Discover Copenhagen this Christmas
It's almost Christmas!! Colourful Markets, festive lights, great food, Christmas Beer, and even better company! It's a magical time of year and Copenhagen is picture-perfect over the festive season, so enjoy all the festive experiences just waiting for you. See over 400,000 lights at the Christmas market in Copenhagen Zoo, or visit the traditional H.C Andersen Christmas Market in Nytorv Square. Don't be put off by the chilly weather, just wrap up warm, get yourself a hot drink, and explore this awesome city.
Whether you are looking to get cosy or to hit the pulsing night life the city has to offer, Copenhagen has plenty of indoor and outdoor activities taking place, from fairground rides and ice skating to late night live music.
Expect a warm welcome from the heart of Denmark as the festive season embraces all things "hygge" - great food, Danish traditions, new friends, shopping, skating, cosy bars, and delicious festive treats.
Christmas Markets in Copenhagen
Exploring the Christmas markets is one of our favourite things to do! The nearest to our hostel just down the shopping streets you can find the traditional market, the H.C Andersen Christmas market in Nytorv Square, named after the famous Danish fairy tale author. Here you can experience the atmosphere and try plenty of food and drink as well as shop around the stalls selling traditional gifts and handicrafts. There is also the nearby market in King's Square, at Kgs Nytorv, where you can see the Hotel D'Anglette lights. Until 22nd December.
The alternative market to check out is in Copehagen Zoo! The stalls are traditional themes but the setting is totally unique. You can visit the penguins while enjoying the festive lights, over 400,000 of them. Out of town there are Christmas Markets at Bakken, the world's oldest theme park located in the Deer Park.
The weekend of 20th-21st sees a weekend Christmas market in Frederiksberg at the Garden Society Garden, with 45 market stalls and plenty of food and drinks.
Christmas and the Fairground at Tivoli
Not only is Tivoli the best place for traditional Christmas market stalls, there are also thrill-seeking rides that can whizz you around with views of the city. Get your dose of a Danish Christmas with thousands of glittering lights and decorations, more than 15 Christmas trees, and see the park transformed until 2nd January. Check out the stalls where you can buy traditional gifts and feast on hot chocolate and mouth-watering snacks. Don’t forget to sample the gløgg, that’s the delicious sweet warm spiced wine.
For adrenaline junkies you can try the 63m high Golden Tower ride that drops you straight down, or "The Demon", or take it easy on the rollercoaster or Elf Ride. There's a mini Tiovli where you can enjoy the market stalls, and a whole host of restaurants to warm up inside.
For firework lovers Tivoli also hosts a festival of fireworks on the 25th, 26th at 20.45 or get ready for the New year in style with fireworks on the 31st of December at 23.00. Don't forget it is closed on 24th for Christmas. You can’t visit this fun-loving city without at visit to the world’s oldest amusement park Tivoli!
Get your Skates on!
It's not Christmas without a spin on ice, and Copenhagen has the annual winter skate rink at Frederiksberg. Here you can bring your own skates or hire blades, and the open-air rink is illuminated from November every winter. Check out the illuminations and throw some figure of 8s here until the end of February.
Take to the Streets with Santa
Wrap up warm and make a date with the Sunday 2nd of December when Santa Claus will parade from Nyhavn Canal to Rådhuspladsen with songs and celebration. When the man in red gets to the enormous spruce tree, he uses the help of the dashing Copenhagen fire brigade to reach the top of the tree and illuminate the city’s massive 20m Christmas tree with hundreds of lights and decorations.
This free slice of festive fun dates back all the way to 1914 and is a tradition that will have you making new friends and exploring the city’s seasonal best bits as you go. Get ready to spot Santa from 14.00 until 16.30.
Feed your Festive Appetite
Head to PapirØen, or Paper Island, the modern area of the city’s harbour where you’ll discover the mouth-watering Copenhagen Street Food. This is where you can wander through stalls selling a huge array of foods from around the world to stimulate your appetite and spoil you with donuts, gløgg and much more. Or check out Torvehallerne covered market by Nørreport, with an array of food stalls, ingredients and restaurants to try. Delicious!
Sweet Tooth Treats
If your sweet tooth isn’t quite satisfied by a visit to Paper Island you can take a visit to the Sømod’s Bolcher Candy Factory. This company has been around for 125 years and has even provided candy to they royal family! Visit the factory in the hip Nørreport, near the Station, where you sample the traditionally made sweet fare. There’s free entry until 23rd December for those with a taste for candy.
Stay with us at Copenhagen Downtown Hostel
If you're planning to visit Copenhagen this Christmas then we hope you enjoy all the city has to offer! Copenhagen Downtown Hostel has shared, private, and family rooms available in our central and friendly hostel. Our international bar has live entertainment with music, parties, DJs and games nights. Come and check out our amazing happy hour at the best prices in town! Check us out and book your bed at Copenhagendowntown.com
We are also part of the Europe's Famous Hostels network, being the hostel of choice for the Genuine Backpacker, as part of a network of over 40 hostels across Europe. Find out more about Famous Hostels here www.famoushostels.com
Copenhagen Downtown is a proud member of Famous Hostels - stay with us for a #GenuineBackpacker experience.