One of the favourite times of the year for Finns is undoubtedly Christmas. The land of Father Christmas is home to countless wonderful places where you can experience the magic with a very traditional and different touch. Christmas markets in Finland are one of the meeting points with friends and family, to enjoy shopping for very special objects and to enjoy music, culture and colourful shows.
Which street markets to visit? A very difficult question to answer because each one has its own charm and characteristics that make it very special. Here is a selection of some of them for you to consider on your next trip to Finland:
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Helsinki Christmas Market
- Address: Senate Square
- Dates: November 28 to December 22, 2025
- Opening hours: Sun–Thu at 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Fri–Sat at 11 a.m. – 8 p.m
With a tradition that began in 1949 as a gesture of hope after the darkness of the war years, Christmas market in Helsinki (known as Tuomaan Markkinat) is the oldest in the country. It may be cold, but the city is flooded with warm light as candles flicker in the windows of the surrounding shops and cafes. All this is accompanied by visits from Father Christmas, who makes a tour of the city centre in his old-fashioned carousel to the amusement of children and the nostalgia of parents.
It is located in the Plaza del Senado, and is full of objects and gifts handcrafted by the men and women who sell them. And that’s not all: here you can also enjoy traditional and regional gastronomy, tasting porridge or mulled wine – a delight!
Christmas market for craftsmen
- Address: Craft Museum of Finland, Kauppakatu 25, Jyväskylä
- Dates: 9-10 December
- Opening hours: 11 am – 6 pm
The Craftsmen’s Christmas (Käsityöläisten joulutori) brings together around 30 craftspeople from all over the country to sell their products at the Museum of Finnish Crafts in Jyväskylä. The best part is the encounters between the maker and the buyer. There’s quality jewellery, felt and leather products, knitwear, textiles, interior design, glassware, candles and much more. The market also has a nice Christmas café.
WeeGee Christmas market
- Address: Ahertajantie 5, Espoo
- Dates: 25-26 November
- Opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm
The traditional Christmas market (WeeGeen joulumarkkinat) at the four museums of the WeeGee Exhibition Centre is a great place to find unique Christmas gifts. A pop-up department of Aalto University’s Art and Design students will be present. There’s a packed programme, including a tree decorating workshop, story time, a Christmas card workshop and a guide to how to celebrate Christmas in the 1940s.
Santa’s Gift House
What if the present you want to give comes from Father Christmas’ own workshop? Rovaniemi is not only the capital of Lapland and home to 62,000 inhabitants, but also to Santa Claus himself, as legend has it. Father Christmas Village is a magical place that attracts thousands of visitors every year and is a giant Christmas market in itself. With handicrafts, Finnish design, traditional cuisine and plenty of activities for children, including reindeer rides and excursions to the ‘elf forest’, a trip to Rovaniemi at Christmas is a unique and unforgettable journey to the original Finnish Christmas town.
One of the iconic sites is Father Christmas’ House of Gifts, a unique architectural construction with several boutiques and restaurants, a unique destination for shopping, lunch or coffee. There is also Taigakoru, a workshop with almost 40 years of experience in handmade jewellery inspired by nature and local culture, specialising in jewellery with genuine Lapland gold nuggets.
In this village, we can find Lappituote Oy, Finland’s leading souvenir shop that has been producing souvenirs for more than 30 years, created with high quality Nordic materials, such as reindeer, birch, juniper, curly birch and reindeer leather, all of which have Lapland connotations.
Turku Christmas Market
Turku – Finland’s oldest and third largest city, has always been known for opening the Christmas season with a traditional declaration of peace since its inception. The essence of the message is a call for harmony and celebration, and the people of Turku commemorate the age-old tradition by creating a truly Christmas atmosphere in their city.
This unique atmosphere also rubs off on its Christmas market, which opens on weekends one month before Christmas (27 – 28 November, 4 – 5, 11 – 12 and 18 – 19 December) at two different locations:
The family-oriented Old Main Square, with food, concerts, Christmas characters and a bustling atmosphere
The Market Square, a smaller, more intimate event where locals can shop for more exclusive products.
In both places there is the peace and goodwill that the people of Turku have enjoyed for centuries.
Porvoo Christmas Market
- Address: Old Market Square
- Dates: 29.11-21.12
Located half an hour from Helsinki, this small medieval town takes visitors back in time with its perfectly preserved wooden houses, cobblestone streets full of lights and old-fashioned sledges or potkukelkkas, which are still a common mode of transport. Its traditional Christmas market is held on the Old Town Hall Square from 10-12 December, where vendors dressed in old-fashioned costumes offer regionally produced handicrafts and culinary products.
Tuomas Market in Olavinlinna Castle
- Address: Linnakatu 7, Savonlinna
- Opening hours: sat 12-20 and su 12-18
The atmospherically lit courtyard halls of the historic Olavinlinna Castle are the place to make Christmas finds during one weekend in December. Glowing wine and food are served in the castle courtyard. On the first day of the market, Olavinlinna will host Santa Claus’ housewarming party.
Oulu Christmas Market
- Address: Rotuaari Square in the centre
- Dates: From 2 to 22 December
Oulu is a small town in the centre of Finland’s west coast, at the mouth of the Oulujoki River on what was once a former maritime trading site. Due to its location in the middle of the country, Oulu is considered the gateway to northern Finland, making it a popular winter holiday destination for downhill and cross-country skiers.
From 2 to 22 December, Rotuaari Square in the centre of Oulu is transformed into a market full of handcrafted Christmas products and culinary specialities from traditional cuisine, as well as a spectacular Nordic setting for the narrated carol ‘We Three Kings’.
Tampere Christmas Market
- Address: Keskustori 1, 33200 Tampere
- Dates: From 2 to 22 December
- Opening hours: 11 am to 7 pm
Tampere is an old market town, founded in the 18th century, which is the second largest city in Finland. It is now known for its rich cultural life as well as the beautiful nature of its lake, within walking distance of the main street.
The Tampere Christmas market on the Central Square has a unique artistic flair and offers much more than art, crafts or culinary specialities. From 2 to 22 December it hosts a wide selection of shows to complement the craft market, such as concerts, theatre, glassblowing, forging demonstrations in the old smithy and, of course, daily visits from Father Christmas.
Another beautiful Finnish christmas market can be found at Stable Yards, an idyllic old shopping courtyard in the Finlayson factory area. As well as the usual arts and crafts shops and a café, there is a lively market in the courtyard with some animals for visitors to meet and pet.
The Christmas season lasts practically all of December until the 26th, but winter with all its charms continues for a few more months. In fact, Christmas is the start of a period of snow and winter sports. Nevertheless, it is one of the best times in Finland.
