Among these festive markets, could be the gem that makes this an all-time classic Christmas

We’ve got upwards of 20 this year in the Greater Copenhagen area. Visiting one is rarely a wasted journey, but choose wisely

We can’t vouch for all of these Christmas markets.

Some of them are garish and borderline vulgar, selling last year’s almonds and gløgg topped up at the pet shop.

But among this line-up could be the market where you buy one of your best Christmas presents ever!

Could be the next Fabergé
You know the gist: a second year design student is selling handmade jewellery – just 100 kroner a pop.

You’re drawn to it because you’re a genius. Fast-forward ten years and a Danish woman is being lauded as the greatest jewelley designer since Fabergé.

Could it be … if only your wife hadn’t lost it on that drunken night in Lanzarote.


Norwegian Xmas market
Fri 26 Nov, 14:00-18:00, Sat 27 Nov, 12:00-16:00 & Sun 28 Nov, 12:00-16:00; Sjømannskirken, Ved Mønten 9, Cph S; 10kr
Enjoy Norwegian delicacies at this bazaar. The festivities include a performance by the King Haakon Church Choir (Sat 14:00) and a liturgy to mark the first Sunday of Advent (Sun 11:00). Enjoy pinnekjøtt, lutefisk, cookies, waffles and more.

Family Xmas Market
Fri Dec 3, 14:00-19:00, Sat 4 & Sun 5 Dec, 10:00-16:00; Bernstorff Slot, Jægersborg Alle 93, Gentofte; 100kr, under-12s: 30kr
The organisers are promising a magical Christmas experience for the whole family. Santa and his elves will be in attendance, along with 90 stalls selling the finest festive crafts, and musicians aplenty. This could be the Danish julehygge experience you’ve been looking for.

KADK Xmas Market
Nov 28, 10:00-17:00; Danneskiold-Samsøes Allé 51, Cph K; free adm; kadk.dk
Every year the students and employees at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation (KADK) sell their own creations such as sculptures, Christmas decorations, jewellery, ceramics, prints and paintings – stuff they’ve made during their studies. Don’t forget to bring cash. Get there early as there’s a limit on 400 visitors at a time.

Tivoli Market
ongoing, ends Dec 30, open Sun-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; 135 kr, tivoligardens.com
Thousands of twinkling lights, 70,000 baubles, countless decorations, pine branches laden with snow, and Santa and his reindeer await visitors. The market’s 60 stalls will be filled with decorations, snacks, sweets and hot drinks.

Greenlandic Xmas Market
Dec 11-12; Det Grønlandske Hus, Løvstræde 6, Cph K
Source Greenlandic handicrafts at its 40 stalls. From musk wool and sealskin to pearls and jewels.

Kødbyen’s Xmas Market
open Dec 3-5, Fri 15:00-20:00, Sat 10:00-18:00 & Sun 10:00-16:00; Slagthusgade 44, Cph V; free adm
Get the ideal present while munching on gløgg, risalamande, cakes and confectionery. Source prints, posters, porcelain and paper crafts and that’s just goods starting with a P!

Kitchen Xmas Market
Dec 12, 10:00-17:00; The Lab, Vermundsgade 40A + B, 1st floor, Cph Ø; free adm
Stalls and activities for children and adults. Ceramics, clothes, accessories and handicrafts. Edible delicacies and hot drinks.

Dragør Market
Nov 27-Dec 5, Sat & Sun 12:00-17:00; Badstuevælen, Dragør; visit-dragoer.dk
In Badstuevælen central square in the middle of Dragør’s old town, you can explore the small Christmas stalls, where you can find small presents and enjoy pancakes, mulled wine and other food and drink. While you’re on the tip of Amager, seek out the decorations exhibition at Amager Museet, Citizens’ Association Christmas Market and Xmas farm at Seerup Gård.

Viktoria Christmas Market
Nov 26-28, 10:00-19:00; Vesterbrogade 24B, Cph V; viktoriaceramicstudio.dk
In a 400 sqm studio, enjoy the build-up to Christmas by admiring the ceramics created by the six designers of the studio in a convivial atmosphere while drinking mulled wine. Custom-made and handmade, these are great designs for affordable prices. “You will be the owner of something truly unique,” the studio promises.

Rita Blå’s Store Julelopper
Dec 5, 11:00-16:00; Charlotte Ammundsens Pl 3, Cph K; 370 kr to run a stall, billeto.dk
A large Christmas market will be held in the cultural house in the city centre, where flea, craft and decoration stalls will bring the magic and generosity of the Christmas season to life. At the end of their participation, stallholders are invited to donate unsold goods to Danish Catholic Relief Services.

Carlsberg Market
all weekends in Dec, 10:00-17:00; Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V; free adm
The Carlsberg Brewery invites visitors to stroll through the historic setting of the old factory while sipping beer at the dozens of stalls selling Carlsberg merchandise. Probably the best Christmas market ever for Dad.

