December 6 2025

The Ultimate Stockholm Christmas Guide (2025): Top Things to See and Do

around.the.world.in.flip.flops Scandinavia, Sweden 0

If you’re planning a winter getaway, let me tell you this straight from the heart: Stockholm at Christmas is pure magic. After living here for nine years, I still get a little emotional the moment the first lights go up in Gamla Stan and the smell of glögg drifts out of cafés. The city transforms — not in an over-the-top way, but in that classic Scandinavian style: cozy, elegant and timeless.

Whether you’re visiting Stockholm for the first time or returning for another round of Nordic holiday charm, here is my personal, tried-and-true guide to the top things to do in Stockholm at Christmas 2025.

Why Stockholm at Christmas Is So Special

Stockholm’s Christmas charm comes from the small things: the gentle glow of lanterns, the crispy winter air, the snow (if it decides to show up) and the traditions that are such a big part of everyday life.

Winter in Scandinavia isn’t easy—it’s long, cold and incredibly dark—so Christmas becomes a real highlight in Stockholm. December feels festive, familiar and absolutely magical.

If you love:
✔️ cozy cafés
✔️ snowy streets
✔️ Christmas markets
✔️ Nordic food
✔️ timeless traditions

… then prepare to fall in love.

Top Things to See and Do in Stockholm at Christmas 2025

🎄 1. Visit Stockholm’s Christmas Markets

But is it still worth visiting Stockholm for its Christmas markets?
I’d say yes—with one caveat. If you’re planning a trip solely for the markets, you might find them a bit modest. However, Stockholm during Christmas is so much more than just the markets. The city itself transforms into a cozy winter wonderland, and the markets become charming complements to everything else happening in December.

Stockholm’s Christmas Markets are so picturesque and cozy

What Stockholm’s Christmas Markets lack in scale, they usually make up for in atmosphere: intimate stalls, friendly vendors, Swedish holiday treats and a scandinavian vibe that’s hard to resist. When combined with the city’s beautiful Christmas lights, traditional celebrations, festive window displays and seasonal events, the markets help create a perfectly magical winter trip to Sweden’s capital.

In other words: the markets alone probably won’t blow you away—but as part of the whole Stockholm Christmas experience, they’re absolutely worth visiting.

The Christmas Markets are such a beautiful part of the holiday season in Stockholm

🕯️ 2. Join One of Sweden’s Most Beautiful Traditions: Santa Lucia

December 13 marks one of Sweden’s most enchanting celebrations: Lucia Day. But for me, it has become so much more than just another tradition. After living in Stockholm for nine years and experiencing countless Swedish holidays, Lucia has become my absolute favorite celebration—nothing else even comes close.

Life in Scandinavia isn’t easy, especially in winter. The cold settles in early, the days grow painfully short and darkness becomes a constant companion. People retreat indoors, the city gets quieter and sometimes it feels like the sun has forgotten about us entirely.

It’s during this time—right at the darkest point of the year—that something almost magical happens. A young girl dressed in white appears, wearing a glowing crown of candles, walking slowly and serenely, followed by a choir carrying lights and singing traditional songs.

Santa Lucia celebrations are such a big deal in Sweden

Santa Lucia arrives literally bearing light, and I’m not exaggerating when I say she feels like a saviour. I’ve watched some of the coldest, most reserved Swedes quietly wipe away tears during Lucia performances. And after living here for nearly a decade, I understand exactly why. It’s not just beautiful—it’s deeply emotional. It’s a reminder that even in the heaviest darkness, warmth and light still return.

In Stockholm, you can experience this at places like Storkyrkan in Gamla Stan, at Skansen’s famously atmospheric celebration, or in countless churches and concert halls across the city. But no matter where you see it, Lucia is a huge deal. It’s gentle, calming and incredibly moving.

TIP: Make sure you book tickets for Lucia concerts WAY ahead! I’ve been struggling for years to get tickets with a good visibility at Storkyrkan — and I finally managed this year 🎉

If you’re in town, don’t miss it. It’s one of the most beautiful and meaningful traditions Sweden has—and one that has stayed in my heart year after year.

✨ 3. See the City’s Christmas Illuminations

One of the simplest but most magical things to do in Stockholm at Christmas is to stroll through the city and admire the Christmas lights. Stockholm takes its winter darkness seriously—and responds with an explosion of warm, golden illumination that transforms the city into a glowing work of art. More than 40 streets, squares and bridges light up each year. Every winter the installations become a little more creative, a little more whimsical and a little more photogenic.

Wanna discover exactly which streets are decorated? Download the Stockholm Christmas Lights Map here 🗺️

What makes the lights in Stockholm so special isn’t their size or flashiness (this isn’t London or New York), but their warmth. They’re elegant, cozy and designed with the same Scandinavian touch for beauty and atmosphere you see in Swedish homes. When the sun sets around 14:30, these lights feel less like decoration and more like a lifeline—little pockets of brightness guiding you through the city.

