Krakow Christmas Market is the most popular and, I think, the best Christmas market in Poland. It’s located on Rynek Glowny, the 13th-century square in the centre of the Old Town.
You can’t miss the stalls as they sit between the famous Cloth Hall and the imposing St Mary’s Basilica.
The following guide provides everything you need to know about this cosy winter market, including dates for 2024 and opening times.
Krakow Christmas Market 2024
Dates – Unconfirmed
Krakow Christmas Market dates: 23rd November 2024 to 1st January 2025 (unconfirmed).
Note: The market becomes the Epiphany Festival after Christmas Day but it’s more or less the same stalls.
Expected Update: Last year’s dates were announced in September. Check back around that time for confirmed dates, or sign up for our newsletter to get notified as soon as they’re available.
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Plan Your Visit
Location and Times
Location: Rynek Glowny – Main Square.
Opening times: This varies but you can generally expect the markets to be open from late morning until early evening.
Christmas Day: Open, but you might find some stalls closed.
Travel and Accommodation
Recommended tour: 4-hour Polish food tour gives a great introduction to Polish food and culture.
Krakow weather in December: Temperatures average 3°C / -4°C (high / low) in December. You might see snow if you’re lucky.
Public transport: Trams stop at all points around the city walls.
Parking: Please walk or take public transport to help limit congestion.
Plan your trip: A list of resources to plan your Christmas holiday or winter break.
Travel tip: If you have time take a day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Auschwitz or to the mountains at Zakopane.
Where to stay: PURO Kraków is one of the nicest and most central hotels in Krakow.
Amenities and Attractions
Admission: Free, no tickets required.
Ice skating: There is ice skating in Krakow but not at the Christmas market. Ice Park Jordana is located in the east of the city and opens from early December.
Reason to visit: It’s a cool city with a younger crowd than in Germany and Austria, it’s relatively affordable, there’s a good chance of a white Christmas and there is always delicious cheap vodka.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian: Yes, there are many soups, pierogies, cheese and desserts that are suitable for vegetarians.
Vegan: Limited options.
Gluten free: Limited options.
Specialties: Oscypek smoked cheese from Zakopane served with cranberry preserve. Pretty crystal baubles. Sweet vodka based hot drinks. Grilled and smoked specialties, and slow-cooked hearty soups and goulash.
Accessibility
Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a lead as the market is in the city centre.
Convenient Hotels
Krakow can be very cold in winter, including in November and December. It’s advisable to look for hotels near Krakow Christmas market to avoid spending too much time walking outdoors when the weather is poor.
However, once you arrive at the market, you can warm up with mulled wine and hot soup or stand around one of the heated areas.
I’ve visited Krakow several times and recommend visitors stay at the Puro Hotel due to its great location and high standards.
Plan your trip to other Polish Christmas markets with our guide. Discover where to go, things to do and the best ways to experience Polish food, history and culture.
Map of Rynek Glowny
Christmas in Krakow
Watch the Video
During my visit to Krakow a few years ago, I shot this short video to showcase the Christmas market atmosphere. Take a look to get an idea of what to expect and what it’s like to visit in winter.
Even if the market isn’t huge compared to other destinations, it’s a fantastic place to visit. I highly recommend visiting Krakow at any time of the year if you get the chance.
Food Specialities
Krakow’s market is heavy on food, which is a great thing. There’s so much to try!
These are just a sample of what’s on offer, and it changes every year, but you can expect to see most of the following during the Christmas market period or even into January.
You can do your Xmas shopping at the market or browse the boutique shops in the nearby Kazimierz district.
- Smoked cheese: A good option for vegetarians, although it’s sometimes wrapped and cooked in bacon!
- Pierogi stalls: Savoury stuffed dumplings with cheese, sauerkraut or various types of meat 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 other grilled meats. You might want to avoid these if you’re trying to travel more sustainably.
- Polish soup: There are a few vegetarian soups at the Krakow market: mushroom, tomato and cabbage. Plus, you can get traditional goulash soup.
