Copenhagen, Denmark’s most famous city, is an exciting place to visit. Doubling as the country’s largest city and its capital, Copenhagen is one of the most visited Scandinavian destinations in the world. Because it’s blessed with pristine waterways, bubbling streets, modern infrastructure, and scenic bridges, you won’t spend five minutes without recognizing the stylish lifestyle in the Danish capital. With its plethora of exciting attractions—like buildings with ancient Nordic architecture mixed with modern designs, world-class restaurants and eateries, museums, castles, and cultural riches—there is so much to do and see in this unique place. During the yuletide month, it comes alive with the full festive spirit that comes with the season. Tall Christmas trees, dazzling lights, lots of snow, and numerous Christmas fairs light up the streets of the metropolis. These Christmas markets are one of the things Copenhagen is famous for. While you’re here, experience these most delightful Christmas markets in Copenhagen, Denmark, that you should check out.
Tourist information:
- The best way to explore Copenhagen is on a bike, as it is the best bike city in the world. I love that VisitCopenhagen, the city's official tourism website, has a handy guide to everything you need to know about biking, routes, rentals, and rules.
- Copenhagen's official tourism website also has a guide to budget activities for those wanting to curb their spending. This includes purchasing a Copenhagen Card, which will grant you free admission to the top attractions in the city, unlimited free transportation, and free Kids Cards.
Winter in Copenhagen:
- During the winter, days in Copenhagen are very short, with sunlight only lasting around seven hours per day in Denmark. It's also quite cold as temperatures will drop under 0°C (32°F) from December to March, according to VisitCopenhagen.
Christmas traditions in Denmark
According to denmark.dk, Christmas is one of the major festivals celebrated in the country. It brings light to the otherwise dark Decembers, when sunlight only lasts about seven hours per day. Some Christmas traditions include:
- On the evening on December 24, eat a traditional dinner of roast duck, roast pork, or roast goose with caramelized potatoes and pickled red cabbage on the side
- Dance around the Christmas tree while singing traditional Christmas carols with loved ones
- Visit relatives on December 25 and 26 and have a traditional Danish Christmas lunch of karrysild (herring in curry) and æbleflæsk (apple porridge with pork)
- Go on a group nature walk
Those spending Christmas in Copenhagen will also see the streets light up with various Christmas markets. If you’d like to know what to expect, check out our detailed guide to Christmas markets.
Christmas markets in Copenhagen
1. Christiana Christmas Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Julemarkedet 2010. Foto: www.JoakimLarsen.dk
Posted by Christiania Julemarked on Saturday, 12 November 2011
I think you should kick off your exploration of the city’s Christmas markets with a visit to Freetown Christiana Christmas Market. This bazaar offers a one-of-a-kind experience with its alternative setting. It is home to several stalls that offer a wide variety of goods, including clothes, jewelry, handmade crafts, decorations, paintings, ceramics, and many more. The fair is held in a 19th-century building and also features live band performances. There is a lot of food stands offering Scandinavian delicacies too, so you don’t get hungry while shopping around.
Christiana Christmas Market
Address: Christiania 1432 Christiania, Denmark
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official Christiana Christmas Market Facebook page
Website: Christiana Christmas Market
Market highlights: wrought iron candle holders, hand-made jewelry, Christmas mobiles cut from paper, clothes, leather masks
2. Nyhavn Harbor Christmas Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Julemarked i Nyhavn Vi er ved at gøre klar til Nyhavns traditionsrige julemarkedet, der åbner fredag den 5/11 og...
