A Stockholm Christmas begins in late November, when the Christmas markets open on Stortorget in Gamla Stan and at Skansen on Djurgården, and lasts until just before Christmas Eve. In 2026 Stortorget is open every day from 21 November to 23 December, and Skansen opens on four weekends between 27 November and 20 December.
Christmas in Stockholm, Sweden, is about more than the markets. The city lights go on in mid-November, Nobel Week fills the second week of December, Lucia concerts glow on 13 December, and restaurants serve julbord, the Swedish Christmas buffet, all season.
This guide is written for a Stockholm Christmas holiday of two to four days, with every date checked for 2026. It also covers what most guides skip: what is open on Christmas Day, how to reach the markets outside the city, and what to book before you fly.
Dates last checked: 2 November 2026
In this guide
- When are the Stockholm Christmas markets in 2026?
- Key dates for a Stockholm Christmas 2026
- The best Stockholm Christmas markets
- Christmas markets near Stockholm worth a day trip
- The markets in one evening
- Beyond the markets: julbord, Lucia, Nobel Week
- Stockholm in December
- What is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
- Between Christmas and New Year
- Where to stay and how to get around
- FAQ
- Final thoughts
Key takeaways
- Stortorget, Gamla Stan: daily, 21 November – 23 December 2026, free entry.
- Skansen, Djurgården: Friday to Sunday, 27 November – 20 December, included in the Skansen ticket.
- Best weekend: 28–29 November, the first Advent weekend, when five markets are open.
- Book early: julbord tables, Lucia concert tickets for 13 December, and hotels for Nobel Week (5–13 December).
- Christmas Eve, 24 December: the markets have closed and much of the city shuts by mid-afternoon.
When Are the Stockholm Christmas Markets in 2026?
The Stockholm Christmas markets run from 21 November to 23 December 2026. Stortorget in Gamla Stan is open every day of that period, Skansen opens Friday to Sunday from 27 November to 20 December, and the smaller markets open for a single day or weekend in late November and early December.
Stockholm Christmas market dates 2026
| Market | 2026 dates | Opening hours | Entry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stortorget, Gamla Stan | Daily, 21 Nov – 23 Dec | Sun–Thu 11:00–18:00, Fri–Sat 11:00–19:00 | Free | Red stalls, glögg and gifts in the old town |
| Skansen, Djurgården | Fri–Sun, 27 Nov – 20 Dec | Fri–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–16:00 | Skansen ticket; under-16s free | Families, crafts, bonfires and folk music |
| Hovstallet, Östermalm | Fri–Sun, 4–6 Dec | Fri 11:00–19:00, Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–17:00 | Check before you go | Christmas shopping in the Royal Stables |
| Kungsträdgården, City centre | Sat 28 Nov | 11:00–16:00 | Free | A short stop under the Christmas lights |
| Sigtuna, About 50 km north | Sundays 29 Nov, 6, 13 and 20 Dec | 11:00–16:00 | Free | Sweden’s oldest town and its wooden houses |
| Skokloster Castle, About an hour north | Sat–Sun, 28–29 Nov | 11:00–16:00 | Free; castle tour SEK 95 | A baroque castle on Lake Mälaren |
The first Advent weekend, 28–29 November, has the most on: Stortorget, Skansen, Kungsträdgården, Skokloster and Sigtuna are all open.
Key Dates for a Stockholm Christmas 2026
The Stockholm Christmas season runs from 14 November 2026, when the lights go on, to 13 January 2027, when Swedes take down the tree. The busiest dates are the first Advent weekend (28–29 November), Nobel Week (5–13 December) and Lucia (13 December).
Key dates for a Stockholm Christmas 2026
| Date | What happens | Plan ahead |
|---|---|---|
| 14 November | Christmas lights go on in Kungsträdgården and the streets around it (until 16 January) | – |
| 21 November | Stortorget Christmas market opens in Gamla Stan | – |
| 27 November | Skansen Christmas market opens (Friday to Sunday until 20 December) | Buy Skansen tickets online |
| 29 November | First Advent: candles and star lanterns appear in windows; Sigtuna’s first market Sunday | The busiest market weekend |
| 5–13 December | Nobel Week Lights; the Nobel Prize ceremony on 10 December | Book your hotel early |
| 13 December | Lucia | Concert tickets sell out |
| 23 December | Last day of the Stortorget market | – |
| 24 December | Christmas Eve, Sweden’s main celebration | Book dinner; many places close |
| 25–26 December | Christmas Day and Boxing Day (public holidays); the post-Christmas sales begin | – |
| 31 December | New Year’s Eve: Skansen’s countdown and fireworks over the water | Book dinner and a car home |
| 6 January | Epiphany (public holiday) | – |
| 13 January | St Knut’s Day, when Swedes “dance out” Christmas and take down the tree | – |
The Best Stockholm Christmas Markets
The best Stockholm Christmas markets are Stortorget in Gamla Stan, the oldest in the city, and Skansen on Djurgården, held in an open-air museum since 1903. If you only have time for one, choose Skansen for atmosphere and Stortorget for ease: it is open every day, right in the old town.
