Let us show you some examples of authentic Norwegian and Scandinavian items that are worth taking home with you, and some food you should try to get that real Norwegian Christmas experience.
In November and December, Oslo is full of Christmas markets. Get into that precious Christmas spirit, drink hot gløgg and secure some unique and personal presents for your friends and family back home.
Visiting Oslo’s Christmas markets from another country? Nothing's better than to be able to bring back something authentic from Norway or Scandinavia. Make sure to buy local when you’re travelling, and minimise your carbon footprint!
Locally made souvenirs
By seeking out locally, or even handmade gifts to take home, you are supporting local businesses and ensuring that your purchases are authentically Scandinavian.
SALT's Christmas market – a quirky favourite
Oslos Supermarked at SALT, set against the backdrop of Oslo’s waterfront, is a great place to discover handmade products you won’t find in chain stores.
If you are looking for a special piece of jewellery, wander among the stalls at SALT and check out amazing jewellery made by independent Oslo designers. The selection ranges from minimal and timeless pieces to bold, colourful statement jewellery. Some makers work with traditional materials such as silver, gold and freshwater pearls, while others experiment with more unexpected materials such as porcelain, recycled beads and tagua nut.
SALT's Christmas market is also a great place for handmade ceramics and wooden items. Browse through minimalist tableware, mugs, cups and small sculptural objects inspired by Nordic nature and light. No two are ever exactly alike, and all are made to be used and enjoyed for years.
Wooden items such as serving boards, candle holders and small decorative objects made from Norwegian wood are the perfect way to bring a little piece of Norway home with you.
A jaunt into the past at Norsk Folkemuseum
At Norsk Folkemuseum's Christmas Market, you can browse through over 100 old-fashioned stalls filled with traditional and homemade crafts, Christmas decorations, cakes and other culinary treats.
In the old authentic buildings scattered around the museum area, you can step into history and see how Norwegians have celebrated Christmas through the years. Friendly guides dressed in traditional costumes can tell you all about Norwegian traditions. You can also visit children’s workshops and enjoy choral music and lively folk dancing.
Glass decorations in Hadeland's winter wonderland
Up for a little Christmas excursion? An hour north of Oslo, Hadeland Glassverk is a dream destination for lovers of traditional Norwegian Christmas and unique decorations. The different shops onsite offer handmade glass ornaments, Norwegian design, local delicacies and unique gifts you won't find anywhere else. The children will be excited to meet a real Norwegian Santa, and be fascinated by the professional glassblowers at work. Why not blow your own Christmas bauble?
Some of the most popular items from the glassworks are the little colourful bullfinch figurines, and the cute "Nisse" gnomes. Both are great representatives for the true Norwegian Christmas and winter atmosphere. These are quite small and solid, perfect for your suitcase!
Handmade and personal at Jul i Vinterland
You will also find several merchants at Jul i Vinterland that sell souvenirs made in Norway.
At Lines of Norway’s booth, you’ll find handmade gift items such as soaps, candles, postcards, posters, jewellery and much more. These are all made in Norway, and some are even made right here in Oslo! The items are made by creators and small businesses who are passionate about making high-quality products.
At Kirkens Bymisjon’s booth, the charitable organisation sells handmade products with a story. Each item has been crafted by a person in a difficult situation who may be struggling with mental health issues, drug addiction and unemployment. Kirkens Bymisjon (Church City Mission) allows them to find a sense of meaning and accomplishment through their craft. The objects are mostly made of surplus materials which would otherwise have gone to waste.
Wear wool!
You will probably see many wool items on display at Oslo’s Christmas markets. The style possibilities are endless – from traditional Norwegian patterns to more colourful fluffy creations. Find your style and invest in your next favourite winter garment.
Although almost all textile production has been moved out of Norway, you may find some handmade items at the city's Christmas markets. Keep this in mind if you think the price is a little steep! These wool garments are of high quality, locally made, and can last you a lifetime if you take proper care of them.
Why wool is magic, and makes for great gifts
- Naturally warm and water-repellent material – it keeps you both warm and dry.
- Requires very little washing, and smells clean for longer.
- A staple in traditional Norwegian clothing – the perfect souvenir.
- More sustainable than many other fibers – the garments are more durable, easier to repair and, most importantly, do not shed the microplastics that synthetic fibers do.
Learn from the experts themselves: Read more about the amazing properties of wool and how to care for your wool garments on Dale of Norway’s website.
You'll find Dale's concept store right outside the Jul i Vinterland market area.
Delicious treats
What is a day at a Christmas market if not an opportunity to enjoy the food stalls on site?
At Oslo's Christmas markets, there is a wide variety of food traditions on offer, as Norwegians are big fans of food from all over the world.
The Christmas markets are also an excellent setting for you to discover Norwegian food culture, and Christmas food in particular. How about a juicy moose burger, or a tasty reindeer hot dog?
Norway's version of doughnuts, called "smultringer", are a big hit at Jul i Vinterland. These round treats are very popular around Christmas time. Don't be fooled by their relatively plain appearance compared to their glazed and decorated American counterparts. A warm smultring right out of the fryer is soft and full of flavour!
What tasty Norwegian treats to take home in your suitcase
- Honey – Norwegian bees have worked tirelessly to fetch nectar from the local plants in mountain and fjord landscapes, and now you can take these flavours home!
- Jams and marmalades – get your hand on jars of cloudberry (multe), redcurrant (rips) or the extra sweet Norwegian strawberry (jordbær). For a particularly exotic condiment for your next dinner party, how about some aquavit jelly?
- Cured meat from reindeer and moose.
- Traditional Christmas cookies – Norwegians go mad for their sweet kakemenn, havreflarn and krumkake. Don't miss out on the chance to taste them all at the Christmas markets of Oslo.
- Lloyd & Melòn's fermented hot sauce from Oslo
- You'll find these sauces at Oslos Supermarked at SALT. Expect unique Nordic twists such as blueberry hot sauce made with hand-picked berries from the forests around Oslo.
Norwegians are avid coffee drinkers, and you can experience some high quality coffee at SALT's market. Fuglen Coffee Roasters offers some of Oslo’s best specialty coffee, and will host tastings where you can learn and sample different brews. You can also pick up beans from Kaffa, one of Norway’s leading micro-roasteries.
More than just shopping
Christmas markets are so much more than just a place to get Christmas presents. In addition to all the delicious food and drink you can enjoy on site, they provide opportunities to spend quality time with your family and friends doing fun activities or listening to festive Christmas music performed by local choirs.
At SALT, warm up with a mug of gløgg around the outdoor firepits, or make the most of winter in true Oslo style by booking a waterfront sauna session with views of the Oslo Opera House and the fjord. Few Christmas markets in the world can offer a cosy sauna followed by holiday shopping – it’s a uniquely Norwegian winter experience you’ll never forget.
At Jul i Vinterland, the Merry-go-round will entertain the children while you enjoy your hot gløgg, and you can all huddle together and enjoy the view of Oslo from the ferris wheel. The helter skelter might seem daunting to some adults, but it's not as scary as it looks, promise!