Posted by Nyhavn on Wednesday, November 3, 2021
One of the first markets to start its activities in the city is Nyhavn Harbor Christmas Market. The old Nyhavn Harbor transforms into a cozy and exciting holiday wonderland for locals and tourists to visit and get into the Christmas spirit. Nyhavn Harbor’s cobbled pathways are lined by beautifully decorated stalls offering gifts, Danish specialties, and delicious food and drink. While I haven’t tried it myself, getting a taste of the unique Danish mulled wine (gløgg) and other traditional dishes as you shop for the best yuletide goods along the city’s waterways seems like a good way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Nyhavn Harbor Christmas Market
Address: 1051, Copenhagen
Dates: For updated dates and hours, check out Nyhavn’s official Facebook page
Website: Nyhavn Harbor
Market highlights: Danish and Scandinavian specialties
Copenhagen Tour Guide
Agnethe Poulsen
I’m a native to Copenhagen, having lived in the city all my life. My background is a master’s degree in history and Danish literature and since I’ve always loved fairy tales and storytelling, I wrote my thesis on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale ‘The Little Mermaid’. After graduating I decided to follow my passion for history and culture, so I became a tour guide and have now been working... Read more
Tours by Agnethe
3. Kronborg Christmas Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Today's the day we decorated the Christmas tree, that will stand in the Ballroom until January 6th! It's also the...
Posted by Kronborg on Tuesday, November 26, 2019
This Christmas market held inside the majestic Kronborg Castle is an excellent place to do your shopping. The halls and rooms of this castle are home to several stands and feature the best of local crafts, decorations, gifts, and, of course, food and drinks. Stroll around the indoor space, then look out for and buy that particular item to make your holiday celebrations memorable. I especially believe families should visit this market as the ballroom has a beautifully decorated tall Christmas tree in it and offers a yuletide show where the kids can see and play with Santa Claus.
Kronborg Christmas Market
Address: Kronborg 2 C, 3000 Helsingør (Elsinore), Copenhagen
Dates: For updated dates and hours, refer to Kronborg Castle’s official website
Website: Kronborg Castle
4. Kongens Nytorv Christmas market
Located right in the middle of Copenhagen, this Christmas market is a marvelous place to visit. Sitting between Nyhavn and Strøget, the fair offers you all the features of a traditional Christmas bazaar and more. Kongens Nytorv boasts magical stalls offering classical Danish gift items, beautiful decorations, exceptionally made crafts, and other goods. The views of the neighboring areas from this spot are awe-inspiring. One exciting thing about this event is that it has a Santa stand for photos and to give the kids something to be giddy about.
Kogens Nytorv Christmas market
Address: Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen
Dates: For updated daes and hours, please visit the official website for Kongens Nytorv Christmas market
Website: Kogens Nytorv Christmas market
Market highlights: Free photo with Father Christmas, shops selling Christmas gifts and decorations, glühwein (German mulled wine), Christmas apple punch with aniseed, orange and cloves
What guests are saying about their Christmas market experience:
“Very beautiful small Christmas markets across the Copenhagen street give a good vibe of how Christmas is around corner. The lights and decoration are beautiful when seen at Night. The shops in the julemarked have food stalls as well as shopping for gifts, christmas decor, cookies and woollen handmade garments” - by ]Google reviewer, Shevangi Shah](https://g.co/kgs/wCvc1Uv)
5. Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Kære julevenner Planlægningen af HCA Julemarkedet 2019 er i fuld gang. Der vil være nye bodholdere og meget mere for...
Posted by H.C. Andersen Julemarkedet on Friday, 21 June 2019
This is one market I think bookworms will be most eager to visit. Named after one of the most popular and liked men in Danish history, Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market is a spectacular themed market in the city. Beautifully decorated with colorful lights and ornaments, the bazaar has each of its stalls named after Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. On the grounds, you can smell, taste, and shop for all your holiday items, including specially made food and drinks. It is an excellent place for kids to visit and features a Christmas caravan with Santa in it.
Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market
Address: Hulgårdsvej 27, DK-2400, Copenhagen
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official website for Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market
Website: Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market
Market highlights: Christmas decorations, gifts, jewelry, mulled wine, hot chocolate, carousel for kids, Christmas caravan
What guests are saying about their Christmas market experience:
“A very beautiful Christmas market. As is often the case, a few souvenir shops and especially food stands, street food among others. Richly decorated, it’s worth the detour just for the pleasure of the eyes!