Stockholm becomes so beautiful with all the Christmas illuminations

Here are a few places you absolutely shouldn’t miss:

Drottninggatan – One of Stockholm’s busiest shopping streets becomes a festive corridor of glowing arches, hanging stars and light sculptures. It’s the most Christmassy part of central Stockholm—ideal for an evening walk after browsing shops.
Biblioteksgatan – Chic and beautifully curated, this street offers a more upscale version of holiday lights. Think modern Scandinavian design, warm white tones and perfectly arranged displays that make the whole area feel magical.
Strandvägen – This waterfront boulevard is stunning any time of year, but at Christmas it becomes pure cinematic beauty. The reflections of the lights in the water create a dreamy, postcard-like scene.
Stockholm’s iconic moose family: it appears each year in the city center. In 2025, this cute family is located in Nybroplan. These huge, glowing moose sculptures have become a beloved part of the city’s holiday decorations—festive, whimsical and unmistakably Nordic. They’re incredibly photogenic and add a playful touch to Stockholm’s otherwise elegant Christmas lights.

My advice? Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate or a cup of glögg and just wander around the city. Stockholm’s Christmas illuminations aren’t just pretty—they create an atmosphere that makes winter feel soft, festive and full of wonder. It’s one of the simplest pleasures of spending the holidays in Sweden’s capital, and one you’ll remember long after your trip.

🎁 4. See the Christmas Windows & decorations of NK

A true Stockholm Christmas tradition is gathering outside the NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) department store to see its beautifully crafted holiday window displays. Every year in late November, NK unveils a brand-new theme—complete with moving figures, miniature landscapes and tiny handcrafted details that people of all ages stop to admire. It’s one of those moments where the city collectively pauses, leans in closer to the glass and lets itself feel a bit like a child again.

NK is such an iconic place to visit in Stockholm during Christmas season

What I love about NK’s windows is the storytelling. They’re not just pretty displays; they’re tiny worlds that bring your imagination to life. You’ll see characters skating, baking, dancing or embarking on whimsical winter adventures. The craftsmanship is incredible—every year I find myself pressed up against the glass thinking, “How do they make it so charming?”

And here’s the thing:
Stockholmers don’t usually show their emotions openly, but the NK windows have a way of softening even the most stoic locals. Families bundle up and come to see them together. Kids point out every moving piece. Adults smile without even realizing it. It’s nostalgic, festive and somehow always surprising, even if you’ve lived here for years like me.

Even if you’re not planning to shop, make sure to pass by NK during your December trip. The windows are an easy, free and utterly joyful part of Christmas in Stockholm—one that captures the city’s unique mix of coziness, creativity and holiday magic.

There is a new theme chosen for NK’s Christmas windows every year

Stepping inside NK is just as magical as admiring its windows. The entire department store is transformed for the season, with twinkling lights, garlands and one of the largest indoor Christmas trees in Stockholm towering in the central hall.

On weekends, you’ll often hear live Christmas concerts echoing through the building—choirs, musicians and festive performances that make shopping feel like stepping into a holiday movie. And if you’re visiting with kids (or you’re a grown-up who still loves some Christmas magic), you can even meet Santa inside the store. It’s cozy, cheerful and a perfect stop to warm up between outdoor activities.

The Christmas vibe at NK is always on point

⭐ 5. Visit a Free Gingerbread House Exhibition

One of the most charming—and deliciously scented—Christmas traditions in Stockholm is the annual Gigerbread House Exhibition. Every year, this popular exhibition is hosted at ArkDes, Sweden’s national center for architecture and design. The best part? It’s completely free, making it one of the best free things to do in Stockholm in December.

This isn’t your ordinary gingerbread display. Every year, architects, designers, artists, bakers, kids and hobby creators from all over Sweden submit their gingerbread masterpieces. And when I say masterpieces, I mean it. You’ll see everything from tiny, detailed cottages to bold architectural creations that look like they belong in a modern museum. Some entries are whimsical, some are funny and others are so intricate you forget they’re made entirely from gingerbread, icing and candy.

Gingerbread House Exhibition in Stockholm

This is definitely one of the coziest things to do in Stockholm during Christmas season

Walking through the exhibition is a full sensory experience—the warm smell of ginger, cinnamon and cloves fills the entire hall. It’s cozy, playful and surprisingly inspiring. You get a real glimpse of Swedish creativity here, and every year the designs seem even more imaginative than the last.

The exhibition usually runs from late November until the beginning of January, making it an ideal stop during your Stockholm Christmas trip. If you’re looking for something festive, unique and sweet (literally!), the gingerbread house exhibition is absolutely worth adding to your Stockholm itinerary.

