Christmas in Stockholm: What to do and what’s open, Dec 24–26

Christmas Eve, December 24, is the main day of celebration in Sweden. Most Stockholmers spend it at home, and by mid-afternoon the city center is close to empty. Some museums stay open, the Christmas lights stay on, and by December 26 most of the city is back to normal. This guide covers what each of the three Christmas days means in Sweden, what’s open, and how to plan around it.

That does not mean there is nothing to do, but it does mean you need to plan around reduced opening hours, holiday schedules, and the fact that December 24, 25, and 26 each have a different rhythm. In this guide, we’ll explain what the three Christmas days mean in Sweden, what Stockholm is like during the holidays, and what you can realistically do on each day.

Christmas in Sweden: December 24, 25 and 26

If you remember only one thing about Christmas in Sweden, make it this: Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration. December 24, 25, and 26 are all part of the Christmas holiday, but they have different roles.

Christmas Eve: December 24

Christmas Eve, or Julafton, is the big one. This is when most Swedish families gather, eat Christmas dinner, exchange presents, and spend the day together.

One of the best-known traditions happens at 3 pm, when many families watch Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul, a televised Disney Christmas special that has become a surprisingly enduring part of Swedish Christmas.

If you’re visiting Stockholm, the practical effect is that the city becomes especially quiet on Christmas Eve, particularly later in the day. Many shops, restaurants, museums, and attractions are closed or operate on shortened hours.

Christmas Day: December 25

Christmas Day, or Juldagen, is still a major holiday, but it is generally less central to the celebration than Christmas Eve.

For many people, it is a quieter day spent with family or friends, although the city begins to feel a little more active again as the day goes on. Some restaurants and attractions reopen, and going out in the evening is more common than on Christmas Eve.

Second Day of Christmas: December 26

December 26 is called Annandag jul in Swedish. In English, this is usually known as Boxing Day, although that term is not commonly used in Sweden.

By this point, Stockholm starts to return to something closer to normal. More shops, restaurants, museums, and attractions reopen, although December 26 is still a public holiday, so opening hours can remain reduced.

What is Stockholm like over Christmas?

If you’re visiting Stockholm over Christmas, expect the city to feel noticeably quieter than usual, especially on Christmas Eve. Many locals spend December 24 at home with family or travel elsewhere for the holidays, so streets, shops, restaurants, and public spaces can feel much calmer than they would on a normal day.

Christmas Day is still quiet, but by December 26 the city starts to become more active again. More shops, restaurants, museums, and attractions reopen, although opening hours can still differ from normal.

It’s also worth knowing that Christmas itself feels quite different from the weeks leading up to it. Many of the events visitors associate with Christmas in Stockholm, such as Christmas markets and Lucia concerts, take place earlier in December. By Christmas Eve, the season shifts from public events and shopping toward private celebrations with family and friends. If you’re arriving earlier in the month, our guides to the best Christmas markets in Stockholm and Lucia concerts in Stockholm cover more of what happens before the main holiday.

The festive atmosphere does not disappear, though. Christmas lights and decorations remain around the city, and walking through central Stockholm can still be a good way to spend part of the day when many attractions are closed. If that sounds appealing, see our guide to the best places to see Christmas lights in Stockholm.

Finally, plan around the short winter days. In late December, daylight is limited, so it makes sense to save outdoor sightseeing for earlier in the day. 

What to do on Christmas Eve in Stockholm (Dec 24)

Christmas Eve is the quietest of the three Christmas days in Stockholm, so this is not the best day to plan a packed sightseeing itinerary. Instead, it makes sense to choose one or two places that you know are open, leave some time for a walk, and have a plan for where you’re going to eat.

Visit a museum or attraction that is open

Two of the most reliable options are on Djurgården.

The Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet) is open every day, including Christmas Eve. In 2026, it is open from 10 am to 5 pm on December 24, and the museum is decorated for Christmas, including a large Christmas tree in the Grand Hall.

