7 Christmas markets with a strong "hygge" vibe in Northern Europe

1. Spikersuppa Market, Oslo

Opening hours: November 16th - December 22nd

The main Christmas market in Oslo, Norway, has a rather amusing name: Spikersuppa, literally meaning "Spinner Soup," named after an artificial lake nearby. It's the most famous Christmas market in the capital, located right on Karl Johans Gate – the main road leading directly from Oslo Central Station to the Royal Palace of Norway, often referred to as Oslo's Champs Élysées. The market's special features include an artificial ice rink, which is actually the frozen surface of Spikersuppa Lake, and a hamburger and reindeer steak stand, a signature Nordic-style Christmas offering.

2. Bergen Julemarked

Opening hours: November 28 - December 22

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Many tourists flock to Bergen every summer, but few remember Bergen during Christmas. The Bergen Julemarked is held right in Festplassen – Bergen's central square. While not well-known to many Asian tourists, this market attracts many European visitors, mainly because of the high-quality Norwegian handicrafts and knitwear, as well as the best of Western Norwegian cuisine featured in this Christmas market. Besides Bergen Julemarked, if you have the chance to visit Bergen and explore the famous Bryggen area, don't miss Julehuset, located to the right of the Bergen buildings, towards the city center. This shop specializes in selling exquisite, eye-catching handmade Christmas decorations from Norway, with prices commensurate with their value.

3. Copenhagen Christmas Market

Copenhagen – the hygge capital of the world – has countless Christmas markets, both large and small, scattered throughout the city, making it difficult for people to choose which ones to visit and which to skip amidst such a sea of ​​options. However, the most prominent names, the markets that best embody the spirit of Danish hygge, can be found in just four locations: Nyhavn Harbor (November 8th to December 23rd), Julemarked Højbro Plads (November 15th to December 22nd), Julemarked Kongens Nytorv (November 15th to December 22nd), and the Christmas market at Tivoli Gardens (November 17th to December 31st). Of these, the Christmas market at Tivoli Gardens is perhaps the largest and longest-lasting, as it attracts not only locals but also a large number of international tourists who come to shop and enjoy the year-end festivities within the park.

4. Christmas Market in Liseberg Park, Gothenburg

Open: November 15 - December 23 and December 26 - December 30

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden (after the capital Stockholm) and has a population of approximately 500,000. Speaking of the city's population, you might be surprised by the similar number of visitors who flock to Liseberg amusement park every Christmas to attend Sweden's largest Christmas market. Located right in the heart of Gothenburg, Liseberg amusement park is the venue for Sweden's largest Christmas market. The entire park is transformed into a giant market with around 1,000 Christmas trees of all sizes and over 5 million Christmas lights. Every day features ice skating performances and other impressive light shows. The Liseberg Christmas market is so special that the event of lighting the star-shaped decorations on the large Christmas tree is almost the focus of local media coverage during the Christmas season.

5. Christmas Market in Stockholm

Opening hours: November 23 - December 23

The Swedish capital also has many different Christmas markets, but the most famous is the one held in Gamla Stan – Stockholm's famous old quarter with its two distinctive yellow and red houses and an old cobblestone square dating back to the 14th century. This Gamla Stan Christmas market dates back to the 19th century and has since spread throughout Sweden.

6. Helsinki Christmas Market

Opening hours: December 6th - December 22nd

If there's one reason why Finland's capital is more bustling with tourists than other times of the year, it has to be the Christmas market held in Helsinki. Of all the capitals of the five Nordic countries I've visited, Helsinki is arguably the most subdued, both in terms of appearance and the number of sightseeing and entertainment activities within the city. Helsinki seems to be just a short stopover for tourists on their way to Lapland, Santa Claus Village, or even Tallinn, Estonia's capital, which is only about a 3-hour ferry ride away. However, the Helsinki Christmas market is a highlight of the city. The entire main street, Aleksanterinkatu, is beautifully decorated and serves as the city's official Christmas street. The Christmas market is located right in Senate Square, with a dazzling carousel in the center of the square.

7. Tallinn Christmas Market

Opening hours: November 15 - January 7, 2020

Estonia's capital itself is a stunning medieval city – a place where, upon first arriving, I couldn't believe my eyes that such a charming Central European medieval capital could exist in the cold Nordic region. And so, it's no surprise that Tallinn's Christmas market, held in the main town hall square, is one of the seven most hygge-filled Christmas markets in Northern Europe. The star of the Tallinn Christmas market is… the star atop the Christmas tree in the center. The tradition of decorating Christmas trees in Tallinn dates back to 1441, and this was also the first Christmas tree displayed and decorated outdoors in Europe.

The Tallinn Christmas Market doesn't arrange its stalls horizontally or vertically; instead, it centers around a Christmas tree which branches out into 12 smaller stalls made of pine wood, topped with snow and adorned with yellow lights. From above, they look like sweet, fluffy white cream-covered cakes.

Ngoc Quyen