Østerbro’s Hyggeligste Market
Dec 4-5, Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-16:00; Odensegade 30, Cph Ø; free adm
Named by Antik & Auktion magazine as one of Copenhagen’s best, the Christmas edition of the well-known flea market will serve up countless possibilities for presents. The large sun terrace is transformed into a marketplace with coffee and cakes to welcome happy visitors. As the organisers proudly proclaim, it’s the “market where people meet”.

Christmas at Flid
Dec 4-5, 10:00-17:00; Nørrebrohallen, Nørrebrogade 208, Cph N; 30 kroner, free for kids; flidmarked.dk
The Flid exhibition platform brings art to Nørrebrohallen visitors: a marketplace full of emerging Scandinavian craftsmen and designers, offering unique insight into what will be the sustainable trends in the creative industries in the future. Ceramics, graphic design, textiles, painting, sculpture, lighting, jewellery, photography … you name it!

Copenhagen Zoo Market
ongoing, ends Dec 31, opening times vary, most days 10:00-16:00; Roskildevej 38, Frederiksberg; 195kr; zoo.dk
Copenhagen Zoo is holding an old-fashioned Christmas. It’s shipped in half a million Christmas lights, 900 Christmas trees and Santa himself. Take a trip on the train, feed the farm animals, sing Christmas carols with Popsi & Krelle, and skate between the panda and penguin enclosures. At the market, glögg, roasted almonds, apple slices, waffles, cocoa and lots of other Christmas crunch await you.

Christmas at Kronborg Castle
Nov 27-Dec 5, weekends 10:00-17:00; 85kr; kongeligeslotte.dk
In the rooms and halls of the castle there will be a wide variety of stalls selling Christmas decorations, arts and crafts, unique design, clothes, toys and small goods. Visitors will be able to admire the large Christmas tree in the ballroom, and watch a commemorative show. There will be a walk through the royal flats, casemates and chapel.

Højbro Plads Market
ongoing, ends Dec 22, open Mon-Wed 11:00-19:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-19:00; Højbro Pl, Cph K; julemarked.nu
In the heart of the old town, the International Christmas Market is based on the typical German Weihnachtsmarkt concept. The log cabins are imported from Tyrol and many exhibitors come from Germany. Fill up on typical Frankfurt sausages, German-style Glühwein, waffles, pancakes and sweets.

Xmas at Bakken
Nov 26-Dec 22; Dyrehavevej 62, Klampenborg; free adm; bakken.dk
For the fourth time, Bakken is opening its doors to celebrate Christmas, inviting all the generations to a ‘celebration of hearts’. As you stroll through the streets of the world’s oldest theme park, you will see a number of stalls decorated with lights and trees. Gifts, specialities, hand-knitted hats and jewellery. Finish off with dinner at one of the restaurants on the hill, which offer a wide selection of Christmas meals.

HC Andersen Market
ongoing, ends Dec 21, open Sun-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; Nytorv, Hulgårdsvej 27, Cph K; julemarked.co
An enchanting world, decorated cottages, tastes, smells, atmosphere … if it’s conviviality you’re after. Set up each year in honour of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, the stalls are all named after one of his stories. Children can have fun on the nostalgic merry-go-round, while in Santa’s house, Mrs Claus will welcome them to make their own decorations.

Kongens Nytorv Market
ongoing, ends Dec 22, open Mon-Wed 11:00-19:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-19:00; Kongens Nytorv, Cph K; jul-i-kobenhavn.dk
Ever since King Christian V – who still sits there on his horse – opened the square in 1670, its cobblestones have been the scene of all sorts of events. Visiting the Xmas market is like a trip back in time..

Christiania Market
Dec 9-20, 12:00-20:00; Refshalevej 2, Cph K; free adm; Christiania.org
The Christiania locals welcome visitors to the Grey Hall for craft activities, mulled wine and entertainment. The stalls plan to sell handmade artwork that has been produced over the year by the freetown artists. There will be live music and stage shows every day: jazz, swing, Django Reinhardt, Balkan …

Nyhavn Christmas Market
ongoing, open Sun-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; Nyhavn, Cph K; markedskalenderen.dk
Can you imagine a more beautiful place in Copenhagen for a Christmas market than Nyhavn? Swing by the charming harbour and taste local treats such as æbleskiver and gløgg, whilst listening to traditional Danish Christmas hits.

Kødbyen Food & Xmas Market
Dec 19-20, 10:00-20:00; Kødbyen, Flæsketorvet, Cph V
An event at Kødbyen always ensures a down-to-earth yet edgy urban atmosphere. Enjoy a weekend in the food district filled with churros and sandwiches as well as many Christmas dishes and treats. And don’t forget to stock up on veg as well.

Esrum Kloster Xmas Market
Nov 27-Dec 5, weekends 10:00-17:00; Klostergade 11-12, Esrum, Græsted; 85kr;  esrum.dk
At Esrum Kloster Christmas Market, high quality products are on sale, such as casks of sparkling monastery beer, liqueurs, French delicacies, jams and cakes. The onsite Møllecafé lays on a local Christmas menu. And it’s even possible to take tours of the monastery’s premises and exhibitions.