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Christmas is one of the most heartfelt and loved holidays by the Danes, families love to decorate their homes with Christmas lights and decorations. In recent years, the Christmas markets of Denmark, especially those in the capital Copenhagen, have become an attraction for tourists who visit the country during the Christmas period. Towns across the country are lit up with thousands and thousands of candles and lights. Families visit each other to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Christmas and are traditionally welcomed with local delicacies such as sweets, biscuits, sweet and savory pastries, and typical Danish pastries. During the days before Christmas, Danish flags are hung in almost every home and are also used to decorate the Christmas trees. There are several Christmas markets in Denmark, below is a selection of the most beautiful.
COPENHAGEN CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Several Christmas markets usually take place in the Danish capital including the famous Tivoli Christmas Market set in the beautiful Tivoli gardens and the Christmas Market in Nyhavn (Nyhavns julemarked) which is set in the charming old port of Copenhagen. Copenhagen Christmas Markets.
ÅLBORG CHRISTMAS MARKET
Located in the northern part of the Danish peninsula of Jutland, Ålborg is an industrial and university town, in its historic center are the old Aalborghus Castle (Aalborghus Slot) and some picturesque 17th century houses, the most famous street of the city, and probably of the he whole of Denmark is the Jomfru Ane Gade, a street dotted with pubs, restaurants and typical cafés.
1) Ålborg Christmas Market (Julemarkedet i Aalborg). The market is usually set in the Gammeltorv, in an atmosphere of Christmas trees and lights. Aalborg Christmas also usually features an ice skating rink, carousel and Ferris wheel.
ÅRHUS CHRISTMAS MARKET
Århus, one of Denmark’s oldest cities, is, after the capital Copenhagen, the largest city in the country, located along the coast in the central eastern part of the Jütland peninsula. It has a beautiful historic center where the cathedral (Århus Domkirke) stands out, the largest in size in the country. Very nice is the district called the “old city” (Den Gamle By), an open-air museum that brings together about 75 wooden buildings from the 16th to the 20th century from different parts of the country.
1) Christmas market in the historic center (Julemarked i Århus, Byens Julemarked i Århus). The stalls of artisans and traders usually fill the streets of the historic centre, here you will also find many decorated and illuminated shop windows.
2) Århus Christmas Market (Julemarked i Ridehuset). This Christmas Market is usually held inside the “Ridehuset” (riding hall), a place full of atmosphere, it is probably the best known market in the city. The market is usually made up of over 90 stalls offering Danish handicraft products, local gastronomy products, music. Free admission.
ELSINORE CHRISTMAS MARKET
Helsingør (also Elsinore in English), is a Danish town located just north of the capital Copenhagen, famous from a tourist point of view for the presence of Kronborg Castle, built in the fifteenth century and today part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
1) Helsingør Christmas Market (Julemarked i Helsingør på Axeltorv). The market is normally set in the heart of old Helsingør, in Axeltorv, you will find stalls with all the delicacies of Danish Christmas and many Christmas objects and decorations. However, the whole city is usually involved in Christmas-related activities and will have a typical Christmas atmosphere.
ODENSE CHRISTMAS MARKET
Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, the famous writer of children’s fairy tales, is located in the center of the island of Funen, Denmark’s third largest island. The city was founded in the 10th century and developed to become the second largest city in Denmark after the capital, today it is the third largest city in the country by inhabitants.
The historic center of Odense retains interesting medieval buildings, including the brick Gothic cathedral of San Canuto (Skt. Knuds Kirke), and many old wooden houses. Do not miss a visit to the open-air museum of the village of Funen, made up of wooden houses from the 18th century.
The Odense Christmas market is held in the oldest part of the Danish city, it is dedicated to the famous Danish children’s fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who was born in Odense in 1805.
1) Odense Christmas Market (H.C. Andersen Julemarkedet Odense). The market usually takes place in the old quarter of Odense around the house of H. C. Andersen and at the Sortebrødre Torv, the Bymuseet Møntergården and the Lotzes Have. The market offers Christmas decorations, food items (pancakes, waffles, candy), wool products, arts and crafts, and traditional elves. Among the drinks, glögg (the Danish version of the German Glühwein). In the streets of the neighborhood, you can meet jugglers, elves and characters from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales.
2) The City Julemarked Christmas Market is usually held in Odense’s Flakhaven. Experience the taste of Christmas at this cozy Christmas market in the heart of Odense, which is inspired by the German Christmas market tradition. You will find culinary delicacies, Funen design and handicrafts as well as products from the Danish land.