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Ready to dive into all things Copenhagen Christmas markets? Keep reading because we’re covering it all.
I recently spent almost a full week exploring Copenhagen, and not only did it quickly shoot to the top of my favorite European cities list, but I can say with confidence that Copenhagen knows how to do Christmas right.
Between the handful of charming Christmas markets dotted around the city, to the plentiful holiday decorations on almost every street, it’s hard to avoid getting catapulted into the Christmas spirit when visiting Denmark’s capital!
I spent a fair share of my trip perusing the Christmas markets, overdosing on hot chocolate and even picked up a souvenir to add to our international ornament collection. In this post I’m going to break down all of the top Christmas markets in Copenhagen to visit, what you can expect at each, and all the tips and tricks I picked up so you can make the most of your visit.
Plus, don’t miss my full guide to the best things to do in Copenhagen ahead of your trip.
How to Plan the Best Copenhagen Christmas Market Trip
Quick Tips for Your Trip to Copenhagen
How to Get to Copenhagen
If you are flying in, you will need to book air travel to arrive at Copenhagen International Airport which is a quick 20 minute drive from the city center. Rideshare services like Uber (more newly available in the city) and Bolt are great convenient options to get downtown.
However, it’s also very easy and sometimes quicker than a car to get into the city via the metro. If you purchase a Copenhagen City Card, you can get unlimited public transportation along with access to 80+ attractions around the city—highly recommend! Or you can easily purchase metro tickets via the kiosks in the airport upon arrival.
How to Get Around Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of the most walking-friendly cities I’ve ever visited. It’s quite compact and as long as you’re staying in a hotel that’s conveniently situated, you should be able to walk to almost everything. With that said, there’s also the metro for getting around the city and rideshare services like Uber and Bolt as I mentioned before.
Best Hotels Near the Christmas Markets
NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne
If you plan on spending some time at Tivoli Gardens, the NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne is ideally situated for that as it’s about two blocks from the amusement park. I stayed here for a few nights during my recent trip and loved the location near Tivoli and some of the city’s best museums and cafes. Check pricing for NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne.
Hotel d’Angleterre
This is the ultimate historic and luxurious stay in Copenhagen, and it’s right in the heart of the holiday action as it’s literally across the street from Copenhagen Winter Wonderland at Kongens Nytorv. The hotel is known for going all out with its holiday decorations. And from here you can easily walk to most of the best Christmas markets in town. Check pricing for Hotel d’Angleterre.
Hotel Sanders
Prefer a design-centric boutique hotel? If so, Hotel Sanders is the way to go. This sweet spot is right near Nyhavn and the Copenhagen Winter Wonderland Christmas market and feels like its own little private club. Check pricing for Hotel Sanders.
71 Nyhavn Hotel
This hotel is quite affordable and with a location directly overlooking Nyhavn, it’s hard to beat. From here, guests are a stone’s throw from two of the city’s top Christmas markets and within walking distance to the others. Check pricing for 71 Nyhavn.
Visiting Copenhagen During the Holidays FAQ
Are the Christmas markets in Copenhagen worth visiting?
Definitely! With the exception of Tivoli Gardens, most of the Christmas markets here are quite small. But they’re still very charming and offer plenty of stalls for eating, drinking gløgg, and picking up holiday gifts.
What’s great about choosing to visit Copenhagen’s Christmas markets vs those in other European cities is that there are so many other amazing things to do in Copenhagen, making it a worthwhile trip that combines the holiday markets with plenty of other exciting activities.
In short, this is an ideal trip for those that want to experience European Christmas markets without making their trip entirely about them!
What are the dates of the Copenhagen Christmas Markets for the 2026 season?
They haven’t been confirmed yet, but based on the 2025 dates, you will likely be able to find Christmas markets open around similar times: From November 4 to January 4. Not all of the markets will stay open this late. But the grandest one, Tivoli Gardens, usually finishes out its season after the New Year.
I’ve included 2025 dates below for each individual Christmas market in Copenhagen to help you plan.
How many Christmas markets are there in Copenhagen?
There are five main markets that are most visited and then a handful of smaller ones around the city, but there’s only really five I’d recommend making the effort to explore.
Are the Christmas markets close to one another?
