A guide to the Copenhagen Christmas Markets

The Copenhagen Christmas Markets are magical; so we share how you can visit Copenhagen in Winter and explore this festive market.

Copenhagen is arguably one of the best places to visit in December; offering a cozy blend of festive traditions and Nordic charm. Whether you wish to explore Tivoli Gardens, transformed into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, the Christmas markets, or the seasonal rides, there is something for everyone.

Stroll through Nyhavn’s picturesque harbor, lined with colorful buildings and Christmas stalls and make sure to enjoy traditional Danish treats like æbleskiver and mulled wine (gløgg) at markets across the city.

For a cultural touch, visit the Royal Copenhagen flagship store to admire their famous Christmas table settings and then end your day by marveling at the Christmas light displays on Strøget, Copenhagen’s main shopping street, and a must on your Copenhagen bucket list.

Your Denmark itinerary must include at least a few days in Copenhagen, to explore all of the festive things to see and do and avoid weekends if you can! Now, let’s look at visiting the Copenhagen Christmas Markets!

Copenhagen Christmas Markets

There are various Copenhagen Christmas Markets to choose from across the city, so we share the very best options for your festive trip to the city.

Christmas at Bakken

Bakken is an amusement park with a 16th-century theme and is the world’s oldest amusement park, meaning it needs to be on your Denmark itinerary.

During the Christmas season, Bakken fills the park with bright lights and joyful decorations. It also welcomes local artisans to sell their products and contribute to the Christmas atmosphere with some festive stalls, making up a cute, cozy Christmas market.

When the Christmas market is open, there will be no entrance fee to enter Bakken (fees are required to ride the rides). Bakken opens at the end of November until 3 days before Christmas, Friday to Sunday from 2 pm until 9 pm. The best time to visit is sometime after 6 pm for a quieter experience. Apart from vendors, the market also has performances and of course, thrilling rides.

If you have a vehicle, the drive is about 20 minutes taking Helsingørmotorvejen and exiting at Klampenborgvej. The metro will take around 24 minutes from Østerport Station, take the Klampenborg stop, and walk for 750 m. A bike ride is about 40 minutes via Strandvejen. There is a parking lot right next to Bakken.

Kongens Nytorv Christmas Market (King’s New Square)

The Copenhagen Christmas market held in Kongens Nytorv is one of the best and a local favorite. Since it happens in the middle of Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square), there is no entrance fee, very accessible, and can be reached on foot. 

The square is filled with stalls and tables selling various and unique Christmas products. The air is filled with the delicious smell of roasted almonds which you can buy in different flavors.

Apart from sweets, you will also find traditional Danish Christmas food such as brown potatoes, red cabbage, roasted ham, and tasty mulled wine.

Kongens Nytorv is located near Hotel d’Angleterre, in front of Nyhavn, near Memorial Anchor.

Højbro Square Christmas Market (High Bridge Square) 

Højbro Square or High Bridge Square is a high street in the middle of Copenhagen that transforms into another fun Copenhagen Christmas Market. It’s where you will find outlet shops, and incredible restaurants, and at the end of the square is the Stork Fountain.

When Christmas in Europe kicks in, the square is packed with tables and stalls. Locals are selling a variety of snacks and delicious Danish food, which fills up the air with a mouthwatering aroma.

Other than local items, you will also find international food from all over Central Europe such as sausages, waffles, and even fermented fish; try to come here with an empty stomach! Try out several dishes and wash them down with a hot beverage or even a cold beer. 

Højbro Square is situated southwest of Kongens Nytorv, about a 6-minute walk, only a few steps from Gammel Stand metro station.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_JRs3SO5E0

H.C. Andersen Christmas Market

Named after the well-known Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen (the author of The Little Mermaid), this is another fun, Copenhagen Christmas Market.

This Christmas market is kid-friendly selling items such as food, hot drinks, and sweets. However, the highlight is the opportunity for children to meet Santa for a photo and learn to make Christmas ornaments. The market is also home to some kid-friendly rides as well, so you can enjoy a full afternoon out fit the family.

