Why Copenhagen Christmas Markets should be on your bucket list!

Christmas time in Copenhagen is magical. The surrounding darkness is illuminated by sparking lights, and the air smells of freshly fried almonds. There are Christmas markets at every corner, not only in the city but in a lot of manors and farms all around Copenhagen. It is time for lights, Glögg, and hygge !!

For those who don’t know what hygge is, then well, try to imagine a dark winter night, snow everywhere, and you sitting in front of your fireplace covered with a thick blanket, drinking hot cocoa with someone you love. What do you feel imagining it? Yup, that’s exactly that feeling!  I guess the closest to English would be the word coziness. But it’s so much more! It takes some time spent in Denmark to fully get it 🙂 But you will have a chance to experience a tiny bit of it during Christmas!!

There is plenty happening already from the second half of November, peaking during the first and second weekend of Advent. While the city markets are open all days until Christmas, the markets outside Copenhagen are usually open for one or two weekends. The only market that is open until after Christmas (usually at the beginning of January) is the one in Tivoli Gardens.

Christmas itself is a national holiday (24-26 December), meaning that most of the tourist attractions are closed during that period, and even a lot of restaurants might not be open. Those that are open are usually booked far in advance, so plan accordingly if you visit during that time.

Over the years, I managed to visit a lot of interesting markets, so I hope it will help you get inspired. In recent years, I have focused more on looking for escape-crowds markets, and one plus of the Christmas markets in Denmark is that they are still not as crazily crowded as the ones in Germany.

Let us start with what I think is a total must-visit during this season and a place that will never disappoint you – Tivoli.

Tivoli

Tivoli is an amusement park you have to visit at least twice: during Halloween and Christmas! It is a really famous place, being one of the oldest amusement parks in Europe. If you think I am insane writing about going to an amusement park during winter, don’t 🙂 Tivoli is, above all, a park where you can stroll around and experience the magic of Christmas!! During that period, the park is filled with holiday decorations, lights, and little nisse (elves) everywhere. There are many stalls and huts selling Christmas decorations and food. Around the Tivoli lake, you can see willow trees covered in lights – and there are around 300.000 of them there!

If the description didn’t convince you, take a look at the pictures 🙂

For more information, visit Tivoli’s official site.

Julemarked on Højbro Plads

If you feel like going around some cool stalls and wooden cabins and drinking some tasty Glögg, then you should visit this market. If you are not into mulled wine, then try some apple punch made from sweet apple juice with aniseed, orange, and cloves. Soo good! The market is located in the heart of Copenhagen next to one of the busiest streets – Strøget, so there is no chance you will miss it!

Go check it out, it looks really nice with 180.000 sparking Christmas lights, surrounded by wooded cabins filled with Christmas smells 🙂 There are many hand-made items that you will just fall in love with. And candies! There were so many candies all around that I couldn’t stop glaring at them 🙂

The entrance is free. For more information, visit their site.

Christmas market in Nyhavn harbour

If you ever saw a commercial of Copenhagen then you surely have seen historical Nyhavn. This place is basically a postcard from Denmark with cute old houses standing along the canal. In the old days, it used to be a busy port, now it is a really cozy place with many restaurants.

During Christmas, the canal transformed into a Christmas market with stalls located along the pier selling decorations, presents, and food. While visiting, try Glögg, mulled wine, and æbleskiver, pancake-like balls that you eat with jam and sugar powder, nom nom nom! Most of the restaurants are serving Christmas lunches, dinners, and snacks, so if you are hungry, try some good Danish food.

The entrance is free.

Christmas market on Kongens Nytorv

Christmas Market in Nyhavn almost seamlessly extends to yet another market located on Kongens Nytorv.

Hans Christian Andersen Christmas market on Nytorv

If you follow Strøget, you will find another market. Hans Christian Andersen Christmas is a small market, but they usually have a good selection of Mjød (mead), so I usually pop by to replenish my stock until summer, when I can buy more during middle-age markets 🙂

Christmas market in Freetown Christiania

Another really famous place. Christiania is a city inside a city, which is a little different from the rest of Denmark. It has been established in 70′ by some hippies and since then became a famous place. I think it’s mostly because of selling weed (recently, I think it has been closed, but I’m not sure) and awesome Christiania bikes and crafts.

In December, there will be a Christmas market held in the city of Christiania where you will be able to buy some Christmas handicrafts and eat some good food in their coffees.

The entrance is free.

Streets of Copnehagen

As I mentioned, Copenhagen is beautiful during this time of the year, so get lost, walk around. You will find many cozy restaurants and boutiques. Follow Strøget, one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe, and you will be able to fall in love with the city.

Markets outside Copenhagen

Christmas is one of the busiest times for me, and it is not because of looking for presents. I usually run around from one market to another, enjoying a festive atmosphere. I have started looking for markets outside the city center that look interesting. So here is the selection of the few I have been to so far – to some, you can get easily by train; to others, it might be easier to rent a car.

Bakken

Bakken is the world’s oldest operating amusement park, and during December, it is adjourned in lights and a festive atmosphere. They have a small break in 2024, but the website says they will be back in 2025.

Check my post about the visit there in 2021.

Kronborg Castle

Kronborg Castle is located in Helsingør (Elsinore) and is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe, it has been enlisted to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Kronborg has also been immortalized as Elsinore in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Usually, at the beginning of December, they organize a Christmas market in the castle that not only allows you to enjoy a festive atmosphere but also gives you a chance to visit the castle.

More about my visit there in a separate post.

Esrum Kloster

Esrum Kloster is a former Cistercian monastery dating back to the 12th century. It was once one of Denmark’s largest abbeys, though today, only a single building remains.

More abut my visit is a separate post.

Gisselfeld Kloster

Christmas market at Gisselfeld Kloster is only an hour’s drive from Copenhagen. The market is focused on local craftsmen and is really charming.

More pictures under a separate post.

Roskilde

Roskilde is one of Denmark’s oldest cities and used to be the capital of Denmark. I’ve read there is a Christmas market there during one weekend in December, but I have not had a chance to get there yet.

Odense

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark and the birthplace of H.C. Anderson. The old town is really charming.

You can reach Odense quite easily with a train from central Copenhagen or by car.

Egeskov Slot

If you decide to visit Odense by car, consider taking a detour to Egeskov Slot – Europe’s best-preserved Renaissance water castle and, in my opinion, the best-looking Danish castle.

Check out more pictures and details in the dedicated post.