Journey to Veliky Ustyug, home of Santa Claus

Since 1998, the homeland of Ded Moroz was declared Veliky Ustyug, a northern town in the Vologda region on the banks of the Sukhona River. Since then, hundreds of thousands of tourists, adults and children, from all regions of our vast country rush to visit the homeland of Ded Moroz.

The carved gate leads to the possessions of Santa Claus, located near Ustyug in a pine forest, behind which the Path of Fairy Tales with fairy-tale characters opens, leading to a large mansion. Santa Claus' assistants will give you a tour around the tower and show you his office and dressing room, the bedchamber with a large carved bed and seven feather pillows, the throne of the owner, on which you can sit and be photographed.

The doors for guests are open all year round, but the homeland of Santa Claus is especially visited in winter during the New Year vacations, when there is a special atmosphere of celebration and festivity. You can ride a dog sled, a stove or an exciting train, watch performances with folk dances and songs, take part in funny contests and attractions, explore the fairy terem and take a walk along the paths of the estate.

Another residence is located in the city itself, where in the throne room Santa Claus receives guests, takes pictures and talks to them, and listens to the poems of children. There is a post office, where you can send your friends and family greeting cards signed and stamped by Santa Claus. And also you can buy interesting souvenirs for yourself as a memory of the trip or as a gift and make your own handcrafts in one of the workshops of the residence. At the post of Santa Claus, located in the central part of Ustyug, comes a huge number of letters for the New Year. From here greeting cards are sent all over Russia and all over the world.

In the last days of December, Santa Claus leaves his residence for a long time to greet the New Year in different cities of our country.

You can organize a trip to the homeland of Santa Claus on your own by train. Residents of areas not far from Veliky Ustyug will be able to take a road trip, but it can be grueling because of the weather conditions in winter. Also possible to apply for the services of a travel agency and go on an organized trip in a group. In each case, a trip in winter will be more expensive, but very enjoyable and memorable, and every child will be in a terrific mood and indescribable delight of traveling to his beloved Santa Claus.