Stortorget Christmas Market, Gamla Stan
- Open: Daily, 21 November – 23 December 2026
- Hours: Sun–Thu 11:00–18:00, Fri–Sat 11:00–19:00
- Entry: Free
- Getting there: Gamla Stan metro, or a car to Skeppsbron, a few minutes’ walk away
Stortorget, the old square at the heart of Gamla Stan, has held a Christmas market since 1837, which makes it the oldest in Stockholm. The non-profit Stockholms-Gillet has run it since 1915. Red wooden stalls fill the square in front of the Nobel Prize Museum, selling glögg (Swedish mulled wine), saffron buns, gingerbread, handmade crafts, candles and decorations.
Rising costs nearly stopped the market this year. It was saved in late October, and some stalls may move to Järntorget, a short walk south of the square.
The square is busiest on weekend evenings, when the narrow lanes around it fill up. Go on a weekday afternoon for room to browse; the sun sets before 15:00 in December, so the stalls are lit up by mid-afternoon anyway.
Skansen Christmas Market, Djurgården
- Open: Fri–Sun: 27–29 Nov, 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20 Dec 2026
- Hours: Fri–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–16:00
- Entry: Skansen day ticket, priced by date; under-16s free
- Getting there: Djurgården ferry from Slussen, tram 7, or a car to the main entrance
Skansen’s Christmas market began in 1903 as a small charity bazaar and has grown into one of the city’s best-loved traditions. The stalls stand among historic farmhouses and town buildings, bonfires burn, and folk musicians play while families dance round the Christmas tree.
Stalls sell local crafts, design, candles, sweets and food for the Christmas table, with waffles, mulled wine and roasted almonds to eat as you walk. Children can visit Santa’s workshop, and some days bring carol singalongs and short concerts in Seglora Church.
Skansen is hilly and the paths can be icy, so wear boots with a good grip. Arrive at opening time for the best of the daylight, and allow two to three hours.
Smaller Markets Around the City
- Hovstallet, the Royal Stables (Östermalm): a three-day market inside the Royal Stables on Väpnargatan, 4–6 December.
- Kungsträdgården (city centre): a one-day market under the Christmas lights on Saturday 28 November, 11:00–16:00.
- Schysst Jul at ABF House (Sveavägen 41): an indoor Christmas market on 5–6 December.
- Bondens egen marknad, Tessinparken (Gärdet): the farmers’ market sells Christmas food on Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December.
- Almvik by steamboat: on Saturday 5 December the S/S Blidösund leaves Skeppsbron at 09:00 for the Christmas market at Almvik in the archipelago, returning at 20:00.
Which Christmas Markets Near Stockholm Are Worth a Day Trip?
Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town, and Skokloster Castle are the best Christmas markets near Stockholm, both about an hour or less by car. On Sunday 29 November 2026 both are open, so you can see the two in one day. Taxinge Castle holds an earlier fair in mid-November.
Sigtuna
- Open: Sundays 29 Nov and 6, 13 and 20 Dec 2026
- Hours: 11:00–16:00
- Entry: Free
- Distance: About 50 km north of Stockholm
Sigtuna was founded around 980 and is Sweden’s oldest town. On the four Sundays of Advent its Christmas market fills Stora torget and Stora gatan, the main street of low wooden houses. Come for crafts, Christmas food and a walk along the shore of Lake Mälaren, then warm up in one of the cafés on Stora gatan.
Skokloster Castle
- Open: Sat–Sun, 28–29 Nov 2026
- Hours: 11:00–16:00
- Entry: Free; 30-minute castle tour SEK 95, under-19s free
- Distance: About an hour north, towards Uppsala
Skokloster is a 17th-century baroque castle on Lake Mälaren. Its Christmas market takes place on the first Advent weekend, with traditional crafts, local food and winter tours of the castle rooms. Tour tickets are sold only at the castle entrance.
