Røros, Norway
23rd December 2026
• 10:30 AM: Touch down at Røros Airport. Grab bags and jump into a local taxi outside the small terminal building for a quick 5-minute drive into the historic center.
• 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Drop your luggage at airbnb. Head straight out to find lunch at bageri next door, shop for groceries and explore shops.
Rent a traditional spark (kicksled) to get your bearings on the snowy streets.
• 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Make the most of the limited winter daylight. Stroll down Kjerkgata, the colorful main street made famous by the Netflix series Home for Christmas. The afternoon "blue hour" twilight turns the town completely magical around 2:30 pm.
• 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Pop into the local independent boutiques and artisan workshops along the main streets to pick up any last-minute Christmas gifts before businesses close early for the holidays.
• 6:00 PM onwards: Head to a cozy, fire-lit dinner at Vertshuset Røros or Kaffestuggu to warm up with traditional reindeer stew. OR cook at home and get cosy by the fireplace
SLEIGH RIDES BETWEEN 12 and 2pm 2300 nok for sleigh up to 4 people.
December 24: The Ultimate Christmas Eve Itinerary
• OPTIONAL. 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Sami Culture & Reindeer Feed
• Walk or kicksled 10–15 minutes out to Rørosrein (Hagaveien 17).
• Feed the reindeer herd, practice traditional Sami lassoing, and listen to stories inside the cozy lavvu tent around an open fire. WILL PROBABLY DO THIS IN TROMSO. COULD ALSO CONSIDER CROSS COUNTRY SKIING.
• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Cozy Lunch & Warm Up
• Head back into the historic center to grab a warm lunch.
• Tip: Ensure you are seated by 12:30 PM, as the remaining cafes and bakeries will close their doors between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM today.
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Traditional Horse Sleigh Ride (Kanefart)
• Board your horse-drawn sleigh at Malmplassen (near the church) or arrange a pickup directly from your hotel lobby.
• Snuggle under heavy sheepskin blankets as the Døle horses pull you through the quiet, snow-dusted timber streets under flickering torchlight.
• 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: The Twilight Blue Hour
• Use this brief window to quickly drop off any extra layers at your hotel or take a brisk walk up the Slegghaugan slag mounds for a panoramic twilight photo of the town.
• 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Christmas Eve Service & Town Bells
• Arrive at Røros Church (Bergstadens Ziir) by 3:30 PM to secure a good seat for the 4:00 PM holiday service.
• Enjoy the atmospheric Norwegian carols. As the service concludes at 5:00 PM, the church's massive historic bells will ring out across the valley to officially signal the start of Christmas night.
• 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Dress for Dinner & Relax
• Head back to your room to freshen up, defrost, and change into your evening attire.
• 6:00 PM Onwards: Festive Christmas Dinner
• Walk over to your highly anticipated holiday dinner reservation. Relax by the fireplace and enjoy a slow, traditional Norwegian holiday feast (ribbe or pinnekjøtt).
After dinner participate in Bergstadens hotel xmas games and hot chocolate.
December 25: Christmas Day Itinerary
•Morning: Walk to the iconic Røros Church (Bergstadens Ziir), completed in 1784. It stands as one of the largest and most distinct octagonal stone churches in Norway.
• 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Relaxed Christmas Lunch & Downtime
• Head back to the hotel after your dog-sledding adventure. Enjoy a quiet, slow-paced lunch and a hot drink by the fire to let your core temperature recover from the morning mountain chill.
SLEIGH RIDES BETWEEN 12 AND 5PM 2300 NOK PER SLEIGH $350AUD.
• 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Bergstadens Hotel Spa Experience
• Head down to your pre-booked afternoon slot at the Bergstadens Hotel Spa. Defrost completely in the heated pool, soothe your muscles in the sauna, and watch the snowy twilight outside while relaxing indoors.
• 7:00 PM Onwards: Casual Boxing Day Eve Dinner
• Enjoy a relaxed evening meal at the hotel or a nearby open venue, followed by drinks by the fireplace.
December 26: Boxing Day History Tour
• OPTIONAL. 0930 - 12:30 PM: Taxi to farm at 0930. Prebook. Morning Husky Safari
• Dash across the snow-covered mountain plateau wrapped snugly in sheepskin blankets behind a team of eager sled dogs.
• Afternoon: Visit the Røros Museum Smelthytta (re-opening details vary, check holiday hours ahead of time). Constructed on the site of the old copper smelter, it houses scaled working models of the historic mines, waterwheels, and 18th-century tools.
