Caleb and I adore Kraków. We went in the summer, and it felt like a hidden treasure (we know, overused term!). After visiting the Krakow Christmas markets, we both agree that Winter feels the same way: a lesser-known but charming destination!
In the tour, we’ll go over everything you should think about when deciding whether to visit Krakow or not, as well as a market guide with everything you should try! We also have some insider recommendations from our December visit to Krakow!
Here’s a video we made to give you an overall sense of the ambiance!
✔️ Quick information:
📅 Opening dates TBD! We will keep this updated.
⏰ On weekdays, the best time to go is late afternoon or shortly after sunset.
🍴 Must try: Pierogi, Bigos stew, and Oscypek cheese.
🏨 Where to stay: We slept at Roller ApartHotels and loved it, especially the proximity to markets – only a 4-minute walk!
💴 Payment: Most businesses accept cards. Bring euros just in case.
This guide covers the following markets: Rynek Glowny and the Kazimierz Market.
What to Expect and Know If You Decide To Visit
Before we get into our full tour of Krakow’s Christmas markets, we’d like to help you decide whether they’re worth visiting for what you’re looking for! Perhaps you came on our post during the “information gathering” stage, rather than the “I know I’m going here; give me a detailed guide” stage.
So, boil some pierogi, and let’s discuss:
The Good:
First and foremost, Krakow’s Christmas market has been crowned the greatest in Europe for 2023. So do whatever you want with that information.
More than 90% of Poles identify as Catholic, thus Christmas is right up there with Easter! There are some unique Christmas traditions, such as St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, or you can buy a thin wafer called Oplatek at the market and share it as a symbol of good wishes for the coming year.
If you’re looking for a culturally significant market, this is it!
Caleb and I loved how festive the entire old town of Krakow seemed, even the market. The lovely small side streets were all lit up with Christmas lights, and we were even lucky enough to see snow!
Everything felt so fantastic, and we felt like we were in one of those Lifetime Christmas movies that you pretend to despise but enjoy.
When we initially arrived at the market, we were surprised that it did not take up the entire main plaza. But after visiting, we discovered that size doesn’t matter.
When compared to larger markets like those we saw in Prague or Berlin, the smaller market provides a more homey, festive, and authentic atmosphere. The market is much less tackily decorated than some of the larger ones, giving it a genuine Christmas sense that is also romantic. It does not feel as marketed.
We also enjoy that there is only *one* large market, so you don’t have to bumble about (due to cheap mulled wine) attempting to see everything in a short period.
We go to Christmas markets primarily to eat, so if you share our non-Christmas-calorie-counting hearts, you should visit Krakow for the holidays. We witnessed some of the most distinctive meals that are only available in Krakow. Bring your stretchy pants, buddies. You will need these.
The Bad:
We prefer to keep our opinions honest, therefore we’d say there are *some* drawbacks to consider.
There is only one big market, so if you want diversity or to visit multiple markets, this is probably not the place for you.
Because the market was only a portion of the square, it felt more claustrophobic and crowded than some of the other markets that are more spread out, so keep this in mind!
If you want to go to a market with a lot of local performances like we did in Bratislava, you’ll probably be disappointed here. We were pleased when we read that there will be a large stage with Polish dancing and performances! However, we didn’t notice any stages. This may change this year. However, be prepared for this stage to not exist.
If you’re expecting the “WOW” element, with all of the wild decorations and big proportions that other markets in Europe offer, the Christmas market in Krakow is likely to disappoint.
If you want to experience Krakow during Christmas…
To help you decide whether or not to visit, here are some factors that might make it worthwhile if you agree with all or most of them:
- You don’t mind slowing down and taking your time for a more authentic Christmas experience.
- You prefer simple beauty and are not looking for a huge WOW factor.
- You are on a budget.
- You are a foodie (particularly vegans, as we noticed several meat-free options!)
This is not for you if:
On the other hand, if you agree with these ideas, perhaps the Krakow Christmas market should be a “skipper”:
- You want to visit a lot of markets in one city.
- You’re looking for a market with a lot of activities or a high WOW factor.
Guide to the Largest Market in Rynek Główny
Krakow’s market square (Rynek Glowny) has the largest Christmas market, which occupies almost ½ of the square. It is modest, but charming, with simple garlands and strands of lights flowing between equally simple market stalls.
You won’t find crazy-decorated stalls like in Strasbourg here, which is OK with us! It’s festive in a pretty, not garish sense, especially with the MASSIVE Christmas tree that greets you (along with every other photo-taking tourist) as you enter the area.