Yes! Copenhagen is an incredibly walkable city. And you could easily stroll between all the main Christmas markets in a single day. The walking distance between the two furthest markets (Tivoli Gardens and Nyhavn) is 30 minutes. And if you walked between the two you’d hit all the other markets on the way.
How much time do you need to see all the Christmas markets?
Most of the Christmas markets in Copenhagen can be easily enjoyed within an hour (or two if you want to really take it leisurely).
The only market where you may want to allocate more time is Tivoli Gardens which is a full amusement park. In addition to the Christmas market there, you’ll find rides, full-scale restaurants and the Tivoli Food Hall. So you could really spend a half day here if you wanted to.
Does it cost money to enter the Christmas markets in Copenhagen?
All of the markets are free to enter except for Tivoli Gardens which requires an entrance fee to access the amusement park—I’ll get into more details about that below!
How cold is it in Copenhagen during the holidays?
Quite cold, so brace yourself! When I visited in late November, the temperatures had already dropped to between the 30s and 40s (Fahrenheit).
However, if you dress appropriately it’s easy to stay comfortable here between all the walking and body heat from holiday crowds! Plus, there’s a million amazing cafes around Copenhagen you can always pop into when it gets extra chilly.
Just make sure to pack a winter coat, gloves, hat, and winter boots—just in case of snow.
What are the best things to eat at the Copenhagen Christmas markets?
While there is quite a bit of variety for eating options at the Christmas markets, here are some Danish foods to consider trying:
- Æbleskiver – basically the Danish version of a donut hole served with jam and powdered sugar
- Gløgg – spiced wine
- Rugbrød – traditional Danish rye bread, often accompanied by cheese
- Pebernødder – spiced cookies
- Flæskesteg – roast pork
- Risalamande – rice pudding style dessert served cold
What other festive things are there to do in Copenhagen during the holidays?
Though the whole city truly becomes festively decorated this time of year, it’s worth specifically checking out the Hotel d’Angleterre’s decorations as they do a huge display out front. Strøget, the main pedestrian street is another area where you’ll find holiday decor galore. And the big department stores like Illum and Magasin go all out for Christmas.
If your visit happens to fall on December 13th, you won’t want to miss the annual Floating Saint Lucia Parade. During the event, hoards of kayaks illuminated in Christmas lights glide through Copenhagen’s canals—super fun!
For a more unconventional Christmas market experience, head across the bridge to Freetown Christiana, a free state within Copenhagen that is one of the most creative communities in the city.
5 Best Christmas Markets in Copenhagen to Visit
1. Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market
Whether you visit Copenhagen during Christmas or not, Tivoli Gardens should be on your itinerary. It’s the second oldest theme park in the world and holds plenty of charm year-round. However, during the holidays it really comes alive with festive spirit.
Out of all the Christmas markets I visited in Copenhagen, Tivoli was definitely the most spacious, extravagant and festive overall—the rest of them don’t quite compare! It’s also the most different from the rest of the Christmas markets I’m covering in this post, which overall have a very similar vibe with basic wooden market stalls. The ones at Tivoli are a bit more vibrant and decorated!
So if you had to choose only one Christmas market to visit I would make it Tivoli.
Once inside, you’ll find loads of charming food stalls decorated to the nines, a carousel, unique vendors selling holiday crafts, and some fun light shows at night. There is also an ice skating rink and permanent restaurants on the grounds if you don’t want to indulge in the market food. Next door is Tivoli Food Hall. And there’s also plenty of thrilling rides if you want to enjoy the area beyond the Christmas market.
If you visit Tivoli during the day and want to be able to come back to experience the holiday magic at night, make sure to get a stamp on your way out and you’ll be able to re-enter.
The one downside to Tivoli? There’s a cost to enter the park on top of anything you’ll pay for food, refreshments and souvenirs. You could book an Entrance ticket directly from Tivoli (220 DKK or about $34 USD for those 8 years of age and up), or you can grab an Entrance and Ride Pass for 379 DKK.
Pro Tip: If you plan on visiting other major sites around Copenhagen or using public transport, then I highly recommend grabbing a Copenhagen City Card (Discover) which gives you access to over 80 attractions around the city and includes Tivoli Gardens. I was so glad I did this because it saved me money in the long run and made everything easier (instead of buying tickets everywhere you simply show the Copenhagen City Card on your phone).
