Discover Kraków's Christmas Markets and More

Every year during Advent, Kraków’s central market square (Rynek Główny) is transformed into a huge Christmas market. Between St Mary’s Basilica and the Cloth Hall, festively decorated wooden stalls stand side by side. Visitors, all bundled up warm, stroll through the narrow alleys with steaming mulled wine (grzaniec) in hand, on the lookout for Polish delicacies and original gift ideas.

It’s hardly surprising that this Christmas market attracts so many people in the run-up to Christmas. It's not just the medieval market square, but also the surrounding streets of the Old Town that become a Christmas wonderland. And as the first snowflakes dance across the historic façades, the scene is complete.

But the market isn’t the only thing that casts a special spell over the city. Christmas traditions are celebrated everywhere here, as are seasonal specialities. This city in southern Poland has plenty to offer during the cold season, and it’s ideal for getting into the festive spirit. Here's how.

When the scent of mulled wine, fried sausages and roasted almonds fills the air in Kraków’s Old Town, people are drawn to the medieval market square, Rynek Główny. Surrounded by beautifully restored townhouses and palaces, you quickly feel as though you’ve travelled back in time.

This is especially true in December, when the city becomes a glittering Christmas wonderland. More than 70 wooden stalls fill the square between the Gothic St Mary’s Basilica and the historic Cloth Hall, and festive music wafts through the alleyways. Welcome to Kraków’s largest Christmas market.

Near St Mary’s Basilica, a huge, colourfully decorated Christmas tree towers skywards. Carollers and folk dancers take to the stage. And you? Simply follow the sea of people and lights and let yourself be carried along.

Mulled wine, punch or winter tea steams from wooden mugs, while sausages and oscypek (smoked sheep’s cheese from the Tatra Mountains, often served with cranberry jam) sizzle on the grill. New temptations await at every turn, so come with a hearty appetite. Sample roasted chestnuts, deliciously filled pierogi dumplings, pierniki gingerbread and makowiec, a poppy seed strudel.

If you’re looking for unusual gifts for your loved ones, the Christmas market on Kraków’s historic market square is a great place to start. In the quaint, lovingly decorated wooden stalls, you’ll find handicrafts, regional produce, and Polish sweets and chocolates. Eager traders and craftspeople sometimes travel to Kraków from neighbouring countries such as Lithuania, Hungary and Slovakia. Like their Polish counterparts, they breathe new life into almost forgotten crafts during the festive season, amid colourful lights and the magic of the market stalls.

Glassblowers demonstrate their skills and sell delicate glassware. There are hand-painted Christmas decorations, artistically carved wooden figurines, richly decorated rolling pins and traditional Polish pottery. You can also buy handmade jewellery, embroidered tablecloths, wooden toys and cosy hats, scarves and socks in traditional patterns, for your loved ones or for yourself.

Or do like the locals do and buy wafer biscuits (opłatek). These are often adorned with religious motifs such as the Nativity or the Star of Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve, families break these wafers together and share them with good wishes. Such a lovely tradition!

Want to escape the hustle and bustle of the main market square? Stroll across the Vistula River to the Podgórze district and head for the Rynek Podgórski, in the shadow of St Joseph’s Church (which looks like a fairy-tale castle). Here's where the people of Kraków celebrate the region’s cultural diversity at the cosy Christmas Fair of Unique Items (Świąteczne Targi Rzeczy Wyjątkowych).

Anchoring its heart is a Victorian carousel that’s over a hundred years old. At the small stalls around it, you can buy handmade Christmas decorations, warm clothing, toys and other regional products, such as souvenirs featuring motifs from the neighbourhood. The scent of homemade specialities and fresh mulled wine wafts through the air.

Before crossing the Vistula, though, look out for Kazimierz, the historic Jewish Quarter, on your right. Today, it's one of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods, synonymous with street food, graffiti and milk bars. It’s well worth taking a short detour to visit the Christmas market on Plac Wolnica.

This compact market is a real hidden gem, with a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere. The 30 or so decorated stalls offer intricate handicrafts, jewellery and ceramics from the region, so you’re sure to find one or two special gifts or souvenirs. Also right on Plac Wolnica is the Ethnographic Museum, home to exhibits on Polish Christmas traditions and decorations, amongst other interesting artefacts.

Ethnographic Museum

• Plac Wolnica 1 (inside Kazimierz Town Hall)
• Open Tue–Sun 10am–6pm
• Standard ticket 20 PLN (approx. €4.50)

For many visitors, the Christmas market on Kraków’s historic main square is one of the most beautiful in Poland. Its history stretches far back and is closely intertwined with the city’s lovingly preserved Advent customs. Here are two to look out for.

