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.

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

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

Christmas Eve at Tivoli usually begins in mid-November and lasts until the end of December. During this period, as well as taking part in the rides, rollercoasters 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 stands in the centre of the park and is illuminated by 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 biscuits. These are often included in Copenhagen's best food tours.

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

During Christmas Eve, the houses along the canal are decorated with garlands and bright colours, creating a cosy 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 specialities in the nearby restaurants and cafes, as well as find stalls selling Christmas crafts and gifts.

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 glittering decorations and lights, festive music and Christmas markets selling gifts, souvenirs, food and crafts.

One of the most impressive decorations is the angel fountain on Amagertorv Square, which is illuminated with blue and white 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 of Copenhagen.

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

For one of Copenhagen's largest and most iconic Christmas 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 shop for gifts, Christmas decorations and traditional Danish food and crafts. The market also has an ice-skating rink.

The market is also 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: Admission to the market is free and open to the public, but some of the activities and attractions within the market are at an additional cost.

Gløgg is a typical Christmas drink in Scandinavian countries, but particularly in 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 fruit and sugar.

During Christmas time, gløgg is often seen at Christmas market stalls, as well as in Copenhagen's best pub crawls and when booking a food tour of Copenhagen. In the Danish capital, gløgg can be found in bars, cafés, restaurants and some specialised wine and liquor shops.

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

In addition, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony is an event to attend if you plan to visit Copenhagen in December. During the ceremony, the Christmas lights on the tree are switched 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 neighbourhoods and during the Christmas season it is full of festive atmosphere, especially as its bars and nightclubs take centre stage - the ideal place to party on Christmas Eve! But also colourful Christmas illuminations and decorations are set up.

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

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

If you want to get to know one of Copenhagen's most picturesque neighbourhoods, you can't miss Christianshavn, a free city that considers itself independent from the Danish state and a 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 centre of the neighbourhood, you can also find one of the many giant trees that decorate the city on Christmas Eve. Near the waterfront you'll also find the Church of Our Saviour, 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, street markets and street stalls that you can reach on foot, 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.
• Æbleskiver, which are small fried dumplings that resemble pancakes. They are served with icing sugar and fruit jam.
• Pork liver pâté.
• Fish soup.
• Roast ham and a wide variety of meats.
• Gingerbread biscuits, 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, which hang from the trees and bridges nearby, add a magical effect to the scenery, making it one of the best times to see Copenhagen.

You can rent skates at one of the kiosks along the canal and then join the crowds of skaters 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.