Christmas Market in Krakow in 2023 will start on the 24th of November and will last until the 1st of January. Even if you have been to Krakow before, it is a good reason to make a day or weekend trip to see the city with Christmas decorations and try once again traditional Polish food. Krakow Christmas market was placed on the list of Best European Christmas Markets by CNN.
Markets, formerly known as fairs, have been held in Market Square for centuries. They usually start at the end of November and run until the second day of Christmas. The Christmas Fair in Krakow has become a permanent event on the Krakow Market Square, it is a tradition that largely influences the cultural and economic development of Krakow.
What will you find at Krakow Christmas Market 2023?
Sellers will present the goods at 68 commercial and gastronomic wooden stalls. Except for locals, we will also host buyers from Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary. Cold cuts, cheese and sausages, bread, jewellery made of fabrics and wood, crafts made of linen and wool, gifts, ceramics, etc.
Merchants offer a wide range of Christmas products, such as hand-painted cans, Christmas tree decorations, decorative items, Christmas centrepieces, earthenware, woodwork, wool, cloth, art glass, jewellery, souvenirs, postcards, and calendars. You can taste delicious grilled dishes, traditional oscypek (a kind of cheese) roasted on a grill with cranberries and drink Galician mulled wine called Grzaniec. For lovers of a little something, there will also be roasted nuts, baked chestnuts, Christmas cookies and gingerbread.
Below you will find the full program of the Krakow Christmas Fair in 2023
November 25, 2023 (Saturday)
From 9:30 AM: Letter writing to Santa Claus
11:45 AM: Performance by the folk song and dance group “Krakowiacy”
12:00 PM: Official opening of the Christmas market
12:15 PM: Sending letters to heaven
12:30 PM: Performance by the folk song and dance group “Krakowiacy”
2:00 PM: Christmas flash mob
5:00 PM: Old Metropolitan Band
November 27, 2023 (Monday)
6:30 PM: Concert by the choir “Jaszczury”
November 30, 2023 (Thursday)
6:00 PM: Andrzejki party – Adalex Group Foundation
December 2, 2023 (Saturday)
11:00 AM: Presentation of the Nowy Wiśnicz municipality
3:00 PM: Presentation of the Brzesko municipality
4:30 PM: Concert by the band Pozytyvni.pl
Main Market Square, stage next to St. Mary’s Basilica
5:15 PM: Ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree
Main Market Square, stage next to St. Mary’s Basilica
December 3, 2023 (Sunday)
12:00 PM: Presentation of the Rabka-Zdrój municipality
4:00 PM: Final concert of the International Festival “Fountain of Inspiration”
December 6, 2023 (Wednesday)
2:00 PM: 148 Santas for the 148th anniversary of MPK S.A.
Grzegórzeckie Roundabout
Santa Claus parade from Grzegórzeckie Roundabout to the Main Market Square
Students from the School of Crafts and Entrepreneurship
Malopolska Chamber of Crafts and Entrepreneurship in Krakow
3:00 PM: Handing over of Santa Claus packages sponsored by
Krakow City Hall, MPK S.A., Dico S.C., Artim Sp. z o.o.
for children at the S. Żeromski Hospital in Krakow
All Saints Square
3:15 PM: Santa Claus tram of MPK S.A.
