Kraków Christmas Market (Targi Bożonarodzeniowe) starts on Friday 24th November and runs until 1st January 2024.
Best Christmas Market in Poland, perhaps Europe? 😉
The Kraków Christmas market was recently 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
Christmas Tree Lights Switch On
The President of Kraków will switch on the Christmas tree lights at 5.15pm on 2nd December. Prior to the lights being switched on the band Pozytywni will perform on stage, at 4.30pm, close to the Christmas tree. (Jacek Majchrowski, the President of Kraków, announced today that he won’t be standing for re-election, so this will be his last time switching on the lights)
Saturday 2nd December
5.15pm
Christmas Tree, Rynek Głowny
Christmas Market
Stalls will open on 24th November, with the official opening on 25th November. The market will run until New Years day 2024.
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.
Friday 24th November – 1st January 202410am-8pm (later for food stalls)
Rynek Głowny
The Christmas market consists of 97 trading and catering stalls, with merchants from all over Poland and across Central Europe, taking part.
The market area will be decorated with over 600 live spruce trees, Christmas lights and garlands. A wooden nativity scene carved by folk artist Józef Lasik will also be on display.
As always, food, Christmas and general arts, crafts, decorations and toys will be available from Polish and international sellers, including guests from Lithuania, Ukraine and Hungary, offering a variety of regional cured meats, bread, croissants, langurs and kurtosze together with Polish favourites, and of course gallons of hot mulled wine to warm the soul.
Expensive Kielbasa Alert!
Be warned traditional Polish food outlets price and sell food, Kielbasa etc, by weight. This catches out tourists and locals alike. The prices are usually exorbitant, certainly much higher that elsewhere (Kazimierz Grill, Pl. Nowy etc). The other food stalls are fairly priced, as you would expect for an event on the Rynek.
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.
A new feature this year’ will be an hour of Polish carols performed each day at 8pm, between 17th December and 1st January 2024.
The events include;
25th November, 12noon – Official opening of the Christmas Market 2023
25th November, 2pm – Christmas Flash mob (see below)
27th November – Concert of the “Jaszczury” Choir
30th November, 6pm – St. Andrew’s Day party on the main stage.
2nd December, 5:15pm – The mayor of Krakow will turn on the Christmas tree lights . Earlier, at 4.30 pm, Pozytywni will perform.
6th December, 5:15pm – 148 Santas (Mikołajów) will march in a procession from Grzegórzecki Roundabout to the Main Market Square
7th December – Nativity scene makers will meet in the Market Square – the 81st Krakow Nativity Scene Competition will be held.
16th December – Carol Procession, by authentic, amateur folklore carol groups will take part.
23rd December – Christmas meeting of the authorities of the city and the Krakow church with the inhabitants and guests of Krakow, preceded at 11.30am by a concert “Let’s sing a carol…”, featuring: Jan Wojdak, Jacek Wójcicki, Anna Sokołowska-Aladrukińska, Łukasz Lech
Christmas Market Programme of Events – PDF (Google translated from PL)
Christmas Market Information – PDF (Google translated from PL)
A festive flash mob will take place for the first time, accompanying the official opening of the Christmas Market at 2pm on 25th November. The flash mob will be choreographed by Kraków dancer and choreographer Michał Kostempski.
Professionals and amateurs at all levels and those who have never danced, who would like to participate in this event should contact: michal.kostempski@gmail.com (510 810 197).
A video tutorial demonstrating the dance moves for the flash mob has been created by the organiser.
Where to find out more
Targi Bożonarodzeniowe (Christmas Market) on Facebook
Christmas Market website kiermasze.com.pl
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 24 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.
