Airbnb Is Letting One Lucky Family Stay in Santa's Cabin in Finland This Month — How to Enter

All around the globe, homes are decked out for the holidays — but there’s one place where the Christmas spirit radiates with an extra dose of jingle bells throughout the year: Rovaniemi, Finland.

Whether you believe in Santa Claus or not, the capital of Lapland serves as his hometown, complete with Santa Claus Village, a festive attraction open every 365 days a year, as well as Santa Claus’ Main Post Office. This season, Airbnb is channeling Santa by gifting one family with the ultimate holiday adventure: a three-night stay in Santa’s cabin, right next to his post office, where more than 30,000 are delivered daily this time of year. 

“We’re thrilled that the Chief Elf has decided to share their space on Airbnb and invite a family to experience this unique festive stay, where they’ll help sort through Christmas letters from children worldwide and participate in unforgettable adventures..creating memories that will last a lifetime along the way,” Amanda Cupples, Airbnb’s general manager of Northern Europe, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. 

The winning family will become “full-fledged elves for a day,” Airbnb explained. They’ll be given a “crash course in ‘elfing’ from the Chief Elf and Host Katja,” as they cross reference the letters with the jolly fellow’s famous naughty-or-nice list. Other tasks include stamping mail with a special Arctic Circle postmark, emptying mailboxes, and getting an inside look at all the daily operations. After the workday, they’ll enjoy a Finnish meal, go for a snowmobile ride, chase the northern lights, and indulge in a traditional Finnish sauna. 

Of course, temporary elves will also have to abide by Santa’s rules, according to the release, which includes asking Santa “nicely before taking an 'elfie' with him,” not wearing shoes in the cabin (“yule be sorry if you trample snow into the handwoven Lapland rugs”), and ideally putting on the “preferred attire” of a “felt hat with a jingling bell” and a “freshly ironed tunic.” After all, “an elf is always an elf,” the rules state. Also on the list: “Roasting chestnuts by the open fire is permitted." 

On Dec. 11 at 5 a.m. ET, the booking will open for one family to snag the Dec. 18 to 21 stay for free. This includes roundtrip flights to Rovaniemi from London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) via Finnair for two adults and two children, courtesy of Visit Finland. (Winners will need to find their transportation to London.)

“Staying in Santa Claus’ Cabin in the Arctic Circle, amidst the magic of Finland, is not just a holiday," Cupples said. "It’s a journey to the heart of the holiday spirit." (As part of the campaign, Airbnb is donating to Special Children's Omaiset ELO, an association supporting Lappish youth with special needs.)

For more details and to enter, visit airbnb.com/santa.