Christmas Markets & Winter Adventures in Sweden & Norway - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Gothenburg (Sweden), Visit the Liseberg & Haga Christmas Markets

Welcome to Sweden! Touch down in Gothenburg, the country's second city, which dates back to the 17th-century Dutch colonial period. As well as featuring a famous seaport, Gothenburg is home to a network of peaceful canals, sweeping boulevards, and squares lined with neoclassical architecture. Pick up your rental car and check into your hotel before heading out to experience the city's Christmas markets.

Start with Liseberg, Sweden's biggest Christmas market, which draws around half a million visitors annually. The amusement park offers an array of thrilling rides and festival stalls and is decorated with five million lights powered by a wind turbine. Enjoy a captivating ice-skating show and Swedish food, and say hello to Santa Claus in his workshop. 

Next, continue to the Haga Christmas market, which features spruce decorations, live music, and horseback rides along the cobblestoned streets. Finally, don't miss the Kronhuset market, where you can savor Swedish glögg (mulled wine) and shop for traditional gifts made by Swedish craftspeople. Kronhuset is set in one of the city's oldest buildings, providing an atmospheric backdrop to the festivities.

Day 2: Drive to Falkenberg, Vineyard Day Spa & Wine Tasting

This morning, drive an hour down the coast to the historic town of Falkenberg. Fringed with golden sands and a rugged coastal path, the city is famed for its medieval Falkenberg Fortress. Come to experience the renowned Ästad Vingård Day Spa, set on a sprawling vineyard 30 minutes north of town. Here, you'll choose various decadent treatments, from a grape-inspired facial scrub to a deep-tissue massage or rejuvenating seaweed bath. 

After your pamper session, head to the tasting room to sample the vineyard's fine wines, sipping a range of rich reds, crisp whites, and bubbly accompanied by a cheese plate or some artisan chocolates. Drive to your hotel in Falkenberg, where you can have dinner in one of the lively restaurants, feasting on fresh seafood and delicious regional pastries. 

Day 3: Drive to Vetlanda via Halmstad & Växjö, Huseby Bruk Christmas Market

Continue your road trip today, driving 40 minutes south to Halmstad. Beaches and forests surround this seaside mecca, and its castle and Old Town date back to the early 1600s when Halmstad was under the rule of King Christian IV of Denmark. Spend a little time here before heading east toward the eco-friendly city of Växjö, which is powered entirely by renewable energy. 

En route, visit the Huseby Bruk Christmas market, the largest in the Nordic region with over 170 stalls. Wander around the 19th-century estate dotted with 200 illuminated Christmas trees, 500 candles, and countless twinkling lights. Browse stalls selling handmade crafts, from candles to woodwork and woven baskets, sampling festive food such as lingonberry bread, marzipan, and brännvinsost (brandy cheese). Afterward, drive 1.5 hours north to your hotel in Vetlanda.

Day 4: Cinnamon Bun Baking Class, Drive to Stockholm, SkyView Experience

Spend this morning in a farmhouse kitchen, learning to make iconic Swedish cinnamon buns from scratch. You'll be guided by the expert baker Chatrine, who'll teach you step-by-step how to make these tasty treats. While your buns are baking in the oven, Chatrine will give you a tour of her 500-year-old farm. Finish by eating your buns warm out of the oven, accompanied by traditional Swedish coffee brewed in a pan. You'll leave with a bag of buns, an apron, and the treasured recipe. 

Next, drive four hours north to Sweden's capital, Stockholm. Settle into your hotel and then explore the country's innovative metropolis. The tolerant, tech-forward city is known for its Pride Festival and creative startups like Spotify. Spread across an archipelago of 14 islands connected by 57 bridges that stretch over Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, it's easy to see why Stockholm is nicknamed the "Venice of the North."

End the day by soaring above Stockholm's skyline on the SkyView, a state-of-the-art glass gondola offering panoramic views of one of the city's signature structures, the Ericsson Globe, Europe's largest spherical building. The SkyView takes you along the curvature of the globe on a 20-minute journey, providing views of Gamla Stan (Old Town) and blue waterways that surround the city's islands. 

Day 5: Explore Stockholm's Attractions & Christmas Markets

Explore Stockholm at your own pace this morning. Consider hopping on a ferry to discover various districts, from laid-back Södermalm to the vibrant Norrmalm downtown and Gamla Stan, a medieval wonder of cobbled streets and colorful buildings. Tour landmarks like the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace), 13th-century Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral), and Vasa Museum. You can also visit the Art Nouveau palace, Centralbadet, now a spa-like center with Roman baths and saunas. 

