For Levi with children, book flights and the hotel 6–12 months ahead, safaris about 3 months ahead, Elves Village and the Rovaniemi day about 1 month ahead, and the northern lights only on the day. Lapland is not a place you improvise: the good hotels and the small-group tours go first, and what is left in November is expensive and not what you wanted.
We spent a week in Levi in January with our five-year-old daughter, staying in the village and making day trips from there. This is the booking calendar and the family activities that made the week.
The Levi booking calendar
| When | What to book |
|---|---|
| 12 months ahead | Flights, and the hotel if you want Christmas or New Year. Glass igloos and Snow Village hotel rooms for the whole season are effectively gone by spring. |
| 6 months ahead | The hotel for any other week. Santa's Secret Hideaway and the small-group Santa programmes. |
| 3 months ahead | Reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris. Ski rental if you want specific sizes. Tables at Nili Poro and King Crab House. |
| 1 month ahead | The Rovaniemi day trip. Elves Village programmes. Airport transfers. |
| On the day | Northern lights, once you can see the forecast. |
Safaris, Santa programmes and day trips sell out especially around Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays, so build your week around them. Ski lessons are booked closer in: private lessons up to three days before, group places up to two days before, and the best morning times go first.
Why Levi works with a small child
Levi is a walkable village where the ski lifts, the rental shop, the supermarket and the excursion pick-up points are all within a few hundred metres of each other. With a five-year-old and −25°C outside, that matters more than anything on a brochure. You do not need a car: every excursion operator picks you up in the village, and Kittilä airport is 15 km away, about twenty minutes.
We stayed at Break Sokos Hotel Levi, in a Superior room with its own sauna, and after a day outside it turned out to be the single best decision of the trip. On the first evening, go to Levi-Market, 200 metres from the hotel, and buy a sled.
The best family activities in Levi
Elves Village (Tonttula) and meeting Santa
Elves Village, at Köngäs 8 km from Levi, was where our fairy tale in Lapland began. We baked gingerbread, made crafts at Elf School and met Santa in his house, where our daughter recited the poem she had prepared. Entry is €25, Meeting Santa €79 and Santa's Workshop €115 (last season's published prices). The Elves Express bus from Hotel Hullu Poro is free and takes about fifteen minutes. If your child is small and you only do one Santa, do this one.
Reindeer safari
Our 3 km safari crossed a frozen lake through frosty pines, and afterwards we fed the reindeer and warmed up in a kota with hot berry tea. Prices: 0.6 km €109, 1 km €119, 3 km Super Safari €179. Plan about two hours for the shorter safaris and two and a half for the 3 km one.
Husky safari
The 5 km self-drive is €159, the 10 km €225, and the 2 km musher-driven ride, the one for small children, €135. The farm is about 30 km out, at Tepasto. Our daughter was nervous around the dogs, so we arranged for her to wait in the kota with a guide while we drove. It is not an advertised option, so ask when you book rather than on the day.
Skiing at Leevilandia
Leevilandia, the family park at the South Slopes, has covered magic-carpet lifts, sledding, snow-tubing, an indoor play area and a fire for grilling sausages. It is free with a ski pass or €15.50 for a park-only day ticket, and under-4s with an adult go free. Children under 6 ski free with a helmet and a skiing adult. A 40-minute private lesson for a child aged 4–6 is €57.
Snow Village, Lainio
A village rebuilt every year from snow and ice, 50 km from Levi, open daily from 25 December 2026 to 4 April 2027. The guided tour is €87 adult and €67 child 4–14; at the door it is €26 and €14, so a car pays for itself here.
Forest ice skating
A one-kilometre lit ice trail through the forest, with skates, helmet, kicksled, hot drinks and a warm kota included. Adult €59, child 4–13 €49, under 4 free.
The top of Levitunturi
The single best free thing in Levi. Take the gondola up to Hotel Levi Panorama and look down at the whole village. Give it an hour, take the child and have a hot drink at the top.
What to skip, or save for later
- Snowmobiling with a small child. We went at −25°C and our daughter chose to stay in the warm lodge. This one is for adults and older children.
- The northern lights guarantee tour. It is a four-to-six-hour night in a minivan and the operator says it is not suitable for small children. The two-hour car hunt (€95) is the better choice.
- A night in a glass igloo. We did not do it, and it is the one thing I would change. Book the room first and the dates second.
Plan your week
Every price, opening time and pick-up point above, plus a hand-drawn map of 26 places in Levi and a printable Levi Quest for your child, is in the guide Lapland with a Child. If you are just starting, the free Lapland planner helps you lay out the dates. When you are ready to book, get the full guide for €9.99: online and in 9 languages.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book Lapland excursions?
Book reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris about two to three months ahead, and Elves Village programmes about a month ahead. Book the northern lights only on the day, when you can see the forecast.
Is Levi good for young children?
Yes. Everything in the village is within walking distance, operators pick you up in the village, and the Leevilandia family park is built for beginners and small children.
Do you need a car in Levi with kids?
No. Operators collect you in the village and the lifts and shops are a short walk. A car is useful for the Snow Village in Lainio or a Rovaniemi day on your own.
Where is the best place to meet Santa near Levi?
For a small child, Elves Village (Tonttula), 8 km from Levi, where you sit next to Santa and take your own photos. Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is free and official but quick, and about two hours each way.