Sleep in the largest gingerbread house in the world, experience a fairytale white Christmas with cheerful markets – and visit Santa Claus himself. These are some of the best places to go if you want to celebrate Christmas in Norway. The warmth of fireplaces. The sound of giggling children playing in the snow. And of course handmade gifts at numerous small and large Christmas markets and markets. In Norway, the celebration and preparations for the holidays begin early, usually the last weekend in November, with baking Christmas cookies (minimum seven different kinds), buying Christmas gifts and going to at least one Merry Christmas concert.
With decorations everywhere, Oslo is a glorious sight all through December. You'll probably get a white Christmas here too, and if so, the Korketrekkeren toboggan run about 20 minutes from the city center is great fun.
From mid-November you can visit the large Winter Wonderland Christmas market (Jul i Vinerland) on the main street Karl Johan. Buy Christmas gifts from the market stalls, drink a hot cup of gløgg (the Scandinavian version of mulled wine), take a ride on the Ferris wheel or strap on a pair of skates. There is also a popular Christmas market in Youngstorget, as well as several other smaller markets around Oslo.
However, the most unique Christmas market takes place at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Bygdøy during the first two weekends of December. Experience traditional Christmas in different eras, browse the market stalls, follow Christmas decoration workshops and enjoy festive entertainment.
You can also do your Christmas shopping in Oslo at Aker Brygge wharf, Karl Johan and its surrounding streets, Hedgehaugsveien, Oslo City shopping center and in Grünerløkka, to name just a few places. To really get a taste of Norwegian Christmas, try traditional Christmas dishes at a local restaurant – remember to book a table in advance as this is a busy time.
And if you have the time, you won't regret taking the bus to idyllic Drøbak. There is not only a cozy Christmas market, there is even a Christmas shop that is open all year round.
The mini-metropolis of Tromsø aims to become Norway's official Christmas city and offers a pre-Christmas period full of magic. Tromsø is the perfect place to get into the festive spirit. Here, city life is combined with exciting winter activities and arctic nature, not to mention the Northern Lights.
From November 18, the streets will be lit up with Christmas lights, making Christmas gift shopping an atmospheric treat. You can find the perfect gift in the stalls at the Christmas market, or in the more exclusive shops in central Tromsø. At Christmas, we Norwegians like to treat ourselves to extra delicious food, and most of the restaurants in town have local delicacies on the menu.
When you visit around Christmas, you can also go on an adventure in the Arctic nature. What could be more Christmassy than greeting a reindeer herd? A dog sledding trip under the Northern Lights is also guaranteed to put you in a holiday mood.
The narrow alleys of the old Hanseatic city of Bergen are a wonderful setting to get into the Christmas mood. On Torgallmenningen you will find a large Christmas market. The city is also home to the world's largest gingerbread town. Watch them turn on the lights at the top of the town on Fløien Mountain and end the evening with a Christmas concert.
In addition to Christmas shopping, be sure to visit the KODE art museums, the famous aquarium, and a host of other exciting attractions in the city. You can easily combine a visit to Bergen with a trip to Flåm, either with the Flåm line, or with a cruise through the fjords or a tour like Norway in a nutshell.
The Christmas market in Trondheim takes place in the city center every December. Here you will find an exciting traditional market with quality handicrafts, Christmas dishes and trees. Experience concerts, theater and horse and sleigh rides. And in the lavvo you can enjoy local food and drinks by the fire, while listening to troubadours and folk tales.
Experience the beautiful blue hour, “den blå timen”. It gives everything outside a magical blue glow. Combined with the decorated market stalls and thousands of tiny lights, it's like stepping into a Norwegian fairytale.
The Christmas market was first held in 2003, with only 5 stalls. Today, the market consists of more than 90 exhibitors and 100 cultural events.
