Twinkling Christmas lights illuminate the December darkness, a magnificent Christmas tree adorns the square, and in shops, restaurants, and slopes the Christmas spirit is high. Christmas in Åre is both a time of peaceful cozy Christmas atmosphere and activities among the December mountains.
First Advent – a weekend to look forward to
Why wait for the holiday spirit? During the First weekend of Advent, Åre starts dressing up for the season, and that long-awaited Christmas feeling begins to settle over the mountains and village. At Åre Torg, people gather around the Christmas tree for mulled wine, gingerbread cookies, a Christmas speech, and a festive concert—a cozy start to the weeks ahead.
There’s plenty happening around the village too. Shops and local businesses invite you in for everything from candle dipping and an open ski workshop to knitting help, along with special offers and plenty of opportunities to start checking off your Christmas shopping list. The feeling of winter grows stronger by the day—and so does the excitement for those first turns, while bars and gathering places offer plenty of reasons to settle in and stay awhile.Maybe it’ll be your first mulled wine of the season, the first Christmas gifts in your bag, or simply a long stroll through an Åre that’s beginning to sparkle a little brighter.
A wonderful way to ease into Christmas—long before it’s time to worry about whether the tree is standing straight.
See everything happening during First Advent in Åre
Christmas at Åre Square
The holiday spirit arrives early in Åre Square. The season traditionally begins with Byglöggen, when the Christmas tree is lit, festive music fills the square, and warm mulled wine and gingerbread cookies bring people together.
The closer Christmas gets, the more the excitement grows. And what would Christmas be without a visit from Santa? On 23 and 24 December, Santa Claus is coming to Åre Torg to meet all the children eagerly counting down to Christmas. Stop by to say hello, hand over your wish list, and maybe share what you're hoping to find under the Christmas tree.
Åre Destination will be there with warm mulled wine, gingerbread cookies, and plenty of Christmas cheer, making it a festive moment for the whole family in the heart of Åre village.
Meet Santa at Åre Torg:
Wednesday 23 December: 15.00–17.00
Christmas Eve, 24 December: 11.00–13.00
December tips
Are you someone who starts celebrating already in November or do you wait with Christmas until the last minute, or something in between? What makes your Christmas special is entirely up to you. In any case, we have gathered some tips for what you can do throughout December in Åre, from how you most easily solve your Christmas shopping to how you get out and enjoy the daylight.
What happens during Christmas?
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 and the tree
In Åre you will find everything you need to create the right atmosphere in the cabin. At ICA Björnänge you will find, for example, Christmas trees and plenty of Christmas decorations on the upper floor. Åre Fjällflorist and Åre Flooweri's have all the amaryllis and fragrant hyacinths, bouquets and Christmas arrangements you can imagine. At In Home in Stationshuset you will find everything you need for gift wrapping, and perhaps even what should be in the package, Christmas lighting, decorations and flowers, and more.
