Stockholm's Christmas Markets 2025 - Our Two Recommendations

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We embarked on a ferry trip from Helsinki to Stockholm to explore two famous Christmas Markets: Skansen, an open-air museum, and Stortorget in the Old Town. Despite sharing certain features, the two markets retain their unique characteristics, offering different experiences to visitors. Dive into our experiences to discover how these Christmas markets distinguish themselves from each other.

Experiencing the Christmas season in Stockholm is magical. The city lights up with festive decorations, twinkling lights, and charming Christmas stalls. Stockholm offers plenty of traditional Swedish holiday activities, like enjoying a Christmas buffet, attending yuletide concerts, or skating on the frozen lakes.

Among the city’s cherished Christmas traditions are its many Christmas markets. These festive bazaars offer traditional holiday treats and high-quality Swedish products.

In this article, we highlight the two most famous Christmas markets in Stockholm. The Stortorget Christmas Market, located in the heart of Stockholm’s Old Town, is perhaps the most prestigious. Another beloved event is Skansen’s Christmas Market, a favourite among locals and visitors alike.

Two years ago, wanting to experience Stockholm’s Christmas for ourselves, we took a trip in early November — before the Helsinki Christmas Market had opened. We boarded a Silja Line ferry on a Friday evening in Helsinki, arriving in Stockholm Saturday morning. We had eight hours to soak up the festive atmosphere before heading back on the ferry to Helsinki.

Travelling by ferry is a convenient way to get between Helsinki and Stockholm. Ships dock centrally, tickets are reasonably priced, and cabins provide comfortable accommodation overnight. Plus, there’s plenty of onboard entertainment for night owls.

Our Stockholm visit began at the Stortorget Christmas Market. From the Tallink Silja port, we walked about 15 minutes to the Gärdet Metro Station, took the tunnelbana (Stockholm’s underground train) to Gamla Stan, and then enjoyed a short uphill stroll to Stortorget Square. We arrived just as the market stalls opened at 11 am, and the square soon came alive with a festive crowd.

The market is located at Stortorget 2, Stockholm. You can reach it on foot from the port or via metro to Gamla Stan, as we did. We recommend using Google Maps to navigate. Stockholm Old Town’s narrow, winding streets can be tricky for first-timers. Still, the area is compact and delightful to explore on foot.

Admission to Stortorget's Christmas Market is free.

The Stortorget Christmas Market is Stockholm’s oldest and most traditional Christmas market, held annually since 1915. Set in the historic Old Town, the market features around 40 stalls selling traditional Swedish crafts, food, and drinks. It is the city’s oldest medieval-style Christmas Market.

The square may be small but picturesque, surrounded by iconic, colourful buildings. You’ll find about 40 stalls offering everything from ceramics and metalwork to sausages, mulled wine, and more.

We spent nearly two hours wandering through the market. Naturally, we tried the local mulled wine, Glögg, in a non-alcoholic version. Due to Sweden’s strict alcohol regulations, most Christmas market beverages are alcohol-free. However, alcoholic Glögg can be found in nearby restaurants and bars.

The tempting smells of local snacks were everywhere, but we skipped them since we were still full from breakfast on the ferry. If hungry, though, sampling the Swedish delicacies would be a must.

Most stalls sold Swedish goods — sweets, packaged local foods, clothing, and homemade bottled drinks. We preferred to soak in the atmosphere rather than shop, but we did buy a bottle of Julmust.

Julmust is a popular non-alcoholic Swedish soft drink, especially at Christmas. It’s a dark, sweet soda with flavours reminiscent of a blend between cola and root beer. Created in the early 20th century as a beer alternative, Julmust comes in different varieties. We bought Julmumma, a version flavoured with cardamom.

During our visit, there were no special events or programs at Stortorget’s Christmas Market. The official website confirmed that the market doesn’t typically organise specific Christmas events. Nonetheless, the festive atmosphere alone makes it well worth a visit.

In 2025, the Stortorget Christmas Market runs daily from November 23 to December 23. It opens at 11 am and stays lively until 6 pm. With sunset around 4 pm, the final hours offer a magical setting as the lights and decorations glow warmly across the square.

After exploring the Old Town, we continued to Skansen’s Christmas Market. We caught a local ferry from Nybrokajen dock, enjoying a scenic 15-minute ride across the cold sea, which brought us to the Allmänna Gränd ferry dock. The entrance to Skansen Open-Air Museum was a short five-minute walk away.

Skansen operates as a museum, so an entry fee of 305 SEK applies. While the Christmas Market itself is free, admission allows full access to the museum grounds, where visitors can spend hours exploring historical exhibits and traditional buildings.

Located on the island of Djurgården, Skansen is just a 30-minute walk from central Stockholm. It’s easily accessible by bus, tram, or ferry. The address is Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm.

For a smooth holiday itinerary, consider starting your day at Skansen, which opens earlier, before heading to Stortorget in the afternoon. That way, you can experience both iconic Christmas markets comfortably in a single day.

Skansen's Christmas Market dates back to 1903 and celebrated its 122nd anniversary recently. This larger market offers a rich variety of traditional crafts, unique designs, sweet treats, and homemade candles. Numerous stalls also serve hearty hot drinks and both sweet and savoury snacks.