Nearby, Skansen is also open on Christmas Eve, although with shorter hours. In 2026, it is open from 10 am to 2 pm. If you want to learn more before visiting, see our Skansen visitor guide.

One thing to keep in mind is that Skansen’s Christmas market has already finished by Christmas Eve. In 2026, the final market day is December 20.

Take a walk through the Christmas lights

Once museums and shops begin to close, walking is one of the easiest ways to continue exploring Stockholm.

Gamla Stan, Skeppsbron, Kungsträdgården, and the central parts of Norrmalm are all easy areas to combine on foot, and the Christmas decorations remain even after most seasonal events have finished.

The streets can be unusually quiet on Christmas Eve, particularly later in the afternoon. Whether you see that as atmospheric or simply a little too quiet will depend on what kind of trip you enjoy, but it does give you a rather different view of central Stockholm from a normal sightseeing day.

For specific routes and displays, see our guide to the best places to see Christmas lights in Stockholm.

Attend a Christmas service or concert

Another option is to visit one of Stockholm’s churches. Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Gamla Stan usually has a Christmas Eve program.

Other churches may also hold services or concerts, so it is worth checking their current Christmas programs if this interests you. Some concerts require tickets, while church services generally have different arrangements.

Have a Swedish Christmas meal

If you want to try traditional Swedish Christmas food, a julbord (a Swedish Christmas buffet) is the obvious choice. The buffet typically includes dishes such as pickled herring, Christmas ham, meatballs, and Jansson’s temptation, and many Stockholm restaurants serve julbord from late November until Christmas. Many also offer vegetarian options.

Christmas Eve itself is a little different, however. Many restaurants that serve julbord earlier in December close for the holiday, while others offer special Christmas Eve sittings. If eating out on December 24 matters to you, book ahead rather than assuming you will find somewhere on the day.

For more background on the food itself, see Swedish Christmas food: A simple guide to the Julbord. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, our guide to the best Julbord in Stockholm has more options.

Plan your food in advance

Even if you are not interested in a traditional Christmas dinner, it is worth deciding how you are going to eat before Christmas Eve arrives. Many cafés, restaurants, and shops close early or remain closed for the day, so your choices can become limited later in the afternoon.

If you have a kitchen at your accommodation, buying food beforehand gives you an easy fallback. Otherwise, reserve a restaurant or check its Christmas Eve opening hours in advance.

What to do on Christmas Day in Stockholm (Dec 25)

Christmas Day is still a quiet day in Stockholm, but you generally have a little more choice than on Christmas Eve. Some attractions remain closed, while others reopen or continue operating with holiday hours, and the city gradually starts to feel more active as the day goes on.

Visit Skansen or the Nordic Museum

If you want to spend part of the day sightseeing, Djurgården is again one of the safest areas to head for.

Skansen is open from 10 am to 4 pm on Christmas Day in 2026. The Christmas market has finished by this point, but the open-air museum remains open throughout the Christmas school holiday.

The nearby Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet) is also open on December 25, from 10 am to 5 pm. Its Christmas school holiday program runs throughout the period, including Christmas Day.

If you are traveling with children, both are particularly useful options because you can spend several hours in one place rather than trying to piece together a day from attractions with different holiday schedules.

Go for a winter walk

Christmas Day can also be a good time to explore Stockholm on foot. Djurgården, Skeppsholmen, Gamla Stan, and the waterfront around central Stockholm all work well for a winter walk, and you do not have to worry about opening hours.

The streets may still be quieter than usual, especially earlier in the day, but this can also make some of the central areas feel quite different from a normal sightseeing day. If the weather is good, you could combine a walk with one of the museums on Djurgården and make that the main activity for the day.

Go ice skating in Kungsträdgården

Another possible Christmas Day activity is ice skating in Kungsträdgården, right in the city center. The park normally has a public outdoor rink during the winter season, and skating there has become a regular part of winter in central Stockholm.