- Mulled wine: Known as “grzaniec,” this warm, spiced wine is popular at all Christmas markets. Look out for signs saying grzane wino, hot wine in Polish or find the stalls with huge barrels in front of them that are dotted around the market.
What to Buy in Krakow
Some popular Polish gifts to buy at the Krakow Christmas market include:
- Hand-painted pottery: Poland is famous for its hand-painted pottery, and the Krakow market is a great place to find unique and beautifully crafted pieces.
- Christmas ornaments: You can find a wide variety of traditional and modern Christmas ornaments, including glass balls, wooden decorations, and more.
- Handmade candles: Polish candles are renowned for their high quality and beautiful designs, making them a popular choice for holiday gifts.
- Gingerbread: Polish gingerbread, also known as “piernik,” is a sweet, spiced cake that is a popular treat during the holiday season.
- Folk art: Poland has a rich folk art tradition, and Krakow is a great place to find hand-crafted wooden toys, folk costumes, and other items that reflect this heritage.
- Warm hats and scarves: Winter in Poland can be cold, so warm hats and scarves are always a practical and appreciated gift. You can find a variety of styles, including traditional patterns and modern designs.
- Polish dolls: Quite popular at the markets and some shops in the Old town.
- Wooden toys: For some reason, you’ll not only find toys but also many wooden kitchen gadgets.
Other attractions include artisans working on their crafts, singing, dancing, free concerts and the occasional appearance of Santa Claus for the kids.
Personal Insights
Krakow in December is vibrant and bustling with shoppers and visitors from around the world.
There is so much to see and do: visit museums or the countless churches, take a day trip to sombre Auschwitz or see the underground cathedral carved into a salt mine.
Krakow is also known for its religious history, thanks to the strong presence of the Catholic church, along with Krakow being the hometown of Pope John Paul II.
Krakow is a popular summer destination but is becoming more well-known as a great break destination during Christmas and New Year.
It’s a fun, young city with so much history, great nightlife and laid-back cafe culture. While in Krakow, be sure to check out these things to do.
- Wawel Hill and Castle – Medieval royal castle and museum area. Try to visit at least one of the buildings in the museum complex.
- Cloth Hall – The huge building on the main square houses little shops with handmade goods and unique gifts. It’s free to walk through and have a look around.
- Kazimierz – The old Jewish Quarter is filled with cool cafes and bars. This is a great place to stay in Krakow if you want to be in a lively, hipster neighbourhood.
- Zapiekanka – Eat a traditional Polish baguette/pizza topped with grilled mushrooms and cheese. Head to Plac Nowy in Kazimierz for the best. This is the best fast food in Poland!
- Pierogies – Don’t miss out on eating some of the tastiest dumplings in Poland. Sweet or savoury, pierogies are a must-try.
- Sweet fruit-flavoured 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 vodka, perfect for warming up in winter. I really loved that place! Their vodkas aren’t as strong as you might imagine, and vodka is inexpensive in Poland.
- Brunch – You might want to recover from a night of vodka drinking and eating with a delicious late breakfast at Bistro Charlotte. This modern cafe has fresh bread, baked items and excellent coffee. I was so happy I stumbled upon this one Sunday.
- 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).
Official Website
Krakow Tourism is the city’s official website that has information and more details about visiting Krakow on a Christmas break or winter holiday.
You can learn about museums, public transport, religious routes, Jewish heritage, Pope John Paul II, walking the Royal Route and many other attractions.
They can also help with further questions regarding the Krakow Xmas market experience this year.
Sustainable Travel Tips
When travelling, keeping sustainability in mind is important. Simple changes to how we travel can make all the difference for the environment and local communities.
- Shop mindfully. Only purchase what you really need. Wooden toys and Christmas decorations might be a good option if that’s what you need.
- Walk, cycle and use public transport to get around. Krakow’s historic centre is relatively small, so if you’re physically able, you should be able to walk to most places.
- Stay in a sustainable hotel powered by renewable energy.
