Copenhagen is not a city that immediately springs to mind as a Christmas destination. But there’s a reason why it’s worth doing so, called Tivoli. But there is much more to the Danish capital. At this time of year, the Christmas markets in Copenhagen are in full swing, and glögg and hot chocolate are the stars of the show to get us through the freezing temperatures.
From the end of November to the end of December, several Christmas markets are set up in the main squares of the city. If you’re curious, here is a list of the most beautiful ones.
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Best Christmas markets in Copenhagen
Højbro Plads Christmas market
Genuine Danish Christmas cheer at its best
- Danish: Julemarked Højbro Plads
- Address: Højbro Square in the center of Copenhagen
- Dates: 4. november – 21. december 2025
Højbro Plads is one of the best Christmas markets in Copenhagen. It is located between Strøget Street and Christiansborg Palace. Here you will see a lot of food stalls (many of them with German specialities) and also some Christmas decorations stalls.
It’s a traditional market with wooden stalls very similar to those you’ll see at German Christmas markets, surrounded by Christmas trees.
Hans Christian Andersen Christmas market
- Danish: H.C. Andersen julemarked
- Address: Nytorv, 1450 Copenhagen
- Dates: from 15 November to 21 December
- Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm; Friday and Saturday from 11am to 9pm.
One of the most popular Christmas markets in Copenhagen is the Hans Christian Andersen market, located on Nytorv Square near the cathedral. It is a tribute to the Danish writer, so each stall is named after one of his children’s stories.
It sells gift items, souvenirs and, of course, there are some food stalls with traditional Danish sweets and specialities. On Wednesdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm, Julemanden (the Danish Father Christmas) receives children’s letters.
Thorvaldsens Plads Christmas Market
- Danish: Julemarked på Thorvaldsens Plads
- Address: Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, 1213 København K
- Dates: from 3 November to 21 December
- Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Thursday 11am to 8pm; Friday and Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 12pm to 7pm.
Kongens Nytorv Square used to be one of Copenhagen’s main Christmas markets, which has now been moved to Thorvaldsens Plads. There are plenty of stalls selling local handicrafts, Christmas decorations, winter accessories, candles…
From Thursday to Sunday afternoon, between 1 and 5 o’clock, Father Christmas welcomes all children and adults who want to hand him their letter or have their photo taken with him.
Nyhavn Christmas Market
- Danish: Julemarked i Nyhavn
- Address: Nyhavn, Copenhagen Municipality, Denmark
- Dates: from 5 November to 21 December
- Opening hours: daily from 10am to 7pm; Fridays and Saturdays until 8pm.
Very close to Kongens Nytorv square is Nyhavn, a beautiful canal with colourful buildings that is the icon of the city. During Christmas in Copenhagen, the little houses are decorated with Christmas lights and luminous garlands hang from the masts of the boats anchored in the canal.
Some food stalls, Christmas decorations, handicrafts… Although it is a small, but the setting of Nyhavn market makes it one of the most beautiful in the city.
Kronborg Christmas Market
- Danish: Julemarked på Kronborg
- Address: Kronborg 1B, 3000 Helsingør, Danmark
- Dates: 30 November and 1, 7 and 8 December
On the first two weekends of Advent, Kronborg Castle hosts a Christmas market selling quality products such as clothes, winter accessories, Christmas decorations, toys, handmade jewellery….The castle courtyard is decorated with Christmas trees full of lights and hosts children’s workshops, storytelling and Christmas jazz and gospel concerts. Here smells and tastes of spruce, apple slices and roasted almonds while the cold winter air is tingling with the atmosphere of the good old Christmas as we know and love it.
To enter the Kronborg market you will have to pay an entrance fee of 85 Kr, which includes access to the market, the royal flats, the ballroom, the chapel and an exhibition. Tickets are purchased online and you have to select the date and time of arrival (10am or 1pm).
Christiania Christmas market
- Danish: Christiania Julemarked
- Address: Den Grå Hal, Refshalevej 2, 1436 København
- Dates: from 8 to 20 December
- Opening hours: daily from 12 noon to 8 p.m
In the ‘hippie’ quarter of Christiania there is also a Christmas market. It is a collection of stalls selling handicrafts, decorations, gifts, food… which are located inside the Den Grå Hal… building.
Some days there are live music performances by local singers. It’s going to be a cosy atmosphere in Copenhagen’s sanctuary Christiania, the Christmas market that has been a recurring event since the 1970s.
Flids Christmas market
- Danish: Flids julemarked
- Address: Nørrebrogade 208, 2200 København
- Dates: from 6 to 8 December
- Opening hours: Friday from 12:00 to 18:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.
In the Nørrebro area there is a sustainable market perfect for those of you who are looking for quality handmade products. To enter this market you will have to pay an entrance fee of 40 DKK.
It’s a Christmas market of local designers and artists where you can buy jewellery, ceramics, handmade clothes and accessories, paintings, lamps, wooden handicrafts… The prices are high, but the quality and exclusivity is worth it.
