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DISCOVER NORWAY

When do Norway’s Christmas markets open? 

The holiday season is fast approaching, meaning it may be time to head to Christmas markets for a dose of cosiness and early festive cheer. But when do Norway's 'julemarkeder' open this year? 

Published: 23 November 2022 12:02 CET
Pictured is a Christmas market.
Herer are when some of Norway's top Christmas markets open this year. Pictured is a Christmas market. Photo by cmophoto.net on Unsplash

For many, Christmas markets are a quintessential part of the festive season. While some will count down the days till they can put up the tree or schedule their out-of-office email- many are waiting for Christmas markets to start popping up around the country. 

Do you have a festive favourite that we’ve missed? Get in touch and let us know. 

Jul i Vinterland, Spikersuppa, Oslo- November 12th

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. 

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

As you may have noticed, if you live in Oslo, it’s already open to the public and will receive visitors until the New Year. 

Bergen Christmas Market- November 25th

Opening in late November is Bergen’s Christmas market, which moved to a new, more central location last year. 

Located in Festplassen, the market will boast handmade or homemade gifts from local merchants. 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Bergen Julemarked (@bergen_julemarked)

If you are in Bergen before the market opens, you can visit the world’s largest gingerbread village instead. 

There is an indoor heated area for those who want to fight off the chills after a trip on the Ferris wheel. 

Norwegian Museum of Cultural History’s annual Christmas fair- two weekends in December 

If you want to take a trip through history in addition to getting into the festive spirit, then look no further than the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History’s Christmas market. 

The first two weekends in December (3rd-4th  & 10th to 11th) will be your only chance to catch the market with a historical twist. 

In addition to the Christmas market, there’ll be a number of exhibitions and Norwegian traditions on display. 

You will need to book tickets to enter the museum and head to the Christmas market, though. Tickets start at 140 kroner for adults- kids go free. 

Kristiansand- 26th November

The Christmas market in Kristiansand, southern Norway, takes inspiration from European Christmas markets. 

The town’s Christmas lights are up, but the official opening of the Christmas market is on Saturday, November 26th. 

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- December 1st

Not too far from Stavanger, Egersund has long been one of Norway’s favourite Christmas destinations. 

The Christmas market in Egersund takes inspiration from British and German markets. Between December 1st and December 11th, the town centre will be transformed into a Christmas town. 

The Christmas town offers several performances, concerts and stalls to check out. 

Hadeland Glassverk- November 28th

Not your typical Christmas market experience. Need proof? Try your hand at glass blowing to create your own Christmas baubles. 

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

Christmas in Viken, Lillestrøm- November 28th 

One of the country’s more recent Christmas markets makes up in activities what it lacks in heritage. 

With over 30 planned activities, there’ll be something for everyone when it opens. Tickets can be purchased online.

Christmas Market in Trondheim- December 1st

Trondheim’s main Christmas market has grown from its humble beginnings when it launched with five stalls in 2005. 

At the centre of the market will be several large Lavvu, traditional dwellings of the Sami people, with room for 500 people. 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Visit Norway (@visitnorway)

You can expect plenty of local produce and local artists and bands performing. 

Tromsø Christmas Town- November 17th 

Located in the north is Tromsø, which transformed part of town into a Christmas village on November 17th. The Christmas market will remain open until December 31st. 

The Christmas town will boast a Ferris wheel and ice rink. 

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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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