Christmas in Stockholm
Take a trip to fairytale-like Stockholm and enjoy Christmas in the coziest way. Explore festive events, visit Christmas markets, and step into museums beautifully dressed for the season. Wintery Stockholm is waiting for you!
Experience winter in Stockholm
Wintertime Stockholm is a wonderful city to visit with family, friends, or a loved one. Savor delicious treats at the Christmas markets, admire the beautiful lights, and let the city’s many museums wrap you in a cozy holiday spirit.
Four reasons to visit Stockholm this Christmas
Magical Christmas markets
Wander through Stockholm’s cozy Christmas markets, filled with local crafts, warm glögg, and festive treats.
Museums dressed for the season
Many museums transform for the holidays with special decorations, guided tours, and seasonal programs.
Twinkling Old Town streets
Gamla Stan glows during the holidays. Stroll through narrow lanes lit with Christmas lights and discover little boutiques, galleries, and surprises around every corner.
Holiday-spirit events
From light festivals to Advent concerts and family-friendly activities, Stockholm’s December calendar is packed with events that make the season feel truly special.
Christmas markets in Stockholm
If you’re looking for that Christmas feeling, make sure to stop by one of Stockholm’s holiday markets. You’ll find delicious treats to enjoy on the spot and plenty of beautiful handmade gifts to surprise your loved ones with this season.
Stortorget Christmas Market
Visit Stockholm’s most iconic Christmas market and step straight into the holiday spirit. Classic red stalls line the square with Swedish crafts, ornaments, toys, and delicious seasonal treats like sausages, sweets, and warm glögg. As the medieval streets of Gamla Stan light up at dusk, the whole place feels wonderfully magical.
Skansen Christmas Market
Skansen, the open-air museum on Djurgården, hosts one of Stockholm’s most traditional Christmas markets. Here you’ll find handmade crafts, candles, and baked goods, along with carol singers, folk dancing, and Christmas workshops for kids. Open from Fridays to Sundays – perfect for a family day out.
Kungsträdgården Christmas Market
The one-day market open from 11 AM to 4 PM. Many of the stalls are run by young entrepreneurs and design students, offering creative, modern gifts. You can find everything from art and crafts to jewelry and fashion. An ice-skating rink nearby adds to the festive winter vibe.
Photo: Rosanna Andersson / stockholmmediabank.com
Christmas markets around Stockholm
In addition to the main events, you’ll also find smaller Christmas markets around Stockholm on weekends, for example in Nacka Strand, Södermalm, and Vasastan. These cozy markets are often held indoors and feature creations from local makers, food producers, and designers.
Christmas events in Stockholm
This time of year, Stockholm turns into a truly magical place. The streets glow with beautiful lights, and every step is a reminder of just how wonderful the holiday season can be.
Stockholmsjul
When November arrives, Stockholm lights up – literally. Over 40 streets and squares glow with festive displays, creating one of Europe’s most magical winter walks. Pick up a Walk of Lights map and explore the city as it sparkles into the season.
Nobel Week Lights
Stockholm glows with creativity during Nobel Week Lights, a free festival that transforms the city with art inspired by Nobel Prize laureates. International and local artists light up streets and squares, inviting you to see the city in a whole new way.
NK Christmas windows
Every year, the famous Christmas windows at Nordiska Kompaniet transform Hamngatan into a holiday storybook. The beautifully crafted displays feature animated characters, charming scenes, and tiny festive worlds that capture the magic of the season.
The Stockholm Santa Run
Join the fun as hundreds of Santas take over central Stockholm for a good cause. This cheerful charity run invites everyone to dress up, jog, or walk the route and spread a little Christmas spirit while supporting local charities.
ArkDes Gingerbread House Exhibition
One of Stockholm’s sweetest traditions, the ArkDes Gingerbread House Exhibition showcases imaginative edible creations. You’ll find everything from classic cottages to bold architectural designs. A feast for the eyes (and the nose) that delights visitors of all ages.
Winter activities in Stockholm
Visiting Stockholm in winter? After a bit of sledding, skating, or exploring outdoors, step into a cozy café or wander through a museum – many of them beautifully dressed for Christmas.
Nordiska museet
Starting on the first Sunday of Advent, a grand Christmas tree takes center stage in the Great Hall – covered in hundreds of traditional, handmade ornaments from the museum’s own collection, along with a special touch from a guest decorator each year. In the café and restaurant, you’ll find Advent treats and seasonal favorites like mulled wine and hot apple cider.
The Hallwyl Museum
In December, the Hallwyl Museum is beautifully dressed for Christmas. The museum shop is perfect for gift hunting, with jewelry, books, toys, and elegant home pieces inspired by the house’s past. You can also join a guided tour on Saturdays or explore some of the state rooms on your own. Club One members get a discount.
Skansen open-air museum
At Skansen, Christmas comes alive with classic Swedish traditions. Stroll past festive decorations, shop the Christmas market, and enjoy seasonal treats like gingerbread and warm glögg. Kids can craft ornaments, meet Santa, and join holiday games. Club One members get a discount. Book your museum ticket together with your cruise.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a Christmas market in Stockholm?Is there a Christmas market in Stockholm?
Yes! There are a number of Christmas markets across the city. For example, the market at Stortorget in the Old Town (Gamla Stan) and the historic market at Skansen.
- When do the Christmas markets in Stockholm usually begin?When do the Christmas markets in Stockholm usually begin?
Many open in late November. For example, the lighting ceremony for the city’s official Christmas lights (Stockholmsjul) is held in Mid-November. The markets at Stortorget and others begin around the same time.
- What can you buy at the Christmas market in Stockholm?What can you buy at the Christmas market in Stockholm?
Plenty of great finds: handmade crafts, local design pieces, traditional Swedish foods and drinks, decorative items for the home, warm savoury and sweet treats (roasted almonds, glögg, cookies).
- How can you get to Stockholm during Christmas?How can you get to Stockholm during Christmas?
You can get to Stockholm easily by ferry from Helsinki or Tallinn. Ferry is a comfortable way to travel, with restaurants, shops, and cozy cabins for an overnight or daytime crossing. It’s one of the most relaxing ways to arrive in the city during the holiday season.
Ready to plan your trip? Book your ferry tickets here.