The dates and opening hours for the 2026/27 season have not yet been announced, so check the current schedule before making plans around it. If the rink is open over Christmas, it can be a useful option on a day when many indoor attractions have limited hours.

Eat out or go for a drink later in the day

Finding somewhere to eat is usually easier on Christmas Day than on Christmas Eve, but it is still worth checking opening hours before you go. Some restaurants remain closed for the holiday, while others reopen for lunch or dinner.

The evening is also when Stockholm starts to feel more social again. Some locals go out to meet friends after spending Christmas Eve with family, and more bars and restaurants tend to be open than the night before. If you have a particular place in mind, though, check its Christmas Day hours rather than assuming it will be operating normally.

Keep the day flexible

Christmas Day is best approached as a slower sightseeing day. Skip the long list of attractions. Pick one museum, walk past the Christmas windows at NK on Hamngatan, and find a café that’s open for a long fika.

If you’re staying in Stockholm for several days, you can save many of the major attractions that are still closed for December 26 or later.

What to do on Annan dag jul in Stockholm (Dec 26)

Annan Dag Jul, December 26, Stockholm starts to feel much more like a normal sightseeing day again. It is still a public holiday, so some places keep reduced hours or remain closed, but many museums, shops, restaurants, and cafés reopen.

Visit one of the museums that has reopened

This is a good day to catch up on attractions that were closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Vasa Museum is open again on December 26 after closing on December 24 and 25. Its regular winter hours are 10 am to 5 pm.

The Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet) also reopens on Boxing Day. In 2026, it is open from 10 am to 6 pm on December 26.

Skansen continues its Christmas school holiday schedule from 10 am to 4 pm, while the Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet) is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

With more museums open, you no longer need to build the whole day around the handful of attractions operating on December 24 and 25. If this is your first visit and you are deciding what to prioritize, our guide to the **top 10 must-see attractions in Stockholm** can help narrow down the options.

Go shopping during the post-Christmas sales

Boxing Day also marks the beginning of the period Swedes call mellandagarna, the days between Christmas and New Year. Traditionally, this is when the post-Christmas sales, or mellandagsrea, get underway.

If you want to shop, December 26 is a much better day for it than Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Department stores, shopping centers, and many central shops reopen, although individual holiday hours can still vary.

For a broader overview of where to shop, see our guide to the best shopping streets and markets in Stockholm.

Enjoy a more flexible day

You will generally have more freedom on December 26 when it comes to cafés and restaurants as well. Some smaller businesses may still be taking a Christmas break, but you are much less dependent on the small number of places specifically staying open for the holiday.

That also makes Boxing Day a good time to return to a more typical Stockholm itinerary: visit a museum, stop for fika or lunch, walk between neighborhoods, and have dinner without needing to plan every part of the day around Christmas closures.

Boxing Day is still a public holiday, though, so check opening hours before setting out, particularly if there is one specific museum, shop, or restaurant you do not want to miss.

Museums and attractions open over Christmas

If you want to plan your sightseeing around the holidays, the table below gives a quick overview of opening hours for several major Stockholm attractions during Christmas 2026.

Holiday hours can change, so it is still a good idea to check the attraction’s official website shortly before you visit.

Museum or attraction	Dec 24	Dec 25	Dec 26
Skansen	10 am–2 pm	10 am–4 pm	10 am–4 pm
Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet)	10 am–5 pm	10 am–5 pm	10 am–5 pm
Vasa Museum	Closed	Closed	10 am–5 pm
Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet)	Closed	Closed	10 am–6 pm
Swedish History Museum (Historiska museet)	Closed	Closed	11 am–5 pm
Economy Museum (Ekonomiska museet)	Closed	Closed	11 am–5 pm

As the table shows, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day give you a limited selection of museums, with Skansen and the Nordic Museum standing out as two of the most dependable options. By December 26, considerably more of Stockholm’s regular sightseeing offer is available again.