- Avoid using plastic or buying items made or packaged with plastic. Take your own reusable bags for your purchases.
- Try to eat locally sourced organic food where possible. This is very achievable in Poland.
- Limit your consumption of meat and dairy. Vegetarian pierogies are delicious and an easy meat-free swap.
- Be open to diverse cultures and experiences.
- Explore more than just the main tourist areas. If you step away from the city centre, you might find some cool bars with live music, for example.
- Support the arts and attend local events. Krakow has many great galleries where artists display their works. Speak to the owners and learn about what they’re doing.
- Visit fewer places but stay longer at each destination. I highly recommend spending 5 days in Krakow if possible; there’s a lot to see.
If you have visited Krakow in winter or would like to leave a review of the Krakow Xmas Market, comment below. This helps others who are interested in visiting and trying to plan their holiday.
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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.
Pete
I love the Christmas market in Krakow! I’ve been there twice and I plan to visit it again this year… I hope there will be a lot of snow!
Andrea Anastasakis
I’ve been twice as well. It’s one of my favourites!
Andrea Anastasakis
Did you end up visiting last year? How was it?
Maya Mirza
How i can reserve one shop for my small business ??
Andrea Anastasakis
You can contact the Krakow city council for more information.
Sarah
Is the Christmas market open for new years? Arriving on the 28th and was hoping to see the markets 😥
Andrea Anastasakis
The Epiphany Festival with market stalls should be running until New Year’s Day.
Kelly Hageman
Hello. Has the end date for the Krakow market been confirmed to definitely end on January 1, 2024? I’ve seen this in a couple of places, but I also saw something that said it will only go until December 23, 2023. Thank you.
Andrea Anastasakis
After Christmas Day the event becomes the smaller Epiphany Festival.
CHARITON MADENLIS
Is it worth visiting the Christmas Market after 26 December?
Andrea Anastasakis
It’s much quieter after that time. There are lots of things to do in Krakow, but I’m not sure I’d make a dedicated trip just for the Christmas market.
Kathleen
Is the salt mines neer Wyspianski hotel?
Andrea Anastasakis
No, the salt mine is in Wieliczka, around a 20 minute drive from the centre of Krakow, or 1 hour by bus. It’s very easy to get to from Krakow.
Jennifer Richards
Hi, is the Christmas market open every day or only certain days? And at what times? Many thanks
Andrea Anastasakis
For the moment, I only have the information listed here. I will update this closer to the opening dates.
Margarita
Hello
Is the market open on January 1st?
And what are the daily hours of the market?
Andrea Anastasakis
There may be some stalls open, but as it’s the festival’s last day, I wouldn’t expect too much.
Lenka
Hi, thanks for all the great information. I was wondering, is it possible to pay by card in the christmas market stalls? Just so I know if it’s worth exchanging any cash. Thanks!
Andrea Anastasakis
It’s up to individual vendors. I suggest taking cash to be sure or you could wait and see when you get there.
Lea
If we only have time to visit the Christmas market on the 25th November (the day of the opening), can we expect it to be fully set up already or will lots of things still be missing?
Andrea Anastasakis
It will be fully set up before opening.
Laith
Will Krakow main square Christmas market be open on the 25th of December (Christmas day)?
If yes then are there going to be any specific opening hours?
Andrea Anastasakis
Yes, it’s open on Christmas Day. No times are specified but should be from around 10 or 11am until the evening.
Nicole
Are Christmas markets opened on Christmas Day. And to visit the salt mines is it
Difficult with a push chair
Andrea Anastasakis
The salt mines are accessed via a lift and then the path through the mine is a flat surface. However, I recall the lift being quite small so I’m not sure how you would go with a push chair. I would email the tour company before you book to be sure.
Donna
Is there an ice rink open in krkaow on 13th December, thankyou
Andrea Anastasakis
There are three ice skating rinks that are open but they’re not in central Krakow. You can get the details here: http://krakow.travel/en
Georgia Wilson
Do the Christmas markets run on Sundays and Mondays?
Andrea
Yes, they do.