Nytorv is not in the same location as the Kongens Nytorv. Nytorv is a street 900 m south, near Copenhagen City Court and Copenhagen University.

Christmas in Tivoli

Tivoli is the most popular theme park in Denmark and one of the best theme parks in Europe. It’s a 19th-century park that is open between the start of spring and the end of summer. It opens again for Halloween and then for the sparkling Christmas. The wooden houses are decorated with colorful ornaments, a life-size set of trains is bright with warm bulbs, and pine trees are covered in snow. 

The famous garden is engulfed by 70,000 Christmas lights. To complete the set-up, there are well-decorated 60+ stalls selling Christmas snacks, sweets, and hot drinks. If you haven’t done your shopping yet, you can find a gift or two that captures the true Nordic culture. You can choose from candies, knitted items, leather merchandise, and other handicrafts.

The entrance fee is 60 DKK for children (3-7) and 135 DKK for adults. It’s a 20-minute walk from King’s Garden to Tivoli or a 6-minute bike ride. You can also bring your car but you have to park at nearby establishments, Tivoli doesn’t have its parking area.

Freetown Christiania Christmas Market

The Copenhagen Christmas market in Christiania can be very different from other Christmas markets in Copenhagen. Christiania is in the heart of Copenhagen which was occupied by squatters in the 1970s.

Today, the area is known as Freetown where the area has its policy especially when it comes to using and selling cannabis. It is also home to hippies and an international commune with diverse cultures.

Because of this, the Christmas market in Christiania is more suitable for adults. But apart from having the opportunity to buy and use marijuana, most vendors on the market are talented artists with whom you can speak and discuss the products they sell. You don’t even have to buy anything, the locals are very much happy to just talk and exchange stories.

Nonetheless, the streets are covered in Christmas decorations, stall vendors offer hot wine and chocolate, cookies, and local delicacies. Christiania is located on an island called Christianhavn, meaning you have to take the bridge to get here. Both Lille Langebro and Knippelsbro leads to the Freetown. You can take a quick but scenic ferry ride from Københavns Havn to Knippelsbro as well.

Best Places to Stay in Copenhagen

If you are on a budget, Copenhagen Downtown Hostel is not only well-located but also offers a very outgoing and social scene, perfect for solo travelers. While Danhostel Copenhagen overlooks the popular and magnificent Sydhaven. 

For mid-range hotels, Comwell by Wyndham is a nice choice. It features a minimalist interior with a superior location in Nordhavnen. On the other hand, Hotel Østerport is right next to the accessible Østerport Station that leads downtown right to the airport.

If you can splurge a little bit and experience a Scandinavian luxury hotel, both NH Collection and Admiral Hotel not only feature fantastic locations in the city center, but also offer sophisticated interior design and impeccable features such as buffet service, fitness center, and an onsite bar.

Christmas Activities in Copenhagen

Aside from visiting Copenhagen Christmas markets, there are other Christmas-related activities you can do and enjoy.

Take a walk through Købmagergade, where the shopping streets are covered in distinctive sparkling lights and Christmas decorations.  You might even get lucky and see some people singing lovely Christmas caroling featuring traditional Danish songs.

Another thing you can do is find and drink “gløgg”. This is a Danish version of mulled wine or spiced wine. It’s often served with dried fruit and you will find almonds and raisins at the bottom of it. It would be ideal if you find “æbleskiver” in the same food stall, these two would really get your Scandinavia Christmas mood going. The name means “apple slices”, but apple is not the main ingredient of this sweet pastry. Æbleskiver texture is more similar to a pancake and best served warm.

You should also look for a local restaurant that serves a full Danish Christmas dinner. Since most businesses are closed a few days before Christmas, a lot of Danes will be celebrating Christmas with their friends and colleagues in advance. This means that many restaurants are offering traditional dishes as their special menu option.

Things to know before you go to Copenhagen