Taxinge Castle
- Open: 13–15 and 19–22 Nov 2026
- Entry: SEK 100 Thu–Fri, SEK 120 Sat–Sun; under-12s free
- Distance: About an hour south-west, near Nykvarn
If you arrive in mid-November, before the city markets open, Taxinge holds its Christmas fair in and around the castle. Further north, Uppsala’s historic Christmas market runs on 5–6 December.
How to Get to the Markets Outside Stockholm
Public transport reaches Sigtuna and Skokloster, but in winter it means changes, infrequent buses and darkness by mid-afternoon. A car is the easier way to combine two markets in a day: with a private driver you can see Skokloster in the late morning and Sigtuna by dusk, with no timetable to watch. Book a Christmas market day trip with a private driver.
How to See Stockholm’s Christmas Markets in One Evening
You can see Stockholm’s two main Christmas markets, its lights and a julbord in one evening on any Friday or Saturday between 27 November and 19 December 2026. Start at Skansen at 14:00 and finish with dinner at 19:30.
- 14:00 Skansen: Arrive with the last of the daylight for the bonfires, the stalls and the dancing round the tree. The market closes at 17:00.
- 17:00 Stortorget: Gamla Stan after dark, with glögg at the red stalls until 19:00.
- 18:30 The Christmas lights: Kungsträdgården and the streets around it, then the NK department store windows on Hamngatan.
- 19:30 Julbord: Dinner at one of the classic Christmas buffets listed below.
That is four stops across three parts of the city, in the dark and the cold, with shopping bags by the second stop. A car makes the evening easy: your chauffeur waits outside each stop, keeps your shopping safe and gets you to dinner on time.
A Christmas Market Evening with Your Own Chauffeur
- Your driver plans the route around the markets you want to see
- The car waits outside every stop, warm and ready
- Your shopping stays safe in the car
- On to dinner, and home again afterwards
What to Do at Christmas in Stockholm Beyond the Markets
Beyond the markets, the best things to do in Stockholm in December are a julbord Christmas buffet, a Lucia concert around 13 December, the free Nobel Week Lights festival (5–13 December), and the lights, skating and gingerbread houses in the city centre.
What Is Julbord?
Julbord is the Swedish Christmas buffet, served in restaurants from mid-November until just before Christmas. A classic one comes in rounds: pickled herring with schnapps, then salmon and other cold fish, then Christmas ham, meatballs, small prinskorv sausages and Jansson’s temptation (a creamy potato and anchovy bake), ending with rice pudding. It is a long, social meal, so allow two to three hours.
Christmas food and drink to try
- Glögg: Mulled wine with raisins and almonds
- Julmust: Sweden’s Christmas soft drink
- Pepparkakor: Thin gingerbread biscuits
- Lussekatter: Saffron buns, eaten on Lucia
- Knäck: Christmas toffee
- Gravlax: Cured salmon
- Risgrynsgröt: Rice pudding; find the hidden almond and you are said to marry within the year
Where to Eat Julbord in Stockholm
Six julbord worth booking in 2026, with prices per person from Thatsup’s julbord guide:
Julbord in Stockholm 2026: restaurants and prices
| Restaurant | Price per person | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The Veranda, Grand Hôtel – Blasieholmen, on the waterfront | SEK 1,195–1,595 | Served right through December, including the holidays |
| Operakällaren – By the Royal Opera | SEK 1,795 | Its last Christmas before it closes for renovation in 2027 |
| Gamla Riksarkivet – Riddarholmen, Gamla Stan | SEK 1,095–1,495 | Julbord in the old national archives building |
| Solliden at Skansen – Djurgården | SEK 895–1,295 | Back after restoration; pairs well with the Skansen market |
| Ulla Winbladh – Djurgården | SEK 895–1,195 | From mid-November; closed on 24 and 25 December |
| Blå Porten – Djurgården | SEK 695–945 | A more relaxed julbord next to Liljevalchs art gallery |
Lunch sittings are usually cheaper than dinner, and Thursday to Saturday evenings and the Lucia weekend fill first, often weeks ahead. Our concierge can book your julbord table. If you would rather stay in, a private chef can cook julbord at your apartment, and for a team there is help with a company julbord or Christmas party.
