Christmas activities in Copenhagen

Christmas in Tivoli Gardens
Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen V – Website/Press photos

No Christmas without a stroll in the world-famous historical garden from 1843 in the city centre. Every year, the theme park is lit with lights and filled with Christmas spirit. A true fairy tale Christmas market is on display and the place is a Christmas stable for Danes of all ages.

The Royal Danish Theatre - The Nutcracker at the Old Stage
Kongens Nytorv 9, 1050 København K - Website

Each year, The Royal Danish Theatre presents its ballet, The Nutcracker, in an extravagant setting. A ballet all set to Tchaikovsky’s music, the ballet is both for children and adults to recall the carefree wonders of their childhood. In this interpretation by Balanchine, The Nutcracker captures the essence of fairytale and is a wonderful family show to enchant yourself with this Christmas, starting from the 26th of November.

Kronborg Castle - Christmas at the home of Hamlet
Kronborg 2 C, 3000 Helsingør – Website/Press photos

Get in the Christmas spirit at Denmark’s spectacular renaissance castle, Kronborg Castle. On the first two weekends of Advent, the 26th-27th of Nov., and the 2th-4th of Dec., the castle yards will be decorated to the brim with Christmas trees and festive decorations, transforming the castle into a wonderful Christmas market. A selection of different stalls selling high-quality products, Christmas decorations, and wonderful Christmas foods will be available, as well as a wide range of cozy Christmas activities. Children can get in the Christmas mood by joining activities such as children's workshops or enjoying Christmas plays and concerts. For the adults, Kronborg entices with, among other things, concerts on the 20th and 21st of December. The cozy atmosphere at Kronborg is, in other words, a perfect place to welcome the festive season of 2022.

Frilandsmuseet – Old Denmark
Kongevejen 100, 2800 Lyngby – Website/Press photos

Situated in Lyngby, very close to Copenhagen, Frilandsmuseet is an Open-Air Museum that offers guests a look into rural life in Denmark in old times. Every weekend from the 26th of November to the 18th of December from 10-16, the outdoor museum will offer a good old-fashioned Christmas spirit and nostalgia with Christmas games, animals, food, theatre, workshops, etc. Explore what Christmas used to be like for poor and rich people, or visit the museum's newly opened bakery and enjoy freshly baked cinnamon rolls, æbleskiver, hot chocolate, glögg, traditional Christmas cookies, and candied almonds.

Royal Copenhagen - Annual Christmas tables and porcelain courses
Amagertorv 6. 1160 København K - Website

Each year, the Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store sets its tables with beautiful porcelain and decorations, interpreted by Danish well-known personalities. The tables are decorated with memories of Christmas to joy visitors of all ages. Royal Copenhagen also hosts porcelain courses, where guests may paint their own porcelain while being taught by a qualified teacher. 

Jægersborggade - Always White Christmas
Jægersborggade, København N

Jægersborggade is home to several art galleries, organic produce shops, vintage clothes, ceramics, and jewelry designers, as well as delicacy shops and restaurants. Needless to say, the small residential street is always full of life, which is also guaranteed throughout Christmas.

At the end of November, the lights will twinkle in Jægersborggade with the theme "always white Christmas in Jægersborggade". The lights consist of huge, glowing snowflakes created in recycled materials and LED, which will float through the streets throughout the entire holiday. In December, Santa Claus visits the children of Copenhagen, when he stops by Jægersborggade each Saturday until Christmas Eve from 10-17. Meanwhile, older visitors may enjoy choirs, caroling, and jazz, while purchasing organic Christmas trees on the street.

Jægersborggade is the ideal street to purchase delicacies for December. Karamelleriet makes handmade quality caramels and Christmas calendars, which include delicious treats each day in December until Christmas Eve. The spirit shop, Den Sidste Dråbe, serves free samples of delicious port wine all December long with local spirit manufacturers visiting each Saturday. As goes for Christmas presents, Keramiker Inge Vincents Studio Shop creates quality household items for both local customers and Michelin restaurants. Inge creates unique Christmas presents by offering paper-thin vases and lighting houses that occupy the space between craft and fine art.

