That time is coming and it’s the time of the Krakow Christmas Market 2024. I am fortunate to live 7 minutes from where all the action is so this guide is a first-hand account of what you can expect from the big festive event. You will discover the dates, practicalities and useful info about visiting Krakow Christmas Market 2024. Ho ho ho, let’s go.
Where does the Krakow Christmas Market 2024 take place?
The big event traditionally will take place on Krakow’s Market Square.
Here it is on the map:
The Christmas Market in Krakow is organized next to the medieval Sukiennice market arcades. The beauty of the Market Square and all the old architecture brings that magical experience everyone is after. The silhouette of St. Mary’s Basilica in the distance and the horse carriages make the scene even more picturesque.
When Does the Krakow Christmas Market Start and End?
The official opening of the Krakow Christmas Market is on 29 November 2024.
It will last until 1 January 2025.
As I wrote in the article about the best time to visit Poland, November isn’t the most popular time to be in Krakow because of the cold weather. That’s why I’d suggest the beginning of December as the best time to come to the city to get a taste of Christmas magic and avoid the big crowds that are coming closer to the holiday.
To give you an idea of the crowds, here are a few pictures I took last year during the Christmas weekend:
Also, you should save another date. The official lighting of the Christmas Tree will be held on 6 December 2024 at 17:00. The brass band Dirty Horns is set to take part in the event. Krakow Christmas Tree will be next to the St. Mary’s Basilica.
Krakow Christmas traditions
Christmas markets started in the Late Medieval times in Germany. The merchants gathered on the main squares of towns to trade their goods ahead of the Advent. Later on, the artisans joined the party bringing their homemade produce to the stalls. As Krakow has always been an important trade center, the fairs often took place on its vast Market Square.
Times have changed and we have online shopping and big malls now. But it warms one’s heart that the Christmas Market tradition isn’t going anywhere. Krakow, in my opinion, has one of the coziest and most charming markets on the continent. The pedestrianized center and the abundance of medieval architecture around make the atmosphere even more authentic.
Wroclaw and Warsaw may have much bigger Christmas Markets, but the soul of Polish Christmas tradition lies in Krakow.
Szopka Krakowska, or Krakow-style nativity scene is one of the most characteristic elements of Christmas in this city. The local szopkas are even included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List for their cultural significance. These are the multi-story ornamented structures showing the birth of Jesus. You will see many szopkas all around Krakow during December.
Another local tradition is decorating the streets with illumination with motives from the Jagiellonian tapestries of the Wawel Castle. It’s a very Krakow thing to do on Christmas and you will see many “heroes” from the tapestries lighting up the street ahead of Christmas.
Foods and drinks to try at Krakow Christmas Market
Christmas Markets are basically big open-air street food fairs. You know how it goes. There are many stalls selling various local foods that await to be sampled. You’re lucky in Krakow, the Christmas Market here is filled with Polish specialities and comes with a variety of snacks, mains and drinks.
Here are the top foods and drinks to try on Krakow Christmas Market:
Pierogi
Traditional Polish filled dumplings. You can have them with cabbage, meat, cottage cheese or mushrooms. Or you can opt for the sweet version with berries or plums.
Karkówka
It’s a Polish grilled beef neck shoulder.
Golonka
A slowly cooked pork knuckle.
Kapusta zasmażana
A simple but delicious braised or stewed sauerkraut usually served with bacon, mushroom and onion.
Kiełbasa
A godly meat sausage, the queen of the Polish street food.
Ser góralski (or oscypek) *must-try
You can’t leave without having a bite of grilled oscypek cheese with cranberry (żurawina) jam on top.
Bigos
Chopped meat plus sauerkraut comfort food dish.
Pajda wiejskiego chleba na zakwasie ze smalcem
Yes, the name is quite long and unpronounceable, but it’s the big loaves of the so-called village bread with the lard on top. Yummy. Or not. Depending on your views on the lard. Polish people love it.
Grzaniec Galicyjski
A go-to Polish Christmas Market drink which is basically mulled wine with citrus and spices. You can also have a grzane piwo, the same concept but with beer.
Czekolada na gorąco
Good old hot chocolate. Tastes amazing surrounded by the beauty of Krakow’s Market Square.
How to beat the crowds
As I mentioned earlier, the Krakow Christmas Market can get crowded. It’s not as large as in Warsaw or Wroclaw, so queueing for food is a standard here. Then when you finally get your food, finding a spot to eat it may add to the anxiety.
Top tip: come during the working day!
The weekend at the Christmas Market sounds fun. But everybody will be there. Coming during the working day gives you that atmospheric, low-key experience and takes the queues away.
Late night is another good way to take on the Krakow Christmas mood.
The busiest times at Krakow Christmas Market are weekends (especially, the evenings) and dates close to Christmas Eve on December 25-26. Also, it’s when the city accommodation is at its most expensive.
If you want a more laid-back experience come during the week.
Check out my article about luggage storage in Krakow for practical info and prices on where to leave your bags in this popular Polish destination.
Thanks for reading. If you’ve got any comments or questions, feel free to drop me a line.
See you at the Christmas Market🎅!
Pavlo is an experienced travel writer published by CNN, BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, The Irish Times, Time Out, DK Eyewitness and Lonely Planet. He’s been writing about Poland for 9+ years.