‘Tis the season for cultural holiday adventures in Copenhagen Cultural District. With a wealth of experiences, we add the cultural cherry on top of your December!
Discover magical holiday tours, delve into the history of Christmas, and visit the charming Christmas market at Thorvaldsens Plads—all while enjoying everything else Copenhagen Cultural District has to offer.
Read more about the gift that keeps on giving all December long here.
Free holiday workshop at Thorvaldsens Museum
Give old exhibition posters a second life by turning them into beautiful, personalized Christmas hearts. Thorvaldsens Museum invites kids and their families to a cozy holiday workshop inspired by Bertel Thorvaldsen’s love of Christmas traditions. Create your own unique Christmas decoration and enjoy the festive atmosphere at the museum!
Join the workshop on December 22 and 26, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The workshop is free for kids and teens, and adults with a paid museum ticket
Read more here.
Dive into “The Roots of Christmas” at the National Museum
Unwrap the magic of the season in the new exhibition at the National Museum—a sensory journey through the rich and surprising history of Christmas!
Step into a giant Advent calendar, where the museum’s windows have been transformed into 24 festive doors. Behind each one, vintage Christmas decorations reveal quirky and unexpected stories of how the holiday was celebrated in years gone by. Then, find yourself on a shadowy Danish farmyard on Christmas Eve. Here, the air crackles with mystery, as ancient superstitions warn you to stay indoors—nature’s dark forces are at their strongest during this time of year.
Next, venture into a 1,000-year-old forest where the Vikings have just offered a pig to their gods as part of their midwinter rituals. Along the way, you’ll discover that Christmas is a celebration with ancient roots, stretching back to the pagan festival of Jól and Christian midwinter customs—a ritual that once connected people to nature, the gods, and the promise of a prosperous new year.
Read more about the captivating exhibition here!
Christmas Market at Thorvaldsens Plads
This year, the beloved Christmas market that usually lights up Kongens Nytorv has found a new home in Copenhagen Cultural District, bringing festive cheer to Thorvaldsens Plads. Until December 21st, you can soak up the holiday atmosphere surrounded by glowing light displays, giant Christmas sculptures, and a stunning 12-meter-tall Christmas tree you can actually walk through—perfect for snapping your Christmas photo of the year!
The market is open daily from 11:00 AM (12:00 PM on Sundays), so there’s plenty of time to explore the cozy stalls and festive vibes.
Discover more about the coziest Christmas market of the season here!
Christmas in Tivoli
Step into a true Christmas fairytale from November 15th to January 5th as Tivoli Gardens transforms into a magical winter wonderland for all ages. Christmas in Tivoli is a heartwarming tradition filled with memories to create and share with loved ones. Watch Santa light the grand Christmas tree, and don’t miss the chance to tell him your biggest holiday wish when you visit his cozy house on Plænen.
Stroll through the snow-dusted stalls of Bjældevang, where you’ll find sparkling ornaments, unique gifts, and delicious treats. Indulge in Christmas classics like honey cakes, æbleskiver, roast pork sandwiches, and festive sweets before braving the spinning rides for some rosy-cheeked fun. Wander through a breathtaking holiday landscape adorned with thousands of glittering fir trees, enjoy the festive tunes of the Tivoli Guard, or lace up your skates for a spin around the ice rink, hand in hand, circling the most beautiful Christmas tree.
Find out more about Tivoli’s holiday stalls, entertainment, ice skating, and more here!
Enjoy the view of Christmas in Copenhagen from Nikolaj Tower
Join a tower tour at Nikolaj Kunsthal every Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 PM and soak in the festive Copenhagen atmosphere from above. After a long closure for renovations, the Nikolaj Tower is open once again, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city from 35 meters up. The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and costs 40 DKK for adults and 20 DKK for children. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, as pre-booking isn’t available. Keep in mind that capacity is limited to just 13 guests per tour, so arrive early to secure your spot.
Learn more about this unique experience here!
Christmas in the Royal Kitchen
In the basement under Christiansborg Palace is The Royal Kitchen, where in the 1900s food was prepared for royal parties and gala dinners. The castle elves are afraid of people, but they can’t stay away when the kitchen is filled with Christmas spirit. They get busy hiding when people pass by, but lose their hats in the process.
Come by and see if you can find all the elf hats in our counting hunt and cut out a Christmas heart or a cone to decorate the Christmas tree at home. There are prizes at stake and they draw lots among the correct counters.
In December, the palace is open until 7pm on Thursdays in the run-up to Christmas, so bring the family along after work for some Christmas cheer in a royal setting.
Read more here.
Christmas tour in The Victorian Home
Step back in time to the late 1800s and celebrate Christmas with the Christensen family, experiencing the holiday as the bourgeoisie once did. Discover vintage Christmas cards and intricate paper crafts lovingly created by the ladies of the household. In the dining room, learn about the traditional three-course Christmas Eve dinner enjoyed by the family, featuring a new and exciting dish of the era—risalamande.
As part of the guided tour, explore the family’s grand salons, untouched by time for over a century. Admire their Christmas tree, decorated with handmade cones and delicate glass ornaments, and gain insight into the busy holiday season and cherished traditions of the era.
Tours run from November 16th to December 22nd at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:15 PM. Please note that access to the apartment is via stairs only, and it is not wheelchair, stroller, or walker accessible. Tickets are 130 DKK for adults and 65 DKK for children under 18.
Book your ticket and experience a nostalgic Christmas in the Victorian apartment here!
Get your dose of contemporary art at Nikolaj Kunsthal
Experience a wealth of contemporary art at Nikolaj Kunsthal this December. Visit the group exhibition “I’m Sorry, This Space Is Reserved” in the Lower Gallery, which explores life with disabilities through thought-provoking art, and Katrine Ærtebjerg’s exhibition “A Cloud is a Girl is a Boy is a Cat” in the Upper Gallery, where surrealism shines a light on all that exists outside the norms.
Don’t miss the opening of this year’s sixth Platform exhibition, a showcase for emerging artists and curators, on December 5th from 4:00–7:00 PM. This time, experience visual artist Benjamin A. H. Harpsøe’s exhibition “Dreams of a Childhood,” curated by Anna Clarisse Holck Wæhrens. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Benjamin’s father, jazz musician and Christiania’s Børneteatret jazz club owner Jess Harpsøe, will perform live. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome!
Find out more on Nikolaj Kunsthal’s website.
Do your Christmas shopping in Copenhagen Cultural District!
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for someone interested in history, art, design, or architecture? Or perhaps you’re searching for this year’s new Christmas ornament? Our shops are the perfect places for shopping or simply getting inspired!
At Christiansborg Palace, you’ll find the most beautiful Christmas decorations, Royal Copenhagen candles, Royal Guard ornaments, and much more. The National Museum offers a range of historical Christmas decorations, while Danish Architecture Center features modern advent candles and ornaments made from recycled silk.
The Black Diamond – The Royal Library has a wide selection of books, including novels, photo books, social science literature, and children’s books. At Nikolaj Kunsthal and Gammel Strand, you can browse for the perfect gift for the art lover in your life. At Museum of Copenhagen, you’ll find pub-inspired Christmas decorations and the STAMSTEDER I and II books, specially curated for their latest exhibition on the last pubs in the kingdom of Denmark. Thorvaldsens Museum offers beautiful ceramics, while Tivoli is home to a variety of festive pop-up shops for all your holiday shopping.
Check out features from some of these shops on our Instagram!