- Location: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V, Denmark
- 2025 Season Dates: Nov 14, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
- Opening Hours: Typically open daily between 11 AM and 10 PM. However, make sure to double check hours for the date of your visit on the Tivoli Gardens website.
- Ticket Information: You have a few different options for purchasing tickets to Tivoli Gardens.
- Purchase a basic Entrance Ticket
- Purchase a Ride Pass
- Purchase a Copenhagen City Card which gives you access to 80+ attractions across the city including Tivoli Gardens
2. Julemarked Højbro Plads
This small but charming Christmas Market was my personal favorite after the Christmas market at Tivoli Gardens. It’s hard to say exactly why, but I felt like the vibes at Højbro Plads Christmas market were really good. And the market was bustling with families and friends enjoying the holiday cheer. It had a more local feel and the Danish hygge vibes here are strong!
Conveniently located right off the Strøget, Copenhagen’s biggest pedestrian shopping street, Højbro Plads is hard to miss if you’re visiting the city over the holidays. It’s a great market to explore in conjunction with some shopping or checking out the decorations at many of the other shops in the area.
Here you’ll find yummy bites like potatoes smothered in raclette, holiday churros, hot toddies and a Nutella crepe station. There are also plenty of unique artisan vendors to shop. And when I visited they had a charming carriage lit up in Christmas lights.
If you’re traveling with kids, this is a great one to visit because the market offers a meet and greet with Santa from Thursday to Sunday.
- Location: Højbro Plads, Strøget, Copenhagen
- 2025 Season Dates: November 4 – December 21, 2025
- Opening Hours:
- Monday-Wednesday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM – 8 PM
- Friday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 7 PM
3. Copenhagen Winter Wonderland at Kongens Nytorv
The main draw of this Christmas market in Copenhagen is 100% the large track-style ice skating rink that encircles the King Christian V statue in Kongens Nytorv square.
There are definitely fewer stalls at this Christmas market than some of the others, but I noticed that for the most part they were a bit more high-end and branded. For example, the luxurious Hotel d’Angleterre has its own Christmas stall as did Juno Bakery.
Though this wasn’t my favorite of the Christmas markets, it’s a great one to visit if you plan on ice skating or are just passing through on the way to Nyhavn, as it’s just steps away from Copenhagen’s most iconic canal. Plus, from here you can also view the extravagant decorations in the front of Hotel d’Angleterre which are a highlight of the city’s Christmas ambiance each year.
- Location: Kongens Nytorv, 1050 Indre By, Denmark
- 2025 Season Dates: November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Opening Hours:
- Ice Skating Rink:
- Monday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Tuesday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Wednesday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Thursday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Friday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Sunday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Closed: 24/12-2025 – 25/12-2025 – 31/12-2025 – 01/01/2026
- Winter Market:
- Tuesday: 3 PM – 8 PM
- Wednesday: 3 PM – 8 PM
- Thursday: 3 PM – 8 PM
- Friday: 11 AM – 8 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 8 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 8 PM
- Monday: Closed
- Closed: 24/12-2025 – 25/12-2025 – 31/12-2025 – 01/01/2026
- Ice Skating Rink:
4. Nyhavn Christmas Market
Located along Copenhagen’s most famous canal known for its colorful 17th century buildings, the Nyhavn Christmas Market definitely feels like the most touristy of the bunch, but it’s also super picturesque. You’ll find this Christmas market spread out in a long line parallel to the canal along the same walkway where there are restaurants with outdoor seating.
Since you can’t go to Copenhagen and not swing by Nyhavn at least once, you’re bound to see this Christmas Market anyway if you’re visiting during the festive season. Here you’ll find treats like churros, gløgg, and souvenirs like ornaments and knitted goods—which may come in handy if you came to Copenhagen a little under-prepared for the cold.
Make sure to stroll the Christmas market, but then also cross to the other side of the canal which offers the best view for photos in my opinion.
Pro Tip: While there are many waterfront restaurants to dine at in Nyhavn, I’d personally skip this area for dining as it’s overpriced and catered to tourists. There are much better places to eat in the city. I’ve included some of my favorites in the bottom of the post!