Compared to Stortorget, Skansen's market is larger and less crowded, especially with some fresh snow enhancing its winter charm. Though lacking Old Town’s iconic colourful buildings, its spacious layout offers a more relaxed atmosphere.

We skipped another round of Glögg at Skansen and instead enjoyed hot chocolate. The tempting aromas of local dishes tempted us, but we saved our appetite for a dinner reservation in the Östermalm district. We spent time exploring the various stalls and visited Skansen Butiken, a shop filled with local products. Had we known about the food options, we might have planned differently.

After browsing the Christmas market stalls, a cold breeze and snowfall made us seek shelter. We found warmth — though limited — inside the Skansen Shop, where we also picked up souvenirs. The shop offers a range of local foods and high-quality Christmas decorations, which are reflected in the prices.

Skansen's Christmas Market features various free and paid events. During our visit, a local choir performed delightful holiday songs, and live Christmas-themed dance music played intermittently, with space for visitors to dance.

You can find a full schedule of events on the official Skansen website. In previous years, the program included various concerts and activities throughout the season.

In 2025, Skansen's Christmas Market is open daily from November 28 to December 21, starting at 10 am, with varying closing times.

In 2025, admission to Skansen costs 305 SEK for adults. Students and seniors receive a discount, paying 265 SEK, while children aged 4–15 pay nothing. Though this might seem pricey for a Christmas Market, the ticket also grants entry to the open-air museum, which offers numerous attractions and programs.

Annual passes are also available, granting access to all events throughout the year. These passes cost 445 SEK for adults and 405 SEK for students and seniors. Children under four enter free.

We were initially surprised by the entrance fee for Skansen's Christmas Market, since markets typically don’t charge admission. We hesitated but ultimately decided to pay.

We quickly realised Skansen is much more than a market — it’s an extensive open-air museum with a lot to see, even in winter. The admission fee felt justified given the range of attractions. Our only regret was not setting aside enough time to explore the museum more fully, as our main goal was the Christmas Market.

We recommend setting aside at least half a day if you plan to visit Skansen's Christmas Market, so you have time to explore the museum’s many attractions at a relaxed pace. A bright winter day makes for a particularly memorable experience.

If you’re short on time, you might wonder which market is “better” — Stortorget or Skansen? The answer depends on what experience you seek.

Stortorget offers timeless tradition inside the Old Town’s picturesque setting. Skansen’s market, by contrast, is larger and includes entertainment options, though it lacks the Old Town’s quaint charm. Each market provides a unique atmosphere.

If possible, we recommend visiting both. With limited time, Stortorget is an excellent choice. But if you have a full day, start with Skansen and maybe finish the afternoon or evening at Stortorget.

Here are some practical tips for visiting Stockholm.

Stockholm is easy to reach, with Stockholm-Arlanda Airport located about 50 kilometres from the city centre. A fast express train connects the airport with downtown Stockholm efficiently. Besides Scandinavian Airlines, budget carriers like Norwegian Air Shuttle also fly to Arlanda.

If travelling from Helsinki or Tallinn, taking a ferry to Stockholm is another great option. Considering these capitals also have lovely Christmas markets, a multi-city trip is well worth planning.

Getting around Stockholm is straightforward thanks to its integrated public transport system, which includes buses, trams, subways, and ferries. A single ticket covers all modes, making travel convenient.

Stockholm hotels tend to be on the expensive side but offer excellent quality. Here are a few recommended options in the city centre.

• Backstage Hotel Stockholm: A 4-star hotel near Skansen’s Christmas Market, praised for excellent service.
• Hotel Gamla Stan, BW Signature Collection: Romantic rooms matching its location in the Old Town near Stortorget’s Christmas Market.
• Scandic Continental: Reliable quality and a perfect location next to the main railway station.
• Clarion Hotel Sign: A high-quality Nordic hotel chain.
• Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel: A trusted choice for international travellers.

With many stylish options available, it’s worth exploring to find your favourite. If possible, book a room with breakfast, as Nordic continental breakfasts are often plentiful and varied.

Like Helsinki, Stockholm experiences cold winters, with temperatures typically ranging from +5°C down to -15°C or lower. Clear skies often bring colder temperatures but more daylight, which is a pleasant trade-off when wandering through Christmas markets. Layered clothing, warm jackets, quality gloves, and a beanie are essential to stay comfortable.

The trickiest weather involves slightly above-freezing temperatures combined with wind and rain, leading to damp, cold conditions that make outdoor activities less enjoyable.

Weather forecasts in Nordic countries can be unpredictable, so long-term predictions should be taken with caution.

Stockholm offers a wealth of seasonal activities and numerous Christmas markets, with Stortorget and Skansen standing out as the most renowned. Visiting both made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The Stortorget Christmas Market charms with its traditional, medieval atmosphere nestled in the Old Town’s picturesque square. Though small, it delivers an authentic and cosy Christmas vibe. In contrast, Skansen’s market, set within an open-air museum, lacks the Old Town’s quaint architecture but makes up for it with a stunning setting, extensive entertainment, and plenty of space to explore.

Have you visited any Christmas markets in Stockholm? Share your experiences in the comments below — we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Tags: Christmas Market, Stockholm, travel guide Destinations: Sweden