While Christmas markets in Poland might not have the long-standing traditions of Germany or Austria, they’ve surged in popularity in recent years.
Krakow and Wroclaw have had some form of these markets for centuries, though what you’ll find now no doubt differs from the past.
With fewer crowds and cheaper prices than other winter destinations, Poland is definitely worth considering for a winter trip. The markets just add another reason to go.
Not surprisingly, each city offers something different.
- Krakow – One of the largest markets, and it continues into January.
- Wroclaw – Notable for its picturesque market square.
- Warsaw – There is much to do, including the Royal Castle and Cold War museums.
- Gdansk – A gorgeous Baltic destination that is a more affordable option.
I’ve been to all these cities; if you haven’t been to Poland yet, it’s time to change that. The squares where the markets are held are stunning, and the food is fantastic. You won’t regret it.
Also, check out less-visited cities like Poznan, Lublin and Szczecin. I’m not sure I’d make a special trip to these cities just for the winter markets, but visit them anyway. Jump straight to these destinations if you’re interested.
Polish Christmas Markets: Where to Go in 2024
I’ve had a huge soft spot for Poland since I spent a summer in Warsaw back when I was travelling full-time. I could work in co-working places or at the university library and then break for one of the many budget-friendly lunches.
I also spent a month in Gdansk, an interesting but calmer location. The clean air and great coffee places made it one of my most relaxing slow travel experiences.
Krakow is a considerably more touristy destination. I have visited several times, once in summer and twice in winter. Winter is the time to go if you want a more peaceful trip.
Each of the following cities are ideal for a weekend break, although you could easily visit Lublin one afternoon from Warsaw, as I did.
Krakow
In my experience, Krakow’s Christmas market is easily the best in Poland. Not only is the market filled with delicious food and interesting gifts, but the city itself is also one of the most beautiful and popular.
The market is in the smaller area of the central square, Rynek Glowny, right alongside the famous Cloth Hall. It’s compact and welcoming, focusing on traditional food and some unusual items too.
Plan Your Trip
Krakow dates: 29th November 2024 to 1st January 2025 (confirmed).
Location: Rynek Glowny.
Reason to visit: It’s a cool city with a younger crowd than in Germany and Austria; it’s relatively budget-friendly; there is a chance of snow.
Specialities: Oscypek smoked cheese from Zakopane served with cranberry preserves; pretty crystal baubles; sweet, hot vodka-based drinks.
Recommended tour: 4-hour Polish food tour.
Tips: Take a day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Auschwitz or the mountains at Zakopane.
Where to Stay: Vienna House – Steps from the train station and a short walk to the main square.
Read my guide to boutique hotels in Krakow.
What to Look Out For
- Smoked cheese: A good option for vegetarians, although it’s sometimes wrapped and cooked in bacon, so watch out for that.
- Pierogi stalls: Savoury stuffed dumplings with cheese, sauerkraut or various meats and sweet pierogies stuffed with berries and sweetened cheese.
- Grilled meat stations: Meat lovers can choose from local sausages, roasted pork knuckle, chicken kebab and loads of other grilled meats.
- Soup: There are a few vegetarian soups; mushroom, tomato and cabbage are some, or you can get traditional goulash soup if you eat meat.
- Mulled wine: Available from the huge barrels dotted around the market. Look out for signs saying grzane wino, hot wine in Polish.
- Matryoshka dolls: These seem to be popular.
- Wooden toys and kitchen gadgets.
Sightseeing in Krakow
Read more details on what to expect on a Christmas break in Krakow. A few of the highlights:
- Wawel Hill and Castle: Medieval royal castle and museum area.
- Cloth Hall: The huge building on the main square houses little shops.
- Kazimierz: The old Jewish Quarter is filled with cool cafes and bars.
- Zapiekanka: Eat a traditional Polish baguette/pizza topped with grilled mushrooms and cheese. Head to Plac Nowy in Kazimierz for the best.
- Pierogies: Don’t miss out on eating some of the best dumplings in Poland. Sweet or savoury, pierogies are a must-try.
- Sweet vodka: Poland is famous for all kinds of vodka (obviously), but in cafes around the main square, like Cafe Camelot, you can try some deliciously sweet, hot vodkas, perfect for warming up in winter.
- Brunch: You might want to recover from a night of vodka drinking with a delicious brunch at Bistro Charlotte.
- Auschwitz: If you have time, take a day trip to visit the former concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Take a tour or get the bus from central Krakow (going by train is more complicated).
This is the Auschwitz tour I took when I visited Krakow.
Krakow is a popular summer destination, but it’s becoming more well-known as a great weekend destination over the holidays and New Year. It’s a fun, young city with so much history, great nightlife and laid-back cafe culture.
Wroclaw
Wroclaw is such a wonderful city and underrated as a destination, at all times of year.
