If you're planning a trip to Lapland, you've probably come across ice karting while looking for activities. But with prices often starting at around €81 per person, it's natural to wonder whether it's actually worth the money.
We've now been ice karting in Lapland ourselves, and it turned out to be one of the biggest highlights of our trip. Unlike traditional go-karting, racing across a frozen track adds a completely different challenge, with plenty of drifting, sliding and laughter along the way.
In this guide, I'll explain exactly what the experience involves, how much it costs, who I think it's best suited to and whether I'd book it again.
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⭐ Our rating: 5/5
💰 Price: From €81 per person
⏱️ Allow: 1–1.5 hours
📍 Location: Santa's Motor Park, Rovaniemi (also available in Levi)
👨👩👧 Best for: Teenagers, adults and adventurous families
📏 Minimum height: 140cm
🔥 Includes: Two driving sessions, hot berry juice, biscuits and a warming kota
💸 Top tip: Book through GetYourGuide and use our exclusive code BUILDABREAK5 in the app to save 5% on eligible bookings.
✅ Would we do it again? Absolutely
If you're looking for something a little different from the usual husky rides, reindeer sleighs and snowmobile safaris, ice karting could be one of the most exciting activities you'll find in Lapland.
We tried it during our winter weekend in Rovaniemi and, despite having fairly high expectations, it still managed to surprise us. Racing around a frozen circuit, sliding through corners and trying to control the kart on solid ice was unlike anything we'd done before.
At around €81 per person, it's certainly not one of the cheapest activities in Lapland. So is it actually worth the money?
In this honest review, I'll explain exactly what the experience involves, who I think it's best suited to, how much driving time you actually get and whether I'd book it again.
Ice karting is exactly what it sounds like, go-karting on a frozen track. Instead of racing on tarmac, you'll drive specially adapted karts fitted with studded tyres designed to grip the ice while still allowing plenty of drifting and sliding around the corners.
Don't worry if you've never driven a go-kart before. Before you head out onto the circuit, you'll receive a full safety briefing explaining the controls, the racing rules and how to handle the slippery conditions. It doesn't take long to get the hang of it, although mastering the corners is another story!
One thing that surprised me was how different it feels compared to traditional karting. Rather than trying to drive the perfect racing line, you'll spend much of your time correcting slides and steering into the corners, which makes it far more challenging and, in my opinion, much more fun. Every lap feels slightly different depending on how much grip you have, so no two corners are ever quite the same.
The karts aren't especially fast, but on a sheet of ice they certainly feel it. Even experienced drivers will find themselves spinning or drifting wider than expected, which is all part of the fun and usually results in plenty of laughter rather than serious competition.
At Santa's Motor Park in Rovaniemi, the experience includes two separate driving sessions, giving everyone a chance to build confidence during the first session before heading back out onto the track for another go.
Between races, you'll have time to warm up beside the fire in a traditional kota, where hot berry juice, coffee and biscuits are served while you wait for your next turn.
At Santa's Motor Park, you'll drive high-quality CRG ice karts, the same Italian manufacturer whose karts have been used by Formula One World Champions including Kimi Räikkönen and Max Verstappen during their early racing careers. Up to 8–10 karts can be on the circuit at once, with drivers split into smaller groups throughout the session.
We booked our session in Rovaniemi, although you'll also find ice karting in Levi and several other Lapland resorts.
We booked the ice karting experience at Santa's Motor Park, located just across the road from Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. After collecting our winter clothing from Rovaniemi Insider, we took a taxi straight to the circuit ready for our 2pm booking.
For more ideas, take a look at our 2-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary, where we share exactly how we planned our winter weekend in Lapland.
On arrival, everyone is provided with a helmet before a member of staff checks that each driver meets the 140cm minimum height requirement. Once the safety briefing is complete, you're divided into smaller groups so there are never too many karts on the track at the same time.
Each driver gets two separate driving sessions, with a break in between while the other group takes their turn. I actually preferred this format because it gave everyone chance to get used to the conditions during the first session before heading back out with much more confidence for the second.
Between races, we warmed up in a traditional Finnish kota, where hot berry juice, coffee and biscuits were included. Sitting around the open fire while everyone chatted about their spins, near misses and best laps became part of the experience itself, rather than simply waiting for your next turn.
By the end of our second session, we were all smiling from ear to ear. It wasn't just one of the highlights of our weekend in Rovaniemi, it ended up being one of our favourite activities across all three of our trips to Lapland.
Before booking your ice karting experience, here are a few things worth knowing.
Minimum height: Drivers must be at least 140cm tall, making this a great activity for teenagers and adults, but not suitable for younger children.
Dress warmly: Only a helmet and balaclava are provided, so you'll need warm winter clothing, insulated gloves and suitable footwear. If you're wondering exactly what to pack, our What to Wear in Lapland guide covers everything we take for temperatures well below freezing.