If you're dreaming of a snowy winter wonderland, Lillehammer is a safe bet. The scenic town on Mjøsa Lake is about an hour and a half by train from Oslo Airport. Discover how Christmas was celebrated in the Middle Ages at the Maihaugen open-air museum, which hosts a festive Christmas market on the first weekend of Advent. A visit to the arts and crafts in the Fabrikken creative center is a must, and you should also visit the Lillehammer Art Museum. Afterwards, you can search the festively decorated streets of the city for the perfect Christmas gifts.
If you want to be active in the snow, combine your trip to Lillehammer with a day or two at one of the nearby top ski areas Hafjell and Kvitfjell, which are usually open from November. You might also be brave enough to try the bobsleigh and toboggan run used during the 1994 Winter Olympics – and if not, take the chairlift to the top of the Lysegårdsbakkene ski jump for some fantastic views.
Are you ready for a Christmas experience under the Northern Lights? In the beautiful village of Henningsvær in Lofoten, the pre-Christmas fun begins in early November. This authentic fishing village has many fun niche shops and local artisans who have mastered the art of glass blowing, candle making and wool hat design.
Although the village is quite small, you will also find several art museums here, including the KaviarFactory and Galleri Lofotens Hus. Why not round off your aesthetic experience with a tasty treat in a cafe, pub or restaurant? Please note that some places are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Take a selfie with one of the blue kicksleds fitted with wheels – perfect for mild temperatures – and spend the night in one of the fishing huts on the coast. If you want to get out of the village, a day trip to the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg is great fun. Or maybe you want to visit the charming villages of Svolvær or Kabelvåg, with museums, aquariums and galleries? The nearest airport and port of call to Hurtigruten are in Svolvær, from where you can catch a bus to Henningsvær.
If you're looking for a nostalgic feel, charming Røros has just what you need. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old mining town of small wooden houses is the perfect place to avoid the pre-Christmas rush of the larger towns, with plenty of niche shops and talented artisans selling their wares.
Røros takes great pride in its food, so don't be surprised to see reindeer, Arctic char and craft beer on the menu. Get in the Christmas spirit with a visit to the Christmas market on the second weekend of Advent and to Røros Church for a magical Christmas concert. You can also join a city tour or try a dog sledding tour.
A trip to Røros can be combined with an unforgettable Christmas concert at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. You can easily reach both destinations by train or plane.
In the south of Norway you will find several cities that do their best to create the perfect Christmas. Visit Kristiansand and stroll through the Christmas market in the public square. Taste the traditional Christmas cookies kageman before sliding down the ice rink.
Egersund near Stavanger and Tønsberg near the Oslofjord are both cities that are regularly mentioned as one of Norway's best Christmas towns. In Fredrikstad on the eastern shore of the Oslofjord, Gamlebyen's Old Town creates an enchanting atmosphere for pre-Christmas celebrations, with festive music, niche shops and Christmas markets.
Do you want to meet the real Norwegian Santa Claus? Take the train in the direction of Røros and get off at Tynset to visit the mountain village of Savalen. Nissegata (Santa Lane) has charming hotels – or you can sleep in the world's largest gingerbread house!
Nissehuset (Santa's house) has a gift wrapping machine, a fairytale throne and of course a post office. Although Nissehuset is open all year round, almost every day, including holidays, the most magical time to visit is of course during the beautiful winter months.
After a day of fun in the snow, you can warm up in the spa and pool of the Savalen Fjellhotel. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the city hosts fun holiday activities on weekends. And once the new year has arrived, Santas from all over the world will gather in Savalen to take part in the annual Santa Winter Games.
Still looking for a unique way to celebrate Christmas? Every year thousands of people spend their holidays on board one of the ships of the Norwegian coastal express Hurtigruten. The coast is magical in winter, with snow-capped peaks and crisp fresh air. In Northern Norway you will probably see the Northern Lights dancing through the sky.
All ships are docked on Christmas Eve, so you can attend a local Christmas service if you wish. Later in the day, the ship's restaurants serve a traditional Norwegian Christmas dinner, using local ingredients from the regions you've sailed through. And don't worry - Santa knows the route, so he won't have any trouble finding you and your little ones.
