24 reasons to visit Copenhagen for Christmas

Step inside and discover this beautiful building with high ceilings and a showstopping centrepiece winter garden full of palm trees surrounding a fountain and pond. And come and make Christmas patterns or elf monsters in clay at their Christmas workshop.

On December 13, you can experience an alternative take on the traditional Santa Lucia parade, when kayaks sail through the canals dressed in lights and Christmas decorations.  

Once again the historic garden will be filled with glittering Christmas lights, the cutest wooden houses decorated with pine branches, and snow-covered trees to create that perfect Nordic Christmas atmosphere.

Juleøl, Danish for Christmas beer, is of the most beloved drinks amongst Copenhageners when the Christmas atmosphere is in the air, starting from the first Friday in November.

Rosenborg Castle was built by one of the most famous Danish kings, Christian IV, in the 17th century. The beautiful castle features 400 years of royal treasures, and the Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia.

Make your own ceramics and jewellery or dive into the world of knitting, and bring home a very special and personal Christmas present for your loved ones.

Christmas is here and though the streets are filled with joy and twinkling lights, we simply can't deny the fact that the darkness and cold weather call for an extra bit of indoor "hygge".

The Christmas month is perfect for ice swimming, the Scandinavian classic where you plunge into freezing-cold water is good for both body and (Christmas) spirit.

Only a few places in the world are surrounded by as much drama and history as Kronborg Castle. It is world-famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s play Hamlet and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Spend your Christmas days in a warm and relaxing spa, while it's cold and frosty outside.

At the end of the Inner Harbour Bridge, you will find Copenhagen's new ice rink. Brown's Ice Rink is the latest addition of places where Copenhageners and visitors alike can challenge their inner Bambi on ice.

Experience the life aquatic as an alternative Christmas activity. You'll discover majestic hammerhead sharks, secretive octopi and graceful rays at Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, Den Blå Planet (The Blue Planet).

Copenhagen ZOO opens its doors to a lovely, old-fashioned Christmas. With more than 400,000 sparkling Christmas lights and cosy market stands, a regular ZOO visit is turned into a magical experience.

Christmas time is the high season of traditional danish food, and nothing is more traditional than the danish lunch, you've probably already heard about it; it's Smørrebrød.

Once home to kings and queens, Christiansborg Palace now houses the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of State. You can visit the state rooms and walk in the footsteps of royalty. 

Communal dining has in recent years gotten more and more popular in Copenhagen. And to be fair, what's not to like about delicious and diverse food at reasonable prices combined with great company in a cosy environment?

Hviids Vinstue is one of the oldest bars in Copenhagen and has existed in the same location for almost 300 years. Every year their special recipe for Gløgg attracts people from near and far.

If you are a second-hand or vintage lover, you have come to the right place. Copenhagen is full of stores giving clothes and furniture a second life. Go find the perfect present for your loved ones.

In Copenhagen, it is impossible not to get in the spirit of the Christmas holiday season. The best place to soak up the atmosphere is at one of Copenhagen’s many Christmas markets.

Feel the calm set in and get all comfortable and warm in front of the enchanting fireplace at Nimb Hotel in the Tivoli Gardens, after spending the day in the cold Danish December weather.

No snow? No problem! You don't have to go to the Alps to ski during Christmas in Copenhagen. Enjoy a day on skis at Copenhill.

Fancy a drink? A cocktail revolution has put Copenhagen on the map as a top-tier cocktail destination. There are not only many places to go the quality is also spot on.

Every year at Christmas, the bakery Andersen & Maillard’s makes their famous Risalamande to-go and to-stay, the most famous and traditional Danish Christmas dessert you can make. Risalamande is a rice pudding with vanilla, almonds, and whipped cream served the traditional way with warm cherry sauce.

The laid back Copenhagen lifestyle stretches far beyond the city limits. Do like the locals and head for the coast or countryside to enjoy, relax and grow.