No driving licence required: You don't need any previous karting experience or a driving licence. A full safety briefing is given before you head onto the track, making it suitable for complete beginners.
Two driving sessions: The experience includes two separate races, with a break in between while the next group takes their turn. We actually preferred this as it gave us chance to warm up before heading back out for another go.
Hot berry juice included: Between races, you can relax in the traditional kota with complimentary hot berry juice, coffee and biscuits while warming up beside the fire.
Allow around 90 minutes: Although you'll spend around 20 minutes driving in total, the full experience lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, including the safety briefing and time between races.
Book in advance: Ice karting is one of Lapland's most popular winter activities and places are limited, so I'd recommend booking as soon as you know your travel dates.
Travelling with younger children? If someone in your group is under 140cm, they won't be able to drive the ice karts. However, Santa's Motor Park also has a separate track with mini snowmobiles and children's ATVs, so younger visitors can still enjoy their own driving experience while older family members race on the main circuit.
Ice karting isn't the cheapest activity in Lapland, but it's also not the most expensive. At the time of writing, prices start from €81 per person, which includes the full experience, two driving sessions, a safety briefing, helmet and balaclava, plus complimentary hot berry juice, coffee and biscuits served in the warming kota between races.
If you're booking independently, it's also worth checking GetYourGuide, where the experience is available to reserve online. Better still, you can save 5% by booking through the GetYourGuide app and using our exclusive discount code BUILDABREAK5 at checkout.
While €81 might sound expensive for around 20 minutes of driving, it's worth remembering that you're paying for much more than just time behind the wheel. The entire experience lasts around 90 minutes, and the combination of racing on a frozen circuit, warming up beside the fire and sharing the experience with other travellers made it feel far more memorable than a standard go-karting session.
Compared with many other premium Lapland activities, I actually thought the experience offered good value for money, especially as it's something you simply can't do in many other places.
If you're trying to keep the cost of your trip down, our Lapland on a Budget guide shares our favourite ways to save money on flights, accommodation and activities without missing out on the experience.
After trying it for ourselves, I'd say ice karting is one of the best activities in Lapland for teenagers, adults and anyone who enjoys a little friendly competition.
Unlike some winter activities where you're mainly taking in the scenery, ice karting is much more hands-on. Every lap is different, and there's plenty of laughing as everyone slides around the corners trying to find the perfect racing line.
It's also an excellent choice if you've already experienced snowmobiling or husky sledding on a previous trip and want to try something a little different. Even after three visits to Lapland, ice karting still felt like a unique experience.
Families with older children will probably get the most out of it, as long as everyone meets the 140cm minimum height requirement. If you're travelling with younger children, Santa's Motor Park also has mini snowmobiles and children's ATVs, allowing younger visitors to enjoy their own driving experience while older family members take to the ice.
If you're looking for a relaxing activity, this probably isn't it. But if you enjoy driving, trying something new or simply want one of the most exciting experiences available in Lapland, I think it's well worth considering.
Travelling with older children? We've rounded up even more ideas in our guide to the best things to do in Lapland with teenagers, including several activities we've tried ourselves across our three trips.
Although we experienced ice karting at Santa's Motor Park in Rovaniemi, it's not the only place to try this unique activity. You'll also find ice karting experiences in several other popular Lapland destinations, including Levi, Ruka and Saariselkä.
If you're already staying in one of these resorts, it's well worth checking whether ice karting is available during your visit. While the tracks and formats may vary slightly, the overall experience is very similar and offers a fun alternative to the more traditional Lapland activities.
If you're staying in Levi instead, take a look at our guide to the best things to do in Levi, where we've included ice karting alongside our favourite family activities and winter experiences.
Still deciding where to stay? Our Rovaniemi vs Levi comparison explains the biggest differences between the two destinations, helping you choose the one that's right for your trip.
Without a doubt, yes.
After three trips to Lapland, we've experienced everything from husky sledding and snowmobiling to reindeer rides, Finnish saunas and the Arctic SnowHotel. Ice karting still ranks among our favourite activities.
What makes it so enjoyable is that it's completely different from the traditional Lapland experiences. Instead of sitting back and taking in the scenery, you're actively involved from the moment you climb into the kart. Every lap is different, every corner is a challenge and there's plenty of laughter as everyone tries to master the icy track.
At €81 per person, it's certainly not the cheapest activity in Lapland, but I genuinely think it offers excellent value for money. Between the two driving sessions, the welcoming atmosphere, the warming kota and the chance to experience something you simply can't do in many other places, it felt like much more than just a go-karting session.
Would I book it again? Absolutely. In fact, if I return to Rovaniemi in the future, it's one of the first activities I'd happily do again.
If you're travelling with teenagers, looking for something a little different or simply want to add a unique experience to your Lapland itinerary, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend ice karting.
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'd like to experience Lapland without paying package holiday prices, it's a great place to start.
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