If you're planning a trip to Lapland, you've probably come across ice karting while looking for activities. It certainly caught our attention, although with prices starting at around €81 per person when I checked, I wanted to know whether it would be worth adding to an already expensive trip.
We booked it during our winter weekend in Rovaniemi, and it ended up being one of our favourite activities across all three of our Lapland trips. There was plenty of sliding around corners, a few spins and a lovely warm fire to sit beside between sessions, which made the whole afternoon feel like more than a quick go around a karting track.
If you're wondering whether ice karting in Lapland is worth it, here's what our experience at Santa's Motor Park was like, how much driving time you get and who I'd recommend it for.
For help with the rest of your trip, our Lapland Travel Guide Hub brings together our DIY itineraries, budgeting advice, Northern Lights tips and reviews of the places we've visited.
Lapland Blogs & Guides
Lapland Hotels
Save 5% on eligible Lapland activities in the GetYourGuide app with code BUILDABREAK5
Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend experiences we've tried ourselves or believe will help you plan your trip. Thanks for supporting Build a Break.
⭐ Our rating: 5/5
💰 Price when checked: From €81 per person
⏱️ Allow: Around 1–1.5 hours
📍 Where we went: Santa's Motor Park, Rovaniemi
👨👩👧 Best for: Teenagers, adults and adventurous families
📏 Minimum driver height: 140cm at Santa's Motor Park
🔥 Our session included: Two driving sessions, helmet and balaclava, hot drinks, biscuits and time in the warming kota
You can check the Rovaniemi ice karting experience on GetYourGuide and use BUILDABREAK5 in the app to save 5% on eligible bookings. Check the current price and inclusions for your chosen date before booking.
Ice karting is go-karting on a frozen track, using specially adapted karts with studded tyres. You still have a steering wheel, accelerator and brake, but driving on ice feels very different from driving on tarmac, particularly when you reach the corners.
Before you head out, the staff explain the controls, track rules and how to handle the slippery conditions. You don't need previous karting experience, and it doesn't take long to understand what you're supposed to do, although actually getting around a corner without sliding is another matter!
That was what made it so much fun for us. You spend a lot of time correcting slides and working out how much grip you have, so even once you've been around the circuit a few times, there are still plenty of opportunities to spin or drift wider than you intended.
At Santa's Motor Park, our booking included two separate driving sessions. The first gave us time to get used to the karts, and by the second we were much more confident, even if that didn't always translate into better driving.
Between sessions, there's a traditional Finnish kota where you can sit beside the fire with hot berry juice, coffee and biscuits. Having somewhere warm to go made a difference, particularly as you're sitting fairly still in the kart while out on the ice.
The venue uses CRG ice karts, an Italian kart manufacturer associated with the early racing careers of drivers including Kimi Räikkönen and Max Verstappen. The circuit can accommodate around 8–10 karts, with visitors divided into smaller groups during the session.
We booked our ice karting session in Rovaniemi, but you can also go ice karting in Levi and several other Lapland resorts.
We visited Santa's Motor Park during our winter weekend in Rovaniemi. It's across the road from Santa Claus Village, so it's a useful activity to consider if you're already spending time in that area.
After collecting our winter clothing from Rovaniemi Insider, we took a taxi straight to the circuit for our 2pm booking. If you're putting together a similar short break, our 2-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary shows how we fitted everything into the weekend.
On arrival, we were given helmets and the staff checked that everyone met the 140cm minimum height requirement. After the safety briefing, we were split into smaller groups so there weren't too many karts out on the circuit together.
Each driver had two sessions, with a break while the other group took their turn. I liked having it split up this way because we could warm up between races, and it gave us a chance to talk about how we'd got on before heading back out.
The kota was a lovely part of the experience. We sat around the fire with our drinks and biscuits, chatting about who had spun and how everyone had managed the corners. It felt like part of the afternoon rather than simply somewhere to wait for another turn.
By the end of the second session, we were all very pleased we'd booked it. We'd already tried quite a few Lapland activities over our previous trips, but this still managed to become one of our favourites.
At Santa's Motor Park, drivers must be at least 140cm tall. Check this before booking, particularly if you're travelling with children who are close to the limit. Other operators may have different rules, so use the requirements for the experience you're actually booking.
