Whilst the Christmas market is the main event, Kraków has much more to offer over the festive period. Here’s our essential guide to the Christmas markets and events for 2025.
Full details for some of this years events have not yet been published. This article will be updated as information becomes available.
NEW FOR 2025
This year will be special. Kraków will host two Christmas markets.
- A second, smaller Christmas Fair, on Mały Rynek.
- Venetian Childrens Carousel, by the Town Hall Tower (5zł a ride)
- Residents who are Kraków Card Holders benefit from 20% discount at food stalls at both markets.
- Improved security for public safety – concrete barriers on Rynek and additional Police patrols.
AT A GLANCE
(click link to jump to section with more information)
November 28th – 1st January 2026 – Christmas Market – Rynek Główny
November 29th – 30th – Christmas Fair of unique things – Rynek Podgórski
December 1st – January 1st 2026 – Christmas Fair – Mały Rynek (Small Market Square) NEW
December 4th 10am – 12noon – Nativity scene display & parade – Rynek Główny
December 6th, 4pm – Christmas tree lights switch on & concert – Rynek Główny
December 6th 5:30-8pm (to be confirmed) Christmas Tram
December 7th 11am – Santas on SUP’s – Zakrzówek Park, ul. Wyłom 1
December 7th 11am – Santa motorbike ride – Okolicy Domu Wędkarza przy ul. Bulwarowej
December 13th – 11am – Christmas Picnic Radzikowski Park
December 14th – 12 Noon – Christmas Carols Concert „Oj, stało nom sie wesele”- Polish Aviation Museum
December 21st – 4pm – Communal Christmas Carol Singing. – Plac Szczepański (note – new location)
December 24th-26th 10:30pm – Live nativity scene and concert – Franciscan church
December 28th 4.30pm – Traditional live carol singing procession. – Podgórze.
Christmas & New Year Public Transport schedules
CHRISTMAS MARKET- MARKET SQUARE
The magic of Christmas returns to Rynek, from 28th November to 1st January 2026. Stalls are open from 10am-8pm, food stalls will be open longer.
The Kraków Christmas market (Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy 2025 w Krakowie) was ranked as the best Christmas market in Europe, assessed on various criteria such as; number of days, city accommodation costs, social media mentions and google searches. We feel this is somewhat generous.
CNN Travel also considered Kraków’s market “one of the best in the world”, including it in their article ‘The best Christmas markets taking place around the world in 2023’. The Times (UK), placed it on their list of the 24 best Christmas markets in Europe
Stalls will open on 28th November, with the official opening at 12 noon on Saturday 29th November. The market will run until New Years day 2026.
The market is officially open from 10am until 8pm, but stall owners come and go as they please and food stalls continue to serve until at least 10pm.
Residents, who are Kraków Card holders benefit from a 20% discount at food stalls, at both the Christmas Market on Rynek Główny and the Christmas Fair on Mały Rynek.
This year’s market will feature merchants from across Poland and other countries showcasing their wares at 105 retail and catering kiosks, along with merchants from Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary, selling regional products, cakes, sweets, meats, cheeses, bread, linen, leather, wool handicrafts, souvenirs, and ceramics.
Merchants will offer a wide range of Christmas gifts and decorations, such as: hand-painted baubles, Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas wreaths, candles, hand-embroidered bedspreads, tablecloths and napkins, nativity scenes, ceramic products, wood products, wool products, jewelry, souvenirs from Krakow, postcards, calendars, wooden toys, wooden rolling pins, leather goods, and regional sheepskins.
Accompanying Events
A number of events and performances will accompany the market to keep you entertained as you shop or enjoy a kielbasa and mulled wine.
The full programme is below, or click on the download link.
CHRISTMAS FAIR – MAŁY RYNEK 1st December – 1st January 2026
The Christmas Fair in Krakow’s Small Market Square (Mały Rynek) will take place from 1st December, 2025, to 1st January, 2026.
The Christmas Fair (Kiermasz Bożonarodzeniowy na Małym Rynku) promotes local producers and artists and supports local businesses. You will find unique works, such as hand decorated Christmas tree decorations, ceramics, jewellery and ecological wood products.