Eating out over Christmas

If food is an important part of your Christmas plans, this is one area where a little preparation pays off.

A traditional julbord is the classic Swedish Christmas meal: a large buffet with dishes such as pickled herring, Christmas ham, meatballs, sausages, salmon, and Jansson’s temptation. Many restaurants in Stockholm serve julbord throughout December, often from late November until just before Christmas.

That does not necessarily mean they serve it on Christmas Eve, though. Many restaurants close on December 24, including some that have been serving julbord throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas. Others offer special Christmas Eve sittings, fixed menus, or hotel-based Christmas dinners instead.

If you specifically want to eat out on Christmas Eve, book ahead and make sure the restaurant is actually open on December 24. Christmas Day usually gives you a few more options, and by Boxing Day considerably more restaurants and cafés have reopened, although holiday hours can still vary.

Hotel restaurants are often worth checking during the holidays, particularly on Christmas Eve, as some continue serving guests when many independent restaurants are closed.

If you do not have a reservation, it is a good idea to have a backup plan. Buying groceries or prepared food before Christmas Eve can save you from having to search for an open restaurant later in the day, especially if your accommodation has a kitchen or somewhere comfortable to eat.

For more on what you will find on the table, see our guide to Swedish Christmas food: A simple guide to the Julbord. If you are looking for somewhere to book, see Best Julbord in Stockholm: Where to enjoy a Swedish Christmas buffet.

Practical tips for visiting Stockholm over Christmas

A little planning goes a long way if you’re in Stockholm from December 24 to 26. The city still works, but holiday opening hours and winter conditions can make spontaneous plans harder than usual.

Check opening hours before you head out

Christmas schedules can differ quite a bit from normal ones, and even places that usually open every day may shorten their hours. Check the official website of any museum, attraction, restaurant, or shop you specifically want to visit before setting out.

Buy essentials before Christmas Eve

If you need groceries, medicine, snacks, or anything else important, it is safer to buy them before December 24. Some shops remain open for part of Christmas Eve, but many close early, and your options become more limited later in the day. Systembolaget, Sweden’s government-owned alcohol mono­poly retailer, is closed on December 24, 25 and 26, so be sure to buy any alcoholic beverages in advance.

Check public transport before you travel

Stockholm’s public transport continues to run over Christmas, but holiday timetables can differ from regular weekday service. If you have somewhere specific to be, especially later in the day, check current departures in the SL app or on the SL website rather than relying on your usual route or timetable.

Make the most of the daylight

Late December brings very short days, so plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and early afternoon when possible. Once it gets dark, activities such as Christmas-light walks, museums, restaurants, and indoor attractions become more practical.

Dress for winter, not just for snow

You may get snow, but you may also get rain, slush, wind, or icy sidewalks. Warm layers, waterproof footwear, and good grip are more useful than dressing for a picture-perfect white Christmas.

Stockholm is also largely cashless, so you can usually manage with a card or contactless payment. If you want more detail, see our guide to Paying in Stockholm: Do You Need Cash?

Is Christmas a good time to visit Stockholm?

Christmas can be a good time to visit Stockholm, but it depends on what kind of trip you want.

If you like a slower pace, winter walks, Christmas lights, seasonal food, and seeing the city during one of its most important holidays, the period around December 24–26 can be rewarding. You will also find that some parts of the city feel unusually calm, especially on Christmas Eve.

On the other hand, if your priority is to fit in as many museums, restaurants, shops, and attractions as possible, Christmas is a less convenient time to visit. You need to plan more carefully around closures, reduced opening hours, short daylight, and winter weather.

Christmas in Stockholm works best if you are happy to adapt to the holiday rather than trying to treat it like a normal sightseeing trip. If that sounds like your kind of visit, you can still have a full and memorable few days in the city, just at a different pace than usual.

God jul!