A real highlight of the Kraków Christmas market is the nativity scene competition. There are strict rules, so anyone wanting to take part should have a knack for craftsmanship and, above all, start in good time.

Traditionally, the nativity scenes (szopki) are crafted in miniature from wood, plaster, plastic and glitter. Every nativity scene must feature Kraków landmarks, such as the striking towers of St Mary’s Basilica or Wawel Castle, combined with the biblical Christmas scene of the Nativity. Extra points are awarded for ingenious moving mechanisms, lighting, imaginative figures or political satire.

On the first Thursday in December, the craftspeople display their colourful, opulently crafted works of art around the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Rynek Główny, so that the finest can be chosen. This wonderful Christmas tradition dates back to the 19th century. Before the nativity scenes are displayed at the monument, the makers traditionally present them in a festive procession, which begins after the bugle call on the market square.

Food plays an important role at Christmas in Poland. On Christmas Eve (Wigilia), Polish families traditionally gather round a festively laid table and serve 12 different dishes. Each represents a biblical apostle or a month of the coming year, and is said to bring good luck. The Christmas dinner (Wieczerza Wigilijna) features classics such as borscht (beetroot soup) with uszka (small dumplings), carp, mushroom soup, pierogi, steamed cabbage, dried-fruit compote and flour dumplings with poppy seeds.

If you visit Kraków during Advent, you may be able to enjoy this sumptuous menu, or at least some of the dishes. Restaurants serving traditional Polish cuisine, as well as hotels like The Crown Krakow - Handwritten Collection, share this delicious tradition with their guests. The legendary Pod Aniołami, with its winding cellar, is another good place to find a Christmas Eve feast.

Pod Aniołami

• Grodzka 35
• Open daily 1pm–11pm

A city break to Kraków is well worth it for the Christmas markets and Advent traditions alone. But the city has plenty more to offer in the run-up to Christmas, perfect for getting into the festive spirit and enjoying time with your family or friends.

There's nothing like a spin on the ice to get you in the mood for Christmas, and the best place for that in Kraków is in the heart of the historic Henryk Jordan Park, west of the Old Town. That’s where you’ll find Poland’s largest open-air ice rink. Put on your skates and glide across the 1,200-sqm rink, then onto a winding ice avenue that meanders between brightly lit trees and past reindeer and bear figures, through a fairytale setting. It’s most magical after sunset, when the lights make the ice sparkle.

• al. 3 Maja 11
• Ice rink open from early December, Sun–Thur 9am–9pm, Fri–Sat 9am–10pm
• Ice skates available for hire on site

In winter, dusk falls earlier, the little boutiques and shops are decked out with red bows and candy canes, and fairy lights hang over the alleyways. The atmosphere in Kraków’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, is particularly romantic, especially when snow gently drifts down and dusts the alleyways. Unlike Warsaw's historic core, Kraków was not completely destroyed during World War II. On a romantic meander past Gothic monuments and Renaissance landmarks, you’ll feel the magic of Christmas as well as the city’s long and eventful history.

Getting cold? Pop into the quaint and charming Camelot Cafe, just five minutes from the market square. The floorboards creak as you step inside, and candles flicker on the small tables. Treat yourself to a slice of freshly baked cake or some homemade pierogi, depending on whether you fancy something sweet or savoury.

Once you’ve warmed up, take a stroll through Planty Park, which encircles the Old Town and is particularly beautiful when covered in snow. Stay at the 4-star Hotel TRIBE Kraków Old Town, and you’ll enjoy a cosy, stylish stay close to the romantic Old Town and Kraków’s Christmas markets.

Camelot Cafe

• Św. Tomasza 17
• Open Sun–Thur 9am–11pm, Fri–Sat 9am–midnight

Travelling with kids? A visit to the zoo is always a highlight. In the heart of Wolski Forest, west of the Old Town, around 1,500 animals live on a site covering a good 20 hectares: lions, elephants, tigers and many more. Visit Kraków Zoo with your family in the run-up to Christmas for a particularly cosy atmosphere, with plenty of time to watch the animals at your leisure. There's an exciting winter nature trail where little ones can discover animals that thrive in cold temperatures and prefer life in the snow.

• Aleja Kasy Oszczędności Miasta Krakowa 14
• Open daily in winter 9am–4pm

Kraków’s Christmas magic is only the beginning. Poland has many more adventures waiting to be discovered, from the salt mines near Kraków to Wrocław’s gnomes and museums in Gdańsk. Can’t get enough of Christmas markets? Find everything you need to know in our handy guide to Europe’s best. Wherever the season takes you, pack your warmest scarf and a healthy appetite, and let the next Christmas market surprise you.