Copenhagen
København55°41′ N 12°34′ ECityPop. 667,099Denmark
Copenhagen is the base for a Danish Christmas trip, with Tivoli's Christmas season beside the main station from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and free square markets a short walk away along Strøget. The trade-off is daylight, because December light goes by mid-afternoon and sightseeing has to happen in the morning.
Photo Heb · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Stay in Copenhagen in December because the Christmas sights sit close together. Tivoli's Christmas season runs next to Copenhagen Central Station, and the free markets on Nytorv and Gammeltorv and on Højbro Plads lie just off Strøget, which runs from City Hall Square into the old town. City Hall Square adds its own market from 11 to 20 December 2026, so for those ten days you can walk between four markets in one evening.
Things to do in Copenhagen
December days in Copenhagen are short, and the light is gone by mid-afternoon. Put anything that needs daylight into the morning, whether that's a canal walk or a palace, and start on the markets after lunch. Tivoli and the markets on Nytorv and Højbro Plads open at 11:00 from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday the two square markets wait until 12:00.
A first evening can follow one line through the centre. Start at Tivoli, cross to City Hall Square if its market is running, then walk along Strøget to the stalls and the free ice rink on Nytorv and Gammeltorv. Jul på Højbro Plads sits further on near Amagertorv. Both square markets close at 19:00 from Sunday to Wednesday, so save Tivoli for last on those nights.
None of the markets in this guide open on 24 December 2026. Tivoli closes for the day, and the square markets have already finished on 20 and 21 December. Tivoli reopens on Christmas Day at 11:00, and on New Year's Eve it stays open until midnight.
Worth knowing
- Copenhagen's visitor service keeps a calendar of Christmas markets in the city and around it, including day-trip markets at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør and in Roskilde.
- The Swedish church in Copenhagen holds its Christmas bazaar from 20 to 22 November 2026, and Princess Benedikte is due to open it.
- Nyhavn's Christmas market had no 2026 dates on 10 October 2026, so check before you build an evening around it.
- The ice rink at the Nytorv and Gammeltorv market is free with free skate hire, and Visit Copenhagen says skating at Tivoli is included once you've paid entry.
Quick answers about Copenhagen
What are the Christmas markets in Copenhagen in 2026?
Copenhagen's main Christmas markets in 2026 are Christmas in Tivoli from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, the Nytorv and Gammeltorv market from 6 November to 21 December, Jul på Højbro Plads from 14 November to 20 December and a City Hall Square market announced for 11 to 20 December. Nyhavn's and Christiania's 2026 dates were not published on 10 October 2026.
Are Copenhagen's Christmas markets open on Christmas Eve?
No. Tivoli is closed on 24 December 2026, and the square markets on Nytorv, Gammeltorv, Højbro Plads and City Hall Square end on 20 or 21 December. Tivoli reopens on 25 December from 11:00 to 23:00.
How do I fit sightseeing into Copenhagen's short December days?
Do your daylight sightseeing in the morning, because the light goes by mid-afternoon in December. The Copenhagen markets open at 11:00 from Monday to Saturday and stay open into the evening, with Tivoli open until 22:00 or 23:00.
Is Copenhagen a good place to stay?
Stay in Copenhagen in December because the Christmas sights sit close together. Tivoli's Christmas season runs next to Copenhagen Central Station, and the free markets on Nytorv and Gammeltorv and on Højbro Plads lie just off Strøget, which runs from City Hall Square into the old town. City Hall Square adds its own market from 11 to 20 December 2026, so for those ten days you can walk between four markets in one evening.
Within 12 km
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