When Is Lucia, and Where Can You See It?
Lucia is celebrated on 13 December, which falls on a Sunday in 2026. Choirs in white gowns, led by a Lucia wearing a crown of candles, sing carols in the dark, and lussekatter are on every café counter. Concerts run through the week before, and the best ones sell out:
- Storkyrkan, Gamla Stan: candlelit concerts in Stockholm Cathedral, 6–13 December.
- Skansen: an old-fashioned Lucia on 12–13 December, with short concerts in Seglora Church (separate ticket).
- Stockholm City Hall: Lucia in the building where the Nobel banquet is held, 12–13 December.
- Oscarskyrkan, Östermalm: traditional concerts from 5 to 13 December.
- Berns: a Lucia breakfast with a procession at 07:00 or 09:00 on 13 December.
Tickets cost from about SEK 55 to 495 (Thatsup’s Lucia guide). Our concierge can book them, and for an early Lucia breakfast your driver can be at the door before dawn.
What Is Nobel Week?
Nobel Week is the week around 10 December, when the Nobel Prizes are presented in Stockholm on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The ceremony and banquet are by invitation only, but the city shares the occasion: from 5 to 13 December, Nobel Week Lights fills the centre and Tensta with free light artworks, lit from 16:00 to 22:00. Hotels and the best restaurant tables are busiest that week, so book early.
Christmas Lights, Skating and Gingerbread Houses
The #Stockholmsjul Christmas lights shine in Kungsträdgården and the streets around it from 14 November 2026 to 16 January 2027. Nearby, NK department store unveils its Christmas windows on Hamngatan in mid-November, a family tradition for Stockholmers. For gifts, start at NK and the shops of Östermalm, or book Christmas shopping with a personal shopper.
In winter, weather permitting, Kungsträdgården also has a free outdoor ice rink under the lights. Across the bridge on Skeppsholmen, ArkDes, Sweden’s centre for architecture and design, shows its annual gingerbread house exhibition, a tradition for more than 35 years with entries from professionals and amateurs alike.
What Is Stockholm Like in December? Weather, Daylight and Crowds
Stockholm in December is cold and dark but festive. Temperatures average about −2°C at night and 2°C by day, the sun is up for around six hours, and snow is possible but never guaranteed. The busiest times are the first Advent weekend and Nobel Week.
Stockholm weather and daylight in December
| Stockholm in December | Average |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | 2°C |
| Night-time low | −2°C |
| Rain and snow | 46 mm over the month |
| Daylight on 21 December 2026 | 6 hours 8 minutes (sunrise about 08:40, sunset before 15:00) |
Some years the streets are white for weeks; in others December is wet rather than snowy. Plan Skansen and outdoor sightseeing for the middle of the day, and save shops, museums and long dinners for the dark afternoons and evenings.
What to Pack
- A warm, windproof coat, hat, gloves and scarf
- Boots with a good grip for icy cobbles in Gamla Stan
- Layers, because shops, museums and restaurants are warm inside
The busiest times are the market weekends, above all the first Advent weekend (28–29 November), and Nobel Week (5–13 December), when hotels fill and restaurant tables go fast. Stockholm in winter is at its quietest on weekdays in early December.
What Is Open in Stockholm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
On Christmas Eve, 24 December, Sweden’s main day of celebration, the Christmas markets have closed and many shops, restaurants and museums close early or all day. On Christmas Day most shops stay shut, but restaurants that open every day of the year, such as the Grand Hôtel’s Veranda, Sturehof and Riche, serve as normal.
Christmas Eve, 24 December
Swedes celebrate on Christmas Eve, so expect a quiet city from mid-afternoon. Stortorget’s last market day is 23 December and Skansen’s market ends on 20 December, and public transport runs a holiday timetable.
A few sights open for the morning. On Christmas Eve 2025, Skansen opened 10:00–14:00, ABBA The Museum 10:00–15:00 and the Nordic Museum 10:00–17:00 with a free Christmas concert; expect similar hours in 2026, but check before you go. At 15:00 much of Sweden sits down to watch Donald Duck (Kalle Anka) on television, a tradition for more than 60 years.
Good to know: Systembolaget, the state alcohol shop, is closed from 24 to 26 December, so buy wine and spirits for your apartment before Christmas Eve.
