When Denmark moves into the fourth quarter of the year, it usually gets rather windy and cold. This might not be the best sales-speech for Denmark – or Copenhagen for that matter, but its better we break it to you now, instead of you finding out when you get here.
But worry not! There are still many things you can do and see here in our capital – some are seasonal and others are year-round that are still fitting to do. Under here, we will list some of the things to do – and we will link to the other in-door activities we’ve described elsewhere on this site.
So come visit Copenhagen; experience the city during the Christmas Holidays and see the trees and the streets and shops with all their Christmas decorations.
- Ice Skating Rinks
- Christmas in Tivoli
- Christmas Shopping
- Christianias Christmas Market
Ice Skating Rinks
There are a number of different places in the city where you can ice skate. Some are more family-friendly and others are one big chaos with people skating one and the other way. The rinks usually open when it’s a bit colder – in late November/early December they are usually always open.
NOTE: At the moment, the rinks at Kongens Nytorv in Inner City and Genforeningspladsen further out at Nørrebro are closed because of the current construction of the new Metro line.
Ice Skating Rinks:
One of the popular ones is the one at Frederiksberg Gardens (A). It is situated just next to Copenhagen Zoo, and just a few minutes away (300 meters down Falkoner Allé and Allégade) from the nearest Metro line at Frederiksberg Station.
When is it open? Monday – Friday 11 AM – 19 PM, Saturday – Sunday 12 PM – 20 PM
The Menu: Free admission with own skates, and renting of skates: DKK 45,- per hour
How to get there: Take the Metro towards Vanløse Station, and hop off at Frederiksberg Station. Walk from here, as described above.
It is nice place to spend the day with your better half, because of its prime location just next to Frederiksberg Gardens. Here you can take a nice, long walk before or after you’ve ice-skated, and enjoy the scenery. You can go to the edge of the zoo, where you can stand and watch the elephant enclosure. If they are outside, you can even watch them rather close by!
The next one is a bit more centrally located on Blågårds Plads (C) in the part of the city called Nørrebro. The opening hours a slightly different from all the others, seeing as it is open all day.
When is it open? Open all day (during the winter) – do note that from Tuesday till Thursday 14.30 PM to 17 PM, the local youth clubs have reserved the rinks
The Menu: Free admission with own skates, and renting of skates: DKK 35,- per hour
How to get there: Take the Metro or S-train to Nørreport Station, and walk towards the lakes from here. Continue along Nørrebrogade and turn a left onto Blågårdsgade. Alternatively, take one of the bus-lines 5A or 350S and hop off at Ravnsborggade or Fælledvej.
Christmas in Tivoli
Tivoli closes for the season, a few days after the last Tivoli Friday Rock-concert has been held, and it then only opens up during Halloween and Christmas. In 2012, Tivoli opens up on the 16th of November with a themed Christmas: ‘Russian Christmas meets Nordic Christmas’.
The Tivoli Gardens are still the same, with the various rides and attractions being open, but it is beautifully decorated from one corner to the other, with all sorts of cheerful Christmas decorations and landscapes.
You can see ornate wooden houses, elves, Christmas lights and an enormous Christmas tree. Also open during the winter are six new rides and attractions, that usually aren’t open during the high season, and are only here for Christmas.
We urge you to visit Tivoli during the winter, because it is really beautiful and romantic. It is open till 31st of December. Remember though, it’s closed on the 24th and 25th of December.
Christmas Shopping
If you are in Copenhagen to purchase Christmas presents for your loved ones, there are a number of different shopping malls, plazas and streets that are decorated and ready for the season.
Be sure to check out Illum and Magasin Du Nord, which are located on Strøget. You can take the Metro to Kongens Nytorv Station, which is situated underneath Magasin and has its own entrance from the station. Other places such as Fields on Amager or Fisketorvet close to the Central Station are also big malls where you can find the perfect present.
Most shops (in the Inner City atleast) are open every day of December, so there is plenty of opportunity to find the right present.
Christiania Christmas Market
Christiania is one of Copenhagen’s most visited tourist attractions, and Christmas is one of the best times of the year to visit here too.
Every year, Christiania invites to an indoor market in “Den Grå Hal” (the Grey Hall) where you can find a market that is slightly different from the traditional Christmas markets. There are many pop-up shops here, where you can buy all sorts of various Christmas decorations, elves, edibles such as caramelized almonds and Christmas candy.
When is it open? From Friday December 7th until Thursday December 20th, with the following hours: Weekdays 14 PM – 20 PM and Saturday – Sunday 12 PM – 20 PM. Note that they close at 18 PM on the 20th.
How to get there: Take the Metro to Christianshavn Station and walk from here. You can also take busses 66, 2A or 350S.
We hope you take your time to visit Copenhagen during the winter and Christmas holiday, and if you do – be also sure to check out our calendar to see if there are any events going on during the time of your stay. FROST Festival is for example running all February, CPH:DOX Documentary Film Festival is the first ten days of winter, and so on.