two adults and two children, and even though the kids are under 10, you want a bed each, then enter two adults and two children. The search results will show availability for two cabins with two bunk beds in each.
Choosing the best train and cabin layout
After selecting your travel dates, you’ll see all the overnight trains available, their departure and arrival times, and the price. Select the one that suits you best, then on the next page and click “Change compartments”.
This opens a visual layout of the train, showing all available cabins on both decks and where the toilets and showers are located. This allows you to easily select rooms in the best part of the train and interconnecting if required.
Top Tip: Remember that three bunk cabins and interconnecting cabins are only located downstairs. You can book outbound and return journeys separately if it helps you secure better cabins.
What to expect onboard the Santa Claus Express
Boarding & Settling Into Your Cabin
The Santa Claus Express train departs from Helsinki Central Station. The station has 19 platforms, but you won’t know your exact departure platform until the day of travel. Check the screens in the station or the VR app for the right platform.
You can usually board around 30 minutes before departure, giving you plenty of time to get settled, organise your cabin, and let the kids explore their new space before bedtime begins.
Top Tip: If you have some time to spare in Helsinki before your train departs, you can store your luggage at the station for a small fee.
Once inside your cabin, you’ll find room under the beds for luggage, making it easy to keep the floor clear.
Onboard Facilities
There is a restaurant car serving hot meals, snacks, pastries, sandwiches and drinks. You can also bring your own food onboard, which is what we did and the more budget-friendly option, especially with kids.
If you’ve booked an upstairs cabin, you’ll have your own private toilet and shower inside the room. Downstairs cabins use the shared toilets and showers in the corridor, and these are cleaned and checked regularly throughout the journey.
Every cabin has a lock on the inside, which makes it feel secure once you’re settled in for the night. You’ll also find plug sockets in each cabin with space to charge a couple of devices, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the train.
Sleeping on the Santa Claus Express train
Despite the festive name, there’s nothing actually Christmassy about the train itself. But the experience still feels exciting and magical in its own way. There’s usually a little buzz as everyone boards and gets settled, but as the evening goes on, the atmosphere becomes very calm and relaxing.
Noise levels are generally low, and the combination of warm, cosy beds and the gentle rocking of the train makes it super easy to drift off. By the time you wake up, you’re already in snowy Lapland, where the real magic begins.
Top Tip: Not necessarily advice, but what worked for us – each bed has two mattresses, so we asked for an extra pillow and duvet and managed to create a little sleeping space on the floor.
When you arrive in Rovaniemi
There aren’t usually any announcements when the train reaches each stop, so it’s important to set an alarm. You can also use the built-in wake-up alarm in your cabin. When the train arrives, you’ll have plenty of time to gather your things and get off, so don’t feel pressured to rush just because others start lining up in the corridor.
Rovaniemi Station is small, simple, and very easy to navigate. Make sure you bundle up before stepping outside if temperatures are expected to be really cold. When we arrived, it was –25°C!
One of the big advantages of taking the sleeper train is that you arrive rested and ready to start exploring immediately. You can start your Lapland adventure by taking a taxi, catching a bus, or picking up a hire car – see more guidance here.
👉 If you’re planning your own trip, you can follow our full DIY Lapland itinerary and check out where we stayed in Rovaniemi.
FAQs
When is the best time to book the overnight train?
Tickets for the Santa Claus Express are usually released a few months in advance, but the exact date can vary each year. The easiest way to stay updated is to keep an eye on VR’s news page or sign up for alerts through the VR Matkalla app. We recommend booking as early as possible to secure both availability and a good price.
How do I know if the train is running on time?
There aren’t usually any onboard announcements during the journey, but you can easily keep track of your arrival time by checking the digital screens in the carriage or following the live journey updates in the VR app. Both will show whether the train is running on schedule.
What’s the Best Way to Contact VR Matkalla?
VR Matkalla customer service is very good, and they offer several ways to get in touch, including telephone, online chat, and through the app. We also found Facebook Messenger really convenient. They were very helpful with adding our free children to our booking and answering all the other questions we had.
Final thoughts on the Helsinki to Rovaniemi sleeper train…
The Santa Claus Express is an exciting and convenient way to travel from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, often saving you a lot of money compared to flying directly to one of the Lapland airports. The best part is waking up in a snowy winter wonderland after a cosy night on the train – an experience that you and your kids will remember forever.
I hope this guide has given you everything you need, from how to book to top tips to help the journey go smoothly.
For more inspiration and practical advice for your Lapland adventure, check out our overall guide to Lapland on a budget and our very own DIY Lapland itinerary.
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