Christmas Markets in Krakow 2024: A Magical Winter Escape

The Christmas Markets in Krakow are certainly having their moment in the spotlight.

In 2023, the Krakow Christmas Market was named the ‘best Christmas Market in Europe‘ by Christmas Tree World.

Ranking factors included the number of days that the market is on, the average price of 3* and 4* hotels in the city, Google searches, and mentions on Instagram and TikTok (yes, really).

Vienna, Prague, and Cologne also made the top ten, as well as two other Polish Christmas Markets, Poznan and Wroclaw.

I love Christmas in Krakow. I’ve visited the Christmas Markets in Krakow many times over the years, and so I thought that it was probably about time I wrote an article about them (y’know, because I’m a professional travel blogger and all. Ahem.).

Here’s everything you need to know about the Christmas Markets in Krakow.

oscypek cheese — Oscypek smoked cheese at the Christmas Market in Krakow

Table of Contents

The Christmas Markets in Krakow

Krakow’s Christmas Markets at a Glance

The Krakow Christmas Markets are held in the main market square (Rynek Główny in Polish).

The 13th century square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. The iconic Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) dominates the centre of the square, and St. Mary’s Basilica, with its imposing Gothic towers, is also a sight to behold.

main square krakow — The main market square in Krakow

With around 100 timber huts selling all manner of Polish souvenirs and gastronomical delights, you could easily spend a whole afternoon wandering around the market.

You’ll also find a ginormous Christmas tree here, as well as a stage where you can watch traditional Polish folk performances and carol singers.

With that being said, the Christmas Markets in Krakow aren’t as big as you might imagine, and unlike other Christmas Markets in Europe, they are more or less confined to the main square.

One exception to this is the area outside Galeria Krakowska, Krakow’s main shopping mall, right by the train station.

Here, you’ll find a small market with a handful of stalls, as well as a large ice-skating rink (more on that later).

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Shopping

While you’ll find your fair share of tourist tat at Krakow’s Christmas Market (fridge magnets, shot glasses etc.), there are certainly lots of unique artisan products available to buy as well.

Wooden toys and nativity scenes are very popular, and you can get lovely hand painted boxes with intricate patterns and Polish folk scenes carved into them.

Painted glass baubles are also a very popular souvenir.

Krakow is famous for glass art, and many glass baubles that you can purchase in the UK were made in Poland – there’s even a stained glass museum in Krakow!

My personal recommendation would be to buy some amber jewellery, because this is something you won’t necessarily find at other Christmas Markets in Europe.

Poland is famous for its Baltic amber jewellery, and you can find all kinds of beautiful pieces for sale.

You can find more amber jewellery inside the Cloth Hall in the centre of the square. This is a popular place to buy souvenirs in Krakow, and it’s open year round.

If you’re feeling the cold, you could also buy a pair of sheepskin gloves or a hat to keep you nice and toasty!

Eating and drinking

I love Polish food (I actually wrote an entire article about Polish food).

Polish food is rich, hearty, and it feels like a hug from the inside, making it perfect for the Christmas season.

Some Polish Christmas drinks that you can’t miss are:

Mulled wine (grzaniec) – Mulled wine is a Christmas Market classic, and it’s no different at the Krakow Christmas Markets. Sometimes, you’ll find mulled wines from different regions of Poland, all made slightly differently.

Mulled beer (grzane piwo) – Polish mulled beer is served piping hot and made with honey and various other goodies, including cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

mulled wine in krakow — Mulled wine in Alchemia, Krakow

Mead (miód pitny) – Literally translating to ‘drinkable honey,’ miód pitny, or mead, is a lovely medieval drink that is perfect for wintertime.

Vodka – Polish vodkas come in all sorts of flavours, and you should certainly try some while you’re in Poland. Soplica is one of the most famous brands, and my favourite flavours are hazelnut, blackcurrant, and lemon.

polish vodka — Flavoured vodka in Krakow

Cherry liqueur (Pijanej Wiśni) – This syrupy cherry liqueur tastes more like a dessert than an alcoholic drink, and it can be served hot or cold. If you can’t find it at the market, head to the bar of the same name, which ONLY serves Pijanej Wiśni!

In order to soak up all that alcohol, you’re going to need some stodgy food.

Here are some of the most popular and traditional Polish foods that you will find at the Christmas Market in Krakow:

Kaszanka – Kaszanka is black pudding, or blood sausage, and it’s very popular at Polish Christmas Markets. You can have it as a side to your sausage, order it with some garlic mushrooms, or enjoy it on its own. I love Polish blood sausage; it’s peppery, it’s fried, and it’s delicious.

Kiełbasa – It wouldn’t be a Christmas Market without an abundance of grilled sausages, and in Poland, the sausage of choice is Kiełbasa Polska. Kiełbasa are smoked sausages made with herbs and garlic. They are typically served with ketchup and mustard.

Bigos – Bigos (hunter’s stew) is a great winter dish. It is made with sauerkraut, kiełbasa, mushroom and onion. The earthy flavours of the mushroom mixed with the smoked sausage and tangy sauerkraut work really well together, especially when served with a glass of ice cold vodka 😉

Pierogi – Pierogi are Polish dumplings, and they’re probably the most famous Polish food on the planet! You’ll find lots of pierogi stalls on the market. For the quintessential Polish dumpling experience, go for Pierogi Ruskie with potato and cheese, or for something a little different, why not try sauerkraut pierogi? For those with a sweet tooth, you can find pierogi stuffed with blueberries or cherries, and served with cream.

