In early December I took a trip to Poland. I have Polish ancestry on my dad’s side, so the trip was a bit of a heritage exploration trip for me. I’ve also always had an interest in World War II history, and hit a ton of historical sites and museums throughout my ten days in Poland. The decision to travel in December was largely shaped by a busy work schedule the rest of the year, but it resulted in the bonus of me visiting Poland during the Christmas market season.
While picturesque Christmas markets have German origins, many Polish cities have spectacular Christmas markets that are just as charming. Christmas in Poland is an important holiday, with Catholicism being the predominant religion throughout the country, and the holiday season is a celebratory and festive time to visit. Polish Christmas markets have gained popularity in recent years, with the market in Gdańsk being voted the best in Europe for 2025 – and they were certainly crowded when I visited!
Most Jarmarki bożonarodzeniowe, the Polish phrase for Christmas markets, open towards the end of November and run until Christmas. The evenings are the most popular time to visit the market, as many locals may stop by after work to browse gifts and enjoy a mulled wine, so if you’d rather wander without crowds, it’s best to visit during the day and avoid weekends. December in Poland can be quite chilly, so be sure to pack lots of layers and don’t forget your gloves!
Three Markets to Hit:
Gdańsk Christmas Market
It’s not hard to see why the Gdańsk market received the accolade of best market in Europe. The market has a large footprint, spanning over several streets in the city’s Old Town with its centerpiece being the historic 16th-century prison tower and a backdrop of Gdańsk’s colorful “Dutch Mannerist”-style houses. The market features traditional food and handcrafted goods, a carousel and train ride for the kiddos, and plenty of Instagram-worthy illuminations.
Warsaw Christmas Market
Warsaw’s Christmas Market is spread out a bit across the city, offering different experiences in each area. In Old Town, traditional food and craft stalls wrap around the path just inside the Old Town historic fortifications, starting at Castle Square. In the heart of the neighborhood at Old Town Square, you’ll find more food and grzane wino (mulled wine) vendors surrounding an ice skating rink offering free ice skating. A short ride across town at the base of the iconic Palace of Culture and Science building is the largest Christmas market, with a Ferris wheel and other rides, activations, and of course more food and artisanal goods.
Kraków Christmas Market
Kraków’s Christmas market is another one that’s gained international acclaim. The charming main market takes place in the city’s main square, Rynek Główny, with a smaller market outside the Galeria Krakowska shopping mall near the main train station. The main market spans the whole square in the shadow of the Town Hall Tower. The market hall building in the middle of the square offers additional shops, so there’s no shortage of places to pick up a souvenir or gift. The city’s Christmas tree is positioned in front of the towering St. Mary’s Basilica, making for some gorgeous pictures.
What You’ll Find at a Polish Christmas Market
Polish Christmas markets are a great place to pick up a souvenir or Christmas gift. The vendor stalls are full of handcrafted goods. From wood-carved ornaments and toys to scarves and shawls, there’s something for everyone. I picked up some beautiful ornaments in a traditional Polish painted ceramic style to give to family for Christmas.
Beyond crafts, you’ll want to make sure you come hungry to a Polish Christmas market. There’s little chance you’d be able to walk through without the aromas of mulled wine and traditional Polish foods tempting you. Like many other Christmas markets in Europe, you can borrow a mug to enjoy grzane wino (mulled wine), which you’ll put a deposit on that you get back upon returning the mug (unless you decide to keep it as a souvenir). If you’re not a wine drinker, there are usually local brews available too, and of course hot chocolate.
In addition to the Polish favorites you probably already know like kielbasa and pierogi, there’s plenty to discover at the Christmas markets. There’s nothing better to warm you up than a cup of hearty soup, and you’ll usually find sour rye soup, traditionally served in bread bowls, and regional favorites like Hungarian goulash.
Walking around, I kept seeing stalls selling oscypek and had no idea what it was. They almost looked like little bread pastries with designs on them, but were coming off a grill top and served with a cranberry sauce. Always adventurous, I decided to give one a try without researching what it was first. Imagine my pure delight when I bit into it and discovered that it was actually cheese! Oscypek is a smoked cheese made with salted sheep milk that originated in the Tatra Mountain region of Poland along the southern border with Slovakia. Who doesn’t love snacking cheese?
Another Polish delight that was new to me was zapiekanki, a traditional street food of a baguette loaded with cheese and mushrooms and your choice of additional toppings and sauces. I had my first taste of zapiekanki while in Kraków and ended up eating them almost every day that I was there – aside from the Christmas market, Kraków has a marketplace called Okrąglak in the Kazimierz neighborhood that is full of excellent zapiekanki vendors.
You can’t forget sweets at the Christmas market, and you’ll find gingerbread cookies with endless options of decoration and other ciasteczka (cookies) and pastries. I was able to bring home a nice assorted cookie platter to share with my family when I got back, and they were delicious!
Poland is not to be overlooked if you’re considering a European adventure for the holiday season. While the temperatures may be chilly, the hospitality is just as warm as the mulled wine. Just remember to pack your warmest layers, bring an empty stomach for all that oscypek, and maybe leave a little extra room in your luggage for handcrafted treasures. Poland in December is a festive, flavorful experience that truly earns its growing international acclaim.
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