I'm looking at travelling to either Sweden or Denmark during the week between Christmas and New Years. I realize it will be cold, but will this be a bonkers idea? I will be my first trip to either country and I want to be able to see as many of the sights as possible. From watching Rick Steves' Stockholm episode, it seems like there are many outdoor activities in Stockholm and Copenhagen. Will these all be shut down in December? Will many other attractions be shut down because there are less tourists at this time of year?
Which city would have the least amount of shut-down?
Posted by
Chicago
7836 posts
You should look up each specific attraction that you saw in the video that you plan to go see for the hours and you can organize the trip around that. Or if you can not find that information list a specific attraction and someone here may know if it is closed when you are planning to go. I was in Stockholm around the same time 2016 and I did not notice a lot of things shut down. I remember seeing an ice skating rink outside full of people.
Posted by
Copenhagen, Denmark
971 posts
Regarding the temperature, for Copenhagen expect between -5 and +5 celsius. It could rain, be sunny or snow, but a white christmas is no guarantee. However do note that there will not be many daylight hours.
On dec 24-26th many things will be closed and people will generally spend most of the time with their families at home, so the city will be pretty quiet. Outside the official holidays everything, such as museums and attractions, will be open as normal.
Tivoli has a christmas market that is open until Dec. 31th.
I don't think there is a difference between which city is more shut down, because really none of them are. People do live here all year round and christmas is a holiday for us as well, so there will be a lot of activities that are on in this time of year.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks Jazz. That was fast. I'm planning on getting a book this weekend. For now, I was epically interested in Skansen
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank-you Morten. I went to Ireland a few years back, and kept reading that certain sites were closed or had reduced hours after mid-September. This is what made me even think about the issue. However, these sights weren't in capital cities, which may make a big difference. Either way, these two places are not the same country, so thank-you for letting me know this isn't as big of a concern as I thought.
You did say that Dec 24-26 will have many closures, which makes sense. But you also mentioned the Christmas market in Trivoli. Will Trivoli be up and running with the market as an addition? Or will it be converted into the market?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32745 posts
A quick run to the interwebs gives this webpage for what is open at skansen, and prices, for Christmas Day (all other day's information available at the click of a date on the calendar):= http://www.skansen.se/en/%C3%B6ppetider-priser?date=2017-12-25
Posted by
Copenhagen, Denmark
971 posts
Tivoli only has the christmas market open, the usual rides will be closed.
Posted by
Glostrup, Denmark
1322 posts
Add on to Morten: http://www.tivoligardens.com/en/saesoner/jul:
The gardens are open on New Year's Eve from 11.00 to 00.30, and all the Christmas market stalls and rides are open.
Note that in Denmark "11.00" will always be in the morning ("AM") - 11 PM would be "23.00"
Posted by
Copenhagen, Denmark
971 posts
I did’nt know the rides in Tivoli were open for new years. Going for a ride in the 80m tall ‘Himmelskibet’ in the cold and rain sounds like torture to me.