There will also be space to taste regional flavours and Christmas specialties. Fans of Polish cuisine will enjoy warm wine, bigos, pierogi, potato pancakes, red borscht and traditional cheeses, reflecting the richness of local cuisine.
“ The Christmas Fair at Mały Rynek is an event where tradition meets modernity. We want visitors to not only be able to admire crafts, but also actively participate in workshops, concerts, and performances, learning about Krakow’s living heritage, ” says Michał Czerski, president of the IMAGO Folk Art Center.
A response to growing tourist traffic – The new event is intended to respond to the growing interest in Kraków’s main Christmas market. The fair in the Small Market Square will also help “decongest attractions” relieving the most popular spots in the city centre Organisers emphasise that, in addition to the food and beverage section, a strong emphasis has been placed on the presence of craftsmen and folk artists.
Gastronomy with affordable prices and clear rules?
Organisers emphasize that culinary offerings are an integral part of European Christmas markets, and in Kraków, the high prices and availability of traditional dishes are a recurring topic among visitors. Therefore, the Mały Rynek (Small Market Square) has prepared a transparent price list and a selection of dishes typical of the winter season.
The menu will include:
- Polish cheeses and regional cold cuts,
- Pierogi dumplings and traditional Christmas dishes,
- warming drinks,
- products created according to local recipes.
The organisers were inspired by the fairs in Vienna and Salzburg, where gastronomy is based on local specialities and clear sales rules.
A detailed programme of the event can be found at the link below.
Christmas Fair – Mały Rynek – Event Programme
PODGÓRZE CHRISTMAS FAIR OF UNIQUE THINGS
Podgórze Christmas fair, or to give it’s full title – Christmas Fair of Unique Things! (Świąteczne Targi Rzeczy Wyjątkowych w Podgórze), is the cute little brother of the main Christmas Market on the square.
This year, the fair will be held on 29th – 30th November between 11am and 8pm.
The fair takes place on Rynek Podgórski with the stunning backdrop of St.Josephs church. Stalls offer a selection of more arts and craft type hand made Christmassy things, including stained glass, clay angels, natural jewellery, clothing, artwork, food, sweets and more, mostly from local residents.
There will also be food and drink, workshops for kids and adults, and a rare hundred-year-old Victorian carousel.
83rd NATIVITY SCENE CONTEST Thur 4th December 10am – 12noon
Kraków’s UNESCO listed world famous nativity scene parade and contest dates back to the 19th century. People of all ages from across Poland make elaborate nativity scenes or (Szopki) cribs which are displayed on the Adam Mickiewicz monument, then at 1200 they are paraded around the Main Square to the stage, then to Krzysztofory Palace where they are judged.
The winning nativity scenes are exhibited at the Krzysztofory museum from 9th December to 29th January 2025.
Video from the 2024 event
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS SWITCH ON 6th December – 4pm concert – 5pm switch on
Once again this year, Kraków’s Christmas tree, will be decorated with 26,000 colour changing lights and 1000 baubles decorated in the style of the Wawel tapestries. The energy saving tree lights consume less power than an electric kettle.
A band will perform at 4pm on a stage next to St Adalbert Church (św. Wojiecha) the small white church, before the official switch on of the lights at 5.00pm
4:00–5:00 p.m. – Poland’s biggest Christmas karaoke event with RMF FM radio and the City of Krakow
5:00–5:20 p.m. – ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree
5:20–5:40 p.m. – record attempt at singing the hit song “Z kopyta kulig rwie” together.
5:40–6:00 p.m. – Christmas dance party with RMF FM radio
SANTA ON THE CHRISTMAS TRAM – 6th December 4.30pm to 8pm (to be confirmed)
The Santa tram will return to the tracks this year. Santa will be riding on the specially decorated tram, and we’ll give a small present to any children who board the tram.
last year the tram left Nowa Huta at 5.30pm, then headed into the city where it operated on the ring road around the old town until 8pm.
