Winter is officially here, marked by our recent days of heavy snowfall, and the temperatures are dropping faster than any of us was ready for. That means that it is time for a cosy vibe, twinkly lights, festive season! (and wearing 17 layers every day). So whether you are new in Lund, and are still figuring out how to escape the cold, or you just want to revisit all the iconic places, this is the guide for you!
To help you soak in all the festive moments without spending all your CSN, here is the ultimate winter bucket list & guide for Lund, Malmö & Copenhagen.
Lund: small city, with big winter atmosphere
- IM’s Christmas Market
Where: Stadshallen
When: 13 December
Why go: Handmade decorations, local treats and that “small town Christmas” vibe. Perfect for handmade and traditional Swedish treats and gifts.
- Ice Skating at Stortorget
Where: Stortorget
When: 28 November – 22 February
Why go: Borrow skates (for free) and glide (or wobble) your way around the rink. A perfect cardio and a fun study break.
- Christmas Sing-Along
Where: City Hall, Stortorget
When: 11 & 18 December
Why go: For a wholesome and traditional evening, hosted by Sara Ekdahl and Daniel Karlsson, you can exercise your vocal cords and join in on the festive fun! Free of charge, with fika included, bring your friends and sing your heart out!
- Målamik
Where: Sankt Petri Kyrkogata 15
When: Whenever
Why go: If you haven’t tried this spot yet, you are missing out! This is the best place for a handmade Christmas present, and a great experience with your close friends, or a fun solo date! They do not have any Christmas special, but it is a great spot to try out regardless.
Malmö: big sparkle
- Gustav Adolfs Torg Christmas Market
Where: Gustav Adolfs Torg
When: 27 November – 21 December
Why go: The yearly market opens again! One of my favourite places to go, find last minute Christmas presents and eat as many warm snacks as I can find.
- Vinterland at Folkets Park
Where: Folkets Park
When: 28 November – 1 February
Why go: Ice skating with free skate rental! Fairy lights, and activities all over the park, another great spot for wobbling around the ice
- Sibbarp Kallbadhus Christmas Market
Where: Sibbarp Limhamn
When: 13-14 December
Why go: A coastline market, with crafts, live music, and some of the best pizza you will ever eat, on top of your Christmas arts and crafts shopping. Or a sauna and winter dip if you’re feeling brave.
- Caroli Julmarknad
Where: Caroli, Gamla Staden
When: 13 December
Why go: A small, cosy and locally-produced market, and even has pony rides!
- Nutcracker Sip n Paint
Where: Västra Hamnen
When: 19 December
Why go: A painting studio is holding a super fun and collaborative guided painting experience! With a cosy atmosphere and all the paint and snacks provided, this is a super fun
Tickets are available on Billetto: called “Nutcracker Sip n Paint”
- Mygel Christmas Market (Japanese Style!)
Where: Mygelm, Lodgatan
When: 14 December
Why go: Mygel (ordinarily a popular Japanese restaurant in Malmö) is turning into a Christmas market for the day, where you can find Japanese gifts, hot chocolate and grilled marshmallows.
- St Lucia at Malmö Saluhall
Where: Malmö Saluhall
When: 13 December
Why go: To get a (kind of late) St Lucia experience, watch the singers walk through the food hall and do a performance! Amazing if you are an international student who is just starting to learn about the Swedish festivities.
- Christmas Movie Marathon at Spegeln
Where: Biograf Spegln
When: All December
Why go: Speglen offers old and all-time classics all December round! Whether your vibe is sing-alongs or Home Alone, they have it for you! You can also go and get their dinner deal which includes a 3 course meal at their bistro for 325sek!
- Ice Hockey at Malmö Area
Where: Malmö Arena
When: All December
Why go: If you have never seen a game, or even if you have no idea what the rules are, it is still a super entertaining evening! Support the Malmö Redhawks, eat a hotdog and spend a fun evening doing something different! Great break from your laptop too
- Malmö Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert
Where: Malmö Symfoniorkester
When: 11, 12 & 14 December
Why go: The Malmö Symphony is a famous group who will show you the performance of a lifetime. While creating the most festive vibes, their use of instruments and voices gives you goosebumps! Lucia lights are included, and it is a fun excuse to dress up.
Copenhagen:
- Højbro Plads Market
Where: Højbro Plads, Indre By
When: 4 November – 21 December
Why go: Right on Strøget, packed with international treats, you can find German, French (and of course Danish) goodies and gifts! It calls itself Copenhagen’s “hyggeligste” market.
- Nyhavn Christmas Market
Where: Nyhavn, Indre By
When: December
Why go: A mix of the colourful houses, harbour views and of course, so many æbelskiver.
- Christiana Christmas Market
Where: Freetown Christiania
When: 6 – 20 December
Why go: A slightly different Christmas market, with an indoor bazaar in Den Grå Hal, and featuring 100+ stalls, live music featuring Balkan to Danish artists, handmade items and an alternative Christmas vibe.
- Tivoli Christmas
Where: Tivoli Gardens, Vesterbro
When: December – January
Why go: Tivoli is the ultimate Christmas bucket list item. From the 50+ festive stalls, games and rollercoasters, there is snow, more Christmas trees than you can count, and a cinnamon smell throughout the air.
- Ice Skating at Kongens Nytorv
Where: Kongens Nytorv, Indre By
When: 14 November – 4 January
Why go: An old Danish tradition which has recently been resurfaced, where the city replaces Kongens Nytorv with an ice skating rink! Skate under the lights of Hotel d’Angleterre’s iconic Christmas display.
- Broens Gadekøkken
Where: Strandgade 95
When: December
Why A street food market (with a skating rink too). This is the ideal place to go for dinner, or just to hang out, with food stalls from all over the world (personal recommendation is Gasoline Grill with the best burgers in Denmark). They also frequently host events, so look at their instagram to see what is happening!
- Hot Chocolate at Hotel Sanders
Where: Hotel Sanders, Indre By
When: Whenever
Why go: Best hot chocolate in the world. Period.
Winter doesn’t always have to be dark and miserable, if you know the right Christmas markets, concerts, ice skating, and cafes. Grab your gloves and go see how many overpriced Christmas baubles you can find!
