This winter we had a tour of Stockholm-area Christmas markets. Some are touristy classics like the crushing crowds in old town, some are more niche like the Handmade markets at Winterviken and Hågelby. Winner of ‘most niche’ was the ‘Conscious Christmas Market’ pictured above: easily the most stylish with the promised organic and second hand things, and also a lot of crystals, some kind of electric ‘healing blanket’, and rather a lot more Turtle Island Indigenous appropriation than I was ready for.
The first market we went to was the last week n November, and I think it was my favourite: the so-big-it-is-in-3-buildings Christmas Market at Hågelby Park/Estate. The crowds were not too big, and there was both heated indoor fancy-crafts and unheated stone barn items ranging from farmers market stands, sheepskins, knitted and felt items, wooden goods, and baskets.
The first Saturday in December we took the train into the city to see some city markets. Saturday we went to Winterviken, a neighbourhood centred around an old converted factory and the perfect name for a Christmas Market! A converted brick building hosted the market, and we also had a nice lunch at the café. Before taking the train we stopped in at our local Tullinge Christmas market. It had more of a ‘carnie’ feel, since the huts and many of the vendors travel around to different markets all season, a different little town each day. Still, it was nice to see Tullinge plaza filled with nieghbours and activity.
Winterviken converted factory 
The lovely cathedral-like interior with craft vendors 
The Tullinge town square 
Tullinge Christmas market bustles as Graham looks on. In the distance you can see a neighbour with an adorable chow dog who was the star of the Christmas market 
Tegnérs really brings it with a whole bunch of Xmas-themed treats
The first Sunday in December (Första Advent!) we went into the city again to check out the Conscious Christmas market. Glad to see it, but it wasn’t really our speed so we walked through old town for a vibe check on old town Christmas market. Stockholm was snowy and scenic, and the 14:30 sunset really showed the Christmas lights off to advantage.
We took second-advent weekend off Christmas markets and then came back full throttle on third advent to go to Skansen, which is bigger and more spacious than old town, but even with the 400kr entrance fee there were many MANY people there.
Mini-Julbok! 
Cheese seller at the Skansen market 
Roving choirs singing throughout the park 
In one of the old farm houses there was a fiddle duo playing and singing traditional Swedish songs. 
The museum houses were set up for Christmas dinner. This one from 1850 had bread and ham and sausage 
Outside the snowy heritage houses
Next year I plan to take it a bit easier on the Christmas markets. I would like to go the the relatively chill and cozy Hågelby one, not least because the earlier date means items bought here can realistically get to Canada before Christmas.