Copenhagen does Christmas quietly and beautifully: candles in every window, gløgg on every corner and Tivoli Gardens lit up like a stage set. The markets are smaller than Germany’s giants, but the city around them is the draw, from Nyhavn’s painted houses to the design shops along Strøget. It suits couples, families and anyone who wants a festive weekend with good food and short walks.
Why go to the Copenhagen Christmas market in 2026
There is no single Copenhagen Christmas market. Instead there is a handful, each a short walk from the next, and one of Europe’s most famous Christmas gardens at the heart of it all.
- Christmas in Tivoli: From Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Tivoli hangs more than 70,000 ornaments and thousands of lights across its gardens, adds an ice rink, a Christmas market and special Christmas rides, and keeps all its regular rides open. Santa receives children in his home, and the season ends with fireworks at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Hours change through the season, so check the daily calendar on tivoli.dk for times and any closed days.
- Christmas at Højbro Plads: From Saturday 14 November to Sunday 20 December 2026, on the square below Bishop Absalon’s statue, facing Christiansborg Palace. Its stalls bring together food, crafts and traditions from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
- H.C. Andersen Christmas market: On Nytorv, just off Strøget. Stalls are named after Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, there’s a nostalgic carousel, and children can make decorations with Mrs Claus. Entry is free. The 2026 dates weren’t published at the time of writing.
- Nyhavn: Stalls set up along the quay of the old harbour each December, pouring gløgg beside the wooden ships. Check this year’s dates locally before you plan around it.
The long Tivoli season is the big advantage. You can come in late November for every market at once, or between Christmas and New Year, when most German markets have closed and Tivoli is still glowing.
Copenhagen
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
European Commission / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Tivoli Gardens
The city's 19th-century pleasure garden turns into a winter fairy tale, with more than 70,000 ornaments, thousands of lights, snowy-roofed stalls, an ice rink and every ride running.
Arrive before dusk and stay as the lights come on.
Olga Itenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Strøget
Copenhagen's long pedestrian shopping street links the City Hall Square, with the city's main Christmas tree, to the old squares, its shop windows dressed in pine and lights.
Walk it on a weekday morning, before the crowds.
cofiem from Brisbane, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Højbro Plads
Below the statue of Bishop Absalon, facing Christiansborg across the canal, chalets bring together food, crafts and traditions from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Open until 20 December, so plan an early-season trip.
blue_quartz from Singapore, Singapore / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Nytorv
The H.C. Andersen Christmas market names its stalls after the storyteller's fairy tales, with a nostalgic carousel and Mrs Claus helping children make decorations.
European Commission / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Nyhavn
Painted 17th-century townhouses and old wooden ships line the canal, and in December stalls along the quay pour gløgg under strings of lights.
Go after dark, when the lights reflect in the water.
Falk2 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Rosenborg Castle
Christian IV's red-brick Renaissance castle keeps the Danish crown jewels in its vaulted treasury, set in the King's Garden a short walk from the centre.
malouette from Frederiksberg / Copenhagen, Denmark / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Frederiksberg Gardens
Each winter the square at the entrance to this romantic landscape park becomes an outdoor ice rink, a local favourite away from the tourist centre.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Start at the City Hall Square, where the city’s main Christmas tree stands, then walk the length of Strøget, the long pedestrian shopping street, as the shops open. Turn off at Nytorv for the H.C. Andersen market and continue to Højbro Plads, where the stalls look across the canal to Christiansborg.
Afternoon: Warm up with coffee and a slice of cake at Conditori La Glace on Skoubogade, a patisserie at the same address since 1870. Then walk north to Rosenborg Castle and the King’s Garden, where the crown jewels sit in the castle treasury.
Evening: Head to Tivoli as it gets dark. The lights look best from around the lake, and the gardens are at their most magical in the blue hour. Eat inside the gardens, try the roast pork sandwiches and gingerbread from the Christmas stalls, and stay until the last rides.
Tip: Tivoli’s hours vary through the season, and some days around Christmas follow a different schedule. Look up your date on the tivoli.dk calendar before you build the evening around it.
Day 2
Morning: Take the metro to Nørreport and browse Torvehallerne, the glass market halls on Israels Plads, for open sandwiches, Danish cheese and pastries. It’s the easiest place to graze through Danish food in one stop.
Afternoon: Walk to Kongens Nytorv, the grand square at the top of Nyhavn, and down to the canal. Stroll the quay, cross to Christianshavn for quieter canals, and come back as the lights come on.
Evening: Take the metro out to Frederiksberg Runddel, where the square by the entrance to Frederiksberg Gardens becomes an ice rink each winter. Skate, or just watch with a cup of gløgg, then return to the centre for dinner and a Christmas beer.
