SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

DISCOVER SWEDEN

Sweden’s ten best Christmas markets in 2023

Whether you're looking for historic arts and crafts, scrumptious food or something a little bit more modern, Swedish Christmas markets are a great way to discover the country's traditions.

Sweden's ten best Christmas markets in 2023
A Christmas market in Stockholm's Old Town. Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se

Mitt Möllan, Malmö

The trendy and multicultural area of Möllevången in Sweden’s third biggest city is the spot for a special Christmas market for those looking for a modern and hipster-ish atmosphere. The Mitt Möllan traders’ association organises a market that promises art, culture food and fashion.

When: December 2nd-3rd

Tickets: Free

Kalmar Castle, Kalmar

This spectacular 800-year-old castle has established itself as one of the largest Christmas markets in Sweden. For four days, the building will be opened to the public and visitors will get the chance to wander around in the historic decorated halls, listen to Christmas music and visit the more than 110 craftspeople selling cheese, handmade candles, textile art, home-made mustard and much more.

When: November 30th-December 3rd

Tickets: 100 kronor (free for under-12s)

Skånska juldagarna, Bosjökloster

The Christmas market at Bosjökloster monastery will as in previous years feature concerts in the church as well as locally produced gifts and food for perfect Christmas gifts. Visitors will also be able to eat a traditional Swedish julbord meal, meet Santa and ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

When: December 1st-3rd

Tickets: 100 kronor (50 kronor after 3pm on the Sunday, and free for under-16s)

Liseberg theme park, Gothenburg

Sweden’s biggest amusement park, Liseberg, lights up every year for the festive season. The park is transformed into a winter wonderland and you almost forget you are right in the middle of the city of Gothenburg and not somewhere magical discovering a fairytale Christmas or Santa’s grotto.

When: From November 18th

Tickets: From 125-175 kronor (free for children shorter than 110 centimetres)

Skansen, Stockholm

If there’s one Christmas market worth paying the entry fee for, it’s Skansen. Take the ferry from Slussen to Djurgården and stroll over to Europe’s biggest outdoor museum, which has organised its own Christmas market since 1903. It’s a great place to snap up some presents in the form of traditional Swedish arts and crafts, as well as stepping back in time to Christmasses past.

When: Fridays-Sundays between November 2nd and December 17th

Tickets: 245 kronor (students and pensioners 225 kronor, children 4-15 70 kronor, free for under-4s) without an annual pass

Old Town, Stockholm

Forty-one stands set up shop right in the middle of Stockholm’s Old Town ahead of the festive season, selling sweets, smoked reindeer, elk meat, a range of handicrafts and much more. The setting alone is enough to get anyone into a romantic Christmas mood. The first Christmas market in the square was held as early as 1523, although the current version has been running since 1837.

When: November 25th-December 23rd, every day

Tickets: Free

Wadköping Christmas Market, Örebro

The Wadköping outdoor museum, which is an echo of what Örebro looked like centuries ago, organises a Christmas market full of the usual traditions: decorations, food and tomtar (gnomes). If you’re bringing children, they may especially enjoy the pony riding.

When: Every Sunday between November 26th and December 17th

Tickets: Free

Gammelstads Kyrkstad, Luleå

Brave the cold (and it will be cold) for a Christmas market in the far north of Sweden. The Gammelstad Church Town is the country’s largest and best preserved church town, and a Unesco World Heritage site. The Christmas market takes place at the Hägnan open air museum, where around 70-90 exhibitors sell products from home-baked goods to arts and crafts.

Visitors will be able to meet Santa’s reindeer, learn about how Christmas was celebrated in rural Sweden at the end of the 19th century, and ride a horse-drawn sleigh if the weather allows.

When: December 9th-10th

Tickets: 50 kronor on the door, 30 kronor to prebook online (free for under-18s). Visitors are encourage to buy tickets in advance to ensure that they will be able to enter even if it’s busy.

Nordanå Christmas Market, Skellefteå

Are you in Skellefteå this December? Pay a visit to the Christmas market at Nordanå, which is almost half a century old. It is particularly known for its arts and crafts, and in past years visitors have been able to buy handmade ceramics, knitted baby clothes, and tin thread jewellery.

When: December 10th

Tickets: Free

Gammlia Christmas Market, Umeå

Umeå’s Västerbotten Museum organises its annual Christmas market. It promises more than 80 artisans selling locally produced food and quality wares, and it’s also a great excuse to visit the museum and learn about the history of the Västerbotten region. Bring cash and dress up warm.

When: December 9th-10th

Tickets: There’s a fee to park your car, but you can also reach the market by public transport or on foot

Member comments

  1. There is one very cute Christmas Market in Kulturen in Lund! Kulturen Julstök will be between 1st and 3rd of December and has wonderful atmosphere! There are small vendors and activities for kids. Kulturen is an open museum in Lund and it is just a smaller version of Skansen in Stockholm. The fee is 150kr, under 18 and students are free.

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

MALMÖ

Hip, swanky and relaxed: Five wine bars to try in Malmö

Malmö in southern Sweden may be more well known for cheap falafel than upmarket wine bars, but that doesn't mean there's nowhere in the city for you to enjoy a glass (or two...).

