Christmas in Copenhagen: a jolly good time

The happiest country in the world is truly merry at Christmas time. On a city trip to Copenhagen at the end of December, you’ll be surrounded by Christmas in all the best ways. From the traditional markets to the fun and games at some of the city’s best attractions, here are our top tips for a Copenhagen Christmas.

There are several Christmas markets in Copenhagen as well as in other Danish towns near the city. Where are the Copenhagen Christmas markets in 2024 and when do they start? If you want to visit a market in the city you can go to these locations:

• Højbro Plads: from 5 November to 21 December
• Thorvaldsens Plads: from 8 November to 21 December
• Nytorv: from 15 November to 21 December
• Swedish Church: from 22 to 24 November
• Haveselskabets Have in Frederiksberg: 16 & 17 November
• Nyhavn: from 4 November to 21 December
• Designmuseum Danmark: from 6-8 & 13-15 December
• Nørrebrohallen: 30 November & 6-8 December

At these markets you’ll step into a fairytale, created by the festive atmosphere and the city’s own character. The experience is easy to picture: wander through rows of wooden stalls filled with handcrafted gifts, decorations and traditional Danish treats, surrounded by twinkling lights, with a glass of mulled wine in your hands.

From 15 November to 5 January, Copenhagen’s city centre amusement park offers a season of magical adventure. Every year, Tivoli Gardens becomes a true winter wonderland for the Christmas season, with decorations, music and shows. Kids can visit Santa and share their wishes, while the parents enjoy the many stalls with treats and gifts.

Stroll through Tivoli Gardens and indulge in Danish Yuletide classics like gingerbread hearts, pancakes, marzipan, roast pork sandwiches, æbleskiver, and rice pudding from the abundant food stalls. Take your loved ones by the hand and glide across the artificial ice skating rink in front of the Tivoli Concert Hall. Keep your legs under you as you skate around the sparkling Christmas tree.

Tivoli isn’t the only attraction in Copenhagen that makes the Christmas season extra special. The Copenhagen ZOO, too, is a great place to visit in winter, especially from 16 November to 2 January. Not only will Santa Claus and his reindeers visit the ZOO, there are also lots of fun activities to explore.

Make your own crafts at a gift workshop, walk around the ZOO to see its thousands of twinkling lights and 900 Christmas trees, and visit the animals. For children, there is a straw animal making workshop and the opportunity to help feed the farm animals in the Children’s ZOO. And naturally, there will be plenty of Danish treats to enjoy such as glögg, roasted almonds, waffles, cocoa and lots of other Christmas crunch.

If you prefer to visit a Christmas market outside of Copenhagen, we recommend a day trip to Kronborg Castle, about an hour north of the capital city. Though a visit to the castle is always special, at this time of year it’s all the more magical. There will be a Christmas market in the castle courtyard, with stands to buy treats and gifts, as well as intimate concerts, warm apple slices and pancakes.

Inside, Santa awaits by the Christmas tree, along with creative workshops, and the castle residents who will share stories of Christmases gone past. Of course, a visit to the usual exhibitions of Kronborg Castle is also included in your ticket. It can get busy at the castle for this feast, so it’s recommended to come by public transport instead of car.

With many Christmas markets taking place outside, you cannot help but wonder “Does it snow in Copenhagen at Christmas?” The chance of snow in December in Copenhagen is low but not zero, with an average of 7 snow days in the entire month. But just because it might not snow, does not mean it will be warm and dry.

The average temperature in December in Copenhagen is just above freezing, ranging from 0 to 4° Celsius, and typically the month sees around 18 rainy days. So if you are going to a Christmas market, make sure to dress warmly and maybe bring an umbrella. If you prefer to enjoy the season indoors, lots of indoor attractions and museums in Copenhagen will also decorate for the season, such as THE TUBE.