All Saints Square
4:00 PM: Meeting with children at the S. Żeromski Hospital
Handing over of Santa Claus packages
December 7, 2023 (Thursday)
10:00 AM: Krakow Nativity Scene Contest at Main Market Square, near the A. Mickiewicz monument
12:00 PM: Presentation of nativity scenes on the market stage
December 8, 2023 (Friday)5:00 PM: Zumba show by Klub Skała
6:30 PM: Presentation of the Pcim municipality
December 10, 2023 (Sunday)12:00 PM: Presentation of the Zielonki municipality
6:00 PM: Krakow Children’s Choir
December 11, 2023 (Monday)
11:00 AM: Primary School No. 91
12:00 PM: Primary School No. 32
1:30 PM: Primary School No. 3 with Integration Departments
3:00 PM: Combined School and Kindergarten No. 15
5:00 PM: Gastronomic Schools Complex No. 1
December 12, 2023 (Tuesday)
11:00 AM: Primary School No. 80
12:00 PM: Youth Culture House Korczak
1:30 PM: Primary School No. 95
3:00 PM: Vocational Schools Complex No. 2
3:30 PM: VI General Education High School
December 13, 2023 (Wednesday)
6:30 PM: “Jaszczury” Choir Patriotic Concert
December 14, 2023 (Thursday)
4:00 PM: International Project “Bridges Between Cities”
December 15, 2023 (Friday)
10:00 AM: Presentation of the local brand Karpating (Beskid Gorlicki)
4:00 PM: International Project “Bridges Between Cities”
December 16, 2023 (Saturday)
12:00 PM: Carolers’ Parade – Ancient Carols and Pastorals
11:30 AM: Departure of the parade from Barbakan to the Main Market Square
12:30 PM: Presentation of Caroling Groups
Folklore Association “Regional Theater” in Krakow
3:00 PM: International Project “Bridges Between Cities”
4:30 PM: Performance by the Caroling Group “Pleśnioki” from Pleśna
6:00 PM: “Hey, Carol, Carol” by the ensemble from Dobra and the Adalex Group Foundation
December 17, 2023 (Sunday)
11:00 AM: Merchant’s Festival: Merchant’s Address
12:00 PM: International Project “Bridges Between Cities”
3:00 PM: Presentation of the Krakow Merchants’ Congregation branch in Limanowa
December 18, 2023 (Monday)
11:00 AM: Public Kindergarten “Malutkowo”
12:00 PM: School of Economics No. 1
1:30 PM: Ignacy Daszyński School of Economics No. 2
5:00 PM: School of Printing and Media
6:30 PM: “Jaszczury” Choir Christmas Concert
December 19, 2023 (Tuesday)
11:00 AM: J. Korczak Special Education and Care Center for the Deaf
12:00 PM: Professor Wiktor Zin Primary School No. 137
1:30 PM: General Education Schools Complex No. 9
3:00 PM: VI General Education High School
5:00 PM: Construction Schools Complex No. 1
December 20, 2023 (Wednesday)
11:00 AM: KEN Primary School No. 1
12:30 PM: General Education High School and Presentation Sisters’ Primary School2:00 PM: School Complex of Environmental Engineering and Land Reclamation 4:30 PM: Primary School with Integration Departments No. 151
December 21, 2023 (Thursday)10:45 AM: Municipal Kindergarten No. 11 named after Teddy Bear Uszatek
12:00 PM: Ignacy Daszyński School of Economics No. 2
6:00 PM: “Only One Such Night…” – The most beautiful carols and Christmas songs performed by students, graduates, and teachers of the School of Crafts and Entrepreneurship MIRIP in Krakow
December 22, 2023 (Friday)
6:00 PM: “Let’s All Go to the Stable…” by Adalex Group Foundation
December 23, 2023 (Saturday)
11:30 AM: “Let’s Sing a Carol…” Performers: Jan Wojdak, Jacek Wójcicki, Anna Sokołowska-Alabrudzińska, Łukasz Lech
12:00 PM: Christmas meeting of the city and church leaders of Krakow with residents and guests of Krakow
12:30 PM: “Lead Me” ensemble under the direction of Paweł Piotrowski
5:00 PM: Sing with us! Caroling with Krakow choirs on the stage in the Main Market Square
December 26, 2023 (Tuesday)
2:00 PM: Folklore Association “Regional Theater” in Krakow invites to collective caroling
December 28, 2023 (Thursday)
3:30 PM: Christmas concert performed by Anna Kukla, Alicja Pietrzak, and Paweł Bryniak
5:30 PM: Caroling with Joanna Słowińska and the Krakow Museum
6:00 PM: Arrival of the Caroling Parade from Bronowice
6:30 PM: Ceremonial conclusion of Włodzimierz Tetmajer’s year
Other Christmas Markets in Poland
Many cities in Poland organize their Christmas Markets. Check also our articles on Christmas Fairs in Gdansk, Wroclaw, Lodz and Poznan.