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Snowy Christmas market with wooden stalls decorated in lights and garlands. Shoppers browse Nillgaard booth under bare winter trees.

Christmas market shopping in Oslo

Published: 27.05.2026 · Updated: 08.07.2026

In November and December, Oslo is full of Christmas markets. Get into that precious Christmas spirit, drink hot gløgg and secure some unique and personal presents for your friends and family back home. 

Visiting Oslo’s Christmas markets from another country? Nothing's better than to be able to bring back something authentic from Norway or Scandinavia. Make sure to buy local when you’re travelling, and minimise your carbon footprint!  

When do Christmas markets in Oslo start?

Jul i Vinterland, the largest Christmas market in Oslo, opens 7 November 2026, and stays open every day until 3 January (except Christmas Eve, 24 December).

Hadeland Glassverk, a historic glassworks one hour north of Oslo, starts Christmas celebrations in the end of October, with a Christmas market as well as other Christmas-related activities.

Most other Christmas markets take place during weekends in November and December. Check our Christmas Market Calendar to see which Markets are open during your stay in Oslo.

What are the biggest Christmas markets in Oslo?

Jul i Vinterland: by far the largest, the only Christmas Market in central Oslo that stays open all week.

Museum of Cultural History: traditional market at Bygdøy – Oslo’s scenic museum peninsula – where you'll feel that old-timey Christmas feeling.

Hadeland Glassverk: historic glassworks one hour from Oslo that embraces Christmas as early as the end of October.

Bærums verk: a marked celebrating traditional handdicraft at this idyllic village just west of Oslo.

Oslo Supermarked at SALT: quirky and cute handicraft by local creators, and creativity flowing from stand to stand.

Locally made souvenirs

By seeking out locally, or even handmade gifts to take home, you are supporting local businesses and ensuring that your purchases are authentically Scandinavian.

SALT's Christmas market – a quirky favourite 

Oslos Supermarked at SALT, set against the backdrop of Oslo’s waterfront, is a great place to discover handmade products you won’t find in chain stores. 

If you are looking for a special piece of jewellery, wander among the stalls at SALT and check out amazing jewellery made by independent Oslo designers. The selection ranges from minimal and timeless pieces to bold, colourful statement jewellery. Some makers work with traditional materials such as silver, gold and freshwater pearls, while others experiment with more unexpected materials such as porcelain, recycled beads and tagua nut.

SALT's Christmas market is also a great place for handmade ceramics and wooden items. Browse through minimalist tableware, mugs, cups and small sculptural objects inspired by Nordic nature and light. No two are ever exactly alike, and all are made to be used and enjoyed for years.

Wooden items such as serving boards, candle holders and small decorative objects made from Norwegian wood are the perfect way to bring a little piece of Norway home with you.

A jaunt into the past at Norsk Folkemuseum

At Norsk Folkemuseum's Christmas Market, you can browse through over 100 old-fashioned stalls filled with traditional and homemade crafts, Christmas decorations, cakes and other culinary treats.

Woman in traditional Norwegian folk costume stands in rustic cabin with fireplace, woodpile, and person tending fire in background.

In the old authentic buildings scattered around the museum area, you can step into history and see how Norwegians have celebrated Christmas through the years. Friendly guides dressed in traditional costumes can tell you all about Norwegian traditions. You can also visit children’s workshops and enjoy choral music and lively folk dancing.

Glass decorations in Hadeland's winter wonderland

Up for a little Christmas excursion? An hour north of Oslo, Hadeland Glassverk is a dream destination for lovers of traditional Norwegian Christmas and unique decorations. The different shops onsite offer handmade glass ornaments, Norwegian design, local delicacies and unique gifts you won't find anywhere else. The children will be excited to meet a real Norwegian Santa, and be fascinated by the professional glassblowers at work. Why not blow your own Christmas bauble?

Santa Claus figure petting a brown horse in front of a festively lit building with Museum of Glass sign visible.

Some of the most popular items from the glassworks are the little colourful bullfinch figurines, and the cute "Nisse" gnomes. Both are great representatives for the true Norwegian Christmas and winter atmosphere. These are quite small and solid, perfect for your suitcase!