If you are in Stockholm for Christmas, book Christmas Eve dinner well ahead; hotel restaurants are the safest choice, and our concierge can arrange it.
Christmas Day, 25 December
Christmas Day starts early for some with julotta, a candlelit dawn church service. Most shops are closed, though some supermarkets open for shorter hours. Restaurants that open every day of the year include the Veranda at the Grand Hôtel, Sturehof, Riche and Rival; Ulla Winbladh is closed on both 24 and 25 December. The metro runs a holiday timetable.
What Happens Between Christmas and New Year in Stockholm?
Between Christmas and New Year Stockholm slows down. Boxing Day, 26 December, is a public holiday, the post-Christmas sales fill the shops, and on New Year’s Eve the city celebrates with Skansen’s televised countdown and fireworks over the water at midnight.
Boxing Day and the Post-Christmas Sales
Swedes call the days between Christmas and New Year mellandagarna, and many take the whole week off. The shops reopen for the mellandagsrea, the post-Christmas sales, which draw big crowds to the department stores. If you would rather skip the queues, a personal shopper can do the legwork for you.
New Year’s Eve in Stockholm
Skansen has hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration since 1893. The park opens 10:00–16:00 for daytime visits and reopens at 20:00 for the evening programme; the countdown on Solliden Stage is broadcast live on Swedish television. A regular Skansen ticket covers it, and fireworks are not allowed inside the park.
At midnight fireworks light up the sky over the water. Favourite viewpoints are Skeppsbron, Slottsbacken and Skeppsholmen in the centre, and Fjällgatan, Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget on the heights of Södermalm.
Book New Year’s Eve dinner early; our concierge can help. With your own chauffeur, you can go from dinner to the fireworks and home again without searching for a ride after midnight.
Epiphany and St Knut’s Day
The season ends gently. Epiphany on 6 January is a public holiday, the Christmas lights stay up until 16 January, and on St Knut’s Day, 13 January, Swedes “dance out” Christmas and take down the tree.
Where to Stay and How to Get Around at Christmas
Stay in Norrmalm, Östermalm or Gamla Stan and you can walk to most of the Christmas sights. Arlanda Airport is 35–40 minutes from the centre by car, the metro and the Djurgården ferry cover the city, and a car with a driver is easiest for evenings with several stops and for day trips.
Where to Stay
- Norrmalm: next to Kungsträdgården, NK and the Christmas lights; the most central base.
- Östermalm: elegant streets, the city’s best food halls and boutiques, and Hovstallet’s market on your doorstep.
- Gamla Stan: Stortorget outside the door, but cobbles, stairs and narrow lanes, so pack light.
For a longer stay or a family, consider a luxury apartment in central Stockholm: more space than a hotel room, and a kitchen for a julbord at home.
Arriving at Arlanda
Arlanda Airport is about 35–40 minutes from the city centre by car, 45–60 minutes at rush hour and longer in snow. With a pre-booked Arlanda transfer, your chauffeur tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals, however late you land.
Getting Around the City
The metro is quick, and the ferry from Slussen to Djurgården, or tram 7, is the pleasant way to reach Skansen. For evenings with several stops, day trips to Sigtuna or Skokloster, and anyone travelling with children or bags of Christmas shopping, a car with a driver is easier. A Mercedes V-Class takes a family or small group, with room for luggage and gifts.
Final Thoughts
A Stockholm Christmas rewards a little planning. Fix your dates around the markets: Stortorget is open every day until 23 December, while Skansen and the day-trip markets keep to weekends. Book the things that sell out first: a julbord table, Lucia concert tickets and, during Nobel Week, your hotel. Then leave room for the simple pleasures: glögg on a cold square, the lights on the water and a warm car waiting at the end of the evening.
Related reading
- Best Things to Do in Stockholm – Sights, neighbourhoods and the best of each season
- Luxury Travel in Stockholm – Where to stay, dine and explore in style
- Private Chef in Stockholm – Fine dining at your apartment or villa
About this guide
Written by the Mr Charles Stockholm team. Dates, opening hours and prices were checked against the organisers’ websites and official listings on 2 November 2026, and the guide is updated every autumn. Prices are per person in Swedish kronor and can change, so check before you book.
Sources: Skansen Christmas market · Stortorgets julmarknad · Skokloster Castle · Nobel Week Lights · Visit Stockholm: Christmas lights · Skansen New Year’s Eve · Thatsup julbord guide