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It’s the most wonderful time
Yes the most wonderful time
Oh the most wonderful time
Of the year
Millions of people would name Christmas their favorite holiday, surely the happiest Danes are not an exception. And what’s not to like? More than a month of sweater weather, fragrant and spicy beverages, feeling warm and cheerful while counting days to the most magical day of the year – Christmas!
As in many other wonderful places around Europe, attending the best Christmas markets in Copenhagen is like walking right into Christmas!
Everything you will find there is specifically designed to fill you with holiday feelings, joy, and excitement. Today I’m gonna not just tell you about the coolest in Copenhagen Christmas markets, but also everything you need to know about the locations, food & drinks, clothes, and possible gifts to buy there.
Whether you already have a Christmas tree all dressed up in your house and holiday decorations all over the place or you’re just starting to think about coming holidays, it’s worth going out to see how others are preparing.
Especially in the big cities and capitals like Copenhagen, some shops and restaurants usually go to some extent with Christmas decorations. Just walking around, looking at all the lights and beautifully dressed buildings may bring that desired magical Christmas mood to you in case you still don’t feel it!
When do Christmas Markets Start in Copenhagen in 2021
Each Christmas market in Copenhagen has its own working dates and hours, but if you come at the end of November, you’ll be able to visit them all! Nyhavn Christmas market tends to open early, almost at the start of November, and the others wait until 15th-16th. Book your trip for the last weekend of November or later so you can see all of the best markets Copenhagen has to offer in 2021!
Hint: Don’t make the same mistake as we did – don’t come for Christmas markets on actual Christmas day! Even though they are called Christmas markets, pretty much everything is closed in Copenhagen on this day. Same applies for other Christmas markets in Europe. Walking around a closed quiet city on a holiday doesn’t feel festive at all, believe us.
All of the markets mentioned below are worth visiting, and I’d suggest you go to every one of them if your Copenhagen journey time allows. I’ve sprinkled them with a bunch of my pictures to give you a feel of already being there!
What to do in Copenhagen during Christmas
Christmas markets are amazing, but it’s not the only thing you can do in Copenhagen during the Christmas season. You can go on an interesting walking tour around less known neighborhoods, go for some rides at the amusement park, or play some cool board games in a local cafe. Check out my list of the most fun things to do in Copenhagen to get some more specific ideas!
Best Christmas Markets in Copenhagen
1. Julemarked Kongens Nytorv – One of the best Christmas markets in Europe
This one is probably the biggest Copenhagen’s Christmas Market among those without an entrance fee. And the most decorated one as well. The whole square looks incredible! Across the street from the market itself, you’ll see the majestic vaults of the D’Angleterre Hotel, which will amaze you with its facade decorations. They have icicles, huge nutcrackers, and a whole scene with Christmas-related characters, all of which illuminate beautifully when it gets dark.
Julemarked Kongens Nytorv greets you with a big Santa’s Sleigh and his reindeer. Right behind them, there is a big luminous Christmas tree surrounded by a whole lot of cute wooden booths. In between handmade woolen clothes and vintage gramophone plates you’ll no doubt find the coolest and unique gifts to please your close ones.
Open: 12 November – 22 December 2021
Location: Kongens Nytorv, 1050 København K
2. Most visited in Copenhagen: Nyhavn Christmas Market
Located along Copenhagen’s canal, the Nyhavn Christmas market is one of the most picturesque places in Denmark.
It’s also in the best area to stay in Copenhagen whether you come for Christmas or not, so you can see the market from your hotel room window!
Find a seat near one of the cafes in those tiny colorful buildings or order your favorite hot beverage in a booth outside and try not to freeze while enjoying the waterfront promenade. Embrace the magical vibes of this street with gingerbread houses and rainbow-like reflections all over the harbour!
Open: 8 November – 23 December (yet to be confirmed for 2021)
Location: Nyhavn, 1051 København
3. Christmas Market Højbro Plads
This Christmas market is smaller but nevertheless cute and will warm you up enough if you happen to be around enjoying the Copenhagen sights. Located just a few steps from Strøget, the main pedestrian shopping street, the Højbro Plads Market mainly features local crafts like wooden kitchen utensils and stuffed toys. There are also many booths with all kinds of local Christmas treats like waffles, danish donuts, gingerbread cookies, as well as coffee and hot chocolate.