Oscypek – Oscypek is a spindle-shaped smoked cheese made from sheep’s milk, that comes from the Tatra Mountains. Plenty of market stalls will be selling slices of grilled Oscypek with cranberry jam, and it’s something you really can’t find outside of Krakow and the Tatra Mountains.

Pork knuckle (golonka) – Polish people love pork, and one of the most popular cuts is the pork knuckle. Served on the bone, this fatty meat is flavourful, tender, and delicious. For an authentic experience, I recommend ordering golonka with boiled potatoes and sauerkraut.

Borscht (Barszcz czerwony) – While you can find tomato and mushroom soup at the Krakow Christmas Markets, you can do what the locals do and order Barszcz czerwony, a Ukrainian beetroot soup. It usually costs about 2 EUR and you can keep your hands warm by wrapping them around the paper cup!

Polish crepes (naleśniki) – Every Christmas Market needs a crepe stand, and Krakow is no different. Polish crepes are called naleśniki, and they are made thin and served with pretty much whatever you want!

More useful information

When are the Christmas Markets in Krakow?

So, what dates are the Christmas Markets on in Krakow?

The Krakow Christmas Markets 2024 will begin on November 29th and run until December 26th. Technically, the market turns into the ‘New Year Market’ from December 26th until the beginning of January, but most of the stalls will disappear on December 26th.

a pierogi stand at the krakow christmas markets — The markets become very sparse after December 26

Stalls are officially open every day from 10:00am until 8:00pm, but in reality, most vendors stay open later (especially food and drinks vendors).

Most vendors accept card.

Does it snow in Krakow at Christmas?

Of course, nobody can say for sure whether it will snow in Krakow at Christmas, but typically, it does.

I’ve been to Krakow in December many times, and it’s always snowed.

With that being said, because the old town gets so much foot traffic, the ‘snow’ is more like grey sludge!

If you want to experience snow in Poland, I recommend heading south to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.

Zakopane is a gorgeous little town where you can enjoy alpine beauty, thermal baths, and hearty mountain food (and skiing, of course).

You can book an organised tour from Krakow to Chocholow Thermal Baths in Zakopane, which is what I recommend doing.

If you’d prefer to explore the town of Zakopane itself, this is the tour I recommend.

Ice skating in Krakow

Every winter, a few outdoor ice skating rinks pop up around the city of Krakow.

For the most part, they aren’t centrally located, and so I recommend heading to the one outside Galeria Krakowska, the large shopping mall next to the train station.

Galeria Krakowska is just a 13-minute walk on foot from the main square, making is super easy to reach.

You can expect to pay about 7 EUR for skate rental and admission, which grants an unlimited time on the ice.

The ice rink is open from the beginning of December until the end of February.

If you’re interested in the other ice skating rinks in Krakow, In Your Pocket has a handy round-up.

What to do in Krakow in winter

I wrote the biggest list of things to do in Krakow you’ll find on the internet, so I definitely suggest giving it a read, but below are some particularly Christmassy/magical things to do in Krakow in the winter months:

Dziorawy Kociol (The Leaky Cauldron) – Located in the cellar of a beautiful old building, The Leaky Cauldron is Krakow’s very own Harry Potter themed café. It serves magic-themed cakes and non-alcoholic drinks (I tried the Butter Beer). The rooms have low lighting, spooky sound effects and pictures of the HP characters on the walls.
Check out Krakow’s museums – There are lots of interesting museums in Krakow, and the cold winter months are the perfect time to check them out!
Souvenir shopping in the Cloth Hall – Buy cute trinkets and jewellery here. There’s also an interactive underground museum here all about the history of Krakow!
Try flavoured vodka – Head to Wodka Café Bar to try chocolate or caramel vodka!

the author sitting in front of 6 vodka shots — Wodka Café Bar, Krakow

Are the Krakow Christmas Markets the best Christmas Markets in Europe?

Krakow is a magical city, and Christmas makes it even more magical.

If you are planning to visit Krakow in December, I have no doubt that the Christmas Markets will really add some extra sparkle to your trip.

However, if you want brutal honesty, the Krakow Christmas Markets are not the best Christmas Markets in Europe, or even Poland!

For me, the best Christmas Markets in Poland are in Wroclaw (one of Poland’s most underrated cities).

The Christmas Markets in Wroclaw are bigger, less crowded, and there is much more variety in the stalls and what they sell. There are more lights, more decorations, and even a couple of fairground rides!

6 friends sitting in a cabin in the christmas markets — Enjoying the warm cabins at the Wroclaw Christmas Markets

You’ll find cute little huts with wooden figures depicting popular fairytales, and cosy cabins that you can sit inside with your drinks, rather than having to brave the elements.

If the Krakow Christmas Markets are a 6/10, the Wroclaw Christmas Markets are a strong 9.

There. I said what I said.

Christmas Markets in Krakow | Final Thoughts

I hope that this guide has been helpful.

I’ve been visiting Krakow since 2017 (with my last visit in 2023), and every time I return, I find more reasons to love this city.

The Christmas Markets might not be the best in the whole country, but they’re certainly worth visiting.

That’s all I’ve got for today, but if you have any questions then please reach out in the comments section below and I will get back to you.

I’ve also included some further reading below about Krakow and other European Christmas Markets.

Until next time,

XOXO