Celebrate Christmas in Åre
In December, Åre is transformed into a dreamy Christmas village. Thousands of Christmas lights twinkle in the snow-covered trees and the stately Christmas tree adorns our village square. Shops and restaurants are beautifully decorated and you can enjoy a typical Swedish “Julbord”, the Christmas version of smörgåsbord with loads of local dishes on a buffet table. Stroll around the village, peek into Santa’s cosy Christmas cottage and enjoy the joyful atmosphere that prevails.
Christmas at Åre Square
Feel the festive spirit at Åre Square! On 30 November, join us for the annual Byglögg as we light the Christmas tree, listen to live music, and enjoy mulled wine (glögg) with gingerbread biscuits. Then, on 23 and 24 December, Father Christmas visits Åre Square — bring along your wish list and let another cup of mulled wine warm you up once more.
BYGLÖGG
30 November 15.00 – 16.00
CHRISTMAS AT ÅRE SQUARE
23 December 15.00 – 17.00
24 December 11.00 – 13.00
Our December Tips
Some start celebrating Christmas in November, some wait until the last minute and some just go with the traditions. What makes your Christmas special is entirely up to you. But we’ve selected a few tips for you that covers all of December, from how to make Christmas shopping easy and enjoyable to the best ways of getting out and enjoying the daylight.
Lucia - The Grand Opening
Even before the snow falls, the skiing nerves start tingling, and when Skistar are ready to offer a good alpine setup, we can’t wait to hit the slopes. The Lucia weekend marks the official opening, celebrated with Ski Test Weekend, the opening of après-ski and seasonal restaurants, and much more. Everything that’s happening can be found in the calendar.
The Julbord - A Feast
The Julbord is a must in Sweden: long tables filled to the brim with everything from traditional ham to sweet desserts. Åre’s restaurants take the Julbord tradition seriously and do it very well. And once Christmas is done and dusted, we look forward to New Year’s celebrations and dinners. Just remember to book early, as tables often fill up quickly.
The Gifts
Hard, soft, big and small – you’ll be sure to find the perfect Christmas gift in Åre with its vast variety of shops and boutiques and companies that offer activities.
The Decorations & the Tree
It’s easy to find everything you need to make that special Christmas holiday feeling spread through your cottage or apartment. ICA Björnänge has the tree you want, and plenty of decorations on the second floor. Find your bouquets and flowery ornaments at Åre Fjällflorist and Åre Flooweri’s and your wrapping paper or gift, Christmas lights and flowers is waiting for you at In Home at Åre Station.
More Christmas Jollities
What to do in Åre at Christmas & New Year?
There’s always something to do in Åre which means our calendar is filled with fun activities and exciting adventures to explore. Find out below what happens in Åre during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays or click here to see the full calendar.
Last updated 22 October 2025