Full details have not yet been published, the MPK spokesperson announced:-
“We cannot provide the hours at this time. We are currently at the stage of developing the plan. We can confirm that the MPK Christmas tram will hit the streets of Krakow on Friday, December 6. We will definitely also prepare gifts for the youngest. The tram will run on linear routes so that residents of every district of Krakow can see it,”
SANTAS ON SUP’s. 6th December 11am, Zakrzówek
87 floating Santa Clauses on SUP boards (św. Mikołaja na deskach SUP) will once again take over Krakow to collect funds to support children in need for the sixth time. This year’s edition will take place in a new, picturesque location – Zakrzówek Park (ul. Wyłom 1, next to the Water Sports Centre). This unique event brings together water sports enthusiasts who, together, help to make children’s dreams come true. #pływamypomagamy
SANTAS MOTORBIKE PARADE 7th December Meeting from 10:15am – Parade 11:15
On 7th December, hundreds of Santas on motorbikes will take part in the traditional MotoMikołaje parade from Parking w Okolicy Domu Wędkarza przy ul. Bulwarowej, Kraków to deliver present to the children’s hospital. Keep an eye out for Rudolph the red nosed Ducati. 😉
ROUTE – STARTING 11:15am Sun 7th Dec
Dom Wędkarza, ul. Bulwarowa – al. Solidarności – pl. Centralny im. R. Regana – al. Aleja Jana Pawła II – Rondo Czyżyńskie –Aleja Pokoju – Rondo Grzegórzeckie – Rondo Mogilskie – ul. A. Lubomirskiego – II Obwodnica – przejazd Wiaduktem/estakadą – al. 29 Listopada – al. J. Słowackiego – al. A. Mickiewicza – al. Z. Krasińskiego – ul. M. Konopnickiej – Rondo Matecznego – ul. H. Kamieńskiego – ul. Wielicka – ul. M. Orwid – ul. M Jakubowskiego – Parking Szpitala – zakończenie zgromadzenia.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS – COMMUNITY SINGALONG
The most beautiful Polish Christmas carols will be performed during the 94th Krakow Singing Lesson, (kolędowa lekcja śpiewania)” Christmas Carols for Singing at Home.” The carol singing will take place at Plac Szczepański on Sunday, 21st December at 4:00 PM.
The Polish Song Library has prepared 2,000 free songbooks. The paper version of the songbook isn’t the only way to sing along – simply download the songbook to your phone from the website www.bibliotekapiosenko.pl
LIVE NATIVITY SCENE & CONCERT 24th – 26th December, Franciscan Church
At 10.30pm on Christmas eve, the live animal nativity scene (Żywej Szopki u Franciszkanów) and concerts opens with a small ceremony and carol singing. Then, on 25th and 26th December concerts will be held on the stage from 1.30pm to 7pm.
‘PODGÓRSKI LIVE CAROL PARADE
Podgórski Live Carol Parade – (Żywej Kolędy Podgórskiej 2025) is a combination of traditional christmas carols, street theatre, song, dance and festive fun. The procession sets off from Podgórze stopping along the route for mini performances, ending up on Rynek Główny.
This year will be the 5th parade, sadly we were unable to follow the entire route last year, the video below is just a wee snippet from the first stop on Rynek Podgórski at the start of the mobile event. We’re putting it in the calendar for 2025, to follow the entire route!
https://youtu.be/VATwWww2R38?si=owOidPfWzr4CUvGP
GALERIA KRAKOWSKA ICE SKATING (to be updated)
Price list
Regular ticket – PLN 20 Regular ticket with skate rental – PLN 32
Opening hours
Monday to Saturday – from 9:00 to 21:30
Sunday from 10:00 to 21:30
There are also Ice Rinks at park Jordana, Tauron Arena and Nowa Huta cultural centre.
OTHER EVENTS
A long standing Kraków tradition continues, whereby many of the city churches will have elaborate nativity scenes.
If you have any news, events or other stories you think we should feature, please do get in touch.
A Scot in Kraków. The founder and editor of Kraków Expats Directory, and our sister sites Kraków TV and Kraków Stories Podcast.
David fell in love with Kraków 25 years ago, making it his home in 2011.
In 2020 he was awarded the title of Kraków’s Ambassador of Multiculturalism, by the President of Kraków, and is also a member of the GlobalScot network, representing Scottish culture and business abroad.
We’re always looking for interesting stories, events, characters or groups to feature. Likewise, if you’d like to join us, as a contributor, please get in touch.
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