December 16, 2018

My Christmas guide to Stockholm

Self-proclaimed as the capital of Scandinavia (and the largest city in Scandinavia), Stockholm is a bustling city with plenty of activities year round. One of my favourite times of the year here is Christmas, when the city becomes full of beautiful decorations, twinkling lights and Christmas markets. Below, you’ll find my guide on what you should do in Stockholm in December.

Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Gamla Stan, where people from all over the world, except those from Stockholm come together. Most people from Stockholm view Gamla Stan as a tourist trap, and tend to avoid it, which is a shame considering how stunning this part of Stockholm is. The narrow streets, old buildings and cobblestone pavement create an idyllic atmosphere, perfect for Christmas decorations and festivities.

Make sure to visit the Christmas market at Stortorget. It is one of the oldest markets in the city, and they have everything you need to get into the Christmas spirit. It gets crowded during weekends, so go during a weekday if you can.

One of my favourite activities is to wander around the streets, and just take in the beauty of this city during this time of the year. Below, you’ll find a couple of street snapshots from Old Town

A flower stand that got into the Christmas spirit.

Many of the shops and restaurants have put up their own little Christmas trees at the front.

Don’t forget to take a peek at the shops and their Christmas window displays.

A shop in Old Town focusing on Polka candy.

Grand Hotel

One of my favourite places for Afternoon Tea, Dinner or a drink, Grand Hotel is also a lovely place to visit during Christmas. It is beautifully decorated, on both the outside and inside, and they serve a Swedish Christmas Dinner (Julbord) throughout December.

Kungsträdgården

This, rather large park in the city center of Stockholm is beautifully decorated during Christmas, and has a popular ice rink during winter, with speakers blasting Christmas songs. Go ice skating if that’s your thing. I’m more than happy to sit and watch while getting into the Christmas spirit.

Nordiska Kompaniet (NK)

As one of the largest department stores in Sweden, this is a Christmas staple in Stockholm. Take a look at the famous Christmas window displays, see the beautiful, and huge Christmas tree at the grand entrance, and browse for Christmas gifts.

For a lunch or fika, I’d recommend the cafe by the entrance on the main level. It is one of few cafe’s in Stockholm that still offer table service. Their dishes, beverages and pastries are always of high-quality, you sit comfortably and you’re well taken care of. I also really appreciate that they put a lot of effort into making their items look as good as they taste.

A good Swedish Fika at NK. Head over to my Instagram for a full review of my visit!

Drottningholm Castle

A famous year-round activity that is stunning during summer, and quite cozy during winter. The royal castle at Drottningholm, where the Royal family still lives today is a lovely spot to visit during the Christmas season. The surroundings are beautiful and the castle restaurant serves up a lovely Swedish Julbord. There’s even a Christmas market here during some weekends in December.

View of the castle from the surrounding garden.

A part of the grand ballroom inside the castle.

Another exterior shot. Drottningholm Castle is inspired by Versailles in France, which I visited last year. I’ll definitely agree that it has many similarities, and they are both stunning castles. Although, Versailles is on a different level when it comes to size.

Skansen

One of Sweden’s well known Zoo’s is responsible for the largest Christmas market in the city during this time of the year. Skansen might be more of a summer activity, but the park becomes rather lovely during the Christmas season as well. The market is beautiful, and larger than anything else you will find in Stockholm. Unfortunately, there is an SEK 160 admission fee, which I think is a bit counterintuitive if you want to attract visitors to a market, but you get to explore the rest of the park during the visit as well.