Five Christmas markets in Eastern Norway you can visit with Vy
As winter creeps in, the magical festive season comes alive — with twinkling lights, cosy scents, and traditions in towns and villages. With Vy, getting to some of Eastern Norway’s most charming Christmas markets is easy. Here are five worth the trip, and how to get there.
1. Christmas fair at the Norwegian museum of cultural history, Oslo
This traditional market turns the open-air museum into a festive wonderland with decorated houses, the smell of Christmas food, craft stalls, and cultural activities. Perfect if you’re after a nostalgic, authentic Christmas vibe.
Families will love meeting farm animals, joining Christmas workshops and taking a horse-and-carriage ride. Around the museum park you will encounter stories about Christmas celebrations through different eras.
Here you can shop for quality Christmas gifts while also getting a cultural boost. Just hop on bus 30 towards Bygdøy from Jernbanetorget/Oslo S.
Pleasant Christmas atmosphere at the Norwegian museum of cultural history. Photo: Fara Mohri/VisitOSLO
2. Christmas market at Hadeland Glassverk
A classic, cosy market with real craftsmanship, glassblowing, Christmas decorations, design pieces, and local food. Blow your own bauble, meet Father Christmas, or take a sleigh ride. Shops and cafés make it a perfect family outing.
Getting there: Vy bus VY66 runs directly from Oslo Bus Terminal to Hadeland Glassverk on two weekends.
3. Oslo’s Supermarket at SALT in Oslo
This is not your typical Christmas market! SALT hosts an untraditional, curated design and culture market with 80 artists and makers. Find this year’s Christmas gifts of ceramics, hot sauce, illustrations, and unique jewellery. Plus, you can take in concerts, workshops, choirs, and yes… saunas!
To get there, take the train to Oslo S and stroll 7 minutes along Langkaia with views of the Opera House. Alternatively you can take Vy express bus to Oslo Bus Terminal, change to Oslo's local buses, Ruter, and take 37 Nydalen T from Oslo Bus Terminal platform B11 to Kvadraturen and walk 7 minutes.
At SALT you will find a slightly untraditional Christmas market.
4. Christmas marked in the Old town, Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad’s Old Town is like stepping straight into a Christmas postcard – cobbled streets, historic buildings, and stalls packed with handmade crafts, art, jewellery, and festive decorations. The market has a warm, traditional feel, with carols, theatre shows, Christmas workshops, animals, and visits from Father Christmas that bring real festive magic. It’s perfect if you fancy combining a bit of history with Christmas shopping and cosy vibes.
Hop on the RE20 train to Fredrikstad Station, then walk to Cicignon ferry quay and take the free ferry across to the Old Town. Or catch a local bus straight into Gamlebyen. You can also take the Vy express VY6 bus to Fredrikstad Bus Terminal and switch to a local bus from there.
The old town of Fredrikstad will charm you with its traditional Christmas atmosphere.
5. Christmas in Oslo’s Winter wonderland, Oslo Spikersuppa
Jul i Vinterland is Oslo's most iconic Christmas market, located in the middle of the city in Spikersuppa. Here you can experience a great mix of pre-Christmas fun: ice skating rink, Ferris wheel, carousels, mulled wine house, food and sales stalls with crafts and Christmas goods.
Take the train or bus to Oslo S or bus to Oslo bus terminal. It's not a long walk to Spikersuppa, but you can also buy a Ruter ticket in the Vy app and take a tram or a scheduled bus to the National Theatre.
Christmas markets abroad
Take the train out of the country and discover the Scandinavian Christmas spirit in several Swedish cities. Here are our recommendations.
Stockholm
Gamla stans julmarknad (until 23 Dec) and Skansens julmarknad (until 21 Dec) offer a traditional, Swedish Christmas spirit, with handicrafts, baked goods, folk costumes and Nordic Christmas in all its glory. We run trains to Stockholm every Saturday and Sunday.
Gothenburg
