Guides

Julbord in Sweden: Dishes, Order and Prices of the Christmas Buffet

Julbord in Sweden: what belongs on the Christmas buffet, the order to eat it in, when the season runs, what it costs and how to book a table in time.

By Roland Strodthoff · 10 November 2026

Festlich gedeckter Weihnachtstisch mit gebratenem Fleisch, Gemüse, Kerzen und Wein

Herring, ham, meatballs and rice pudding: the julbord is the Swedish Christmas buffet and, for many Swedes, the culinary highlight of the year. This guide explains what belongs on a julbord, the order in which to eat it, when the season runs, what a julbord costs in a restaurant and how to get a table in time.

Last updated: November 2026

Key facts at a glance

A julbord is a large buffet of traditional Christmas dishes. Restaurants usually serve it from late November until shortly before Christmas, and some start as early as mid-November.
It is eaten in several rounds: herring and salmon first, then ham, sausages and cold cuts, then hot dishes such as meatballs, and finally something sweet.
A classic evening julbord in a restaurant in Stockholm or Gothenburg often costs around 900 to 1,300 kronor per person. Lunch is usually cheaper.
Popular slots, especially Friday and Saturday evenings in December, sell out early. Book as early as you can.
Typical drinks are julmust, glögg, Christmas beer and snaps. Mention allergies and vegetarian or vegan requirements when you book.

What is a julbord?

The word combines jul (Christmas) and bord (table). It is the Christmas version of the Swedish smörgåsbord: lots of cold and hot dishes are on the table at the same time, and everyone goes back several times. In Swedish homes the julbord is above all served on Christmas Eve, 24 December. That is the main day of celebration in Sweden, when presents are also handed out.

In the weeks before, the julbord is mainly a night out. Companies invite their staff to a Christmas meal, groups of friends and clubs get together, and restaurants, hotels, manor houses and even excursion boats offer their own buffets. For travellers, this is the easiest way to get to know Swedish Christmas food in a single evening.

The dishes on a julbord

Every family and every restaurant has its own focus, but you will find some classics almost everywhere.

Fish

Sill: pickled herring in several varieties, for example with mustard, onion or dill. Swedish herring is usually sweeter than many guests expect.
Salmon: as gravad lax (cured) or smoked, often with a sweet mustard and dill sauce.
Lutfisk: dried fish, usually cod, soaked in lye. It is served with potatoes and a white sauce and is no longer found on every buffet.

Meat and hot dishes

Julskinka: the Christmas ham is the centrepiece. It is boiled and then browned in the oven with a crust of mustard, egg and breadcrumbs. It is served with mustard.
Köttbullar and prinskorv: meatballs and small fried sausages.
Revbensspjäll: oven-roasted pork ribs.
Janssons frestelse: a potato bake with onion, cream and pickled sprats (called ansjovis in Sweden).
Side dishes include boiled potatoes, beetroot salad, Brussels sprouts, kale, crispbread and cheese.

Sweets

To finish there is rice pudding, often as ris à la Malaga with cream and oranges or a fruit sauce, plus gingerbread biscuits (pepparkakor), confectionery and sweets.

Drinks

Julmust: a sweet, dark soft drink only sold at Christmas (and as påskmust at Easter).
Glögg: Swedish mulled wine, with or without alcohol, usually before or after the meal.
Christmas beer and snaps: traditionally a glass of snaps goes with the herring and salmon, often accompanied by a short drinking song.
Svagdricka: a spiced, beer-like drink without alcohol.

Read more about everyday Swedish food in our article Food and drink in Sweden.

How to eat it: the order

First-timers at a julbord often pile everything onto one plate. Swedes do it differently: they take many small portions and use a clean plate for each round. The usual order is:

Cold fish: different kinds of herring with potatoes, then salmon and other fish dishes.
Cold meat: Christmas ham, sausages, pâtés and cold cuts.
Hot dishes: meatballs, prinskorv, ribs, Janssons frestelse and lutfisk, if there is any.
Cheese and sweets: rice pudding, cakes, gingerbread and confectionery, often with coffee.

Fish and meat do not go on the same plate. There are no fixed rules, though, and nobody expects foreign guests to know everything. Allow plenty of time: an evening julbord usually lasts several hours.

When is julbord season?

According to Visit Stockholm, the restaurant season usually starts in late November and runs until Christmas. Some places start earlier. Two examples for 2026:

Solliden at Skansen (Stockholm): julbord from 12 November up to and including 25 December, at lunch, in the afternoon and in the evening.
Riverton (Gothenburg): evening julbord from 26 November to 19 December, Tuesday to Saturday.

