10 Things to Do in Copenhagen at Christmas

Copenhagen is one of the most important cities in the Scandinavian region and an area that is marked by Christmas traditions, making it an ideal place to enjoy this celebration and discover the festive spirit of the Danish capital through its attractions and activities.

Among the best things to see and do in Copenhagen to enjoy Christmas are visiting the Tivoli Gardens and its amusement park, strolling along the Nyhavn Canal, shopping for Christmas gifts in the popular Strøget Street, tasting the gløgg and tasting the food of the season.

Tivoli Gardens (home to the world's oldest amusement park) is part of one of Copenhagen's most famous complexes. During the Christmas season, this site is transformed into a magical space full of lights and festive decorations.

Christmas Eve at Tivoli usually begins in mid-November and lasts until the end of December. During this period, in addition to taking part in the rides, roller coasters and walking along the illuminated paths, when you book tickets for Tivoli Park and its attractions you can also:

• Have your photo taken with the Christmas characters there.
• See the famous Tivoli Christmas tree. It is located in the center of the park and is illuminated with thousands of lights in a special lighting ceremony, making it one of the best things to do in Copenhagen at night.
• Enjoy the Christmas shows, including concerts and theatrical performances.
• Visit food stalls serving traditional Christmas delicacies such as mulled wine, churros and gingerbread cookies. They are often included in the best food tours in Copenhagen.

The Nyhavn Canal is a popular tourist destination all year round, but especially during the Christmas season. With its colorful 17th century houses and picturesque boats gliding along the canal, it's a great place to stroll or book a family boat ride if you're visiting Copenhagen with children.

During Christmas Eve, the houses along the canal are decorated with garlands and bright colors, creating a cozy and festive atmosphere that makes it one of the best canal tours in Copenhagen. There is also a large decorated Christmas tree at the end of the canal, illuminating the area with a warm glow.

In the canal area you can enjoy Christmas specialties at nearby restaurants and cafes, as well as find craft and Christmas gift stalls.

Strøget Street is one of Europe's most famous shopping arteries and is a must-see during the Christmas season. The street is transformed into a Christmas oasis with bright decorations and lights, festive music and Christmas markets with gifts, souvenirs, food and crafts.

One of the most impressive decorations is the angel fountain on Amagertorv Square, which is illuminated with white and blue lights. This area is often included in the best tours of the Danish capital so you can discover it on your own or when booking a tour in Copenhagen.

On this street you will also find Danish design stores that are very popular, with their minimalist and elegant style. In addition, many stores offer special discounts and offers during Christmas Eve, making it an ideal place to shop.

If you want to experience one of Copenhagen's largest and most iconic flea markets, head to Kongens Nytorv Christmas Market, a popular tourist attraction during the Christmas season.

This site offers a wide variety of Christmas products and activities, including live music and entertainment for children. You can also buy gifts, Christmas decorations and typical Danish foods, as well as handicrafts. The market also has an ice-skating rink.

The market is also located close to Copenhagen's best museums, making it the ideal place to take a break after, for example, booking tickets for the National Museum of Denmark.

Further information

• Location: in the heart of the city.
• Price: Entrance to the market is free and open to the public, but some of the activities and attractions inside the market have an additional cost.

Gløgg is a typical drink of the Christmas season in Scandinavian countries, but particularly Denmark in winter. This hot and spicy drink is made from red wine or mulled sweet wine, spices such as cloves, cinnamon and ginger, as well as dried fruits and sugar.

During Christmas time it is very common to see gløgg at the Christmas market stalls, as well as at the best pub crawls in Copenhagen and when booking a food tour in Copenhagen. In the Danish capital you can find this drink in bars, cafés, restaurants and in some specialized wine and liquor stores.

The preparation of gløgg varies according to the recipe and the region, but it is generally made by heating the wine over low heat with spices and fruit. The mixture is left to steep for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to integrate well. Later it is strained and sugar is added to taste before serving it hot.

The Christmas tree in Copenhagen's Town Hall Square is one of the most important symbols of the Christmas season in Denmark. You can visit it on your own or when booking a tour of Copenhagen, as it is usually included in such tours.

This giant Christmas tree is a Norway spruce carefully selected from the Danish forests to be transported to Copenhagen and placed in the square. The tree is decorated with Christmas lights and traditional ornaments.

In addition, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony is an event you can attend if you plan to visit Copenhagen in December. During the ceremony, the Christmas lights on the tree are turned on and musical performances and other festive activities take place. The square itself is also an attraction, as it is transformed into a Christmas market.

Nørrebro is one of Copenhagen's most vibrant neighborhoods and during the Christmas season it is filled with festive atmosphere, especially as its bars and nightclubs take center stage - the ideal area to party on Christmas Eve! But also colorful Christmas illuminations and decorations are set up.

In addition, during Christmas, the Jægersborggade area in Nørrebro is transformed into an alternative Christmas market. Local merchants and artists gather to sell produce, food (such as æbleskiver, fried dumplings) and handcrafted Christmas gifts. Nørrebro is also famous for its designer stores, art and for housing some of Copenhagen's finest buildings.

Because of its rich heritage, the neighborhood is often included in Copenhagen bike tours so if you want to see it don't hesitate to book a bike tour in Copenhagen.

If you want to get to know one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Copenhagen, you can't miss Christianshavn, a free city that considers itself independent from the Danish state and a very popular destination during the Christmas season due to its charming streets and festive activities.

There you can visit the Christiania Christmas Market, walk along the canal and see the giant Christmas tree. If you go with children, I also recommend downloading the Freetown Christiania Exploration Game for them to enjoy the visit even more.

In the center of the neighborhood, you can also find one of the many giant trees that decorate the city during the eve of Christmas Eve. Near the waterfront you will also find the Church of Our Savior, a 17th century religious building that is considered an architectural landmark of Christiania.

Food is an important part of the Christmas celebration in Copenhagen and during your stay in the capital you can enjoy it in the bars, restaurants, flea markets and at street stalls that you can reach by walking, on tours or by booking tickets for the Copenhagen sightseeing bus

Among the typical Christmas foods, you can try:

• Gløgg, which is the local mulled red wine.
• The Æbleskiver, which are small fried dumplings that resemble pancakes. They are served with powdered sugar and fruit jam.
• Pork liver pâté.
• Fish soup.
• Roast ham and a wide variety of meats.
• Gingerbread cookies, which are made with a mixture of spices such as ginger, cinnamon and cloves and cut into star, heart or Christmas tree shapes.

If you want to take part in one of Copenhagen's most traditional Christmas activities, you can't miss ice skating on the Frederiksberg Canal, which is one of the most beautiful and iconic sites in the Danish capital.

The Christmas lights, hanging from the trees and nearby bridges, add a magical effect to the scenery, making it one of the best times to visit Copenhagen.

You can rent skates at one of the kiosks along the canal and then join the crowds of people skating on Frederiksberg. If you get tired of skating, you can warm up with a hot drink and a snack at one of the many bars and food stalls along the canal.