Christmas in Poland: the best Christmas markets and gifts to bring home

Christmas markets in Poland 2026/27

Most markets open in the second half of November and run until Christmas or Epiphany (6 January). Entry is free; rides, ice rinks and the Ferris wheel are paid.

City	Dates	Where	Known for
Wrocław	20 Nov 2026 – 7 Jan 2027	Market Square, Plac Solny, Świdnicka St	One of the largest in Poland; fairy-tale forest, rides, the famous mulled wine in a boot-shaped mug
Kraków	27 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027	Main Square	Medieval setting, crafts, nativity scene contest in early December
Gdańsk	20 Nov – 23 Dec 2026	Coal Market (Targ Węglowy) and the Royal Route	Amber stalls, themed corners, a big carousel
Warsaw	20 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027	Plac Defilad, by the Palace of Culture	Over 100 wooden huts, rides and illuminations
Poznań	21 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 (Old Market Square)	Old Market Square and Plac Wolności	Ice sculpture festival, ice rink
Katowice	20 Nov 2026 – 10 Jan 2027	Market Square	33-metre Ferris wheel, weekend concerts
Toruń	20 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027	Old Town Market Square	Gingerbread town, Gothic old town
Zakopane	26 Nov – 30 Dec 2026	Plac Niepodległości	Mountain atmosphere, highland food
Szczecin	27 Nov – 22 Dec 2026	Plac Lotników and Aleja Kwiatowa	Close to the German border

Dates are those announced by organisers; small changes are common, so check the city's website before you travel.

Which one to choose?

• For the most magical atmosphere: Wrocław – go on a weekday evening.
• For a city break with history: Kraków, combined with Wawel and Kazimierz. See Kraków in December.
• For shopping: Gdańsk for amber, Toruń for gingerbread, Kraków for crafts and glass ornaments.
• From Germany: Szczecin and Wrocław are easy to reach for a weekend.

A Polish Christmas in brief

Christmas Eve – Wigilia, on 24 December – is the heart of a Polish Christmas. Families wait for the first star to appear before sitting down to a meatless supper, traditionally of twelve dishes: beetroot soup with little dumplings, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, fried carp and poppy-seed cake among them. Before eating, everyone shares a thin Christmas wafer (opłatek) and exchanges wishes, and an extra place is often set for an unexpected guest. Many people then go to Midnight Mass, Pasterka.

What this means for visitors: 24, 25 and 26 December are public holidays, and shops are closed on all three days. Restaurants in city centres often stay open on the 25th and 26th, but book ahead.

Christmas gifts from Poland

The best Christmas presents from Poland are things that are made here and hard to find elsewhere:

• Hand-blown glass baubles – Poland has a long tradition of hand-painted glass Christmas ornaments. Look for small workshops and craft stalls rather than mass-produced imports.
• Toruń gingerbread (pierniki) – Toruń has been famous for gingerbread for centuries; beautifully decorated tins make a perfect gift.
• Bolesławiec pottery – a mug or bowl in the classic blue-dot pattern. See our Polish pottery chapter.
• Baltic amber – jewellery and small ornaments, best bought in Gdańsk. Learn how to tell real amber.
• Paper cut-outs (wycinanki) and wooden toys – colourful folk art that travels well.
• Krówki and Ptasie Mleczko – Polish sweets that make good stocking fillers. See sweets and snacks.
• A miniature Kraków nativity scene (szopka) – a uniquely Kraków souvenir.

Buying for someone who has everything? A bottle of Polish vodka or a herbal liqueur is a classic – check your home country's customs allowance first.

Sources

• Christmas market dates: organisers' announcements compiled by Nocowanie.pl (2026/27 season)
• Christmas Eve public holiday and trading rules: Polish trading-ban regulations, as summarised by Bankowe ABC