DenmarkZealandChristmas marketsChecked Oct 2026

Edinburgh to Copenhagen Christmas Markets

Copenhagen at Christmas means Tivoli Gardens lit up with thousands of lights, mulled wine by the Nyhavn canal and an easy hop over the bridge to Sweden. This guide covers direct flights from Edinburgh, the airport metro, 2026 market dates and the best day trips.

13 Nov – 3 JanChristmas in Tivoli 2026/27
Copenhagen (CPH)Direct from Edinburgh
~4h 30mDoor to door, Edinburgh to central Copenhagen

The short answer

Fly direct from Edinburgh to Copenhagen (about 1h 50m–2h) with Ryanair, Norwegian, SAS or easyJet. At the airport, take the M2 metro to Kongens Nytorv (about 14 minutes) for Nyhavn, or the train to Copenhagen Central (about 15 minutes), which is right opposite Tivoli.

Market essentials

Tivoli Gardens is the headline act, with smaller markets around the old centre.

Dates

Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is closed on Christmas Eve. Nyhavn's market usually runs from November until just before Christmas. Check each market's site before you book, as dates and hours can change.

Opening hours

Tivoli usually opens around 11:00 and stays open late, until about 23:00, or midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Check Tivoli's opening hours page for your dates. Nyhavn's stalls usually open from about 10:00 until early evening.

Where

Tivoli is opposite Copenhagen Central Station. Nyhavn's stalls line the canal near Kongens Nytorv metro station, a 20–25 minute walk across the centre from Tivoli.

Højbro Plads in 2026

The German-style market on Højbro Plads has been a favourite in recent years, but one guide updated in September 2026 reports it won't return this year, with a shorter market planned in front of the City Hall on Rådhuspladsen from about 11 to 20 December. Check locally before planning around it.

Good to know

Tivoli charges for entry (rides cost extra), so buy tickets online in advance. Denmark uses the krone (DKK) and cards are accepted almost everywhere. It gets dark before 4pm in December, which is when Tivoli's lights look best.

Every way to get there

From Edinburgh to Copenhagen, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

1

Fly Edinburgh to Copenhagen, then the metro

Best for most
Door to door4–5h
£ Cost£
Best forMost trips
  1. Edinburgh (EDI) to Copenhagen (CPH)About 1h 50m–2h direct. Ryanair, Norwegian and SAS fly most days, and easyJet runs a few flights a week. Typical return fares are around £50–£180, higher on December weekends. Check current schedules.
  2. M2 metro to Kongens NytorvThe metro station is at Terminal 3. Trains take about 14 minutes to Kongens Nytorv, run every few minutes in the day and keep going through the night at longer intervals. A ticket costs a few pounds from machines or the DOT app.
  3. Walk to NyhavnNyhavn is a couple of minutes' walk from Kongens Nytorv.
Compare EDI–CPH flightsTrain times: Copenhagen Airport → Kongens Nytorv

A taxi into the centre takes about 20 minutes and usually costs around DKK 250–400 (roughly £30–£45).

2

Fly, then the train to Copenhagen Central for Tivoli

Door to door4–5h
£ Cost£
Best forStaying near Tivoli or Central Station
  1. Edinburgh (EDI) to Copenhagen (CPH)About 1h 50m–2h direct with Ryanair, Norwegian, SAS or easyJet. Check current schedules.
  2. Train to Copenhagen Central (København H)About 15 minutes from the airport station at Terminal 3. Trains run every 10 minutes for most of the day and less often late at night. The metro doesn't serve Central Station.
  3. Cross the road to TivoliTivoli's main entrance is directly opposite Central Station.
Compare EDI–CPH flightsTrain times: Copenhagen Airport → København H
3

Ferry from Newcastle, then trains via Hamburg

Flight-free
Door to door2 days
£ Cost£££
Best forAvoiding flying, or making a trip of the journey
  1. Edinburgh to Newcastle by trainAbout 1h 30m. Aim to reach Newcastle by early afternoon for the bus to the ferry terminal at North Shields.
  2. DFDS overnight ferry to Amsterdam (IJmuiden)Sails daily at about 17:00 and arrives around 09:45 the next morning. A DFDS coach takes about 40 minutes to central Amsterdam.
  3. Amsterdam to Hamburg by trainAbout 5h 15m, sometimes with one change. Many people stay a night in Hamburg.
  4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by trainAbout 4h 40m via Odense and the Great Belt bridge, with several trains a day. Check int.bahn.de for winter times and engineering works.
Train times: Edinburgh → NewcastleFerries Newcastle–AmsterdamTrain times: Hamburg → Copenhagen

Hamburg has its own big Christmas markets, so the overnight stop can be part of the trip.

Where to stay in Copenhagen

Compare hotels and apartments, many with free cancellation. Book early for December weekends.

See hotels in Copenhagen

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

OptionDoor to doorCostBest for
Fly Edinburgh to Copenhagen, then the metro4–5h£Most trips
Fly, then the train to Copenhagen Central for Tivoli4–5h£Staying near Tivoli or Central Station
Ferry from Newcastle, then trains via Hamburg2 days£££Avoiding flying, or making a trip of the journey

Where to stay and day trips

Stay central and use the fast trains for a day in Sweden or at Hamlet's castle.

Your base

Copenhagen city centre

Stay in Indre By (the old centre) or near Central Station to walk to Tivoli and Nyhavn. Vesterbro, just behind the station, is a little cheaper and has lots of places to eat.

Hotels in Copenhagen
About 35–40 min by train

Malmö, Sweden

Öresund trains from Copenhagen Central cross the bridge to Malmö every 10–20 minutes in the day. Sweden carries out ID checks on trains from Denmark at Hyllie, so take your passport even for a day trip. In 2025 Malmö's city-centre Christmas market at Gustav Adolfs torg ran Thursday to Sunday from late November to 21 December.

Hotels in Malmö
About 40 min by train

Helsingør and Kronborg Castle

Coast Line trains run about every 15 minutes from Copenhagen Central to Helsingør, home of Kronborg, the castle from Shakespeare's Hamlet. In winter it's closed on Mondays and on 24, 25 and 31 December, and opens around 10:00–16:00 (later on December weekends).

Hotels in Helsingør

Local tip: Danish police also make spot ID checks on trains coming back from Sweden, so keep your passport with you for the return trip from Malmö.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

When does Tivoli open for Christmas in 2026?

Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It's closed on Christmas Eve. Check tivoli.dk for daily opening hours.

Which airlines fly from Edinburgh to Copenhagen?

Ryanair, Norwegian and SAS fly direct from Edinburgh, and easyJet also runs some weekly flights. Schedules can change over the winter, so check current timetables.

How long is the flight from Edinburgh to Copenhagen?

About 1h 50m–2h direct.

How do I get from Copenhagen Airport to the city centre?

The M2 metro takes about 14 minutes to Kongens Nytorv and runs around the clock. The train takes about 15 minutes to Copenhagen Central, opposite Tivoli. A taxi takes about 20 minutes.

Is the Højbro Plads Christmas market on in 2026?

One guide updated in September 2026 reports that it won't be held this year, with a shorter market planned on Rådhuspladsen in front of City Hall from about 11 to 20 December. This hadn't been confirmed by the organisers when we checked, so look for local updates.

Do I need my passport to visit Malmö from Copenhagen?

Yes. Sweden checks ID on trains arriving from Denmark, usually at Hyllie, so bring your passport even for a day trip.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.