Glass gnomes from Hadeland Glassworks as table decorations
A Christmas bauble is treated with flame.

Handmade and personal at Jul i Vinterland

You will also find several merchants at Jul i Vinterland that sell souvenirs made in Norway. 

At Lines of Norway’s booth, you’ll find handmade gift items such as soaps, candles, postcards, posters, jewellery and much more. These are all made in Norway, and some are even made right here in Oslo! The items are made by creators and small businesses who are passionate about making high-quality products.

Festive holiday market stall with three people browsing handmade crafts, glass domes, and colorful artwork under twinkling lights and decorations.

At Kirkens Bymisjon’s booth, the charitable organisation sells handmade products with a story. Each item has been crafted by a person in a difficult situation who may be struggling with mental health issues, drug addiction and unemployment. Kirkens Bymisjon (Church City Mission) allows them to find a sense of meaning and accomplishment through their craft. The objects are mostly made of surplus materials which would otherwise have gone to waste.

Stall at Christmas market with gift items. Woman and child looking at the goods.

Wear wool!

You will probably see many wool items on display at Oslo’s Christmas markets. The style possibilities are endless – from traditional Norwegian patterns to more colourful fluffy creations. Find your style and invest in your next favourite winter garment.

Although almost all textile production has been moved out of Norway, you may find some handmade items at the city's Christmas markets. Keep this in mind if you think the price is a little steep! These wool garments are of high quality, locally made, and can last you a lifetime if you take proper care of them.

Learn from the experts themselves: Read more about the amazing properties of wool and how to care for your wool garments on Dale of Norway’s website.

You'll find Dale's concept store right outside the Jul i Vinterland market area.

Dale Of Norway Concept Store Oslo

Dale Of Norway Concept Store Oslo

Delicious treats

What is a day at a Christmas market if not an opportunity to enjoy the food stalls on site?

Candied apple in foreground with illuminated carousel and winter carnival scene in background, snow-dusted trees overhead.

At Oslo's Christmas markets, there is a wide variety of food traditions on offer, as Norwegians are big fans of food from all over the world.

The Christmas markets are also an excellent setting for you to discover Norwegian food culture, and Christmas food in particular. How about a juicy moose burger, or a tasty reindeer hot dog?

Norway's version of doughnuts, called "smultringer", are a big hit at Jul i Vinterland. These round treats are very popular around Christmas time. Don't be fooled by their relatively plain appearance compared to their glazed and decorated American counterparts. A warm smultring right out of the fryer is soft and full of flavour!

Display of colorful sausages and spice sets in a shop, with customers' hands selecting products from the counter.
Person examining jar of salmon roe at seafood counter with vacuum-packed salmon fillets and other fish products displayed.

Norwegians are avid coffee drinkers, and you can experience some high quality coffee at SALT's market. Fuglen Coffee Roasters offers some of Oslo’s best specialty coffee, and will host tastings where you can learn and sample different brews. You can also pick up beans from Kaffa, one of Norway’s leading micro-roasteries.

More than just shopping

Christmas markets are so much more than just a place to get Christmas presents. In addition to all the delicious food and drink you can enjoy on site, they provide opportunities to spend quality time with your family and friends doing fun activities or listening to festive Christmas music performed by local choirs.

Child in red jacket riding colorful carousel horse, smiling on ornate merry-go-round with bright lights in outdoor setting.

At SALT, warm up with a mug of gløgg around the outdoor firepits, or make the most of winter in true Oslo style by booking a waterfront sauna session with views of the Oslo Opera House and the fjord. Few Christmas markets in the world can offer a cosy sauna followed by holiday shopping – it’s a uniquely Norwegian winter experience you’ll never forget.

Group in red attire watches performer in black on stage with glowing heaters, inside triangular glass-roofed structure.

At Jul i Vinterland, the Merry-go-round will entertain the children while you enjoy your hot gløgg, and you can all huddle together and enjoy the view of Oslo from the ferris wheel. The helter skelter might seem daunting to some adults, but it's not as scary as it looks, promise!

Colorful helter-skelter slide at Christmas market, decorated with lights. People nearby, festive atmosphere with trees and carousel visible.

Plan your Christmas in Oslo