Where to Enjoy Holiday Fun in Stockholm: Markets, Lights and More

If you can’t make it to Stockholm in the summer, the holidays between late November through December are the next best thing! The days may be short and dark, but the city is lit with festive lights to give it a special, unique glow. There are Christmas markets on cobblestone streets selling warm cups of glögg (spiced wine), ice skating in the middle of town, and tasty saffron pastries to snack on with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. So get ready to explore the many ways to make the most of Stockholm’s holiday season.

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What to do in Stockholm During the Holidays

Christmas lights

Christmas lights go up all around the city from mid-November until around mid-January, making the city cozy and joyful during one of the darkest seasons of the year. The most festive lights can be seen on Kungsgatan , Sergels Torg in the middle of town, Kungsträdgården and all over Gamla Stan. And if you happen to visit during the second week of December, you may also be treated to even more amazing light installations during Nobel week (more about that below).

NK Christmas Windows

Google Map Link: NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)

Located close to Kungsträdgården is the department store NK (Nordiska Kompaniet). Every year they do a series of animatronic Christmas windows, with a different theme every year. You’ll notice the crowd of people to the left of the main entrance to the building. Just follow along and enjoy the holiday story they tell.

Christmas markets (Julmarknad)

During the first weekend of Advent and every weekend through December you will find Christmas markets around Stockholm. Luckily, the Stortorget Julmarknad (Christmas market) in Gamla Stan is open every day of the week in December, from 11am to 6pm. This is where you can buy Swedish handcrafted things like wax-dipped candles, items made from sheep’s wool, Sami mittens, wool slippers, spiced mustard, reindeer and moose sausages, and candy. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s always fun to walk around and get in the holiday spirit. Other great Christmas markets to visit are at Skansen (from Nov 28 to Dec 21), Kungsträdgården (Nov 30), Mariatorget (Nov 29-Dec 21), Wasa Julmarknad at Odenplan (Sunday, Nov 30 and Sunday, Dec 7), Vaxholms Julmarknad outside of the city (Dec 6-7), and the Sigtuna Julmarknad north of the city (every Advent weekend Fri-Sun). For a full list (in Swedish) of the 2025 Christmas markets in Stockholm visit https://www.julmarknad.nu/julmarknader-stockholm/

Remember that most Christmas markets start by 11 and end by 4 p.m.

Nobel Lights

Google Map Link: Stadshuset

During the week leading up to the Nobel awards, (Dec 6- Dec 14 this year) you can take part in this fairly new Stockholm tradition called Nobel Lights where there are special light installations all over town to celebrate Nobel day, which is on December 10th. Check the link above to see the map of installations. The star of the show is the City Hall where there is a moving, changing light show projected on the building. The best place to stand is across the water to take it all in.

Ice skating in Kungsträdgården

Google Map Link: Kungsträdgården

Right in the heart of the city sits Kungsträdgården, a beautiful park that turns into a lively ice rink in winter, complete with music and plenty of room to skate. You can skate for free if you bring your own, otherwise it’s easy to rent skates and a helmet. Open until at least 8pm every day, longer on weekends.

Gingerbread House Exhibition at ArcDes Museum

Google Maps link: ArkDes Museum on Skeppsholmen

From November 28 to January 11, you can visit the free Gingerbread House Contest at the Architecture Museum (ArkDes), which you can find beside the Modern Museum on Skeppsholmen. Everyone from amateurs to professionals create themed masterpieces that never fail to impress. And the best part – it’s free!

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Swedish Christmas Food Traditions During December

Lussebullar / Lussekattar

This is a special pastry typically served for St. Lucia Day, which is on December 13th, but you can get them all during December. It’s a saffron bun, usually decorated with two raisins and twisted into an S-shape. Lussekattar are great because they aren’t too sweet, but just sweet enough. Should ideally be served with glögg.

Glögg

Glögg is a spiced wine available at Christmas. It is often served in small cups with almonds and raisins added in. You can often choose between alcoholic and non-alcoholic glögg. If you buy glögg at a Christmas market, it will be non-alcoholic.

Julbord

This word, Julbord (pronounced Yule board) encompasses the entire Swedish Christmas meal, which normally consists of meatballs (köttbullar), ham (skinka), pickled herring (sill), potato casserole with anchovies (Janssons frestelse), many tiny sausages (prinskorv), boiled potatoes (potatisar) and more.

Many people and companies go out during December for “Julbord” and restaurants have a special menu for it. If you would like to experience a Swedish Julbord at a restaurant, it’s best to make reservations.

Julmust

This is pretty much Sweden’s go-to holiday soda. It’s a bit like Coca-Cola, but has a very different flavor that’s hard to describe. Ask a Swede what it tastes like and they will usually say “Christmas!”

(Pro tip: Enjoy the flavor? Come back for Easter when they re-label the exact same drink as Påskmust!)

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Names for common holiday treats and candy

• Candy – Godis
• Gingerbread – Pepparkakor
• Warm candied almonds – Brända mandlar 
• Hard toffee – Knäck 
• Chewy caramel/toffee – Smörkola or kola

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So, bundle up, grab a cup of glögg, and get ready to fall in love with Stockholm during the holiday season. There are markets, music, ice skating, and mugs of warm glögg around every corner. All you need to do is pack your coat and gloves and get ready for some serious winter fun!