Krakow's Christmas market is consistently rated among the top five in Europe, and for good reason. Set on the Main Market Square with the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica as a backdrop, the market transforms the already beautiful Rynek into a winter wonderland from late November through late December. Over 80 wooden stalls sell handcrafted ornaments, amber jewelry, sheepskin slippers, and hand-painted Christmas decorations unique to the Krakow region.
The food is the real highlight. Try oscypek cheese grilled on open coals with cranberry jam, kielbasa sausages straight from the smoker, and pierogi filled with seasonal wild mushrooms. Warm up with grzaniec galicyjski (Galician mulled wine with honey and spices) or hot chocolate from the market stalls. The baked goods — gingerbread hearts, makowiec poppy seed rolls, and fresh paczki doughnuts — make perfect edible souvenirs.
The market is most atmospheric after dark (from 16:00) when thousands of lights illuminate the square and carol singers perform on the main stage. If you visit in early December, you'll catch the famous Krakow Nativity Scene Competition (Konkurs Szopek Krakowskich), a UNESCO-recognized tradition where elaborate, colorful nativity scenes incorporating Krakow's architecture are displayed around the square. Weekday mornings are the least crowded; weekend evenings are packed but have the best atmosphere.
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