The main square is beneath Saint Mary’s Basilica, which was regrettably closed when we visited but looked quite attractive. It all lights up at night in the background of the market, making it one of the most romantic Christmas markets we’ve ever visited!
As we wandered around, it was clear what the focus was: food! We saw that there appeared to be a “food area” in the center with all the food stalls, and “shopping stalls” around the outside. We had never seen a market organized like this before, so our gastronomic hearts were overjoyed.
Just keep in mind that if you’re looking for cute shoe mugs, they won’t be available here. We had mulled wine in paper “to-go” coffee mugs, which was disappointing. But it’s only 4-5 Euros, which is far less than the 8 Euros we paid at the awful Budapest market.
We tried a lot of unique foods here, like fried sheep cheese, a variety of soups (perfect for a cold night), and pierogi pierogies, it’s Poland! I’ll get to the meal in a moment.
If you wish to buy something at the market, we recommend buying from the stalls around the central eating area. As we moved about, we noticed that those stalls were the most interesting, offering things that appeared to be crafted by local craftsmen.
There is a covered “cloth hall” in the center of the market that serves as a year-round market, but really? It seemed ridiculous! It’s a tiny hallway, and it’s indoors, so there were a lot of people squeezing in to feel warm, and the shopping felt less distinctive and more mass-produced.
The Kazimierz Market
When we traveled down to explore Kazimierz (the Jewish neighborhood), we discovered a really little and cute market inside Plac Wolnica that had hardly any visitors at sundown. It was the perfect time to visit any market!
If you want a low-key, completely real experience, we recommend making a quick stop there as well! However, we believe it is not something you should make a special effort for.
Regional Foods To Try:
You’re in for a heavy yet delicious treat with Krakow’s Christmas Market food! Here are the items we tried, and we urge you to try them too:
- Grilled meat and sausages – in classic Caleb form, he started with the Polish sausages.
Did that come out incorrectly? Moving on.
If you enjoy meat, you will have no trouble obtaining meals because there are so many grilling huts.
- Bigos Strew is one of my favorite soups! It translates to “hunter stew” and reminds me of the cabbage stew that all 1990 moms ate because it had no calories.
However, it is not zero-calorie because it contains various types of sausage.
Just prepare to devour it quickly since we wish ours was hotter. It was somewhat lukewarm.
- Other soups: Soup is viral in Poland, and we spotted several soup stalls! Try pumpkin soup, tomato soup, garlic soup, or borscht (beet soup). So many soups to slurp.
- Fried sheep cheese (Oscypek): OMG. This is one of the best delicacies at any Christmas market, period. It’s smoked sheep cheese grilled and covered with cranberry jam.
We repeatedly wrapped it in ham. - Halva is one of my favorite sweet sweets, made with sesame tahini, sugar, and almonds. It’s quite sweet, but we didn’t see it in any other markets.
- Would you believe us if we did not include pierogies? We tried several intriguing flavors, such as duck with apricot and pulled beef and veggies!
- Piernik is a classic Polish gingerbread with a spicy kick!
- Makowiec is a wrapped poppyseed cake that gets all over your teeth, FYI.
- Open Grilled Sandwich (Pajda): This is not for the faint of heart. Stomach? In any case, this large slice of bread, toasted and drizzled with bacon fat or garlic butter before being topped with meat, cheese, and onions, will satisfy you.
We cautioned you to bring stretch pants.
You’ll also find some of the foods you’ve seen at other markets, such as potato pancakes and cabbage rolls.
Tip For The Best Experience
Where To Stay:
We stayed at Roller Aparthotel, which was the ideal spot to stay in Krakow for Christmas markets! It was only a few minutes’ walk to the main market. It was a great size, very modern, and clean.
Bring Cash
Many of the stalls accept credit cards, while others require cash! Be prepared.
Do Not Purchase Mulled Wine In The Primary Food Area
As previously said, the greatest stalls are the “secret” ones on the outside. We had several in the city center, although they were slightly more expensive and of lower quality.
Conclusion:
Finally, seeing Krakow’s Christmas markets provides a spectacular yet affordable European holiday experience. Krakow strikes the ideal blend between charm and affordability, from the spectacular seasonal lights in the ancient Old Town to the diverse selection of traditional Polish crafts and tasty, reasonable street snacks.
Visitors may celebrate the holidays without breaking the budget, while also learning about the city’s rich culture and festive traditions. Whether drinking mulled wine, indulging in pierogi or exploring homemade items, Krakow’s Christmas markets are a winter joy for budget-conscious travelers.
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