Special mention for the medieval clothing and alcohol stand and sellers in medieval clothing (at the back)” - by Google reviewer, Noé Nguyen
6. Hojbro Plads Christmas Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Featuring some distinctive displays with about 16,000 decorative lights, a real Santa’s sleigh with live reindeer, and some other amazing features, this market is one of the best in Copenhagen. Located on Højbro Square, right in the heart of the city’s most vibrant area, this place is a Christmas shopping paradise for locals and visitors in town. Here, you can shop for clothing items, knitted sweaters and caps, glass art, and several other Christmas goods. Enjoy munching on German-style barbeque and roasted almonds and sipping a cup of the distinctive Nordic mulled wine as you go around the venue.
Hojbro Plads Christmas Market
Address: Højbro Plads, Copenhagen
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official website for Hojbro Plads Christmas Market
Website: Hojbro Plads Christmas market
Market highlights: German frankfurters, Reich family’s homemade glühwein (German mulled wine), Tempranillo wine, fine glass, paper cut-outs, delicacies, woollen socks, and knitwear
What guests are saying about their Christmas market experience:
“Very nice Christmas Market with nice variety of goods and crafts available. Even met a real Santa for the first time in my life. It is free of entrance and gets very very crowded because of its good location. Take into account that for the most popular products you rrally need to wait in line (glogg and æbleskiver). Also, it is kind of pricy. Easily accessible by train and within the walking distance of everything.” - by Google reviewer, Mari Kukerman
7. Christmas market in Tivoli Gardens
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Enjoy shopping for holiday products and savoring delicious treats in the oldest amusement park in Europe, Tivoli Gardens. This historic place is converted into a fantastic Christmas shopping center during the yuletide season with all its numerous snow-covered trees decorated with sparkling Christmas lights and decorations. Here, some stands sell special Danish snacks and cookies, and several other stalls offer beautiful gifts, handmade crafts, etc. With exciting rides, a large lake-turned-ice-rink, and so much to eat and drink, this fair combines everything beautifully to give you the most unforgettable experience. I certainly wouldn’t miss it if I visited the city during this time.
Christmas market in Tivoli Gardens
Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630, Copenhagen
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official website for Christmas market in Tivoli Gardens
Website: Christmas market in Tivoli Gardens
Market highlights: Gingerbread hearts, pancakes, marzipan, roast pork sandwiches, æbleskiver (Danish snacks made from fried batter), rice pudding, family shows in Glass Hall Theatre and Tivoli Concert Hall
8. FLID Christmas Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Do you love art or design—or both? Then you should visit this Christmas market. At FLID’s, you don’t get to shop for Christmas items and leave; you are offered something entirely different. The event gives you a chance to see some of the most creative works of more than 100 Danish and Scandinavian artists. See, admire, and purchase anything you love on display here, including photographs, abstract illustrations, ceramics, jewelry, and many more art and design products. Any true lover of art will enjoy visiting this market.
FLID Christmas Market
Address: Nørrebrohallen, Nørrebrogade 208, 2200, Copenhagen
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official website for FLID Christmas Market
Website: FLID Christmas Market
Market highlights: Ceramics, graphics, textile design, art, illustration, wood design, lighting design, crafts, and jewelry design
9. Christmas market in Helligåndshuset (the House of the Holy Spirit)
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Usually one of the main attractions in the Danish capital, the famous Helligåndshuset has its own way of celebrating the Christmas season. The House of the Holy Spirit, as it is also known, hosts an impressive Christmas market within its walls. The bazaar offers you a chance to visit and walk around this 18th-century monument and, at the same time, shop for all your holiday supplies. It features stands that sell beautiful yuletide decorations and gifts and a couple of stalls for refreshments too.