Hygge, gløgg and æbleskiver
Hygge, the Danish idea of cosiness, is at its strongest in December. Expect candles on café tables in the afternoon, blankets on outdoor chairs and long, unhurried lunches. Lean into it: book a long dinner, sit by a window and let the evening drift.
- Gløgg: Danish mulled wine, spiced with clove, orange, cinnamon and anise and often fortified. It usually comes with raisins and chopped almonds in the cup, so ask for a spoon.
- Æbleskiver: Round, fluffy pancake balls cooked in a special pan and served with jam and icing sugar. Gløgg and æbleskiver are the classic pair.
- Risalamande: Creamy rice pudding with chopped almonds and cherry sauce, served at Christmas. One whole almond is hidden in the bowl, and whoever finds it wins a prize.
- Flæskesteg sandwich: Roast pork with crackling, red cabbage and pickles in a soft bun, a Christmas market staple.
- Pebernødder and brunkager: Small spiced biscuits and thin, crisp gingerbread, sold by the bag.
- Juleøl: Danish Christmas beer, darker and spicier than the usual lager.
Where to eat and buy
- Conditori La Glace (Skoubogade 3): A patisserie since 1870, known for its cakes, above all the Sports Cake.
- Torvehallerne (Israels Plads, Nørreport): Two glass halls of food stalls and grocers, good for lunch and edible presents.
- Tivoli’s Christmas stalls: Roast pork, gingerbread and gløgg inside the gardens.
- Højbro Plads: Greenlandic and Faroese specialities you won’t easily find elsewhere in the city.
Where to stay
- Indre By (the old centre): Strøget, Nytorv and Højbro Plads on the doorstep. Best for first-timers and short stays.
- Around Tivoli and Vesterbro: By Copenhagen Central Station, with Tivoli across the road and the airport train close by. Best for families and late arrivals.
- Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv: Canal views and a metro stop straight to the airport. Best for couples.
- Christianshavn: Quieter canals and houseboats, a short walk or one metro stop from the centre. Best for return visitors.
Getting around
Central Copenhagen is flat and compact. Tivoli, Strøget, Nytorv, Højbro Plads and Nyhavn sit along one walk of about half an hour from end to end, so most of this plan is on foot. The metro runs every few minutes during the day and covers Christianshavn, Nørreport and Frederiksberg.
Getting there: From Copenhagen Airport, the M2 metro leaves from Terminal 3 and reaches Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport in about 15 minutes, running every 4 to 6 minutes through the day. Trains from the same terminal reach Copenhagen Central Station, opposite Tivoli, in about 15 minutes.
Good to know
- Dates: Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Højbro Plads from 14 November to 20 December 2026. For the full picture across Europe, see our Christmas markets 2026 dates roundup.
- Tivoli hours: They vary by day, so check the tivoli.dk calendar, especially around 24 to 26 December.
- Crowds: Weekend evenings in Tivoli are the busiest. Visit on a weekday, or go in at opening time and leave before the evening rush.
- Daylight: In December it gets dark by mid-afternoon. Plan sightseeing for the morning and save the markets and Tivoli for the dark.
- Cold: Damp harbour winds make it feel colder than the thermometer says. Pack gloves, a hat and waterproof shoes.
- More ideas: Tivoli also features in our best amusement parks in Europe, and our best Christmas markets in Europe hub has more December weekends.
FAQ
When is the Copenhagen Christmas market 2026?
Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Christmas at Højbro Plads from 14 November to 20 December 2026. The H.C. Andersen market on Nytorv and Nyhavn’s stalls run through December. Check locally for their exact 2026 dates.
Is Tivoli open for Christmas?
Yes. Christmas in Tivoli opens on 13 November 2026 and runs to 3 January 2027, ending with New Year’s Eve fireworks. Opening hours vary by day, so check the calendar on tivoli.dk.
What is the best Christmas market in Copenhagen?
Tivoli is the most spectacular, with its lights, rides and ice rink. For a market in the open streets, Højbro Plads has the most distinctive stalls, with crafts and food from Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
What should I eat at Copenhagen’s Christmas markets?
Gløgg with æbleskiver is the classic pairing. Add a roast pork sandwich, a bag of pebernødder and, at dinner, risalamande with cherry sauce.
How do I get from Copenhagen Airport to the Christmas markets?
Take the M2 metro from Terminal 3 to Kongens Nytorv, about 15 minutes, for Nyhavn and Højbro Plads. Or take the train to Copenhagen Central Station, right opposite Tivoli.
