Wow…just WOW! The Wroclaw Christmas Market is bigger, better, hollier and jollier than we ever expected. We were completely mesmerized by the sparkling wonderland.
As we were staying in Wroclaw, Poland the entire month of December, we spent night after night soaking in the spirit of the season at the ‘Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy’ event.
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Occupying two city squares and sprawling delightfully down cobbled lanes, the fairyland of twinkling lights, festive lodges, evergreen trees and holiday huts was pure magic.
Is the Wroclaw Christmas Market One of the Best?
We love spending Christmas in Europe and have navigated our way to a number of outstanding winter festivals.
Legendary fairs – like the ones in Vienna and Frankfurt – take the highest spots on European Xmas Market lists, but we feel the Christmas Market in Wroclaw, Poland deserves a lot of credit!
What impressed us most about the winter market in Wroclaw is that it is one, massive mashup of merriment.
The magnificent festival blankets the heart of the Old Town, never letting you forget for a single moment that it’s Christmastime!
10 Top Experiences at the Wroclaw Xmas Market
There are so many magical experiences that make the Wroclaw market unique. We’ve rounded up our personal favorites to help make sure you don’t miss anything!
#1 Relish the Epic Atmosphere
As if plucked straight from the pages of an enchanting storybook, the setting of the Xmas Market in Wroclaw is utterly sublime.
Situated in the historic city center, the festivities occupy the prettiest squares and most charming streets – and we never tired of its ambiance.
The vast, medieval Market Square (Rynek) – with the stunning Gothic Old Town Hall at the center – is transformed into a wintery landscape.
Glowing Christmas cottages are arranged in rows and clusters. They are overlooked by an array of colorful Renaissance-style tenement houses, resembling a real-life gingerbread village.
The adjacent Salt Square (Plac Solny) is even more intimate and boasts architecture that is just as beautiful. The flower market, a longtime fixture of this location, only enhances the scene.
The blissful holiday atmosphere continues down both Swidnicka and Olawska Streets – lanes that can trace their origins to the Middle Ages.
Wroclaw Christmas Tip: The market is positively radiant after dark, but be sure to swing through during daylight hours to truly grasp the beauty of the architecture.
#2 Marvel at the Twinkling Tree
The Wroclaw Christmas Tree is a spectacular centerpiece on Market Square. In fact, it’s often referred to as the Queen of Wroclaw Christmas.
Rising to a height of 80 feet, it’s decorated with 120,000 glimmering white lights and 3,000 glittering ornaments.
As if that isn’t enough, it’s topped with a shimmering 6-foot star. Although artificial, we believe the tree is picture-perfect and a must-see at the Wroclaw Christmas Fair.
Trip Planning Tip: In recent years, the traditional tree lighting has taken place on the first weekend in December – coinciding with St. Nicholas Day. The event is accompanied by carol singing and a visit from Santa.
#3 Eat Amazing Polish Food
Prepare for a feast, because the food at the Wroclaw winter festival is excellent!
With a nod to their national cuisine, vendors offer sumptuous platters of pierogies, tasty kielbasa sausages and steaming bowls of soup.
We feel the hearty comfort cuisine of Poland pairs perfectly with the crisp winter nights.
Not to be missed is Oscypek – smoked sheep’s cheese with cranberry sauce. It’s grilled (but, unfortunately, not over hot coals like in Poznan and Krakow), which makes it heavenly on cold days.
Bigos – or Hunter’s Stew – is another Polish wintertime treat. The rich and earthy soup is a concoction of sauerkraut, cabbage, smoked meats, mushrooms and spices.
We couldn’t get over the basic – yet oh-so-tasty – Pajda Chleba. Simply translated to Chunk of Bread, the thick slices are slathered with pork lard and topped with pickles and smoked sausage. The open-faced sandwich is oddly tantalizing!
Of course, there are heaps of international food options and sweets for you to peruse, as well.
Hungarian Langos (deep-fried bread with garlic, sour cream and cheese), Belgian Waffles (called Gofry in Polish) and Turkish Czeburek (a turnover with savory filling) are a few more of our favorites.
Top Food Tip: Like most yuletide festivals, the food is a bit on the pricey side. If you’re looking for alternative options, read our list of the Best Places to Eat in Wroclaw!
#4 Get a Kick out of Grzaniec
Another way to stave off a chill is with a hot mug of grzaniec. It’s Poland’s version of mulled wine – and Grzaniec Wroclawski is the best we have ever tasted!
The traditional drink is made with red wine, aromatic cloves, honey and cinnamon. In a word: heavenly.
What makes it even better is that at the winter festival in Wroclaw the spiced wine is served in a commemorative boot mug. How cute is that?!
The adorable boots feature a new design and different color each year, making for great souvenirs.
To get a mug, you will need to order a hot drink (in addition to traditional grzaniec, they serve fruit-flavored versions and alcohol-free beverages, too) and pay a cash deposit (20pln during our visit).
When you are finished with your drink, you can choose to keep the mug or return it for a full refund.
Budget Tip: We think the grzaniec at the market was fairly priced, but many cafes, bars and restaurants in the vicinity offer paper cups of hot wine for less. It will save you money, but wasn’t nearly as tasty.
#5 Elevate Your Wroclaw Christmas Experience
To truly appreciate the splendor of the area, make your way to one of the holiday chalets that offer an elevated view.
There are a few multi-level wooden lodges and it’s completely free to head up the stairs for a breathtaking vista of the illuminated marketplace.
We loved The Dwarf’s House – festooned in garland, baubles and lantern-holding dwarves – that overlooks the Rynek Square Christmas Tree.