Don’t miss Strøget street too as it’s all about Christmas! Every shop makes an effort to decorate its facade to create a smooth joyful breath-taking experience for every Strøget passerby.
If you go the opposite way from Højbro Plads, towards canals, you’ll find a wonderful Royal Library, Christiansborg Palace and a bunch of museums. You can easily find this area on a map: it looks like a small pocket surrounded by canals – and it’s stuffed with sights for you to see!
Open: 12 November – 22 December 2021
Location: 1200 København
4. Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market
If you want to feel like in a fairytale, this is the place to go!
Tivoli Gardens is actually a huge amusement park with antique carousels and roller coasters. Every year in November they go out of their way to literally turn the whole place into a fairytale. There are all kinds of gift shops, restaurants to keep you warm, Christmas rides, trees, and full-size figurines. Everything glitters and is covered in snow!
Take a ride on an Elf Train, have a cup of delicious hot chocolate, taste local sweets called lakrids, and make a handful of memorable photos to remember this amazing day! It’s also a perfect destination if you happen to travel with children.
The entrance costs 130 DKK, but it’s so worth it! You may buy a ticket online to avoid staying in queues. If you only go to one place in Copenhagen, make it Tivoli Gardens, it will cover all your needs and much more. I have never seen anything as magical as this Christmas park in my life!
Open: 19 November 2021 – 2 January, 11:00 to 22:00 (Closed on December 24th)
Location: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V, Denmark
What To Buy in Copenhagen During Christmas Markets Season
1. Christmas figurines
Nutcrackers, gnomes, littles Santas with elves, snowmen, reindeers and many more.
2. Organic wool clothes
The weather during Christmas in Denmark is usually quite freezing. That’s why wool clothes is always a good idea! Choose between tons of warm sweaters, Christmas-themed socks, hats, scarfs, and gloves.
3. Handmade wooden kitchen tools
Of course, you can probably buy kitchen utensils in Denmark all year round.
However, in winter the vendors show off all their best work!
On each and every of the listed best Christmas markets in Copenhagen, you’ll see a great collection of wooden kitchen tools.
Maybe it’s time to bring some of that hygge to your own home?
4. Candles
Copenhagen’s Christmas markets are heavens for candle lovers! Whole shops of lit-up candles with all kinds of winter stories carved in them!
5. Stuffed toys
Especially if you have children! Those danish gnomes, deers, and other animals are so cute that you want to hug them all and take them home altogether.
6. Home decor
Everything you can imagine decorating a house with goes into this category. Scandinavian style is my all-time favorite and when I walk into those shops I literally want to take every little thing back with me! Christmas tree decorations greatly fit in this category too. Spruce up your home with a bit of Danish magic!
What To Eat During Christmas in Denmark
There are plenty of choices to eat and drink at any Copenhagen Christmas market: most of them will keep you warm during typical Nordic cold weather.
Here is the list of foods that you most likely will find on each of the mentioned Christmas markets in Copenhagen:
- Sausages & Fries
- Glögg (spiced mulled wine with almonds and fruit)
- Æbleskivers (Danish donuts) & Waffles
- Fudge & Lakrids
- Hot chocolate
Final thoughts about best Christmas Markets in Copenhagen
This is it! Now you should be ready to explore all the places from my list of best Christmas markets in Copenhagen by yourself.
If you have something to add or need more info, let me know in the comments below.
Don’t forget to save this post to bookmarks or pin it to your Pinterest board if you are planning to visit Copenhagen!
Happy Christmas!
2 comments
Found your site through the recent thread on Make Traffic Happen — I’m LOVING your photos! Not sure why I’m reading a Christmas post in May (maybe because Coronavirus has me mixing up days? haha), but I loved all the tips you gave. This makes me want to return to Copenhagen asap!
Thanks so much for reaching out Claire! I’m glad you like it! I can relate to mixing up days: I rarely know what day it is as I don’t have weekends and don’t go out at all these days.
I won’t name Copenhagen my favorite city (maybe I should go again when it’s less freezing!), but these Christmas markets were a highlight for sure!