Christmas is around the corner and every year more people are traveling to Stockholm in December to visit the Christmas markets and activities prepared in the city as well as New Year’s Eve celebrations. This article lists some Christmas markets – julmarknader in Swedish – both for those of you looking for a traditional experience and for those looking for something different.
1. Christmas Market at Skansen
Skansen’s Christmas market is one of the best and most genuine in Stockholm with more than 110 years behind. Not only the market itself but the location with the old buildings surrounding you and the presence of animals provide the market with a totally different environment. There are also exhibitions available about how Christmas was celebrated in the last century by the nobility and at private homes.
Christmas Market in Stockholm
Photo: Maria Johansson / Skansen
Skansen’s Christmas market runs on Saturdays and Sundays from Nov 25 to Dec 18 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Admission costs 220 SEK (20 € / $20 / £18) for adults and 70 SEK (6,50 € / $6.50 / £5.5) for children but included if you buy your Go City Stockholm tourist card.
2. Christmas Market in Gamla Stan
If there is a typical tourist picture of Christmas is that of the colorful houses of the Stortorget square illuminated by the lights of the Christmas market in Gamla Stan that are reflected in the snow accumulated on the ground. This is the Stockholm’s second market par excellence. Its central location and the cozy and romantic atmosphere of Gamla Stan in winter attract many Olmians and tourists alike. Up to about 200,000 per year they say.
Gamla Stan Christmas Market in Stockholm
Photo: Ulf Lundin / imagebank.sweden.se
As if that was not enough, Gamla Stan’s Christmas market is the oldest in Sweden, starting in 1837. Here you can find candies, decoration, crafts and much more in some cabins that claim to imitate the existing stalls in the market during Middle Age. In 2016 the newspaper The Telegraph placed it among the 10 best Christmas markets in Europe. As usual the market opens daily between November 19 and December 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Remember also that in this time of the year you can take guided Christmas walking tours in Gamla Stan holding a lantern light or experiencing the Spirit of Christmas in Stockholm.
If you could only visit a Christmas market in Stockholm, Gamla Stan or Skansen should be your choice.
3. The Christmas Market at The Royal Stables
If you travel to Stockholm with children the market at the Royal Stables (Konungens hovstall or Hovstallet) can be ideal for them because besides the typical market stalls with crafts, decoration and organic products there is also the possibility of riding a pony, visit the stables and know the horses and carriages of the king. This market is located next to the Royal Theater in Nybroplan on Väpnargatan 1 street. This year the market opens between Friday Nov 25 and Sunday Nov 27.
4. The Christmas Market at Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes the perfect setting for a Christmas market on the Island of Lovön on Lake Mälaren just outside of Stockholm. The market is held on the second weekend of Advent that this year occurs in December 3 and 4 and is focused on attracting Swedish artisans and small-scale food producers coming from all corners of Sweden.
5. The Farmers’ Christmas Market
Bondens Egen Marknad is the farmers’ market located in SoFo, south of Folkungagatan street in Södermalm, and it opens on the four Saturdays before Christmas which this year are: 11/26, 12/3, 12/10 and 12/17.
6. The Christmas Market at Beckman School of Design
Students of fashion, design and visual communication at Beckamn School of Design have their own Christmas market where they sell unique products made out of their creativity. There is also a Christmas fika in the cafeteria. The Christmas market at Beckman School is on December 10 and 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Brahegatan 10 near the Östermalmstorg metro stop.
Unique Christmas Gifts at the Beckman Design School Market
Photo: Nathalie Hallman
7. The Christmas Market in Sigtuna
The little village of Sigtuna, well worth a visit, to the northwest of Stockholm has a very interesting Christmas market to attend. This year the market takes place on Sundays between 11/27 and 12/18 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Besides this big Christmas market in the city center there are several markets in Sigtuna during November and December and the city can be reach by public transportation.
Christmas Market in the Center of Sigtuna
8. The Christmas Market on the Island of Utö
For those who want to visit the archipelago of Stockholm in December there is a great way of doing it by visiting the Christmas market on the island of Utö. This year it is held on Dec 3-4 and 10-11. To get to Utö, which belongs to the municipality of Haninge, you have to take the suburban train T35 to Västerhaninge. From there get on the bus 846 to Arsta havsbad and from there get on board the ferry (paid separately) to Gruvbryggan whose schedules are synchronized with those of the public transport.
9. The Christmas Market at Taxinge Castle
This market is not located in Stockholm but about 60 km to the west in Taxinge Castle. This market competes every year with the Christmas market at Liseberg in Gothenburg to see which is the largest market in Sweden because Taxinge has more than 130 stalls with traditional food and crafts. This year the market is held from November 11 to 13 and from November 17 to 20. Admission tickets cost 90 SEK (8.40 € / $8.40 / £7.45).
If you will be renting a car for your trip to Sweden, Taxinge Christmas market can be an interesting place to visit.
Taxinge Castle, West of Stockholm, at Christmas
Photo: taxingeslott.se
These are some of the existing markets in Stockholm and surroundings but there are many more across the country.
If you plant to travel on a specific day in November or December and would like to know if any other market is being held on those dates, leave me a comment below and I’ll try to help you find them.