Christmas in Copenhagen is more than just Christmas markets, and the city's creativity unfolds when it comes to Christmas activities. Hundreds of kayakers paddling through the canals with Christmas lights on their boats, floating saunas and jacuzzi's to keep yourself warm after winter bathing, disco-ice skating right by noma's co-owned street food market - Copenhagen never fails to surprise.

Santa Lucia parade – Hundreds of kayaks bringing a festive atmosphere to Copenhagen’s Canals – Press photos

Every year on the 13 of December, as soon as the night gloom sets in, the canals of Copenhagen are lit up by hundreds of kayaks with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations, sailing through the narrow canals, honoring the Danish Santa Lucia traditions. The parade is a very alternative take on the traditional Santa Lucia, which normally takes place at the Danish schools or other institutions. Here the parade participants wear white dresses while holding a lit candle in their hands as they sing the tunes of Santa Lucia. Instead, the alternative floating Santa Lucia parade is to be enjoyed from the quayside around Copenhagen. The kayakers will float peacefully along the waterway while singing Santa Lucia as they pass the most picturesque canals in Copenhagen, bringing a wonderfully festive atmosphere to Copenhagen. Have your camera ready and remember to bring warm clothes – Kayak Bar will provide gløgg for the event starting at 16:00.

How to experience it by land
The parade will cross Copenhagen’s canals starting at 17:00. Try to be at your favorite spot on the route before that time. Remember to bring some warm clothes and your camera. Local tip: rent a bike to be able to experience the parade in several of the spots around the harbor as well as the singing at Christianshavn at 17:45 and Højbro Plads at 18:15 during the parade. The parade ends at 18:30 at Kayak Bar, where there will be a communal Christmas dinner in the garage.

How to experience it by water
All experienced kayakers are welcome to join the Santa Lucia parade. If you have your own kayak, you can participate for free. If not, you can rent kayaks from either Kayak Republic or Kajakhotellet. The starting point of the parade is at Kayak Bar at 17:00, and you must sign up to join the parade from the water.

Take a cold winter dip in designed dipping zones in Copenhagen's harbour

Lots of locals use the Copenhagen harbour to go for a swim during the wintertime – they are free all year round. So, find your inner Viking and have a cold dip at some of the many dipping spots in Copenhagen’s unusually clean harbour in dipping zones at Kalvebod Bølgen and Nordhavn. It goes especially well with a hot drink afterwards like gløgg to warm you.

Bridge Street Kitchen – Ice skating with views over the Copenhagen canals
Strandgade 95, 1401 Copenhagen K – Website/Press photos

From November 4th, 2022 until March 2023, Broens Street Kitchen is transformed into an ice-skating rink, free to use and with skates for rent onsite. During this period, expect winter activities like ice-disco, free skating lessons, ice hockey tournaments, etc. You can also enjoy a tasty street food lunch with lovely harbor views of a Christmas-clad Copenhagen and the smell of homemade gløgg and Danish æbleskiver. Or participate in Christmas activities such as lighting the Christmas tree, Advent Sundays, Christmas Choir, Christmas yoga, and Christmas bingo.

Build Christmas presents with sustainable materials at DAC
Bryghuspladsen 10, Copenhagen K – Website/Press photos

A cosy Christmas starts in the Danish Architecture Center (DAC) with lots of experiences for young people, adults, and kids with their families. Join the architecture centre and create your own Christmas gifts in sustainable materials, experience concerts, listen to Christmas fairy tales, make Christmas decorations, explore the current exhibitions, or join its exciting, guided tours in the city. There is an endless number of exhibitions in the city, in general, during the festive season, great for getting in the Christmas spirit too.

Glyptoteket - tour around the museum and Christmas treats
Dantes Plads 7, 1556 København - Website

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek displays ancient and modern art in truly unique surroundings. This holiday season, Glyptoteket presents new exhibitions by Paul Gaugin and the art of how to conserve a masterpiece. The museum's café Picnic offers delicacies throughout Christmas and a blood red Christmas dinner. 

Strömma - Enjoy Christmas jazz on the canals
Nyhavn, 1051 København K - Website

Each Sunday at 3 PM this holiday season, starting the 27th of November, Strömma kicks off December with a Christmas Jazz Cruise, where jazz bands play their versions of well-known Christmas songs. The boats are roofed and heated, so guests may enjoy the music and sail around the canals in cozy atmospheres.