The market is a decent size, but it’s far less crowded than Krakow. The atmosphere is considerably more intimate than some of the big European Christmas markets, which I feel can get a little overwhelming.
Plan Your Trip
Wroclaw dates: 29th November 2024 to 7th January 2025 (confirmed).
Location:
Market Square (Rynek we Wroclawiu).
Solny Square.
Swidnicka Street.
Olawska Street.
Recommended tour: A small electric car city tour.
Reason to visit: The stunning centre square and nearby Cathedral district.
Tips: You could create a mini Christmas road trip that includes nearby Prague, Cesky Krumlov and Dresden.
Specialities: International specialities like Transylvanian chimney cake, Lithuanian sausages, Swiss chocolate workshop tools (made of chocolate) and Dutch waffles.
Where to Stay: Puro Hotel Wroclaw is a central boutique hotel.
Read my guide to boutique hotels in Wroclaw for more ideas on where to stay.
What to Look Out For
Wroclaw has traditional Polish food like pierogi and smoked cheese. Still, this market has more international stalls where you can get Hungarian langos, Dutch pancakes, Spanish paella-type dishes and many other delicious foods worth trying.
Of course, you can find mulled wine, hot apple cider and hot chocolate too.
Sightseeing in Wroclaw
Wroclaw is gorgeous; the main square is so colourful, and the buildings are beautifully designed. There’s plenty to see outside the main square, like Cathedral Island, but the following is a good starting point.
- Rynek and the Gothic Town Hall: The Market Square is where you’ll find most of the action. Climb one of the church towers for great views over the square. The Town Hall is a good place to start and get your bearings.
- Cathedral Island: Just north of Market Square is one of the prettiest parts of the city, with its huge cathedral, parks, and riverside location.
- Wroclaw University: Visit the assembly hall, Aula Leopoldina, to see the incredible baroque ceiling and frescoes.
- Gnomes: What began as a subversive political protest is now a fun pastime for children and tourists. Pay attention as you walk around the city, and you’ll notice hundreds of little gnomes.
- Ksiaz Castle: Seventy kilometres from Wroclaw, the spectacular clifftop castle set deep in the forest deserves an afternoon trip.
- Leubus Abbey: More amazing baroque interiors an hour from the city.
Warsaw
I always viewed Warsaw as like a mini version of Berlin, but I meant it in a good way! It has the cool lifestyle, great vodka and craft beer venues, a delicious foodie scene and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Warsaw’s winter event in Market Square starts a little later than others around the city. It’s worth waiting for that, as the season starts with a huge light show.
Plan Your Trip
Warsaw dates: 25th November 2024 to 6th January 2025 (unconfirmed).
Location: Old Town Market Square and Praga.
Reason to visit: Poland’s capital is fun with great nightlife, a fantastic foodie scene and fascinating WWII and Cold War history.
Tips: I found that the market doesn’t fully open until the first week of December. Visit after that for the best experience.
Where to Stay: The H15 Boutique boutique apartment complex in the former Soviet Embassy is a great place to stay due to its central location and quality design.
Read my list of boutique hotels in Warsaw, which includes some great value for money places to stay.
What to Look Out For
Warsaw’s markets have a bit of everything. There are traditional Polish foods like pierogi, sweets, hearty soups and grilled meat, plus international food like langos, goulash, dried fruit and chocolate. You can’t go wrong with a cup of hot wine or a shot of fruit vodka.
Warsaw has a few markets: one in the main market square, another closer to the Royal Castle and a more modern one in the Praga district, towards the east of the Vistula River, at the foot of the stadium.
Sightseeing in Warsaw
- Old Town: Restored after the destruction of WWII, the Old Town and New Town (also old and rebuilt) are pretty areas to walk around and home to the Royal Castle.
- St Anne’s Church: Visit the viewing platform for the best views of Warsaw’s historic centre.
- The Soviet-era Palace of Culture and Science: An art deco-inspired skyscraper and the tallest building in Poland.
- Warsaw Uprising Museum: One of the most fascinating yet sombre museums in Central Europe depicting life in the Warsaw Ghetto, the resistance, and the aftermath of the uprising in 1944.
- Remains of the Jewish Ghetto walls: Honestly, there isn’t much left of the walls. Only take the time to visit this if you’re specifically interested in seeing it or happen to be walking that way anyway.
- Lazienki Park: The largest park in Warsaw, home to Lazienki Palace on the water and the Chopin monument. The park is part of the Royal Route linking the Royal Palace and Wilanow Palace.
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: The last remaining part of the Saxon Palace that was destroyed during WWII and never rebuilt.
- Wilanow Palace: One of the few buildings remaining in its original state, the renovated baroque palace is now an art gallery, museum and pretty garden.
- Lublin: If you have time, take a day trip to Lublin, a cute small city with pastel-coloured buildings and pretty facades.
