Oslo
Oslo Christmas markets: Jul i Vinterland, Norsk Folkemuseum and Christmas in the capital
A Ferris wheel and ice rink in Spikersuppa, 18th-century Christmas parlours on Bygdøy and mulled wine beneath the lights of Karl Johan. These are Oslo’s Christmas markets, and the hotels that put you in the heart of the festive city.
When darkness falls early and the lights come on along Karl Johan, Oslo is transformed. The Christmas streets sparkle, the scent of gløgg drifts from the stalls in Spikersuppa, and on Bygdøy the old timber houses are decorated just as they were hundreds of years ago. The weeks before Christmas are one of the loveliest times to visit the Norwegian capital.
Here are the Oslo Christmas markets that return year after year, the tips that make your visit better, and the hotels that put you right in the festive mood.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Dates and opening hours change from year to year, so always check the organisers’ websites before you go.
Jul i Vinterland in Spikersuppa
Jul i Vinterland, which means Christmas in Winterland, is Oslo’s biggest Christmas market, set in Spikersuppa on Karl Johan between the Parliament and the National Theatre. It usually opens for nearly two months, from November into the Christmas season, and entry is free.
Along the market street you will find stalls with gifts, crafts, toys and clothing. Food stalls range from traditional Norwegian Christmas fare and gløgg, the Scandinavian mulled wine, to doughnuts, crêpes and street food from around the world. By tradition there are carousels and a Ferris wheel, with views over the festive city centre from the top.
The Spikersuppa ice rink
In the middle of the market lies the Spikersuppa ice rink, which usually opens towards the end of November and stays open through the winter. Skating beneath the strings of lights, with the Parliament on one side and the National Theatre on the other, is a classic Oslo experience in December.
The Christmas market at Norsk Folkemuseum
On the Bygdøy peninsula, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, Norsk Folkemuseum, hosts one of Norway’s most popular Christmas markets, usually on the first weekends of December. You will find hundreds of stalls with Christmas food, decorations and crafts, and cafés serving old-fashioned Christmas fare and baking.
What makes this market special is the houses. You can step inside the old buildings and see how Christmas was celebrated in a wealthy merchant’s home in the 1700s, in the countryside in days gone by or in a worker’s flat in old Christiania.
Alternative Christmas markets
For something different, Oslo also has smaller, more alternative Christmas markets. At the SALT cultural venue on the harbour promenade, a cosy market fills the circus tents, and several designers and craftspeople host their own markets in the weeks before Christmas.
Christmas lights along the fjord. Photo: Picolo
Christmas food in Oslo
December is the season for ribbe, roast pork belly, pinnekjøtt, cured lamb ribs, and lutefisk, and many of Oslo’s classic restaurants put the Christmas plate on the menu. Traditional places such as Hotel Bristol and Lorry are known for their Christmas food, and at Frognerseteren you can end a winter walk with views over the city and the famous apple cake. Book ahead, as the best places fill up fast before Christmas.
A day in festive Oslo
Start on Bygdøy at the Folk Museum’s Christmas market, then take the bus back to the centre for lunch. Stroll the decorated streets around Karl Johan, ride the Ferris wheel in Spikersuppa and try the ice rink. End the evening with Christmas food at one of the city’s classic restaurants, and a cup of gløgg at the market on the way back to your hotel.
Christmas markets near Oslo
With a car or time for a day trip, several well-known Christmas markets are a short drive from Oslo. Hadeland Glassverk has a large indoor Christmas market, and Bærums Verk offers festive charm in old ironworks buildings. See also our guide to Scandinavian Christmas markets.
Where to stay for the Christmas markets
Stay central and you have Jul i Vinterland, the Christmas streets and the restaurants within walking distance. Hotels fill quickly in December, especially at weekends, so book early.
Grand Hotel Oslo: right by Spikersuppa
A classic hotel on Karl Johan, with the Christmas market and ice rink right outside.
Book your stay: See rooms at Grand Hotel Oslo
Hotel Continental: by the National Theatre
An elegant hotel at the other end of Spikersuppa, with Theatercaféen downstairs.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Continental
Hotel Bristol: tradition and Christmas food
A traditional hotel just off Karl Johan, known for its festive atmosphere and Christmas food.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Bristol
Comfort Hotel Karl Johan: affordable and central
A modern, more affordable hotel on Karl Johan, a stone’s throw from the market.
Book your stay: See rooms at Comfort Hotel Karl Johan
See more options in our guide to where to stay in Oslo, or our cheap hotels in central Oslo.
Frequently asked questions about Oslo Christmas markets
Where is the Christmas market in Oslo?
Oslo’s biggest Christmas market, Jul i Vinterland, is in Spikersuppa on Karl Johan, between the Parliament and the National Theatre. Norsk Folkemuseum on Bygdøy also has a popular market.
When does Jul i Vinterland open?
The market usually opens in November and runs into the Christmas season. Check the organiser’s website for this year’s dates and opening hours.
When is the Folk Museum Christmas market?
The Norsk Folkemuseum Christmas market is usually held on the first weekends of December. The museum publishes the dates in advance.
Is the Oslo Christmas market free?
Entry to Jul i Vinterland is free. Activities such as the Ferris wheel and skate hire may cost extra, and the Folk Museum charges admission.