The lodge near the Market Square Pillory is the perfect perch for a fabulous view of the Fairytale Forest and Old Town Hall façade.
Top Tip: With spaces to rest your drink and a few tables, it’s a great place to enjoy your mulled wine and festive fare!
#6 Snap a Christmassy Selfie
Christmassy decorations dot the wintertime fair, inviting revelers to snap a selfie – and snap we did!
We happily paused for pictures with a multitude of bedecked backdrops. A few of our favorites are the giant illuminated gnome, the oversized boot mugs, the brilliant ornaments and Santa’s sleigh.
Photo Tip: Of course, don’t forget to strike a pose in front of the tree, too!
#7 Pick Up Christmas Gifts
The market isn’t just about eating, drinking and being merry – it’s also for finding special holiday gifts. Vendors sell everything from artisan products to bespoke jewelry to hand-decorated ornaments.
We peered into booths selling assortments of local meats and cheeses, winter weather accessories and fragrant candles.
That said, we think the miniature Wroclaw Dwarf Figurines make the best Christmas presents (or souvenirs for yourself!).
The collectibles are smaller versions of the fun-loving (and often mischievous) gnomes that have become an icon of Wroclaw.
Shopping Tip: You can find more locally made gifts on Jatki Street. Here artist galleries line the cobblestoned lane that is decorated beautifully for the holidays. We feature this delightful spot and more on our Self-Guided Wroclaw Walking Tour!
#8 Ride Santa’s Roller Coaster Sleigh
The fair rides and magical holiday houses at the Wroclawski Christmas Market add an extra element of excitement to the festive season.
Whether you are visiting with kids or are just a kid at heart, the carnival rides are definitely one of the top things to do.
Reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh on a thrilling ride, the towering Christmas Tree Carousel spins around and around and the Reindeer Carousel is classic fun.
Kids can also clamber around Santa’s Workshop and make their way through the Christmas Fun House.
Good to Know: Tickets are required for these attractions, but not too expensive.
#9 Find Antek the Talking Moose
Nothing screams “holiday fun” more than a talking moose – and in Wroclaw, Antek the Moose has quite a lot to say.
When he wakes from his slumber, his booming voice entertains onlookers both young and old.
Even though he only speaks in Polish – so we had no idea what he was saying – we couldn’t help smiling up at him along with the crowd.
Moose Tip: If Antek is asleep when you find him, stick around for a few minutes. He doesn’t nap for long!
#10 Step Into a Fairytale Scene
The Fairytale Houses are yet another special addition to the festival that is both charming and fun.
With the press of a button, curtains part and animated characters come to life to play out short scenes from popular fables.
Like the Moose, the narration is in Polish, but we could still identify the charming tales – from Sleeping Beauty to Little Red Riding Hood.
Even more enchanting is Santa’s Gift Factory, where elves work in an assembly line. You can help them complete their gift-making tasks by pressing your palm to the glass!
Winter Travel Tip: Bring hand sanitizer and tissues …we used both frequently; it’s one of our travel tips for staying healthy.
Tips for Visiting the Wroclaw, Poland Christmas Market
Now that you know what to do at the Wroclaw Christmas Market, we have a few helpful hacks to make the most of your visit.
Wroclaw Christmas Market Dates
The market typically runs from late November through the first week of January. Find this year’s dates on the official website.
Bring Cash
Many vendors (including the mulled wine sellers) only accept cash in the local currency of Poland, the Zloty (PLN).
Aim for a Weekday
Winter weekends in Wroclaw are incredibly crowded! To avoid the crush, we suggest visiting on weekdays. That said, in the days leading up to Christmas, every night was packed.
Dress in Layers
Wroclaw winters can get very, very cold! During our monthlong trip, temperatures ranged from 27°F to 55°F.
We always dressed in plenty of layers. This was especially useful when planning on popping into a restaurant or bar to warm up!
Bathrooms
There are both portable toilets and permanent restrooms available at the market. There is a small fee to use them and it’s best to have coins.
Wander Beyond the Market
We found it difficult to pull ourselves away from Rynek Square, but there are some Christmassy spots beyond the festival that are worth seeking out.
We love the Tunnel of Lights on Kuznicza and Kotlarska Streets. Brilliantly lit with shimmering snowflakes, it’s great for photos.
Tumski Bridge to Cathedral Island is wonderfully decorated with lights and Plac Katedralny (behind the Cathedral) has cool decorations, too!
Of course, twinklers illuminate many major streets, so wandering is always festive. For an alternate vantage point, hop on a Christmas-themed river cruise – like this one!
Spend Daylight Hours Sightseeing
There is so much more to the city than the market. You can use our list of Things To Do in Wroclaw to plan your sightseeing adventures!
Just be aware that daylight hours are super short during December, with sunset around 3:45pm.
Wroclaw Travel Tips
Ready to start planning your Wroclaw trip? We have some honest pieces of advice to help make your visit enjoyable.
Getting There and Around
Wroclaw is fairly well-connected to other cities in Poland and select European destinations.
The Wroclaw Airport (WRO) is primarily served by low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air. Inexpensive city buses, express shuttles and ride-shares can get you from the airport to the city center.
Find the best fares for your trip on Skyscanner – but first read our tips for Booking Cheap Flights.
The main train and bus stations are situated on the south side of the city. To get to the center, it’s best to take a tram. Once in the city center of Wroclaw, it’s easy to get around on foot.
Where To Stay in Wroclaw
We recommend staying in the heart of the city so you are just steps from the fun. We booked this apartment full of character just a block from Salt Square. Alternatively, the Grand City Hotel is a fantastic option, too.
Get Ready for Your Poland Trip
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Start planning your trip to Poland! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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