🗺️ Where to go for markets in Copenhagen 2026: dates, hours and cancellations

Copenhagen turns into Northern Europe's Christmas capital every winter. Giant Christmas trees, garlands above the pedestrian streets, and the smell of roasted almonds stay in the city until late December.

The markets in the center open in early November and run almost until Christmas, and entry to most of them is free. One of the season's main venues will not open this year. We've put together verified dates for each market so you don't show up to an empty square.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

When the Copenhagen markets open

💡 In short:

Most markets in the center are open from November 6 through December 21, 2026 (market dates).
Tivoli runs from November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027 (Tivoli season).
Højbro Plads square is without a market for the 2026 season.
Check the schedule before you head out: the venue closes in strong winds.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the market's official website.

What changed in the 2026 season

The main news concerns Højbro Plads square. For many years its market was considered the best in the city, but it will not take place in 2026 (notice of relocation).

The organizers are moving the familiar format with wooden stalls and mulled wine to Rådhuspladsen (move to Rådhuspladsen).

The second change concerns Kongens Nytorv square. The classic market is no longer there. Since 2024, Copenhagen Winter Wonderland has operated here with a large ice rink, and the stalls sell food that's better than typical street food (winter venue).

Højbro Square with the equestrian statue of Absalon

Table: market dates and opening hours

Market	2026 dates	Hours	Admission	Source
Nytorv and Gammeltorv	November 6 to December 21	Mon-Wed 11-19, Thu 11-20, Fri-Sat 11-21, Sun 12-19	free	julemarked.dk
Tivoli	November 13 to January 3, 2027	daily 11-23, Fri-Sat until midnight	paid	Tivoli calendar
Nyhavn	November 5 to December 21	10-19, Fri-Sat until 20	free	market schedule
Kongens Nytorv	late November to mid-February 2027	daytime and evening	free	winter ice rink
Christiania, Den Grå Hal	December 5 to 20	daily 12-20	free	market at Den Grå Hal
Rådhuspladsen	December 11 to 20	daytime	free	short market by city hall

Weekend hours usually shift an hour later. Check the schedule before you go: the market may close due to wind.

Nytorv and Gammeltorv market

Night Christmas market with a stall and visitors

Nytorv and Gammeltorv share the title of Denmark's largest market. The two squares are connected by the pedestrian street Strøget, so you can cover the whole market in one loop. There is a small ice rink here, and skating is free (official Nytorv site).

Santa Claus is at the market, and children take photos with him. The stalls sell waffles, decorations, and hot gløgg. If you are traveling with kids, start here: the square is near city hall and the metro.

Hours: Mon-Wed 11-19, Thu 11-20, Fri-Sat 11-21, Sun 12-19 (as of 09/2026, Nytorv schedule).
Admission: free.
Who it's for: a first market and a walk along Strøget.
The catch: it gets crowded here on weekend evenings.

These used to be two separate markets: the Hans Christian Andersen market and the market at Gammeltorv (market history). The stalls are named after his fairy tales, from "The Little Mermaid" to "The Ugly Duckling."

Christmas at Tivoli

Admission to Tivoli Gardens is paid, and it is the only fair in the city you pay for. In return, the park is decorated with more than 70,000 Christmas ornaments and millions of lights (Tivoli data). The rides run all winter, so people come here both with and without kids.

Festive lights in Tivoli Gardens at night

The season runs from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and the park is closed on December 24 (Tivoli season). Buy tickets online: in December there is a line at the ticket office. The Copenhagen Card covers basic admission and public transit (Copenhagen Card).

Hours: daily 11-23, Fri-Sat until midnight (as of 09/2026, Tivoli hours).
Admission: paid, Copenhagen Card accepted.
Getting there: next to København H station, then a short walk.
Who it's for: for a full day of rides and lights.
The catch: in the evening on weekends there is a line at the entrance.

The fair in Nyhavn

Colorful houses and boats on the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen

Nyhavn is recognizable from the colorful facades on postcards. The stalls line the canal, and their backdrop is better than at any other fair in the city. Come at sunset: the lights reflect in the water, and the photos take themselves.

In terms of atmosphere, the market is a step below Nytorv: it is smaller and slightly more expensive (fair comparison). But it is a nice spot to grab a glass of gløgg and sit by the water. Hans Christian Andersen once lived in these houses.

Dates: from November 5 to December 21, 2026 (as of 09/2026, Nyhavn dates).
Hours: 10-19, until 20 on Friday and Saturday.
Not for: those looking for lots of souvenir stalls.

Winter ice rink at Kongens Nytorv

Since 2024, Copenhagen Winter Wonderland has been operating on Kongens Nytorv square. The main attraction here is not the stalls but a large open-air ice rink, which stays open until mid-February 2027 (venue description). You can rent skates on site.

Summer panorama of Kongens Nytorv square

The square sits at the intersection of several metro lines, so it is easy to stop by on your way into the center. Around the rink they sell cheeses, soups and pastries, and the selection is better than the usual fair street food.

Ice rink: open daily, skate rental on site (as of 09/2026, ice rink at Kongens Nytorv).
Admission: free.
Who it's for: those who want to skate, not just walk around.

The facades of Hotel D'Angleterre and the Magasin du Nord department store face the square directly. Every year they are lit up in a new way, and it's best to see them after sunset. If you want to stay nearby, compare Hotel D'Angleterre prices on Trip.com.

