SANTA CLAUS OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO ROVANIEMI (LAPLAND)

This is the inside scoop on how the VR Overnight Train or Santa Claus train looks like.

It'll give you an idea of whether seating and sleeping berth passengers can cross visit.

For the purpose of this research, I booked a mix of sleeping berths and seatings. There were 6 of us, 3 sleeping berths and 3 second class seats.

In the end, my sister and I shared a bed while roomies for life shared a bed in the other room. The upper beds in both rooms were occupied by a single gorgeous person (A and J).

Route:
Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Helsinki

Departing from:
Helsinki Central Station

Helsinki to Rovaniemi
IC 265
Leaves at 18:49 - Arrives at 07:13
(Basic Ticket) Upper deck - Second class seats - EU 80 pp
(Basic Ticket) Second class sleeping berths - EU 136 pp

Rovaniemi to Helsinki
IC 266
Leaves at 18:03 - Arrives at 06:24
(Saver Ticket) Upper deck - Second class seats - EU 35 pp
(Saver Ticket) First class sleeping berths - EU 140 pp

*Saver tickets get snatch-up quickly so you really must book and pay immediately.

Company provider: VR

Booking: slots get book quickly depending on the season. You can book 3 months in advance, which losers like me do. I was on the dot 3 months ahead. I scurried to book our rooms and seats the week our dates opened. Even with that, we missed the "Saver Tickets" to Rovaniemi and almost missed it coming back to Helsinki.

VR Train link here: https://bit.ly/2pBPBht

Car #s
If you ever do a combo like us, try your best to book cars that are closest to each other. Save that energy and time for meals and chit chats

Restaurant Car:
Gets filled very quickly. Something we realised on our way to Roveniemi. We had to console ourselves with the bar stools and the fact that we are really ready to crash on the bed. Exhausted is an understatement.

Coming back to Rovaniemi, we were smarter. We hang out in the restaurant car first as soon as we got on board.

Sleeping Berths:
Even if you book a single passenger for the sleeping berth, the room will be set up for two. *wink wink

Class cross-visit
From experience in both of our trips, yes, you can. The restaurant car is at the end of the train. Go figure, everyone must have access to it.

First Class Sleeping Berths (Upper Deck)
- ensuite bathroom
- bath towel is provided

Second Class Sleeping Berths (Lower Deck)
- shower room and water closets are shared and are located at both ends of the car
- hand towel is provided

Bigger spaced rooms
These are available on the lower deck, at the end of the car in front of WC. Suitable for passengers with pets, wheelchair or anyone who prefers bigger space for a small additional fee.

Shower Rooms
Can only be accessed by the shower room key​. It only has shower gels so bring in your bath essentials.