Sofie von Reis and Joakim Pettersson: Our 5 best Christmas tips in Stockholm

The 19th of November marks the unveiling of this year's Christmas decorations at the venerated department store Nordiska Kompaniet (NK, for short). For many Stockholmers, this marks the start of the pre-holiday season. Since 1915, for over 100 years, NK has decorated the whole store, and built imaginative displays and mini-exhibitions in its windows, each year under a new theme.

In 2015, coinciding with NK's 100th anniversary, the theme was "Stockholm's History" with dioramas over milestones in the city's history. In 2017 the decorations were inspired by the Christmas celebrations in Ingmar Bergman's classic Fanny & Alexander. In 2022 mischievous elves moved into the storefront display.

This year's theme is still held tightly under wraps and will be unveiled during the ceremony on the 19th. We took the opportunity to ask Sofie von Reis and Joakim Pettersson, creative leads of NK's Christmas decorations, to give us their best Holiday tips in Stockholm.

NK: "Christmas starts here, naturally! The Christmas decorations are unveiled on the 19th and Santa will come by for a visit. You'll find Newport's Christmas shop on the third floor, with everything you'll need for a magical Holiday and our food hall has everything for a great family dinner. This year you'll also be able to buy Blossa's alchohol-free glögg here."

Christmas market at The Royal Stables: "The Royal Stables' Christmas market is held every, the second weekend of Advent. About 70 of the country's best craftsworkers sell unique gifts, and you're sure to find great presents in all shapes and sizes. The museum shop has good gifts, if you're looking for something with a royal twist. You'll also find lots of locally produced and sourced delicacies."

Afternoon Tea at Hotel Diplomat: "Need a break during hectic Christmas preparations? Treat yourself to a classic Afternoon Tea buffét at Hotel Diplomat. Lots of delicious tea blends to pick from (why not even a glass of sparkling wine?), and a table's worth of tasty treats like finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries. You could even make a delicious whole evening of it; hop on one of Waxholm Bolaget's ferries at the stop outside and enjoy a Christmas dinner in the Stockholm archipelago."

Skansen's Christmas Market: "Probably Stockholm's most well-known and beloved Christmas market. Whether you're looking for something tasty to put on the dinner table or a unique gift to put under the Christmas tree, you're sure to find what you're looking for. New for this year is the Winter Lights promenade. A spectacular walk to enjoy on otherwise dark winter evenings."

Tomteparaden at Sven Harry's Artmuseum: "Tomteparaden is Sven Harry's fall -and winter exhibition. It's a journey through Santa's history, how he went from a saint to a pop-cultural icon. It showcases both works by beloved artists liks John Baur and Elsa Beskow, and contemporary renditions. A perfect exhibition for the whole family."