Copenhagen at Christmas is the city at its coziest: Tivoli lit with thousands of lights, gløgg in every café and a free skating rink in the middle of the old town. In 2026, Christmas in Tivoli runs November 13 to January 3, 2027, and the city’s main outdoor market at Nytorv and Gammeltorv opens even earlier, on November 6.

I have stayed at both of the city’s great hotels, Nimb and the d’Angleterre, and this is how I would plan a December trip. For the bigger picture, my Copenhagen travel guide covers the sights, and if you want to combine cities, see the best European Christmas markets for 2026.

Christmas in Tivoli

Tivoli Gardens, open since 1843, is the center of Christmas in Copenhagen. For the season the park fills with market stalls selling gingerbread, roast pork sandwiches and personalized gifts, an ice rink opens in front of the Tivoli Concert Hall, and Father Christmas has an enchanted home where children can make their wishes. Visit Copenhagen notes that 99 percent of the lights are LED and run on renewable electricity.

A few things to plan around:

• Dates: November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Tivoli has historically closed on Christmas Eve, December 24, so check the calendar on tivoli.dk before you book that night.
• Hours: typically 11am to 11pm, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Tickets: admission is paid, and rides are extra; a Ride Pass starts from 99 DKK. Buy online ahead of time, especially for December weekends.
• New Year’s Eve: Tivoli holds a New Year’s Eve dinner and fireworks at midnight.

Go once in daylight to see the gardens and once after dark, when the lights do their work. Try the æbleskiver, the little round Danish pancakes, while you are there; Visit Copenhagen sends people to Tivoli specifically for them.

The Christmas Markets

Nytorv and Gammeltorv

The largest free market in the city sits on two squares right on Strøget, by the old Courthouse, and runs November 6 to December 21, 2026. New this year is a free ice rink with free skate rental. Gammel Strand metro is about a five-minute walk away.

Nyhavn

The market along the canal in Nyhavn has the best backdrop in Copenhagen, with the painted 17th-century houses and old wooden ships lit up behind the stalls. Its 2026 dates had not been confirmed at the time of writing; in recent years it has run from early November until just before Christmas. Prices are a little higher than elsewhere, but the setting is worth it for a cup of gløgg.

A note on Højbro Plads

Højbro Plads has been home to a well-loved market with stalls from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Reports for 2026 conflict on whether it will run this year, so check before you plan around it.

Beyond the city center

On December 13, St. Lucia’s Day, kayaks decorated with Christmas lights paddle the canals. Day trippers can head to Kronborg Castle for a Christmas market in its old halls, or to the Open Air Museum (Frilandsmuseet) for its Christmas in Old Denmark program.

Where to Stay

Nimb Hotel

If you want to wake up inside Christmas, stay at Nimb. The Moorish-style building inside Tivoli dates to 1909 and has just 38 rooms and suites, many with fireplaces and freestanding tubs, plus a rooftop pool and bar. On site are Nimb Brasserie, an all-day French bistro, and Bar Nimb. We stayed at Nimb in summer and loved it, and you can read about it in my Copenhagen guide. At Christmas, it is the only hotel where Tivoli is literally the garden.

Hotel d’Angleterre

The d’Angleterre on Kongens Nytorv is the grande dame, with origins going back to 1755 and 92 rooms and suites. At Christmas its façade is hung with gold lights like giant curtains, and the Amazing Space spa downstairs has the only swimming pool in the city center, which is exactly where you want to be after a cold afternoon of markets. Ask for a room facing Nyhavn. My stylish trip to Copenhagen covers my stay, including the snow-covered view I would book again.

Where to Eat

Copenhagen is one of the great dining cities in Europe, and December is when the tasting-menu rooms feel most festive. In the Michelin Guide Nordic Cities 2026, Copenhagen has 21 starred restaurants and three with three stars: Geranium, Kadeau and Jordnær. Two-star options include Kong Hans Kælder, Alchemist, Koan and AOC. Book these the moment your dates are set.

Closer to the hotels:

• Marchal at the d’Angleterre holds one Michelin star, cooking a Nordic take on French cuisine. It is the natural Christmas dinner if you are staying upstairs.
• Sankt Annae, near Amalienborg, for smørrebrød at lunch. It fills up, so reserve.
• Palægade, which Visit Copenhagen recommends for ris à la mande, the Danish Christmas rice pudding.
• Hotel Sanders, just behind Kongens Nytorv, for homemade gløgg.
• Emmery’s, for coffee and Danish pastries between shops.

Getting There and What to Pack

SAS has flown nonstop between Boston and Copenhagen; check this winter’s schedule when you book. December days are short, so plan museums and walks for daylight and save the markets for after dark, when the lights are on. Dress for real cold, especially by the water. My guides to layering for a cold city break and choosing a winter coat that lasts apply here. If you have a few extra days, Wanås in southern Sweden is an easy addition; I wrote about this Nordic fairytale hotel.

Your 2026 Copenhagen Christmas Calendar

• November 6 to December 21: Christmas market at Nytorv and Gammeltorv, with free ice rink
• November 13 to January 3, 2027: Christmas in Tivoli
• December 13: St. Lucia’s Day kayak parade on the canals
• December 31: New Year’s Eve fireworks at Tivoli

Dates and hours can change, so confirm with each organizer before you go.

FAQ

When does Tivoli open for Christmas 2026?

Christmas in Tivoli runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Tivoli has historically closed on Christmas Eve, so check the official calendar.

Is Copenhagen worth visiting at Christmas?

Yes. Between Tivoli, the free markets, the Michelin-starred restaurants and the city’s love of hygge, December is one of the best months to go, as long as you pack for the cold and the short days.

Where should I stay in Copenhagen at Christmas?

Nimb, inside Tivoli, for the full Christmas fairy tale, or the d’Angleterre on Kongens Nytorv for grandeur, a pool and an easy walk to Nyhavn.