Christiania market

The freetown of Christiania holds its market in the Den Grå Hal hall. There are no mass-produced souvenirs here: they sell ceramics, jewelry, and items made from recycled materials. It's the city's most unusual market and the best place for original gifts.

Christmas market at the Grey Hall in the evening

The market runs from December 5 to 20, from noon to eight in the evening (Christiania market). On weekends it gets very crowded inside, so pick a weekday. Admission is free.

Dates: December 5 to 20, 2026 (as of 09/2026, Den Grå Hal).
Hours: daily 12-8 pm (as of 09/2026, market hours).
Not for: those looking for classic market stalls.

New market at City Hall

In 2026, a short market will take place at Rådhuspladsen for the first time. It replaces the market at Højbro Plads and runs only from December 11 to 20 (relocation announcement). The same format is expected: wooden huts, German sausages, and mulled wine.

Copenhagen City Hall Square with the city hall and passersby

The square is next to City Hall and the main entrance to Strøget, so it's easy to get to. The dates are limited, and it will be packed here on weekends, so go on a weekday morning.

Dates: December 11 to 20, 2026 (as of 09/2026, City Hall market dates).
Admission: free.
The catch: only ten days of operation.

What to try at the markets

At Danish markets, food matters more than souvenirs. Get a gløgg, a hot spiced drink with raisins and nuts, it's stronger than German mulled wine. Pair it with æbleskiver, fluffy dough balls dusted with powdered sugar and served with jam.

Roasted almonds, brændte mandler, fill every square with their smell. Peppernuts, pebernødder, and honey hearts, honninghjerter, make good gifts. On Christmas Eve in Denmark, they serve ris à l'amande, a rice pudding with vanilla and cherry sauce.

Gløgg: a hot spiced drink with nuts.
Æbleskiver: dough balls with jam and powdered sugar.
Brændte mandler: caramelized almonds, sold hot.
Julefrokost: a festive spread with herring, salmon, and pork.

The big julefrokost dinner is booked at restaurants in the old town. The table is set with herring, smoked salmon, pork belly with crispy crackling, and caramelized potatoes.

What to do in Copenhagen besides the markets

The ice rink at Broens Gadekøkken sits right by the water. You skate with a view of the harbor, and street food stalls are right there (the harbor venue). If you don't need ice, take an evening canal tour: the lit-up city looks different from the water.

On the evening of December 13, a kayak parade in honor of Saint Lucia moves through the canals. The boats are decorated with lights, and hundreds of paddlers make their way from Nyhavn toward the center (parade announcement). Get to the waterfront early to claim a spot by the water.

The Strøget shop windows and the Magasin du Nord department store have long been part of the Christmas program. At the Royal Copenhagen store at Amagertorv 6, artists design the display tables every year, a tradition going back to 1963 (Royal Copenhagen). At Vor Frue Kirke cathedral, choir concerts are held in the evenings, and admission is free.

The canals around the old center are lit especially beautifully. Copenhagen tours on GetYourGuide include water routes and walking tours of the center.

Markets outside the city

There are markets beyond the center too, and they're worth knowing about in advance. At Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, the market is held on the first weekend of December. The Frilandsmuseet open-air museum in Lyngby showcases Christmas traditions from past centuries. At the Carlsberg brewery, strong Christmas beer is served alongside mulled wine.

The Kronborg market runs only on weekends, so get there early. Save Frilandsmuseet and Carlsberg for a weekday: they get crowded on weekends. The train to Helsingør runs along the coast and takes about 45 minutes.

Tours and tickets in Copenhagen

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

See offers on GetYourGuide

The widget loads once you give your consent.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many markets are open in Copenhagen in winter?

Five main venues are open in the center: Nytorv and Gammeltorv, Nyhavn, Tivoli, the ice rink at Kongens Nytorv, and the market in Christiania. A short market by the city hall is added to these. Entry to most is free; you only pay at Tivoli, so plan your budget in advance.

Which markets are free?

Entry is free at Nytorv and Gammeltorv, in Nyhavn, at the Kongens Nytorv ice rink, in Christiania, and by the city hall. You only pay for entry to Tivoli. The Copenhagen Card covers that ticket and transit, so it's worth calculating in advance (card terms).

When does the market at Højbro Plads close?

In the 2026 season, it is not opening (relocation details). A short market by the city hall runs in its place; dates are in the table above.

What time is best to go?

Go on a weekday in the morning or afternoon. By evening, large groups gather at Nytorv, Tivoli, and Christiania. In Nyhavn, it's better to go around sunset: the lights reflect in the canal, there are fewer people at the stalls, and you'll have time to take photos without rushing.

Do I need the Copenhagen Card?

The card pays off if you visit Tivoli and museums and use public transit. It gives entry to dozens of museums and attractions. For a one-evening trip, you don't need the card; a Tivoli ticket and a metro ticket will do.

In short: what to book

If you're going for the weekend, get your Tivoli ticket in advance and stay in the center. If you're traveling with kids, choose a hotel near Kongens Nytorv: the ice rink, markets, and metro are nearby. For a short trip, the area around Strøget is enough.

Check hotel prices in Copenhagen on Trip.com

Christmas in Copenhagen 2026: which markets are open and what has closed