As the Santa Claus above them all, Michael Bublé, sings: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” – and it’s true, because December has arrived!

This edition of Copenhagen Unfolded is written by Emilie, who is part of the Visit Copenhagen editorial team. December is without a doubt her absolute favorite month, and she makes the most of it by indulging in all the festive Christmas experiences Copenhagen has to offer.

Like a little Christmas elf, I hope I can help you get into the holiday spirit throughout the month. In Copenhagen, the Christmas magic is always within reach, and I have plenty of cozy plans that I’d love to share with you. Here’s what we have on the program:

• Enjoy the sounds of Christmas 
• All I want for Christmas is cozy Christmas Markets
• Feel the nostalgia: Make your own Christmas gifts
• December's favourites

If you can't get enough of our recommendations for Copenhagen, you can always check out our Instagram or visitcopenhagen.com​.

Christmas music always gets me into the holiday spirit. That’s why I make sure to go to Christmas concerts in December. The only problem is that they often sell out incredibly fast, but I’ll share some tips on how you can still enjoy plenty of Christmas concerts – many of them even completely free!

Photo: Mark Tanggard

This year, I plan to see the Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucia) parade along Copenhagen’s canals on December 13th. The Sankta Lucia parade is a Danish tradition held every year on December 13th, where we celebrate Saint Lucia with a parade of lights. There are several stops along the route where the floating choir and the audience join together in singing the Lucia song. 

December is also peak season for many free choir concerts in the city’s churches. You can check the concert schedule by looking at each church’s calendar on their websites. A final tip for enjoying (often) free concerts is to keep an eye on the Royal Danish Academy of Music’s concert calendar, which in December features plenty of free Christmas concerts performed by the talented students. 

Christmas markets are a must for me in December. Some of them open as early as November, so maybe, like me, you’ve already stopped by for a warm cup of gløgg (mulled wine) or some æbleskiver (Danish pancake puffs). But in my opinion, you can never visit too many, so here are my Christmas market plans. 

Photos: Mark Tanggard

I plan to visit ØsterGro, an urban farm in Østerbro, for their Christmas market on December 13th and 14th. The market takes place on their rooftop farm, where bonfires, warm holiday drinks, and Christmas lights in the sky create the perfect festive atmosphere.

In addition, I’d like to stop by Kofoed Skole on Amager, which is a program for socially vulnerable people, when they host their Christmas market on December 3rd. Here you’ll find æbleskiver, gløgg, Christmas decorations, and best of all: art and music performed by the school’s many creative students. By purchasing something at the market, you not only get to enjoy beautiful, handmade items, but you also support the school’s social work.

I also hope to visit the NORD Christmas Market in Charlottenlund, open from December 5th to 7th, and Christmas at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, which takes place on December 6th and 7th, as well as 13th and 14th. Both Christmas markets offer a cozy atmosphere in beautiful, historic settings with activities for both young and old. Be sure to stop by the beautifully decorated stalls filled with crafts, food, and warm drinks.

As a child, I spent several months leading up to Christmas making homemade gifts. To be honest, not all of the gifts were equally impressive, but it’s the thought that counts, right? As an adult, I still embrace the idea of homemade Christmas gifts, but now with a bit more focus on quality than I did as a child.

Photo: Céline Au détour d'un chemin

In Copenhagen, there are plenty of opportunities to visit creative cafés where you can make your own Christmas gifts while receiving expert guidance in the craft. For example, I plan to visit Stemning Copenhagen, where you can create your own scented candle. They have a huge selection of fragrance oils, so you can craft exactly the scent you want. Everyone, regardless of their creativity level, can join in! Another option is ARTXP, an online platform where you can sign up for various creative workshops. You can, for example, learn to make linocuts, paint with watercolors, or do embroidery.

Go out and warm up with a delicious glass of mulled wine. We’ve put together a mulled wine guide so you know where to go for the best one. If mulled wine isn’t your thing, I can also highly recommend indulging in Copenhagen’s bakeries, which offer sweet Christmas treats throughout December. 

With the Copenhagen Christmas Walk, you can experience Copenhagen in all its Christmas splendor. It’s part of Copenhagen Local Walks, a series of free audio walks around the city. On this Christmas walk, you’ll visit some of Copenhagen’s most atmospheric spots while learning about Danish Christmas traditions and all the stories behind them.

I hope my little Christmas tips can help get you into the holiday spirit this December. If not, I hope at least my plans can inspire you to get out and enjoy the city and all it has to offer. From all of us at Visit Copenhagen, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to sharing many more Copenhagen recommendations with you in the new year!

But remember, these are just my recommendations. At the editorial office, we're just as interested in hearing yours, so please let us know if there's anything you feel that we've missed.

We’ll be back in a month with much more on all the best of Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen Unfolded is published by VisitCopenhagen. Our goal is to tell the world about Copenhagen and the great experiences that are to be had here. This issue of Copenhagen Unfolded is put together by Kasper Syhler, Christina Daubjerg Newman, Emil Kristensen, Andrea Lundgaard & Emilie Bødker.

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