Many restaurants serve the buffet in fixed sittings (sittningar), for example an early and a late evening sitting. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only some restaurants offer a julbord, and many others are closed. If you are spending Christmas in Sweden, book especially early. A julbord combines well with a stroll around one of the Christmas markets in Sweden or a Lucia concert on 13 December; see our guide Lucia in Sweden.

How much does a julbord cost?

Prices depend on the venue, day of the week, time of day and date. As a rule, the closer to Christmas and the later in the day, the more expensive it gets. Drinks almost always cost extra. Two current examples (as of November 2026, prices per person):

Solliden at Skansen, Stockholm

12 to 15 November: 795 kronor in the afternoon, 895 kronor in the evening.
18 to 26 November: lunch 795 kronor on weekdays and 895 kronor at weekends, evening 1,095 kronor.
27 November to 2 December: lunch from 995 kronor, evening 1,295 kronor.
3 to 23 December: lunch 995 kronor on weekdays, otherwise 1,295 kronor.
24 and 25 December: 1,295 kronor.
Children aged 0 to 4 eat free; children aged 5 to 14 pay 500 kronor (lunch and afternoon) or 695 kronor (evening).
Admission to Skansen is included in the price.

Riverton, Gothenburg

Evening julbord: 945 kronor on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1,025 kronor on Thursdays and Saturdays, 1,195 kronor on Fridays.
Christmas-inspired lunch on weekdays from 26 November to 18 December: 595 kronor.

These examples show the price level in the big cities. Country inns and smaller towns are often cheaper, while particularly upmarket venues cost considerably more. Restaurants almost always take card payments; for details see our guide Paying in Sweden.

Where to experience a julbord

You can find a julbord all over Sweden, from village restaurants to grand hotels. Historic halls, manor houses and open-air museums are particularly atmospheric. Gothenburg’s tourist board, for example, lists the Dicksonska Palatset, several restaurants at the Liseberg amusement park, a buffet on the 69th floor of Karlatornet, an archipelago julbord on the island of Hönö, julbord cruises departing from Lilla Bommen and a vegan julbord at Blackbird restaurant. In Stockholm, besides Solliden at Skansen, historic restaurants in the city centre and venues on Djurgården are among the popular choices.

If you prefer something simpler: many hotels offer a julbord for their guests, and some restaurants serve a jultallrik, a plate with a selection of the classics, or a Christmas set menu instead of the buffet.

Practical tips for your julbord

Book early: according to Visit Stockholm, popular buffets often sell out, especially at weekends and in the early evening sittings. Many restaurants take bookings as early as the autumn.
Read the cancellation terms: stricter rules often apply to larger groups. Solliden, for example, sets different terms depending on group size.
Go at lunchtime: a weekday lunch julbord is often noticeably cheaper and quieter than a Friday evening.
Mention special requirements: state allergies and vegetarian or vegan diets when you book. Many restaurants adapt parts of the buffet.
Dress code: smart casual is usually fine. At more formal venues it is worth asking.
Budget for drinks: alcohol is expensive in restaurants and usually not included in the buffet price. Background in our article Alcohol in Sweden.
Small portions, several rounds: take a little often rather than a lot at once, and save room for dessert.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a julbord and a smörgåsbord?

The smörgåsbord is the Swedish buffet in general. The julbord is its Christmas form, with typical dishes such as Christmas ham, Janssons frestelse, lutfisk and rice pudding.

When does julbord season start in Sweden?

Most restaurants start in late November, some in mid-November. Solliden at Skansen, for example, serves from 12 November in 2026. In Swedish homes, the big julbord is eaten on Christmas Eve.

Is a julbord suitable for vegetarians?

Increasingly so. Many restaurants include vegetarian dishes on the buffet or offer alternatives on request. Gothenburg even has a fully vegan julbord. It is best to mention your requirements when you book.

How much does a julbord cost for children?

It varies from restaurant to restaurant. At Solliden at Skansen, children up to 4 eat free and older children up to 14 pay 500 or 695 kronor in 2026, depending on the time of day. Ask other restaurants directly.

Can I have a julbord in a restaurant on Christmas Eve?

Yes, but only at some venues, as many restaurants are closed on 24 December. Solliden at Skansen, for example, also serves on 24 and 25 December in 2026. Book particularly early for these days.

Sources

For more tips, see our Sweden guides.