Ariane visited Jul i Vinterland (Image: Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz)
One of my annual Christmas traditions is to travel to Oslo, , to visit family and immerse myself in the festive atmosphere that I find hard to replicate elsewhere. What could be a more perfect destination for a December escape than the snow-laden landscapes of Norway?
With its traditional markets, beautifully adorned neighbourhoods, delectable foods, carol singing, and proximity to forests and nature, it’s an incredible place.
As part of my yearly journey, I make it a point to visit Jul i Vinterland, arguably the largest Christmas market in Norway. Open from November 9 until December 31, and situated at Spikersuppa on Karl Johan, near the Royal Palace, it’s the ideal location to absorb the Christmas spirit.
It offers everything you’d expect from a Christmas market – stalls selling homemade items and food, a massive ice rink, fairground rides, and a bar serving mulled wine, which, I must confess, is my primary reason for visiting. The Norwegian version of mulled wine is called gløgg, a spiced mulled wine to which you can add red wine.
One thing took me by surprise – because of the favourable exchange rate, I anticipated it to be quite affordable, but it was actually quite pricey.
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It was the busiest I’ve ever seen it (Image: Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz)
The Christmas market was more crowded than I’ve ever seen it. As I moved at a snail’s pace with the throng of people, unable to peruse any of the stalls, I began to feel overwhelmed.
It appears that many tourists are capitalising on the favourable exchange rate, making travel to Norway significantly cheaper despite the country’s reputation as one of the world’s most expensive in the world.
I managed to navigate through the crowds and secure a small cup of gløgg, which I finished in mere minutes. And it was absolutely delicious.
Given the exchange rate, which offers a substantial amount of Norwegian kroner for British pounds, I anticipated a reasonable deal despite the festive setting. After all, we’re accustomed to the steep prices at UK Christmas markets like London’s Winter Wonderland or Manchester’s Christmas markets.
The glōgg tasted amazing (Image: Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz)
However, this experience proved even pricier. For an alcoholic gløgg, featuring a dash of red wine, I paid 129kr, equivalent to £9 at the time of writing. This is still costlier than Winter Wonderland, where mulled wine is priced at £6.10, and Manchester’s Christmas markets, where it costs £6.
If you fancy a Frankfurter from the German stall, be prepared to fork out 99kr, or £7. Meanwhile, a bratwurst at London’s Winter Wonderland is priced at £9, and in Manchester, it’ll set you back £8.
Other eye-watering prices include 60kr, or £4.20, for a bag of sugared almonds, and £4.19 for a steaming cup of hot chocolate. For those with a sweet tooth, two Norwegian waffles come at a cost of 130kr, or £9, 115kr or £8 for a corndog and if you fancy just the candied apple, that’s 59kr, or £4.
I was still surprised by the prices (Image: Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz)
Despite these hefty price tags, the market’s charm seems to outweigh the cost for many. One enchanted visitor tweeted: “Jul i Vinterland is enchanting! There’s nothing quite like experiencing the festive magic in a beautiful city like Oslo. The blend of twinkling lights, holiday decorations, and a joyful atmosphere is truly heartwarming.”
Another social media user exclaimed: “Jul i Vinterland – the Oslo Christmas Market is, I do believe, even cooler than Manchester’s.”
A third person shared their joy: “The Christmas market in Oslo is pure holiday magic! From festive lights to cozy treats, it’s a winter wonderland.”