Copenhagen is one of our favorite cities! It has Vikings! It has so many bakeries that the entire city smells like cinnamon! And, in December, Copenhagen’s Christmas markets add a touch of homey magic to the town.
After seeing over 50 Christmas markets, Caleb and I felt that Copenhagen’s Christmas markets were just different from the rest of Europe. They felt more festive, unique, and romantic than many popular tourist markets!
In this review, we’ll go over everything you need to know before deciding whether or not to attend, including a full guide to all of the markets! Here’s a video we made to give you an idea of the vibe:
✔️ Quick Information:
📅 Opening dates: November 17 – December 31, 2024. Some markets may begin closing in the week running up to Christmas. However, Tivoli is always a safe bet. It is open till January 5th, 2025!
⏰ On weekdays, the best time to go is late afternoon or shortly after sunset.
🍴 Must try: Aebelskiver and Glogg.
🏨 Where to stay: We stayed at Cabinn Copenhagen but regret not staying here. It’s just as cheap (for Copenhagen), but it’s closer to the major attractions.
💴 Payment: Most businesses accept cards. Bring euros just in case.
What to Expect and Know If You Decide To Visit:
The Good: It’s Seriously Festive and Cozy:
Honestly? The Christmas markets in Copenhagen were the coziest of any that Caleb and I visited over two months, and we visited over 50 markets throughout Europe. We absolutely adored them and thought they were quite festive and romantic.
We loved them so much that we’re returning this year, and we *usually* like to travel to new areas.
The markets were the least crowded of *any* country we visited. It could be because we went at the end of November, which is a little before “tourist time.” However, we believe that Denmark is not the first country that springs to mind for tourists planning a Christmas market excursion.
It is usually German cities such as Berlin, Prague, or Strasbourg.
The markets all had the Scandinavian “Hygge,” which I believe just means cozy(?) Regardless, from the mulled wine huts to the twinkling lights, the lack of people, the fur everywhere, and the BAKED GOODS, these marketplaces screamed comfort.
We enjoy how the marketplaces weren’t overly commercialized, unlike many of Europe’s worst Christmas markets. Although Tivoli Gardens’ market is well-decorated, it paled in contrast to other European markets that felt more like theme parks, despite Tivoli Gardens being a theme park itself.
If you want to combine your trip with some local culture, go to Copenhagen’s Christmas markets on December 13 for the Santa Lucia parade, which features kayaks sailing through all of the canals adorned for Christmas.
After perusing the markets, you can stop at a restaurant for a typical Danish Christmas meal, which was the highlight of our entire Christmas market excursion.
Not all cities provide the opportunity to visit a typical Christmas market and learn about local culture, which we believe distinguishes Copenhagen.
The Bad: Say Goodbye To Your Dolla Dolla Bills:
We like to keep our thoughts honest, thus there are a few potential drawbacks that we should warn you about.
If you’ve done any research on Copenhagen, you’re already aware that it’s costly. While we discovered that all of Europe’s Christmas markets were more expensive than we expected (except Bratislava, another favorite), Copenhagen was by far the most expensive.
For example, a 200ml cup of glogg costs approximately 10 euros. And you may say, “Okay, I’ll just get one to keep costs down,” but it’s so good that you’ll order another and then get tipsy, so another will sound like a good idea, and you’ll be broke.
However, this may be only our own experience.
We weren’t too impressed with the cuisine at the Copenhagen Christmas Markets, except for one or two items. As huge foodies, that was a letdown. However, we ate at some restaurants that transformed our lives, proving that there is wonderful cuisine in Copenhagen, just not at the markets.
If you want to experience Christmas in Copenhagen…
To help you decide whether or not to visit, here are some factors that might make it worthwhile if you agree with all or most of them:
- You desire a nice Christmas atmosphere.
- You like a slower pace and a more “authentic” Christmas experience, rather than a hectic Christmas carnival.
- You enjoy wonderful food but don’t mind eating outside of the markets.
This is not for you if:
On the other hand, if you agree with these sentiments, Copenhagen may not be a Christmas market match:
- You are on a budget.
- You want to be able to consume the traditional German Christmas market food.
Detailed Market Guide:
Tivoli Gardens’ Christmas Market:
We weren’t sure we’d appreciate the Christmas markets at Tivoli Gardens because we expected them to be overly marketed.
I must say that Caleb and I were pleasantly delighted! They go all out and transform the entire grounds into a wonderland! There are Christmas trees and decorations, as well as a large number of lights by the small pond with a light show. The middle has the most adorable arrangement of stalls.
The inside stalls are where you’ll want to head for food (warning: it’s not cheap), and you can buy the typical fair fare like waffles, pastries, fries, and, of course, glogg. We enjoyed how they had adorable small tables and chairs put up throughout the place so you could just relax and take in the cozy Christmas light glow.
We also discovered some pleasant tiny cabins on the grounds of the gardens with chilly fur-lined chairs where you could relax if you desired a more private, romantic atmosphere!
If you want to ride something, the gardens have some options, but we preferred just meandering around the grounds, glogg in hand, and taking in the lovely atmosphere of the market.
Nyhavn Christmas Market:
When you think of Copenhagen, you immediately think of Nyhavn. It’s that adorable row of bright houses along the canals that appears in every Instagram shot. You cannot miss crossing the bridge to see the entire street from both sides.