Hip, swanky and relaxed: Five wine bars to try in Malmö

Julie

This wine bar in the Gamla Väster neighbourhood – Malmö’s old town – specialises in natural wines, always offering at least 16 still wines, alongside other specialty wines like pet nats, champagne and sherry.

They offer wines by the bottle, with a smaller number of wines available by the glass, with seasonal alcohol-free options available. Food-wise, they do cheese and charcuterie alongside small plates based on locally produced ingredients – look out for their supper clubs with local chefs.

They don’t take reservations with exceptions for special events, like supper clubs, wine tastings or similar.

Although it has the feel of a specialty wine shop, Swedish alcohol laws mean that Julie can’t sell bottles for you to take home, so you’ll have to enjoy their wines on-site. Luckily, you can take home their cheeses and charcuterie.

Prices vary widely depending on the wine. Glasses start at around 65 kronor with food costing around 150-450 kronor.

Address: Tegelgårdsgatan 9

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-10pm

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Cave Julie (@juliemalmo)

Freja

Freja is a cafe and wine bar in the upmarket Davidshall neighbourhood just off the main shopping street. It opens at 9am (alcohol served from 11am), making it a great place for coffee and breakfast, lunch, or dinner and wine in the evening.

During the warmer months, they have an outdoor serving area on the Davidshall square.

They offer a handful of wines by the glass – reds, whites, orange and rosé, many of which are natural wines – with more on offer by the bottle. 

In terms of food, they do simple small plates, such as focaccia with burrata, mortadella and pistachio pesto, filled almond croissants or avocado toast with Danish Vesterhav cheese. Owner Agnes Hansson’s family own a farm around 40 kilometres east of Malmö in Skåne, where much of the cafe’s produce comes from.

Expect to pay between 80 and 160 kronor for a small plate, slightly less for snacks or desserts.

Address: Davidshallstorg 9

Opening hours: Tues 9am-4pm, Weds-Thurs 9am-9pm, Friday 9am-11pm, Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 9am-4pm

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Freja (@frejacafeochvinbar)

 

Aster

This hip wine bar in Varvsstaden in Västra Hamnen may be more well known for its seasonal cocktails and natural wines – many of which are European – but it’s worth a trip for the food, too.

Aster won three awards at the Malmö Gastronomy Awards when it opened in 2021, and it’s easy to see why. There’s a wood-fired oven and grill in the open kitchen, with ingredients often sourced from the restaurant’s own garden.

The menu changes seasonally, and at the time of writing it included dishes such as smoked lamb ribs with kimchi and homegrown veg, grilled halibut with greens served with a white wine and crayfish sauce, as well as veggie dishes with grilled pumpkin, cannellini beans and oyster mushroom.

Expect to pay around 50-100 kronor for nibbles, 150-195 kronor for small dishes, 275-300 kronor for large plates (or 995 kronor for an 800g dry aged sirloin steak). Desserts 75-115 kronor.

Address: Jagaregatan 6

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 5pm-11:30pm, Friday noon-midnight, Saturday 4pm-midnight

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by aster (@aster.malmo)

 

Far i Hatten

This charming little restaurant in the middle of Folkets Park started life as a park restaurant with an outdoor dance floor in the late 1800s. 

It’s a strange place in some ways – it’s the perfect place to go for pizza and ice cream with children during the day, situated right next to a huge playground, but at night it transforms into a bustling bar and nightclub with a surprisingly long wine list.

Again, they have a long list of natural wines on offer, but there’s so much to choose from that you’re sure to find something you like no matter your tastes.

The dance floor is still very much in use, too – Far i Hatten hosts regular events and concerts, both for children during the day and for adults later on towards the evening.

Address: Folkets Park 2, Amiralsgatan 35

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 5pm-11pm, Fri 4pm-1am, Sat noon-1am, Sun noon-8am

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Far i Hatten (@farihatten)

 

MJ’s

MJ’s is technically a hotel (it was even crowned Sweden’s Leading Boutique Hotel for 2024), but they have a gorgeous covered indoor courtyard where you can enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner along with a glass of wine from their 11-page wine menu. 

This is sorted not only by type of wine (red, white, rosé, champagne, rosé champagne, cremant and pet nats), but also by country, with organic wines, natural wines, and skin contact wines all marked on the menu.

You can enjoy their wines alongside simple snacks – olives and almonds or a small cheese or charcuterie board – or larger dishes like beef tartare, asparagus with lumpfish roe or haddock sashimi. They also have a number of vegetarian options.

They also have a bar area (The Lobby Bar) which do cocktails and DJ sets on the weekend, and a speakeasy bar (Lillies) open on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Address: Mäster Johansgatan 13 (entrance to Lillies on Isak Slaktaregatan 5)

Opening hours: Restaurant: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-1:30pm, Dinner Mon-Sat 6pm-10pm. Saturdays 1pm-10pm, Sundays noon-3pm. Lillies: Fri-Sat 8pm-1am

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MJs Hotel (@mjshotel)

 

SHOW COMMENTS