It’s the right time to consider one of the possible destinations for a winter vacation, and today’s idea takes you straight to Gothenburg, Sweden, a city that becomes even more magical during the Christmas season. There are indeed many Christmas Markets in Gothenburg to visit, allowing you to admire the city in a special light.
On the first Advent weekend, illuminate the winter darkness with evocative Christmas lights on streets and squares and with traditional Advent candelabras in every window. During the opening ceremony, the Lucia choir of Gothenburg will perform in Götaplatsen square, processing from the central square of Gustav Adolf torg.
The largest Christmas market in Sweden opens its gates in the amusement park Liseberg during the weekend of November 16-18, transforming into a sparkling winter landscape lit by millions of Christmas lights. “The Singing Christmas Tree,” a choir performing shaped as a Christmas tree, will give several concerts every day in Kungsportsplatsen square. Additionally, there will be a myriad of other Christmas concerts, from intimate church concerts to sparkling Christmas shows.
Christmas shopping in Gothenburg is extremely enjoyable. Here you can find unique Christmas gifts both at traditional Christmas markets and design Christmas markets, and you can also buy refined food products in the two covered markets of the city or in the small shops of Haga, the oldest district. Gothenburg is famous for all its cafés where you can warm up between visits to shops and taste the typical “lussebullarna,” sweet saffron Christmas buns. From the end of November to Christmas, many restaurants offer the “Julbord,” a traditional Christmas buffet with a variety of cold and hot dishes to savor. Being the ultimate shellfish area, the flavor and seafood specialties are guaranteed. Everywhere you can smell “Glögg,” that is mulled wine, which in Sweden is served with almonds and raisins.
The first and most famous is the Liseberg Market, open since November 15 right in the city center. Starting from December 6 – thus perfectly timed with the Sant’Ambrogio weekend – all the city’s light installations will be inaugurated, making the atmosphere even more magical.
The Liseberg Christmas Market is undoubtedly worth visiting also because it is the largest market in Sweden, located inside the amusement park of the same name, filled with 5 million lights.
The market will be open Friday to Sunday until November 25; from December 1 it will be open Thursday to Sunday; finally, from December 4 to 23 it will be open daily, with a special opening from December 26 to 29.
Here is a selection of the most important Christmas markets:
- Liseberg. This large amusement park invites everyone to visit a true “Christmas planet,” illuminated by five million lights. Here you can browse among about eighty stalls, skate on the ice rink, meet Santa Claus and his reindeer, listen to concerts, admire an ice ballet, and much more. You can reach the park with the Paddan boats from Kungsportsplatsen. A trip on these lovely boats includes blankets, mulled wine, and torches to warm the passengers. Open: 16-18/11, 23-25/11, 29/11-2/12, 5-9/12, 11-23/12 and 26-30/12
- Haga: The early 19th-century streets of the Haga district give a special charm to the Christmas market. The outdoor stalls sell homemade items and local products, competing with the trendiest boutiques and vintage shops crowding the main street. Open on weekends from 24/11 to 16/12.
- Kronhuset: The oldest building in Gothenburg from the 17th century, Kronhuset, is transformed into a traditional bazaar where artisans dressed in period costumes sell their crafts and various sweets. Open 1-22/12.
- Nordstan – artisans and artists exhibit their handcrafted and contemporary Swedish design products in this shopping center. Open daily from 16/11 to 30/12.
- In the former boiler room of Röda Sten, now an art center with large spaces hosting contemporary art exhibitions, a special Christmas market is organized with unique art and craft items. Open 30/11-2/12.
- About eighty of Gothenburg’s most promising designers organize at Auktionsverket: a Christmas market inspired by the London atmosphere. Handmade design gifts such as clothes, accessories, art, and decorations. Open 23-25/11.
The city becomes one large Christmas market from Nordstan to Haga, from Kronhuset to Gustav Adolf Square and in the suburbs within the splendid setting of the Gunnebo castle.
Elsewhere in Gothenburg, other Christmas markets can be found, detailed here:
- Christmas Market at Haga: vintage style, open Saturdays and Sundays from November 30 to December 22.
- Christmas Market at Kronhuset: artisans at the stands wear period costumes. Open from November 30 to December 15, closed on Mondays.
- Christmas Market at the Nordstan shopping center: artists and artisans present various objects every day from November 14 to December 30.
- Christmas Market at Röda Sten Art Centre: hosted in the artistic space called The Cathedral, open from November 20 to December 1 (Friday 5-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12-5 pm).
- Christmas Market at Gunnebo Castle: slightly outside Gothenburg, this market offers organic food and local crafts. The stalls will be open on November 23 and 24 and from November 30 to December 1, while the castle is open year-round.
To warm up, we recommend a typical Swedish coffee break (fika) in one of the cozy cafés in Haga, in the city’s historic center. Try the lussekatter, traditional homemade saffron buns typical of Christmas, or giant kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls) at Café Husaren.
The famous Swedish smörgåsbord buffet, at Christmas time, is called Julbord and consists of marinated herrings prepared in every possible way, venison pâté, smoked reindeer, and marinated salmon (gravad lax). All accompanied by flowing beer and schnapps.
You can take a day trip into nature or to the coast, where you can visit various Christmas markets, enjoy delicious Christmas buffets, and experience enchanting natural settings.
At Gunnebo Castle, considered one of the main neoclassical country residences in Northern Europe, a market takes place with about 35 vendors of crafts and organic food. Guided tours of the castle + free entrance to the large gardens, open 24-25/11 and 1-2/12. The adjacent restaurant serves an excellent Christmas buffet with organic products. Gunnebo is reachable by car in just 15 minutes and in 30 minutes by tram and bus.
The residents of Gothenburg gladly go to the island of Styrsö in the Gothenburg archipelago to enjoy the Christmas buffet at the Styrsö Skäret guesthouse, which includes homemade specialties, fish and seafood from the nearby ocean, and other local products. The buffet is served from November 23 to December 15. The island is reachable in just 15-25 minutes by scheduled boat from the Saltholmen tram stop in the southwest part of Gothenburg.
Fifty minutes northwest of Gothenburg is the picturesque island of Marstrand, which is full of life during summer but offers relaxation in winter for those who want to experience a typical West Coast environment in peace and quiet. At the top of the island is Carlstens Fortress, where a very popular Christmas market is held from November 8 to 11. The fortress dresses in warm Christmas atmosphere when the area is decorated with Christmas ornaments and lit by torches. Many of the country’s best artisans exhibit here, with stalls to taste and buy local delicacies. Marstrand can be reached by bus or car.
Those who love herring should book a Christmas package at the floating hotel Salt&Sill on the island of Klädesholmen, 50 minutes north of Gothenburg, specializing in herring prepared in every way. Accommodation with breakfast, glögg, and Christmas buffet, from November 23 to December 13, 1,325 SEK/person (126 euros).
The Celebration of SAINT LUCIA
The celebrations of Saint Lucia represent one of the traditions most loved by Swedes. On December 13 every year, Sweden celebrates Saint Lucia with songs, candles, and typical saffron sweets, the “lussebullar.” In offices, schools, and homes the day begins with the Lucia procession, everyone dressed in white with candles in hand, and Lucia wearing a crown of candles on her head. There will be concerts in various churches in the city, including the Cathedral on December 9, 12, 13, and 15, and in the Haga church on December 13.
How to get there: Flights with one stopover with Norwegian from Rome.