✨ 6. Experience the Nobel week lights

One of the most unique winter events in Stockholm is Nobel Week Lights, a spectacular light festival inspired by the Nobel Prize and held every December. If you’re looking for something truly memorable during your Christmas trip, this is one of the best things to do in Stockholm in winter.

During Nobel Week Lights, iconic buildings, museums and public spaces across the city are transformed into large-scale light installations created by artists, designers and students. Each piece is inspired by Nobel Prize–winning ideas in science, literature and peace, giving the festival a blend of art, innovation and winter magic.

It’s like walking through an open-air gallery—completely free, accessible and beautifully illuminated against Stockholm’s VERY dark December nights.

DID YOU KNOW? You can even book a FREE tour to learn more about Nobel Week Lights and the light installations 💡

Nobel Week Lights is one of Stockholm’s most beautiful events

What makes this event so special is the atmosphere. You’ll find locals and tourists wandering through the city, stopping to admire glowing facades, interactive light sculptures, projections and colorful displays that bring life to the winter darkness. It’s the perfect evening activity if you want a mix of culture and Christmas spirit.

Make sure you time your Stockholm trip around this event, because it’s so worth it

If you’re planning your Stockholm Christmas itinerary, make sure Nobel Week Lights is on your list. It’s photogenic, inspiring and adds a creative twist to the city’s December celebrations—proof that winter in Sweden isn’t just about surviving the darkness, but transforming it into something beautiful.

🍽️ 7. Enjoy a Traditional Swedish Julbord

Experiencing a Julbord in Stockholm is one of the most essential Swedish Christmas traditions and an absolute must if you’re visiting Sweden in December. A Julbord is Sweden’s iconic Christmas buffet, and it’s one of the most delicious and authentic ways to explore swedish Christmas food during your holiday trip.

A traditional Julbord includes classics like pickled herring, cured salmon, meatballs, Christmas ham, Jansson’s temptation, cheeses, rye breads, sausages, pâtés and an entire dessert table filled with sweets and saffron treats. It’s the ultimate celebration of Scandinavian holiday flavors — and one of the most memorable winter experiences you can have in Stockholm.

If you’re wondering where to find the best Julbord in Stockholm, the answer is: everywhere. The city offers an incredible variety of festive buffets, including:

Historic Julbord in Gamla Stan with traditional recipes
Waterfront Julbord overlooking the frozen harbor and the iconic Stockholm skyline
Julbord in a palace for a truly magical, royal Christmas experience.
Julbord cruises, where you enjoy a full buffet while sailing through the wintery Stockholm archipelago
Julbord in Stockholm’s archipelago: combine this popular tradition with a visit to Stockholm’s biggest hidden gem

Looking for the absolute best Julbord in Stockholm? This ultimate Stockholm Julbord guide will help you choose 🎄

Most restaurants begin serving their Julbord menus from late November through December, and the most popular places — like Grand Hôtel, Stadshuskällaren and the classic archipelago boats — get fully booked quickly. It’s one of the busiest dining seasons in Stockholm, so planning and booking ahead is key if you want to secure a spot.

TIP: Use my AROUNDTHEWORLDINFLIPFLOPS Promo Code to get 5% off your Julbord cruise on the Get Your Guide App 💰

Part of why Julbord bookings fill up so fast is the atmosphere. There’s something incredibly special about walking into a room glowing with candlelight, surrounded by cozy Christmas decorations, soft Swedish holiday music and tables overflowing with traditional dishes. In the middle of the dark Scandinavian winter, a Julbord feels warm, comforting and almost magical. Even Swedes who have experienced it their whole lives still look forward to it every year — it’s a moment where the season slows down and everyone gathers around the table.

So when you’re planning your Stockholm Christmas itinerary, make sure a Julbord is on your list. It’s more than a meal; it’s one of the most meaningful Christmas traditions in Sweden and one of the best ways to fully experience the holiday spirit in the country’s capital.

Final Thoughts on Christmas in Stockholm 🎄

So: is it worth visiting Stockholm during Christmas? Absolutely!

The city might be smaller than some of Europe’s giant Christmas markets, but that’s part of its charm. Stockholm feels cozy, magical and effortlessly festive — from the Christmas markets and Lucia celebrations to sparkling city lights, whimsical window displays, gingerbread exhibitions and unforgettable Julbord experiences. Every corner of the city seems to have a touch of holiday magic.

Whether it’s your first time in Sweden or your tenth, there’s something uniquely enchanting about celebrating Christmas here — a mix of Scandinavian coziness, festive charm and light-filled magic that makes the dark winter days feel warm.

So bundle up, grab a warm drink and let yourself wander through Stockholm’s Christmas streets, markets and lights. With this guide, you’ll be able to experience the best of the season, make unforgettable memories and truly feel the spirit of a Swedish Christmas.