What to do in Stockholm in winter đꧦ Best Christmas markets, unique drinks and food to try

Glögg

Version of mulled wine, usually spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and orange peel. Often served with raisins and almonds on the side.

Julmust

A sweet, dark soft drink — a cross between root beer and cola. Swedes drink more of this than Coke during December.

Food

Gravad lax

Cured salmon with dill and sugar-salt rub, usually thinly sliced and served cold with sweet mustard sauce (hovmästarsås).

Griljerad julskinka

Traditional Swedish Christmas ham, baked and topped with mustard and breadcrumbs. Usually part of a bigger Christmas buffet but can show up at market food stalls too.

Julkorv

A thick, lightly spiced pork sausage that’s boiled or fried and often served with potatoes and mustard. A hearty, traditional dish you’ll spot at Christmas tables and sometimes at market stalls.

Kalops

A slow-cooked beef stew with allspice, onions, and bay leaves. Served with boiled potatoes and pickled beets.

Sweet treats

Pepparkakor

Thin, crispy gingerbread cookies — you’ll see them everywhere during Christmas.

Knäck

Tiny Swedish toffee candies made from cream, sugar, and syrup. Super sticky and super nostalgic.

Chokladbollar

Chocolate oat balls rolled in coconut or pearl sugar. Not strictly Christmas-only, but they’re a cozy winter treat.

Risgrynsgröt

Rice porridge served with cinnamon and sugar, sometimes with a hidden almond — whoever gets it wins a “mystical” prize or good luck.

Polkagris

Traditional red-and-white peppermint candy, often handmade and sold fresh at markets in stick or twist form.

Brända mandlar

Roasted almonds coated in crispy caramelized sugar — sweet, warm, and sold in paper cones just like in Germany.

Christmas markets

Skansen Christmas Market

A Stockholm classic. Inside the open-air museum with stalls selling crafts, food, and old-school holiday vibes. Great for families.

Gamla Stan Market

In the heart of Old Town — cobbled streets, red wooden stalls, and that real postcard-perfect holiday feeling.

Kungsträdgården Market

Small but charming, right in central Stockholm. Bonus: ice skating rink nearby.

Drottningholm Christmas Fair

Held at the royal palace grounds, offering Swedish design, food, and seasonal decor with a royal backdrop.

Bondens Egen Julmarknad (Farmers’ Christmas Market)

Local and eco-friendly focus, with small producers selling cheese, jam, bread, and handmade goods.

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