Oslo is a true winter wonderland in the lead up to Christmas with sparkling lights illuminating the dark streets and possibility for a bit of snow if you are lucky. We spent two days in Oslo exploring the best Christmas markets and everything the city has to offer in winter. From sitting in a holly and ivy-covered tent in Spikersuppa drinking warm gløgg and watching the ice skaters to making our own candles at the Norwegian Folk Museum – Christmas time in Oslo was a truly a dream experience. In this guide you will find everything you need to know about visiting the best Christmas markets in Oslo in 2024.
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The Best Christmas Markets in Oslo
Julmarknad i Spikersuppa
The Christmas market in Spikersuppa is the main Christmas market in Olso, centrally located on Karl Johans Gata. Otherwise known as Jul I Vinterland (Christmas in Winterland), this market is one of the main attractions in Oslo during the winter. This area of the city comes to life as market stalls line the edges of the park and locals flock to the Spikersuppa ice skating rink in the evenings. Being so central, it can get really busy here, especially as you get closer to Christmas. If you want a quieter experience, I would recommend visiting in the morning, just as the market opens.
Find all the details here.
Opening times: 9th November – 31st December
Location: Karl Johans Gata
The Norwegian Folk Museum Christmas Market
Imagine wondering amongst farm animals and historic wooden buildings, sipping on hot chocolate and browsing beautiful home-made products along the way. This is exactly what you can expect from the Christmas market at the Norwegian Folk Museum just outside of Oslo city centre. Alongside the stalls, there is the opportunity to dip your own candles, take a ride in the horse and carriage, and visit a traditional Norwegian stave church.
If you are planning to visit Oslo for the weekend and can’t decide when then it should definitely be one of the weekends that the Norwegian Folk Museum have their Christmas market. I recommend spending a few hours here – we arrived at around 12.30 and found we had just enough time to walk around the market and the museum before closing.
You can find all the details on this page.
Opening times: 30th – 1st December, 7th – 8th December, open 11 – 17
Location: Norsk Folkemuseum, Museumsveien 10
SALT Christmas Market
At SALT you will find the more contemporary style of Christmas market, with beautiful prints, handmade ceramics and other beautiful arts and crafts. SALT itself is a sauna complex with a restaurant and bar so this is a great stop to make around lunch time – combining the Christmas market with some delicious food from the bar (or with a sauna?). This year the christmas market runs over three different weekends!
You can find all the details on this page.
Opening times: 31st November – 1st December, 7 – 8 December, 14 – 15 December. Open 11 – 16.
Location: SALT, Langkaia 1.
Jul på Bærums Verk
The traditional Christmas market that runs at Bærums Verk is considered one of the most charming markets in the Oslo region. Here you will find market stalls selling traditional Norwegian crafts and delicacies, as well as some Christmas themed activities. Try glass blowing or take a ride on the horse and carriage through the village. Find all the information you need on this page!
This Christmas market is a little further outside Oslo so if you are planning to be in the city for a weekend and also want to see some of the other attractions the city has to offer it is good to consider this.
Opening times: 23rd November – 22nd December. Tuesdays and Thursdays 14 – 18, Saturdays 10 – 18, and Sundays 12 – 18.
Location: Bærums Verk
Other things to do in Oslo
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Oslo have good Christmas markets?
Oslo has some great Christmas markets that are definitely worth visiting if you want to experience the magic of a dark Scandinavian winter. They are incredibly cosy, whether you are sat drinking gløgg, wandering around the market stalls or watching the reindeer grazing nearby.
When is the best time to visit the Christmas markets in Oslo?
Not all the Christmas markets in Oslo are open throughout the season. Therefore, if you want to visit the most of them, I would recommend visiting between the 9th and 10th of December. This way, the Norwegian Folkmuseum, Bærums Verk, and Spikersuppa will all be open.
Mrs L K Hudson says
Thank you for the info. I’m doing a crazy day trip to Oslo just for the markets!
katiesaway says
Amazing! Hope you enjoy it!