It’s the right time to consider one of the possible destinations for a winter holiday, and today’s idea brings us straight to Gothenburg, Sweden, a city that becomes even more magical during the Christmas season. There are indeed numerous Christmas Markets in Gothenburg to visit, allowing you to admire the city under a special light.
On the weekend of the first advent, illuminate the winter darkness with enchanting Christmas lights on streets and squares and with traditional advent candelabras in all windows. During the opening ceremony, the Lucia choir of Gothenburg will perform in Götaplatsen square in a procession from the central square of Gustav Adolf torg.
The largest Christmas market in Sweden opens its doors in the Liseberg amusement park on the weekend of November 16-18, transforming into a sparkling winter landscape illuminated by millions of Christmas lights. “The Singing Christmas Tree,” a choir performing in the shape of a Christmas tree, will hold several concerts each day in Kungsportsplatsen square. Additionally, there will be a myriad of other Christmas concerts, from intimate church concerts to dazzling Christmas shows.
Christmas shopping in Gothenburg is extremely enjoyable. Here you can find unique Christmas gifts both in the traditional Christmas markets and in design Christmas markets; moreover, you can buy delicious food products in the city’s two covered markets 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,” the sweet saffron Christmas buns. From late November to Christmas, many restaurants offer the “Julbord,” a traditional Christmas buffet with a variety of cold and hot dishes to delight your taste buds. Being the area of crustaceans par excellence, the taste and seafood specialties are guaranteed. Everywhere you can smell the “Glögg,” that is mulled wine, which in Sweden is served with almonds and raisins.
The first and most famous is the Liseberg Christmas Market, open since November 15 in the city center. Starting from December 6 onwards—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 and filled with 5 million lights.
The market will be open from Friday to Sunday until November 25; from Thursday to Sunday until December 1; and finally from December 4 to 23 it will be open every day, with special openings 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 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 by the Paddan boats from Kungsportsplatsen. A trip on these charming boats includes: blankets, mulled wine, and torches to warm 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 lend 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 during 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 handicrafts and various sweets. Open 1-22/12.
- Nordstan – artisans and artists exhibit their handicraft 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 huge 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 a single large Christmas market from Nordstan to Haga, from Kronhuset to Gustav Adolf Square and on the outskirts in the splendid setting of the Gunnebo castle.
Also throughout Gothenburg, other Christmas markets can be found, here they are in detail:
- Christmas Market in Haga: vintage style, open Saturday and Sunday from November 30 to December 22.
- Christmas Market in Kronhuset: artisans in stands wear period costumes. Open from November 30 to December 15, closed on Mondays.
- Christmas Market at Nordstan Shopping Center: artists and artisans present various items every day from November 14 to December 30.
- Christmas Market at Röda Sten Art Centre: hosted in the artistic space called The Cathedral, it is open from November 20 to December 1 (Friday 17-20, Saturday and Sunday 12-17).
- 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 visitable all year round.
To warm up, we recommend a typical Swedish coffee break (fika) in one of the cozy venues in Haga, in the historic city center. Try the lussekatter, traditional homemade saffron brioche typical of Christmas, or the giant kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls) at Café Husaren.
The famous Swedish smörgåsbord buffet, on the occasion of Christmas, is called Julbord and consists of marinated herrings prepared in all possible ways, deer pâté, smoked reindeer, and marinated salmon (gravad lax). All accompanied by rivers of beer and aquavit.
You can take a day trip into nature or towards the coast, where you can visit several Christmas markets or enjoy delicious Christmas buffets as well as experience suggestive natural settings.
At Gunnebo Castle, considered one of the main rural noble residences in Neoclassical style in Northern Europe, a market takes place with about 35 vendors of crafts and organic food. Guided tours in the castle + free access to the large gardens, open 24-25/11 and 1-2/12. In the adjacent restaurant an excellent Christmas buffet with organic products is served. Gunnebo can be reached by car in only 15 minutes and in 30 minutes by tram and bus.
The inhabitants 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 only 15-25 minutes by a line boat from the Saltholmen tram stop in the southwest part of Gothenburg.
50 minutes northwest of Gothenburg is the picturesque island of Marstrand, which is full of life in summer but offers relaxation in winter for those who want to experience a typical West Coast environment in peace and quiet. On the island’s top is the Carlstens fortress, where a very popular Christmas market is held from November 8 to 11. The fortress takes on a warm Christmas atmosphere when the area is decorated with Christmas decorations and lit by torches. Many of the best artisans in the country exhibit here and there are stalls where you can 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, whose specialty is herring prepared in every possible way. Overnight stay with breakfast, glögg, and Christmas buffet, from 23/11 to 13/12, 1,325 SEK/person (126 euros).
The SANTA LUCIA Celebration
The Santa Lucia celebrations represent one of the traditions most beloved by Swedes. On December 13 every year Sweden celebrates Santa Lucia with songs, candles, and the typical saffron sweets, the “lussebullar.” In offices, schools, and homes, the day opens with the Lucia procession, all dressed in white and holding candles, with Lucia wearing a crown of candles on her head. There will be concerts in several churches in the city, including at the Cathedral on the 9th, 12th, 13th, and 15th of December, and in the Haga church on December 13.
How to get there: Flights with one stopover with Norwegian from Rome.