Our session included a helmet and balaclava, but we needed our own warm clothing, insulated gloves and suitable footwear. You're outside on an icy circuit, and sitting in a kart doesn't keep you warm in the same way that walking around does.
Our What to Wear in Lapland guide covers the layers and clothing we take for winter trips.
You don't need a driving licence or previous karting experience. The staff explain how everything works before you go onto the track, so beginners can take part as long as they meet the operator's requirements.
We had around 20 minutes of driving in total, split into two sessions. Once you include getting ready, the safety briefing and the break between races, you should allow around 1–1.5 hours for the full experience.
That distinction is useful when you're comparing activities. You aren't driving continuously for 90 minutes, but you also don't arrive, do a few laps and immediately leave.
Places are limited by the number of karts and session times, so I'd book ahead once you know when you want to go, especially if you're working around a short itinerary or visiting during a busy period.
Anyone under 140cm won't be able to drive the main ice karts at Santa's Motor Park. The venue also has a separate track for mini snowmobiles and children's ATVs, which may give younger family members something of their own to enjoy. Check the separate prices, restrictions and operating times before relying on this for your group.
When I checked, prices started from €81 per person. That included two driving sessions, the safety briefing, helmet and balaclava, plus hot berry juice, coffee and biscuits in the warming kota between races.
You can compare the current price and availability on GetYourGuide. Our code BUILDABREAK5 gives you 5% off eligible bookings made through the GetYourGuide app, so it's worth checking whether it applies before paying.
I can understand why €81 might seem a lot when you look at the driving time alone. It's a significant amount to add to a family trip, and I'd always compare it with the other activities you want to do before booking.
For us, the combination of the racing, the setting and warming up around the fire made it worth the money. We enjoyed the whole visit, and it gave us something different from the husky rides, reindeer experiences and other activities we'd already tried.
If you're trying to make room for activities in your budget, our Lapland on a Budget guide shares ways to save on flights, accommodation and the rest of your trip.
Powered by GetYourGuide
I'd particularly recommend ice karting for teenagers, adults and families with older children who enjoy having something active to do. You don't need to be especially competitive, although I suspect a little family competition will creep in once everyone gets out onto the track.
It's also a good option if you've visited Lapland before and want to try something different. Even after our previous trips, racing around a frozen circuit felt like a new experience, and it was one we all enjoyed together.
The main consideration for families is the height requirement. If everyone can take part and likes the idea of driving on ice, I think it makes a lovely addition to a trip. If some of your group would rather have a gentle afternoon taking in the scenery, you may get more enjoyment from a different activity.
For more ideas for older children, our guide to Lapland with teenagers includes several of the activities we've tried across our three trips.
Our review is based on Santa's Motor Park in Rovaniemi, but you don't need to be staying there to try ice karting in Lapland. There are also experiences in Levi, Ruka and Saariselkä.
If you're already staying in one of those resorts, I'd look at the local options rather than travelling to Rovaniemi specifically for karting. Tracks, driving times, transfers and minimum heights can vary, so compare the details rather than assuming every experience is the same as ours.
Our guide to the best things to do in Levi includes ice karting alongside other family activities and winter experiences.
If you're still deciding which resort to choose, our Rovaniemi vs Levi comparison explains the differences and what we liked about each.
For us, it was well worth booking. Across three trips we've tried husky sledding, snowmobiling, reindeer rides, Finnish saunas and visits to the Arctic SnowHotel, and ice karting still stands out as one of the activities we enjoyed most.
It isn't cheap, and I wouldn't suggest squeezing it into your budget if it means giving up something you're more excited about. But if the price works for your trip and everyone meets the height requirement, it's an experience I'd happily recommend, particularly if you're travelling with teenagers.
I'd book it again on a future visit to Rovaniemi. We had a lovely afternoon, everyone enjoyed taking part, and the time around the fire between races was a welcome part of it too.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you're hoping to put together your own trip without paying package holiday prices, you'll find plenty of ideas to get you started.
Get free destination guides, travel inspiration and helpful tips for planning your next adventure, straight to your inbox.
Copyright © Build a Break | Website by Furness Media