While Caleb and I were both like “WOW” when we first walked into the street because it’s so cute and festive with the hanging garlands and fairy lights set against the colorful buildings and the little restaurants decked out with sheepskins and cozy blankets, we were a little underwhelmed by the market itself.
Sure, there were some of the prettiest Glogg stands ever (shown above), but the market itself was quite small, and we didn’t see any food or merchandise for sale.
So, we recommend buying a Glogg, walking down the charming street, and then carrying on. Don’t stop eating or drinking here because it’s touristy and everything costs around 100 times more.
Hans Christian Andersen Market:
We loved this market and believe it is the nicest Christmas market in Copenhagen! Named after the legendary storyteller, this “Julemarked” (the Danish name for Christmas market) was a perfect size – not too big or too little – and it was a very comfortable Christmas market while also being lively and exciting!
We noticed several vendors selling Christmas delicacies here (the Danish love their sugar), and I had the most embarrassing encounter with a Viking.
Okay. I can’t just ignore that, can I? A genuine Viking was selling his mead (honey wine), and he offered us a lot of samples before hugging me and attempting to persuade me to touch his necklace, which was fashioned like something I cannot describe in this blog. You have eyes; look at the picture.
PRO TIP: Avoid the mead tent.
OTHERWISE, this market has THE MOST MAGICAL small hut bar called “Cirkusbar” where this wonderful lady chatted with us and served us the finest glogg and aebleskiver. When you return to the pub, it’s as if Christmas has struck you upside the head with all of its decorations. We wanted to stay all night.
But we had more glogg to drink and Christmas markets to explore.
This market is conveniently located near Strøget in the city center.
Højbro Plads’ Christmas Market:
This market is smack in the heart of Copenhagen, right? It’s almost identical to the Hans Christian Andersen market, but a bit larger!
Without the Viking. Phew.
We believed this market had the best selection of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts and souvenirs, as well as the most variety of “real food.” IE: it’s not all sugar.
If you want to dine at the markets or go shopping, this is your best option.
We like the snug shelters where you could drink your glogg, and we got to sample some white glogg here. While it’s good, we recommend sticking with the red version. Don’t fix what isn’t broken, and all that.
Kongen Nytorv:
We discovered this modest Christmas market just outside of the city core. To be honest, there isn’t anything particularly unique about the market; it’s similar to others in the city but smaller.
We did enjoy all of the buildings around here, though, because they are all decked for Christmas. You must visit Hotel D’Angleterre across the street at night since it is illuminated with large blue icicle projections on its exterior. Very beautiful!
Regional Foods To Try:
While we weren’t too impressed by the cuisine at the markets, there are a few things you should try:
- Glogg – Scandinavian mulled wine, and we believe it is the best drink at markets! It contains all of the traditional spices of mulled wine, but it also contains cardamom raisins, and blanched almonds are generally soaked in it, giving it a very rich, sweet flavor.
- Aebleskiver – Little fluffy pancake balls served with powdered sugar and jam during the Christmas season. We had them at Cirkus Bar.
- Flammelachs is a salmon side dish cooked over an open fire. It’s popular all around Europe during the holiday season, but it’s especially good in Scandinavia!
Non-Christmas Market Danish Food You Should Eat
Here are some more ideas for what to eat in Copenhagen for Christmas, because we believe Copenhagen is one of the best places for foodie couples like us!
- We had an unforgettable Danish lunch (Julefrokost) at Restaurant Schønnemann. They specialize in smorrebord (open-faced sandwiches) and provide Christmas specials.
You’ll have delicious sandwiches with fish and meat served with schnapps (similar to vodka), and you can finish with extra cheese and schnapps for dessert.
The staff is really funny, and our server pinned a Santa pin on my jacket out of nowhere because I was on my phone, all to educate me on “how to behave in a restaurant.” It was all terrific fun, and we liked the family atmosphere of this location!
- Juno Bakery serves cardamom and saffron buns; you must take the train outside of town to get there, but it is the nicest bakery we’ve ever visited.
Cardamom buns are fairly traditional in Scandinavia, and they changed our lives! The saffron buns are only available around Christmas and are quite distinctive!
- Prefer cinnamon buns? Go to Sankt Pefer’s Bageri. It’s well-known, and we visited twice in two days.
Tips For Visiting:
How Many Days To Stay:
We recommend spending 2-3 full days in Copenhagen so you can explore the markets and taste everything Copenhagen has to offer!
Where to stay?
Copenhagen is expensive, so we stayed at Cabinn Copenhagen because it was the lowest option we could find that wasn’t a hostel.
It is fairly modest and located some distance from the city core. If you don’t mind walking or utilizing public transportation and want to save money, we recommend it.
However, the next time, we will spend slightly more and stay at Wakeup Copenhagen. It’s still a mid-budget, modest hotel, but it’s only a 10-minute walk to downtown!
Go to 711
Seriously. They’re everywhere, and they’re awesome. Simply go to sample a bit of Danish culture.
Conclusion:
To conclude, exploring Copenhagen’s Christmas markets is a magical experience that embodies the essence of the holiday season. From the twinkling lights of Tivoli Gardens to the cozy, festive atmosphere of Nyhavn, the city’s charm comes alive in the winter months.
The warmth of the Danish “hygge” culture, the delicious seasonal treats, and the beautiful craftsmanship found at the markets make Copenhagen one of our favorite Christmas destinations.
It’s a place where tradition meets modernity, and the joy of the season is felt in every corner. Whether you’re a local or a traveler, Copenhagen’s Christmas markets are sure to create lasting holiday memories.