At this time of year, the capital is filled with buzzing Christmas markets. One of the best is in the Old Town, where Stortorget (The Grand Square) is adorned with stalls selling everything from handmade ornaments to gingerbread and meatballs. Meanwhile, the market at Kungsträdgården city park hosts live choirs and musicians.

Continue to Skansen's Christmas market, a museum and zoo on Djurgården Island. This market will transport you back in time with its cultural performances and wooden stalls where artisans create intricate gifts. Join locals around the giant Christmas tree to sing carols. 

End the day with an optional performance at the Royal Swedish Opera House, which has served as the city's cultural heart since 1782. Considered one of the best examples of neoclassical architecture in Scandinavia, the building is filled with chandeliers and decorated with ornate ceiling frescoes and a marble staircase. Take a seat to watch a play, opera, ballet, or concert in this landmark building. 

Day 6: Stockholm Archipelago Tour & Steninge Castle Christmas Market

This morning, you'll set sail on a charming Edwardian-era boat, the restored MS Östanå I, to sail around the Stockholm archipelago. Soak up views of Stockholm's islands while your guide points out famous landmarks and shares stories about the city. Extend your trip by booking an additional lunch on board so you can dine with views of Stockholm's watery landscapes. 

This afternoon, drive one hour north to the 18th-century Steninge Castle, which hosts a popular Christmas market. Wander snow-topped gardens around the castle, illuminated by colorful fairy lights. Stalls overflow with toys, gifts, and treats, with the smell of roasted chestnuts and spiced mulled wine filling the air. Listen to choirs of carol singers and say hello to Santa. 

Day 7: Train to Oslo (Norway), Oslofjord Electric Boat Dinner Cruise

Say goodbye to Sweden today, dropping off your rental car and boarding a train for the 5.5-hour journey to Oslo in Norway. This compact capital lies on the shores of sparkling Oslofjord and is known for its stellar museums that display everything from Viking ships to ski history. Check into your hotel and then get orientated with a stroll along Karl Johans Gate, the main thoroughfare, all the way to the Royal Palace.

This evening, you'll enjoy a scenic dinner cruise on Oslofjord. Board an electric boat for the trip, spotting lighthouses like Dyna Fir and admiring the skyscraper-studded Oslo skyline as the lights twinkle after dark. You'll feast on a three-course meal of Norwegian cuisine sourced from local producers as you sail.

Day 8: Oslo Christmas Markets & Aquavit Tasting Tour

Spend the day immersing yourself in Oslo's thriving Christmas markets. Stroll down Karl Johans Gate, where stalls brim with gifts and aromatic spices fill the air. Continue to Spikersuppa Square for the popular Jul i Vinterland (Christmas in Winterland) festival, with its ice-skating rink, merry-go-round, and stalls. At the center, there's a giant Christmas tree adorned with glittering lights. 

For your last market, head to Oslo's modern waterfront, Aker Brygge, which is lined with contemporary stalls set against a background of the fjord. End the day with a tasting tour, where you'll sample the cognac-like Norwegian drink, aquavit, and discover how it's brewed and its role in Norwegian culture. You'll visit some of Oslo's finest bars and restaurants along the way, trying local foods alongside various versions of aquavit. 

Day 9: Free Day in Oslo: Museums & Outdoor Adventures

Today is yours to spend as you please. Wander Oslo as you please, perhaps picking up some last-minute gifts at the Christmas markets. If you want some culture, visit one of the city's museums, such as the Nobel Peace Center or the 13-story Munch Museum. You could also step aboard the strongest wooden ship ever built at the Fram Museum, learning how the crew managed to survive in the Arctic and Antarctic, or peruse the Open-Air Museum at Bygdøy, which features 160 buildings from rural Norway, dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. 

For a slice of winter wonderland scenery, escape the city on a tour of Oslo's surrounding forests and hills. You can choose from snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and even ice-bathing experiences. Afterward, enjoy a final evening in Oslo, dining at a cozy restaurant and sipping mulled wine or cider at a Christmas market stall while listening to festive choirs. 

Day 10: Depart Oslo

Today, your winter Scandinavian adventure comes to an end. A driver will transfer you to the airport in time for your homebound flight. Safe travels!

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