The Krakow Christmas market fills the Main Square (Rynek Główny) every year from late November into the first days of January, with wooden stalls set up between the Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Basilica and a big Christmas tree. The city hasn’t published the 2026 dates yet. Last season it ran from 28 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, so expect a similar window this year.
Here’s what we know for 2026, what to eat, how to get there from the station and the airport, and where to leave your luggage while you explore the Old Town.
Krakow Christmas market 2026 key facts
| Dates | Expected late November 2026 to early January 2027 (2025 edition: 28 Nov 2025 – 1 Jan 2026) |
| Hours | Daily, morning to evening. Exact 2026 hours not published yet |
| Location | Main Square (Rynek Główny), Old Town |
| Size | 105 stalls in 2025 |
| Entry | Free |
| Currency | Polish złoty (PLN) |
What to see at the Krakow Christmas market
In 2025 the market had 105 food and craft stalls, more than 600 live Christmas trees around the square, a Venetian carousel for children by the Town Hall Tower and a wooden nativity scene in front of the stage, according to Radio Kraków’s opening-day report. The stage hosts carols and folk music through Advent.
Kraków is also famous for its szopki, the colourful nativity scenes built to look like the city’s churches and towers. The tradition is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. Builders traditionally bring their entries to the Mickiewicz monument on the Main Square on the first Thursday of December, and the best ones go on display afterwards.
Food and drink at the Krakow Christmas market
The food is the main reason to linger. Look for oscypek, a smoked sheep’s cheese from the Tatra mountains served grilled with cranberry jam, plus pierogi, grilled kiełbasa, bigos (hunter’s stew) and gingerbread. To drink, order grzaniec, Polish mulled wine, or a hot mead. Most stalls take cards, but it helps to carry some złoty.
Getting there and getting around
The Main Square is in the middle of the Old Town, which is mostly pedestrian, so you’ll walk everywhere. From Kraków Główny, the main train and bus station next to the Galeria Krakowska mall, it’s roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk through the Planty park. Trains from Kraków Airport run to Kraków Główny. Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter with its bars and cafés, is about 20 minutes on foot south of the square.
Luggage storage near the Krakow Christmas market
If your train or flight gets in early, or you’re leaving in the evening, you don’t need to carry your bags around the Old Town. Radical Storage works with local shops and hotels near the square and the station. Each booking includes protection up to €10,000 per bag and free cancellation, and travellers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near the Main Square
- Luggage storage near Kraków Główny station
- Luggage storage in Kazimierz
Frequently asked questions
The 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet. The market usually opens in late November and closes around New Year. In 2025 it ran from 28 November to 1 January.
On the Main Square (Rynek Główny) in the Old Town, around the Cloth Hall and in front of St. Mary’s Basilica.
Yes. Entry is free. You only pay for food, drinks and gifts.
Grilled oscypek cheese with cranberry, pierogi, kiełbasa, bigos and grzaniec, the Polish mulled wine.
They are traditional nativity scenes modelled on Kraków’s churches and towers, listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Entries are traditionally presented on the Main Square on the first Thursday of December.
Radical Storage has partner locations near the Main Square, Kraków Główny station and in Kazimierz. Book online, bags are protected up to €10,000 each and cancellation is free.