Magic of Christmas in Tivoli Gardens
- Danish: Jul i Tivoli
- Address: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V
- Dates: from 14 November to 4 January 2026
- Opening hours: 11 am – 10 pm
Tivoli Park is the ultimate representation of Christmas in Copenhagen. It is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, built in the 19th century. In the park you can enjoy various attractions such as roller coasters, carousels, free fall… It also has several spaces that recreate the architecture of other countries such as a Chinese pagoda and an Arab-style palace.
Its thousands of Christmas lights, the trees decorated with luminous garlands, the hearts that change colour, together with the sound of Christmas carols and the sweet smell of cinnamon and cloves with which they prepare the mulled wine, will make you experience the ‘magic of Christmas’.
Throughout the park you will find several stalls where you can eat or have a mulled wine, an ice rink and Father Christmas’ village.
We recommend visiting the park at dusk, so you can see all the Christmas lights being switched on and enjoy it at night, which is when it is most charming.
If there is one essential visit to make at Christmas in Copenhagen, without a doubt, it is this charming park.
The entrance fee is 160 DKK, but you can’t go on the rides. For this you will have to buy, in addition to the entrance ticket, a ticket that costs about 30 euros.
Dishes in Copenhagen Christmas markets
I’m sure that after making all these Christmas plans in Copenhagen you’ve got hungry, so make a note on the list of traditional Danish Christmas dishes and sweets that you have to try in the maradillos:
Smørrebrød: could be considered the national dish. It is a typical Danish speciality consisting of a slice of rye bread spread with butter and covered with different toppings.
Gløgg: mulled wine with spices, dried fruit and almonds. A typical Christmas drink not to be missed.
Mørbradbøffer: is breaded pork tenderloin with onion, chives, dill and lemon, seasoned with pepper and salt.
Frikadeller: a dish of minced pork meatballs with onion and egg, served with potatoes or bread. The fish version is called Fiskefrikadeller.
Æbleskiver: ball-shaped scones filled with jam and coated in icing sugar.
Brændte mandler: caramelised almonds.
Honninghjerter: gingerbread cakes filled with jam and covered with dark chocolate.
Kanelsnegl: cinnamon buns.
Have you tried any other Danish specialities?
Other must-see sights
See the shop windows on Stroget Street
Stroget is the longest shopping street in Europe. It starts at Kongens Nytrorv Square and ends at Radhuspladsen. It is a street lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. One of the best things to do at Christmas in Copenhagen is to stroll along Stroget to see the window displays and Christmas lights.
Christmas tree on the Radhuspladsen
At the end of Stroget Street, you will find the Town Hall Square or Radhuspladsen. This is where the largest Christmas tree in Copenhagen is set up. The fir tree is usually around 20 metres high and is decorated with more than 800 lights and many luminous hearts.
The tree is lit on the first Sunday of Advent at 3.30pm. If your travel dates coincide, don’t miss the ceremony, as you will see Santa Claus parading from Nyhavn to Radhuspladsen.
Christmas decorations at the Hotel d’Anglaterre
The Hotel d’Anglaterre is located on Kongens Nytorv square. Every Christmas they decorate its façade with a decoration that simulates snow falling from its roof with sleighs and Christmas trees.
Ice skating at Broens ice rink
In Christianshavn, next to the harbour, an ice rink is set up from the beginning of November until the end of February.
Around the rink there are several stalls where you can eat or have a hot drink to warm up.
In addition, during the winter season, some events are held at the Broens rink, such as skating lessons or an ice disco.
The entrance fee is 20 DKK, but if you don’t have skates you can rent them for 75 DKK (this price includes access to the rink).
Attend the St Lucia Day celebration
If you are lucky enough to be in Copenhagen on the night of 12-13 December, you will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful Christmas spectacles in Europe: St. Lucia’s Night.
This is a procession of boats decorated with candles and Christmas lights, which sail along the canals of Copenhagen. This parade marks the beginning of Christmas in Copenhagen and its motto is to bring light into the darkness of winter.
It starts at 5 p.m. at Kayal Republic and passes through Nyhavn, Christianshavn and Højbro Plads. Ends at 18.30 at Kayak Republic.
Celebrate J-Day
On the first Friday of November every year at 2.59 am the Julebryg is launched in the bars of Denmark, thus celebrating J-Day. But, as you probably have no idea what this is all about, we will explain it to you briefly.
Julebryg is the Danish Christmas beer. It is a spiced, fruity, darker beer with a higher percentage of alcohol than the classic beers. It is only sold in Denmark for 7 weeks of the year, yet it is the fourth most consumed beer in the country, so you can imagine how much they drink during the Christmas holidays.
Jules is Danish for Christmas and J-Dag is Christmas beer day. On this day, Julebryg delivery boys from the Tuborg brand dress up as elves or Father Christmas and deliver the beers to pubs around the country, aboard flashy trucks.
The Danes put on their elf hats and flock to buy their julebryg and party in the squares of central Copenhagen.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to Copenhagen at Christmas. If you have any questions or suggestions about what else to see or do in the Danish capital, feel free to write in the comments below.
