Plan your Christmas holidays in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, it’s not premature: it’s the ideal time to find a low-cost flight to Stockholm, so you can dedicate the rest of your budget to staying in the city.
The Christmas markets in Stockholm are numerous but not the only festive attraction at this time of year.
There are gingerbread boats, living advent calendars, Christmas buffets you can attend, and winter cruises to embark on.
Those who want to spend Christmas in Stockholm will be constantly surrounded by a magical atmosphere, if only because at this time of year the sun almost never rises: outside it is always dark and so shops, homes, and hotels in Stockholm use small lights or candles to brighten the night.
So what to do at Christmas in Stockholm?
Christmas Markets in Stockholm
Historically, Skansen is the ideal destination for lovers of traditional Christmas markets, an open-air museum where you can create unique candles, bake bread, and watch master craftsmen at work. If you prefer to add a royal touch, visit the markets in the Old Town (Gamla Stan), where the Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) is located.
At Stureplan, you can buy luxury gifts and see the beautiful lights. Don’t miss the Christmas decorations in the windows of Stockholm’s most glamorous department store, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) on Hamngatan. If you are in town on December 13th, attend one of the St. Lucia concerts organized in most churches. Take a break at the Christmas market in Kungsträdgården, in the heart of the shopping district, or go ice skating. Taste the pepparkakor (ginger cookies) soaked in warm glögg (spiced wine) or treat yourself to a lussekatt (saffron bun), the traditional Christmas pastry, during a coffee break (fika), the quintessential Swedish institution.
The most famous and interesting Christmas markets in Stockholm are mostly located downtown:
- at Stortorget square in the Old Town
- at the open-air museum Skansen
- in Kungsträdgården
- in the old royal stables Hovstallet
- at the Rosendal garden.
Then there is a market different from the usual one, set up by the Konstfack and Beckmans design Academies. Here unique and unpublished pieces full of creativity are on sale to decorate your home or Christmas tree in an original way.
Alternative Christmas Ideas
Speaking of alternative ideas, Christmas in Stockholm is indeed traditional, without giving up on more unique and unusual moments. At Nybrokajen, for example, a gingerbread boat is moored where sweets, cookies, and candies are sold throughout December. Here, you can taste typical Swedish Christmas sweets, in a brand-new setting: where have you ever seen a boat made of gingerbread?
The whole city is filled with a magical and poetic Christmas spirit, a great reason to visit Stockholm during a time of year particularly suitable to fully enjoy it. On one condition: with scarves, hats, sweaters, and jackets warmly worn.
The julbord of Stockholm
During the Christmas season, you can enjoy the julbord (Christmas buffet) in the most renowned restaurants, but two of these are famous for Stockholm’s exclusive style: the sumptuous Operakällaren, on the ground floor of the Stockholm Opera House, and the Grand Hôtel, frequented by VIPs and the wealthy of Stockholm.
If you love adventure, take the ferry to the islands of Fjäderholmarna, much loved by Stockholm residents, and enjoy the julbord at the restaurant Fjäderholmarnas Krog with a view of the archipelago and city lights. Pure magic. If you want to enjoy a unique atmosphere on board, book a buffet cruise during the Christmas period.
From the end of October, flights to Stockholm increase: for example, SAS offers a new route departing from Milan Malpensa with low prices.
If the Christmas spirit might — after a while — become a bit too overwhelming, there is always a good alternative: take a tour of Stockholm in the Millennium series locations, the work of the late writer Stieg Larsson.