- Location: Nyhavn 1 – 47, Copenhagen
- 2025 Season Dates: Nov 4 – Dec 21, 2025
- Opening Hours:
- Monday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Tuesday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Wednesday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Friday: 10 AM – 8 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 8 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 7 PM
5. Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, and this market is lovingly named after him. Allegedly all the stalls are named after his fairytales but I didn’t notice this as an obvious feature when I was at the market.
This market was spread out across two sides of the pedestrian street, and I found the vibe here to be a bit strange. One side of the market was very charming while the other side had really basic souvenirs and not as tasty looking food (and it was empty). I’m not sure if it was just the timing of when I went, but I felt like it was very disjointed.
On the more bustling and charming side, you’ll find vendors very similar to the ones I saw at Højbro Plads and there’s even a small ice skating rink. You can enjoy beverages like mulled wine and irish coffees or grab potato twists or pork sandwiches. There was also a large Christmas tree with a tunnel in the center being used as a festive photo prop.
- Location: Nytorv, 1450 København, Denmark
- 2025 Season Dates: Nov 14 – Dec 20, 2025
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11 AM – 7 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 7 PM (or 6 PM)
Map of the Copenhagen Christmas Markets
More Amazing Things to do in Copenhagen
Of course, there is so much to do in Copenhagen beyond just the Christmas markets. While you could plan a weekend to Denmark’s capital just to get in the festive spirit, I hope you explore beyond the holiday festivities because Copenhagen is full of gems!
Here’s a quick list of absolute must-dos from my recent trip. I’ll be writing a more in-depth guide soon with all the best things to do.
Eat your way through the city
Copenhagen is one place you don’t want to be spur of the moment with your dining decisions. Plan ahead, make reservations, and be intentional about where you eat or else you’ll miss the best spots!
For brunch, my favorites are Rug Bakery, Riviera, Mad & Kaffe or Kompa’9. I had excellent dinners at Bar Moro, Baest and Maple Casual Dining. There are a ton of Michelin starred spots you could book ahead of your trip—check out Alouette and Alchemist for two standouts.
And absolutely do not miss grabbing a cardamon bun from Skt. Peders Bageri—there will be a line, and you’d be silly to not stand in it. Just trust me on this one!
Visit Nyhavn
If you’re exploring the area’s Christmas market, then you’ll already have visited Copenhagen’s iconic harbor. Definitely take a stroll along the canal and you can even hop a canal tour if you want to see Copenhagen from the water and learn more about the city’s history.
Explore Copenhagen’s Design Scene
Danish design is next level and you’ll undoubtedly want to fill an extra suitcase with beautiful goods to take home from your trip. To explore more of Copenhagen’s design scene, make sure to check out the Designmuseum Danmark, which is also included in the Copenhagen City Card.
Some shops and design stores worth checking out are: Hay House, Ferm Living, Stilleben, Illums Bolighus, and Frama Studio.
Visit One of the Many Museums
Copenhagen’s museum scene is popping and there are many fabulous ones throughout the city. Here are the ones I think are worth checking out:
- Copenhagen Contemporary: This is a great one for lovers of modern art and they have an amazing James Turrell exhibit as part of the permanent collection that is a must-see!
- Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: A fine art museum located next to Tivoli Gardens, this one features a large collection of antique Mediterranean sculptures and has a beautiful botanical atrium.
- Designmuseum Danmark: As I mentioned above, this one focuses on the history of Danish design and is a must for any design lovers.
- Cisterns in Søndermarken: Probably one of the most unique art exhibitions I’ve ever visited, this underground reservoir has been transformed into an exhibition space that feels like you’re walking through a cave. Definitely one of the more unique things to do in Copenhagen!
- Louisiana Museum: Actually located about one hour outside of the city, this is a great half-day trip that is easily accessible by train. The museum itself is stunning and features rotating modern art exhibitions.
All of the spots above are included on the Copenhagen City Card (Discover)!
explore rosenborg castle & the king’s garden
This Renaissance castle built by King Christian IV is quite an experience, with opulent architecture and a treasury guests can explore featuring a massive porcelain collection and the Danish crown jewels.
After a tour of the castle, don’t miss a stroll through the stunning King’s Garden which provides a different vantage point of the castle from afar.
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