Christmas market in Helligåndshuset
Address: Niels Hemmingsensgade 5, 1153, Copenhagen
Website: Christmas market in Helligåndshuset
10. Carlsberg Christmas Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
One of the oldest breweries in the country hosts an exclusive Christmas bazaar to usher in the season and its festivities. Carlsberg Christmas Market is located on Valby’s slopes and offers a relaxed and inviting place to visit and shop. With vendors that sell some of the best gifts, crafts, and handmade artworks in the world, the site also features stalls where you can buy warm mulled beers and delicious homemade meals. The atmosphere in this historic location is cozy and welcoming—suitable for the whole family.
Carlsberg Christmas Market
Address: Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, 1799, Copenhagen
11. Christmas market at Odd Fellow Palaeet
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
As you explore the city of Copenhagen, make sure you check out the fabulous Christmas market held in the historic Odd Fellows Palaeet. This ancient mansion, built in the 1750s, offers not only a place to shop for Christmas supplies but also a flea market filled with beautiful items. Browse through the stalls in the mansion’s grand hall, then shop for all your favorite holiday products on the rest of the mansion’s grounds. This event features everything, from clothes to handmade figurines to cookies and even homemade pickled vegetables.
Christmas market at Odd Fellow Palaeet
Address: Bredgade 28, 1260, Copenhagen
12. FindersKeepers Christmas Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
FindersKeepers offers you a place to get into the festive spirit with a remarkable Christmas market held on the first and second floors of Axel Towers, close to Tivoli Gardens. The levels of this market are occupied with over 100 stands featuring exceptional products from creative handicraft workers and very talented designers in the city. Here, you will find artworks, decoration items, trendy fashion accessories, clothes, ceramics, jewelry, toys for children, and other unusual Christmas products that you will hardly find elsewhere. It’s a cozy and fascinating venue to shop.
FindersKeepers Christmas Market
Address: Axel Towers, Copenhagen
Website: FindersKeepers Christmas Market
13. Skagerak Christmas Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
If you are looking for where to get some unusual Christmas gifts, then you should head to Skagerak Christmas Market. This fair offers you a great atmosphere to shop and enjoy a cup of gløgg, tea, or coffee while getting your holiday spirit reawakened. The stalls here sell exceptional items with unique designs, delicious local food, and artworks. The place also features a bonfire and a drawing table where you can bond over roasting marshmallows or try out your skills in creating exclusive designs.
Skagerak Christmas Market
Address: Indiakaj 2, 2100, Copenhagen
Nearby Christmas market
14. Esrum Abbey Christmas Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Experience the peaceful ambiance of a traditional Christmas shopping place at Esrum Abbey Christmas Market. This quaint, atmospheric, and appealing fair is located in a functioning monastery and offers its visitors a charming venue to shop for holiday wares. Here, you will find a wide range of handmade presents from local artists and numerous delicious local and international treats. The bazaar also features an exciting yuletide workshop where there will be games and fun activities for kids to enjoy. If you are looking for where to enjoy this magical season with the entire family, then I’d say Esrum Abbey is perfect for you.
Esrum Abbey Christmas Market
Address: Klostergade 11 3230, Graested
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please refer to VisitNorthZealand, the official tourism website for the region
Website: Esrum Abbey Christmas Market
Market highlights: Raw milk cheeses, Trappist beer, pâtés, liqueurs, pickled fruit, marzipan, and Christmas goodies produced by monks and nuns
Enjoy a fulfilling Christmas shopping experience in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of the most favored Scandinavian cities by tourists. This is because of its several amazing attractions, welcoming people, fascinating culture, and interesting traditions. There are several wondrous things to experience in the city, and during the Christmas season, it becomes even more spectacular. With the holiday come dozens of delightful Christmas markets in Copenhagen, Denmark, and one of the best things to do in the city is to explore them and enjoy a fulfilling time.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