• Evening: Celebrate Boxing Day (Andredag jul) with the locals. Restaurants and pubs come back to life on this evening; look out for local musical performances or casual gatherings around the town center.
December 27: Local Craft & Departure
• Morning: Pick up unique souvenirs before heading home. Pop into the workshop gallery of Lysgaard Keramikk to see vibrant, unique Norwegian sculptures and functional ceramics.
• Afternoon: Grab a pastry and hot chocolate for the road, drop off your kicksled rental, and head to the airport for your return flight to Oslo.
EXTRA:
Skiing Options in & Around Røros
Åsgjerdet
Ski club
Røros, Norway
Directions
Website
Located centrally in Røros right near the Domus shopping center, this local hill features a basic alpine slope and a children's toboggan run. It is ideal for a quick, casual afternoon ski without leaving town.
Røros Alpinsenter Hummelfjell
4.3(156) · Ski resort
Os i Østerdalen, Norway
Website
This is your closest full alpine resort. It features 5 downhill runs, a vertical drop of 200 meters, 3 ski lifts, a dedicated children's ski area, and a terrain park.
Ålen Ski Center
4.3(82) · Ski resort
Ålen, Norway
Call
Website
A slightly larger local center offering 5 longer runs, forest trails, off-piste options, and a terrain park equipped with jumps and slalom paths.
Prague, Czech Republic
Day 1: January 7th — Old Town Arrival & Central Markets
• 1:50 PM — Arrival in Prague: Make your way straight to the city center.
• 2:45 PM — Digital Check-in: Check into The Botanist by Adrez using your contactless entry codes.
• 3:30 PM — Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock: Walk less than 5 minutes to the heart of Old Town to see the hourly animated clock show.
• 4:15 PM — Souvenirs at Havelská Market (Moved from Day 4): Walk just around the corner to Prague's oldest outdoor market. Because it sits right between the Old Town and your hotel, this is the perfect time to grab traditional wooden puppets, local crafts, and Czech spa wafers (lázeňské oplatky) before it closes for the evening.
• 5:30 PM — Explore Wenceslas Square: Stroll down the grand boulevard toward the National Museum.
• 6:30 PM — Classic Czech Welcome Dinner: Head to a traditional spot like U Parlamentu for a hearty plate of goulash or roast duck paired with local pilsner.
🗓️ Day 2: January 8th — Charles Bridge & Prague Castle
• 9:00 AM — Coffee at Mondieu: Enjoy breakfast on the ground floor of your apartment building.
• 10:00 AM — Stroll Across Charles Bridge: Cross the Vltava River early to beat the heaviest crowds and enjoy the Baroque statues.
• 11:30 AM — Malá Strana (Lesser Town): Explore the vibrant John Lennon Wall and the quiet paths of Kampa Island.
• 1:00 PM — Castle Hill Lunch: Stop at a hillside bistro for a warm bowl of potato soup (bramboračka).
• 2:30 PM — Prague Castle Complex: Spend your afternoon exploring St. Vitus Cathedral and the fairytale-like cottages along the Golden Lane.
🗓️ Day 3: January 9th — Jewish Quarter, Panoramic Views & Sweets
• 9:30 AM — Historic Jewish Quarter (Josefov): Walk north into the historic neighborhood to view the synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.
• 12:00 PM — Views at Letná Park: Cross the Čech Bridge and walk up to Letná Park for the absolute best panoramic postcard photo of Prague's bridges.
• 2:30 PM — Warm Up with Trdelník (Moved from Day 4): Head back down into Old Town and follow the scent of cinnamon to pick up a piping-hot spit cake from a street vendor to break up the winter chill.
• 3:30 PM — Free Afternoon for Boutique Shopping: Use this open window to browse the Czech crystal shops, local design boutiques, or pick up any final specialty food items around the city center.
• 7:00 PM — Evening Farewell Dinner: Book a memorable final dinner at a nearby venue like La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise or enjoy a classical performance at the historic Estates Theatre right down the street.
🗓️ Day 4: January 10th — Departure to Budapest
• 7:30 AM — Early Breakfast & Packing: Eat a quick breakfast in your apartment.
• 8:15 AM — Head to Prague Main Station (Praha hl.n.): Check out digitally and take a short 5-minute taxi or a 15-minute walk to the station.
• 9:01 AM — Board the RegioJet Train: Relax in your seats on Train RJ 1033. You are fully packed, your shopping is done, and you will pull directly into Budapest at 3:58 PM with plenty of time to drop your bags before The Nutcracker begins at 18:00!