Katowice Christmas Market 2024 Dates at Market Square

Katowice stands out with its blend of industrial history and creative energy. In winter, the Christmas market transforms the city centre into a lively space filled with unique Silesian crafts and local specialties well into the New Year.

Keep reading for the 2024 dates and highlights you won’t want to miss.

Katowice Christmas Market Continues into the New Year

Dates and Location – Confirmed

Katowice dates: 22nd November 2024 to 5th January 2025 (confirmed). Verify the schedule here.
Location: Rynek – Market Square.
Opening times: 10am to 8pm.
Christmas Day: Closed.
Admission: Free.
Lights: No switch on date.
Santa: Yes, photos are available.
Ice skating: Yes.
Attractions: Ferris wheel, carousel and the train ride.
Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten-free: Yes, but limited.
Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Reason to visit: Somewhere different away from the huge crowds at the more known cities.
Recommended tour: Old Town highlights walking tour.
Food specialities: Pierogi (dumplings), kielbasa (sausage), oscypek (smoked cheese), zapiekanka (grilled sandwich), grzane piwo (warm beer).
Where to stay: Q Hotel Plus is a popular hotel 5 minutes from Market Square.

Convenient Hotels

Staying in the city centre is your best bet for being close to the vibrant Market Square. Transport links, a lively atmosphere, and various shops and restaurants serve the central district well.

For somewhere to stay, I recommend Q Hotel Plus, which is popular for its service and central location.

Recommended Tours

A tour of Katowice provides a fun opportunity to discover the city’s history and culture. This Old Town highlights walking tour is a great choice as it lets you see many of the city’s highlights, such as the Nikiszowiec district, Spodek concert hall and the Cathedral of Christ the King.

For an alternative perspective, think about taking this Polish food tour to explore the local culture through its cuisine.

To continue your festive adventure in Poland, read my Polish Christmas Markets List, which will help you plan an itinerary.

Event Location

What to Expect

The city has changed dramatically since my first visit in the early 2000s.

This market is known for its stalls offering traditional Polish crafts, local foods and unique gifts.

The ice sculptures are a highlight, though it’s unclear if they’ll be featured this year. If you visit, let me know in the comments.

Regional Specialties

• Pierogi: These are traditional Polish dumplings filled with a variety of ingredients. Common fillings include mashed potato with cottage cheese, sauerkraut, and even berries for a sweet version.
• Barszcz czerwony: This beetroot soup is a common starter at Polish dinners. It’s a light, tangy soup, sometimes served with tiny dumplings known as uszka, filled with wild mushrooms and cabbage.
• Kutia: A sweet dish traditionally served at the end of the meal in Eastern Poland. It mixes berries, poppy seeds, honey, dried fruits and nuts in pastry.
• Kompot z suszu: A traditional sweet, fragrant drink made by boiling dried fruits and spices in water, often consumed during Wigilia, the Polish Christmas Eve supper.
• Golabki: Translated to ‘little pigeons’, cabbage rolls filled with rice and meat, covered with tomato or mushroom sauce.
• Makowiec: This poppy seed roll is a staple of Polish holiday cuisine. Sweet bread is rolled around a dense filling of ground poppy seeds, sugar, butter, and often dried fruit and nuts, then baked until golden.

Food at the Stalls

• Grzane piwo: This warm beer is typically prepared with dark beer, heated and mixed with spices such as cloves, cinnamon and honey.
• Oscypek: Smoked cheese made of salted sheep milk. Originating from the highland region of Podhale in Poland, these are traditionally shaped into decorative spindle-like figures and are served grilled with cranberry sauce.
• Kielbasa: Polish sausage, typically made from pork.
• Zapiekanka: A popular street food in Poland, Zapiekanka is an open-faced sandwich made from a baguette, topped with sauteed mushrooms, cheese, and often other ingredients like ham or vegetables, toasted until the cheese is well melted. It’s usually finished off with a squirt of ketchup. Highly recommended!
• Paczki: Doughnuts filled with rose hip jam and often topped with icing sugar or glaze.
• Gingerbread cookies: Not exclusively Polish but a popular treat.
• Mulled wine: Known as ‘Grzane wino’ in Poland.
• Chimney cake or Trdelník: Originating from Central Europe but now a common sight across the continent.

What to Buy

• Ornaments: Handmade ornaments are a classic among the various products available.
• Amber jewellery: The Baltic Sea coast is rich in amber, often called the “Baltic Gold”. Necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets are popular.
• Polish pottery: Recognised for its distinctive blue and white patterns, this high-quality stoneware from Bolesławiec makes for a practical and beautiful gift. Mugs, plates, bowls, and more are available.
• Folk Art: Items such as colourful, hand-painted wooden boxes and intricate paper cut-outs (Wycinanki) reflect Poland’s rich folk art traditions.
• Wooden toys: Skilfully made wooden toys are both charming and durable.
• Polish linen: Well-regarded for its quality. Beautifully woven tablecloths, napkins, or clothing.
• Honey and preserves: Local producers often sell their honey, jams, and preserves, often derived from the wildflowers of the Polish countryside or fruits from local orchards.

Sustainability Tips

• Green Hotels: Some hotels and guesthouses run on renewable energy and implement energy-saving solutions. If you can, try staying at one of these eco-friendly hotels.
• Minimise Food Waste: I recommend buying smaller portions to avoid unnecessary waste. Also, consider sharing dishes with your travel companions to sample a wider variety of foods without leaving leftovers.
• Ethical Consumption: Look for stalls that sell locally made crafts and products, which support the local economy and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping.
• Sustainable Diet: Polish cuisine has many plant-based options that are tasty and more sustainable. Order dishes like pierogi stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms or borscht, a beetroot soup, which are delicious examples of traditional vegetarian Polish food.
• Sustainable Transport: Katowice has an efficient public transport system, including trams and buses, which is an eco-friendly way to explore the city. For shorter distances, consider walking or hiring a bicycle from the numerous bike rental stations dotted around the city.

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 we make every effort 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.