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DISCOVER NORWAY

Ten of Norway’s best and most-loved Christmas markets

Spellbinding Christmas markets offering up a cosy atmosphere, handmade gifts, and an authentic experience are available all over Norway. Here are some of the best to look forward to this winter. 

Published: 7 November 2023 11:22 CET
Updated: 23 November 2023 11:13 CET
Pictured are Christmas decorations.
Here are Norway's favourite Christmas markets. Pictured are Christmas decorations. Photo by cmophoto.net on Unsplash

Jul i Vinterland, Spikersuppa, Oslo 11th November – December 31st

Located bang in the heart of Oslo, surrounding the Spikersuppa skating rink, near Oslo’s main shopping street, Karl Johan Street is Jul I Vinterland or Winter Wonderland Oslo. 

If you are planning a trip to Oslo soon, you can combine this one with plenty of sightseeing. 

Among the main attractions are the ice skating rink and Ferris wheel. In addition to those and the market stalls, there are plenty of open fires where you can gather around and soak up the atmosphere. 

Below you can see a video of Winter Wonderland Oslo. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jul i Vinterland (@julivinterland)

Norwegian Museum of Cultural History’s annual Christmas fair, the first two weekends in December

One of the most unique Christmas experiences in Norway is the annual fair at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History on the west side of Oslo.

Visitors can browse stalls while taking in the many exhibitions and Norwegian Christmas traditions through history on display. 

Houses from different periods will also be decorated for Christmas in the style of the time, and there will be family shows and carol concerts. 

Obos members can go for free on December 2nd. They can bring up to four members with them, too. 

Adult tickets cost 180 kroner, and children under 18 go for free. There are a number of discounts for pensioners and students. 

Pictures from the Christmas market are available below. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Norsk Folkemuseum (@norskfolkemuseum)

Bergen Christmas Market, December 1st – December 22nd 

In the super central location of Festplassen in the heart of Bergen is the city’s annual Christmas market. The market will feature a Ferris wheel and horse carousel. If those aren’t enough, the large Christmas tree will help create a holiday atmosphere. 

Those in Bergen should remember to check out the nearby gingerbread village, which is the world’s largest and will be open by the time the Christmas market is open. 

Kristiansand Christmas Market, November 25th- December 22nd

The Christmas market in Kristiansand, southern Norway, takes inspiration from European Christmas markets and opens in late November. 

You’ll also be able to test your skills in the nearby ice rink and give kakemann, a traditional local Christmas cookie, a go. 

Julebyen Egersund, two sets of dates in December

The exceedingly popular Christmas market in Egersund, near Stavanger, will be open to the public between December 7th and December 10th and then December 14th and December 17th. 

The Christmas market in Egersund takes inspiration from British and German markets. The town centre will be turned into a “Christmas town”, which will host a number of performances, concerts and stalls. 

Egersund has long been considered one of Norway’s favourite Christmas destinations. 

You can see the Christmas market in Egersund below. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Julebyen Egersund (@julebyenegersund)

Hadeland Glassverk, October 28th – December 23rd

This is perhaps one for those looking for something slightly different from their Christmas market experience, with marginally more left-field activities such as hand-blowing your own Christmas baubles.

The activities at Hadeland include Norway’s largest indoor Christmas market, ten other shops, five restaurants, and an art gallery. 

Christmas market in Trondheim, December 3rd – December 20th 

Plenty of things help Trondheim feel like a cosy Christmas town, and the market is just the cherry on top. 

The city’s Christmas market will host local farmers, food producers and craftspeople. The market is unique for its large Lavvo tents (the traditional dwellings of the Sami people), which feature a café and an indoor stage. 

A steady stream of musical performances and children’s shows can be expected on the stage. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Julemarkedet i Trondheim (@julemarkedtrondheim)

Tromsø Christmas Town, December 1st – December 22nd 

The Arctic capital of Norway will host its Christmas town once again this year. The streets will be lit with Christmas lights, and there will be a Christmas market, Ferris wheel and ice skating rink by the harbour. 

Christmas market in Røros, December 7th – December 10th 

The town that inspired Frozen should be the perfect place to enjoy some winter cheer. The town, famous for its wooden housing, features a number of craft shops and cosy cafes. 

The Christmas market at the UNESCO World Heritage site, close to the Swedish border, is just as charming as the town itself. 

Below you can see the streets of Røros during the Christmas market

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Julemarked Røros (@julemarked_roros)

Christmas market in Lillehammer, December 2nd and 3rd – December 9th and 10th

The Maihaugen open-air museum hosts a Christmas market on the first weekend of December, and visitors will be able to learn how Christmas was celebrated in the Middle Ages. 

There will also be a number of stalls selling local crafts, Christmas decorations and food products. 

Lillehammer’s town centre will also have its own Christmas market. 

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NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS

What’s open and what’s closed on May 1st in Norway?

May 1st, or Labour Day, is widely celebrated in Norway, with anyone even vaguely left-leaning joining marches and attending political speeches across the country. But it's also a public holiday, so what's open and what's closed?

Published: 29 April 2024 13:18 CEST
Updated: 30 April 2024 17:38 CEST
What's open and what's closed on May 1st in Norway?

Although neither May 1st nor Norway’s national day, May 17th, are included in Norway’s law on religious public holidays, they are both classed as public holidays, or røda dagar under a separate law.

This law allows public demonstrations which are not permitted on religious holidays, but states that otherwise, the two days should be treated in the same way.  

This means that May 1st is covered by the same relatively strict rules on shop opening times, with the state alcohol monopoly, Vinmonopolet closed, big supermarkets closed, and those grocery shops which are open banned from selling beer. 

Several categories of shop are allowed to stay open, and you’ll find that many restaurants and hotels stay open too.

Tourists should be warned, however, that fewer museums stay open in Norway’s major cities on May 1st than do during Easter. 

Read Also: What happens in Norway on May 1st?

What’s closed? 

Vinmonopolet is closed all day, meaning that if you want to buy strong beer, wine and spirits for May 1st, you need to get there before its shops close at 6pm on Tuesday, April 30th.

The stores will open again at 10am on Wednesday, May 2nd. 

Big supermarkets like Menu, Kiwi, and Rema 1000, will also be closed if, as most are, they are more than 100 square metres in size. 

Even smaller grocery stores which are allowed to remain open are not permitted to sell beer. 

A lot of other public services will also be closed or not operating on May 1st, including primary care or GP’s clinics, public libraries, municipal swimming pools, and sports centres. 

If you have an illness or injury that can’t wait, you can contact the legevakten, or emergency room at your local hospital.

What’s open? 

Small convenience stores of less 100 square metres in size or less are allowed to remain open, as are petrol stations of less than 150 square metres in size. 

In some tourist areas, such as those served by the Hurtigruten cruise ships, bigger shops are allowed to stay open under a special agreement with the authorities.  

Garden centres and florists are allowed to stay open. 

Duty free shops at airports in Norway are allowed to stay open. 

Restaurants, hotels and cafes are allowed to stay open. 

Museums and galleries

Many museums in the big cities which stay open over holidays such as Easter are closed on May Day to allow their employees to join the demonstrations.  

In Oslo, the Munch Museum is closed, but the Norwegian Maritime Museum, which includes the popular Fram and Kon-Tiki museums, is open, as is the Museum of Cultural History. 

In Bergen, the Bryggens Museum is closed, as are the other eight museums that are part of the Bymuseet, or city museum. 

All of the museums and galleries grouped under the popular KODE art gallery are also closed, including Troldhaugen, the home of the composer Edvard Grieg, the neo-Classical Permanenten gallery and the contemporary Stenersen gallery.

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