Christmas market at the Main Square starting Friday

The festive atmosphere can be found in many places in Kraków, but it is at the Main Square that the Christmas spirit is most palpable. On Friday, November 28, a Christmas market will begin at the Town Hall Tower, which every year attracts large numbers of both residents and tourists from around the world.

Every year, the global media, when compiling rankings of the most interesting Christmas tourist attractions, highlight the Christmas market at Krakow's Main Square. The event has been listed among the most interesting European Christmas markets to visit by The Times and CNN, among others.

As part of this year's market, merchants from all over Poland and other countries will present their goods in 105 commercial and food kiosks. We will also host merchants from Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary, who will sell regional products, cakes, sweets, cold cuts, cheeses, bread, handicrafts made of linen, leather, and wool, gifts, and ceramics.

Merchants will offer a wide range of Christmas gifts and decorations, such as hand-painted baubles, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas wreaths, candles, hand-embroidered bedspreads, tablecloths and napkins, nativity scenes, ceramics, wood and wool products, jewelry, souvenirs from Kraków, postcards, calendars, wooden toys, wooden rolling pins, leather goods, and regional sheepskin coats.

The fair's decor will mainly consist of live Christmas trees purchased from spruce plantations (over 600 trees). The market square will be decorated with warm, white Christmas lights and garlands. Illuminated stars will appear on the poles. In addition, two angels will be placed on the side of Szewska Street.

For the first time, a Venetian carousel for children will be set up at the Christmas market by the Town Hall tower. A wooden nativity scene, made by sculptor and folk artist Józef Lasik from Stryszawa, will be set up in front of the stage at the market.

Additional attractions

As always, this year's event will be accompanied by many artistic events. The presentation of Małopolska municipalities has been a tradition for many years. The presentations take place on the stage and at a promotional stand located near the stage, where municipalities promote their regional products. Detailed fair program [PDF].

The official opening of the fair will take place on Saturday, November 29, with the participation of city officials. On that day, starting at 9:00 a.m., letters to Santa Claus will be written, which will then be sent by representatives of the Polish Post Office, followed by performances by the “Krakowiacy” Song and Dance Ensemble and the “Warasy” highlander band. At 2:00 p.m., the municipality of Szczawnica will present itself on stage.

The fair will last until January 1, 2026.