It is the right time to consider one of the possible destinations for a winter holiday 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 weekend of the first Advent, illuminate the winter darkness with suggestive Christmas lights on streets and squares and with traditional Advent candelabras in every window. During the opening ceremony, the Gothenburg Lucia choir 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 amusement park Liseberg 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 every 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 at traditional Christmas markets and at design Christmas markets; furthermore, you can buy exquisite food products at 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 the shops and taste the typical “lussebullarna”, sweet saffron buns made at Christmas. From late November to Christmas, many restaurants offer the “Julbord,” a traditional Christmas buffet with a variety of cold and hot dishes to savor. Being the area of excellence for shellfish, the taste and seafood specialties are guaranteed. Everywhere you smell “Glögg,” mulled wine served in Sweden with almonds and raisins.
The first and most famous is the Liseberg Christmas Market, open since November 15 in the city center. From December 6 onward – 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 definitely 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 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 real “Christmas planet,” illuminated by five million lights. Here you can browse around 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 Paddan boats from Kungsportsplatsen. A trip on these charming 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 particular charm to the Christmas market. The outdoor stalls sell homemade items and local products that compete with the trendiest boutiques and vintage shops lining the main street. Open on weekends from 24/11 to 16/12.
- Kronhuset: The oldest building of Gothenburg from the 17th century, Kronhuset, is transformed into a traditional bazaar where artisans dressed in period costumes sell their crafts and sweets. Open 1-22/12.
- Nordstan – artisans and artists display their handicrafts of all kinds and contemporary Swedish design 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 objects. 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 in the outskirts in the splendid setting of the Gunnebo Castle.
Also in the rest of Gothenburg you can find other Christmas markets, detailed here:
- Christmas Market in Haga: vintage style, open Saturday and Sunday from November 30 to December 22.
- Christmas Market in Kronhuset: artisans wear period clothes at the stands. Open from November 30 to December 15, closed on Mondays.
- Christmas Market at Nordstan Shopping Center: artists and artisans present various items daily 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 17-20, Saturday and Sunday 12-17).
- Christmas Market at Gunnebo Castle: slightly outside Gothenburg, this market offers organic food and local crafts. 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 center of the city. Try the lussekatter, traditional saffron brioche typical of Christmas homemade, or the giant kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls) at Café Husaren.
The famous Swedish smörgåsbord buffet, at Christmas, is called Julbord and consists of marinated herring prepared in every possible way, deer pâté, smoked reindeer, and marinated salmon (gravad lax). All accompanied by rivers of beer and schnapps.
You can take a day trip to nature or towards the coast, where you can visit several Christmas markets or enjoy delicious Christmas buffets as well as experience suggestive natural environments.
At Gunnebo Castle, considered one of the main noble country 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 entrance to the large gardens, open 24-25/11 and 1-2/12. An excellent Christmas buffet with organic products is served in the adjacent restaurant. You can get to Gunnebo by car in just 15 minutes and in 30 minutes by tram and bus.
The inhabitants of Gothenburg willingly go to the island of Styrsö in the Gothenburg archipelago to enjoy the Christmas buffet of the guesthouse Styrsö Skäret, 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 ferry from the tram stop Saltholmen in the southwest part of Gothenburg.
Fifty minutes northwest of Gothenburg lies 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 atmosphere in peace and quiet. On the top of the island is the Carlstens fortress, where a very popular Christmas market is held from November 8 to 11. The fortress is dressed with a warm Christmas atmosphere when the area is decorated with Christmas decorations and illuminated by torches. Many of the country’s best artisans exhibit here, and there are 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, whose specialty is herring prepared in every way. Overnight stay with breakfast, glögg, and Christmas buffet, from 23/11 to 13/12, 1,325 SEK/person (126 euros).
The feast 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 the typical saffron sweets, the “lussebullar”. In offices, schools, and homes, the day opens with the Lucia procession, all dressed in white with candles in hand, 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 stop with Norwegian from Rome.