Gdansk
Traipsing through snow and slush as the bitterly cold arctic wind whips through the streets from the Baltic Sea: wind, snow, ice and negative temperatures. Gdansk sounds like a fun place for a winter weekend trip.
But no, I exaggerate; a weekend in Gdansk is lovely. I adore everything about this city. If you want to see an old Hanseatic seaport and Royal Way with fresh snow cover, Gdansk in December is your destination.
There’s a very good chance of a white Christmas and snow in December, and you’re bound to enjoy the grzane wino (you might need a few) even more with the chilly temps.
Plan Your Trip
Gdansk dates: 22nd November to 23rd December 2024 (confirmed).
Location:
Tkacka Street in front of The Great Armoury (Wielka Zbrojownia).
Boguslawskiego Street.
Forum Gdansk Shopping Centre Courtyard.
Reason to visit: The gorgeous Baltic Sea location and historic Hanseatic architecture make it an interesting alternative to the usual markets.
Specialities: Hot chocolate, Polish cakes and Baltic amber jewellery.
Tips: Stay close to the market so you don’t have to walk much in the cold weather.
Where to Stay: Read my neighbourhood guide explaining where to stay in Gdansk and for further tips on visiting.
What to Look Out For
The Gdansk market isn’t huge, but you can expect to see a Venetian carousel, ice skating rink, Christmas trees from around the world, handmade ornaments, toys, scarves, candles and festive gourmet food.
Food to try includes Polish festive cakes, pretzels, chocolate-covered fruit, chocolate ‘tools’, roasted nuts, smoked cheese, grilled sausages and, of course, hot chocolate and spiced mulled wine.
Sightseeing in Gdansk
- Long Street (the Royal Way) and the Old Town.
- The medieval harbour crane.
- Gorgeous Mariacka ulica (Mary’s Street) is the most picturesque street.
- City views from St Mary’s Church are 400 steps up. It’s not too bad if you can manage it.
- Snow on the beach and the Baltic dunes at Rowokol.
- The European Solidarity Centre is a tribute to Poland’s Solidarity Movement, which helped end communist rule in Poland.
- Go for lunch in the elegant resort town of Sopot.
- Visit Malbork Castle, a medieval red-bricked castle one hour south of the city.
More Winter Destinations
- Lublin: Not far from Warsaw, Lublin has a more rustic look than the other cities mentioned here. The Old Town buildings have some of the most gorgeous decorative facades. The castle on the hill is a must-visit.
- Poznan: Halfway between Berlin and Warsaw, Poznan has a beautiful, historic main square and cute little side streets packed with cafes and boutiques to keep you busy on a day trip. Dates: 16th November 2024 to 6th January 2025 (confirmed).
- Szczecin: A small fair is held at the Castle of Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecin, a mid-size city on the border with Germany. Read my Berlin to Szczecin day trip from a few years ago.
This list of where to eat Szczecin has some great cafes, vegan options and where to get good coffee.
Polish Specialities
The Polish markets are big on food, with plenty of handmade wooden toys, decorations, cleaning brushes (not sure why these always pop up at the markets) and other small gifts and trinkets.
You’re not far off if you imagine Polish food is meat and potato-dominated, washed down with vodka. Well, maybe with mulled wine instead of vodka.
Us vegetarians can enjoy pierogi, smoked cheeses, and mushroom soup. Pierogi may not always be vegan, so it’s good to ask. Plant-based options are becoming more common at the markets these days.
Don’t worry too much if you have dietary restrictions. The markets may have limited choices, but larger cities and tourist areas have many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals available.
Sustainable Travel Tips
- Eco-friendly hotels: Poland is seeing a rise in hotels prioritising sustainability. Focus on places that use renewable energy sources. Energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water fixtures are also good signs.
- Minimise food waste: Many eateries serve large portions, especially in tourist-heavy cities like Krakow and Warsaw. Rather than leave half your plate, consider sharing meals or asking for a takeaway box. Takeaway is common, so you’re not breaking social norms.
- Ethical consumption: Be mindful of what you buy. Purchase items you’ll use regularly or that might hold significant value, like hand-embroidered linens from the Zakopane region or locally-made products.
- Sustainable diets: Traditional Polish cuisine relies heavily on meat and dairy, but most cities also have many vegetarian and vegan options that are kinder to the environment. You can find vegan versions of Polish classics like pierogi in many restaurants.
- Transport: While I often write about driving holidays, you can easily adapt it to train travel. The Polish Rail system is efficient and connects most major cities. I took the train from Warsaw to Krakow, which was comfortable and reliable. Alternatively, electric vehicle rentals are becoming increasingly available if you prefer to drive.
Comment below if you want to leave a Xmas review, have any questions or would like to report any inaccuracies.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While I try to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.