Poland’s Christmas Markets: A Festive Family Trip Through 4 Cities

Upon arrival in Kraków, you will head to your accommodations for some rest and regrouping. Then, hit the main square to explore one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. The square’s edges are lined with numerous shops and there are many restaurants to choose from. One of the aspects we loved about all the cities in Poland is that they embrace the cold weather instead of shying away from it. They adapt their services to winter weather with heated pop-up tents on the sidewalks in front of all the restaurants. We loved strolling through the square at night and seeing all the people in these cozy, warm tents lit up with beautiful string lights.

The Christmas markets generally run from late morning through the evening, so I suggest visiting at different times of the day to experience the different vibes. The daytime is generally less crowded, with the exception of weekends. The evening tends to draw more people and the vibe is more for eating, entertainment, and merriment.

Optional day trips from Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mines & Auschwitz

Wieliczka Salt Mines: It’s so hard to describe just how interesting these mines are without actually seeing pictures. Over the years, the miners began to create beautiful and intricate carvings, statues, and entire rooms out of the salt they were mining. They were carving it as if it were marble. I suggest googling the mines to get a better idea. It is definitely worth a half-day trip and even the kids thought it was a cool experience to be that far underground. Oh, and you can lick the walls—huge bonus for the kids!

Auschwitz: All the adults really wanted to visit Auschwitz but obviously it is not a suitable place for young children. We decided that instead of foregoing the visit all together, we would alternate days—four of the adults went one day and the other four went the next day. Even though this took up two days for us, we all felt the time was worth it to be able to see this important part of world history. It is definitely worth your time.

Kid-approved tip: Bring your children to the market to do their shopping as soon as it opens. There are fewer people and it is easier to maneuver around (especially with strollers). The evening is better for grabbing food and people watching. Trying to shop through the stalls with little kids would be difficult with the larger crowds. In the evening, leave the stroller at the hotel if possible and wear your child if they are little enough.

Looking for a picturesque mountain town in the Tatra Mountains? Look no further than Zakopane. This stop was less about a Christmas market (since the town has not had a dedicated market since pre-Covid), and more about us wanting to experience the cozy winter ambience of Poland’s ski towns. This stop was one of our favorites and we all agree that two nights was not enough. An extra night would have been perfect.

The oldest street in Zakopane, Kościeliska, stretches through the middle of town and is full of shops and restaurants. I highly recommend meandering in and out of the shops and ending the evening with a meal at one of the traditional restaurants to sample all the local flavors and dishes. We had an excellent meal at Gazdowo Kuźnia, complete with musicians playing traditional Polish folk music while we ate. The ambience and food were both top-notch!

Kid-approved tip: Take a day trip to one of the many thermal hot springs in the area. Zakopane is well-known for its thermal springs, so visiting one while you are in the area is a must. We all headed to Chochołowski termy, the largest thermal baths in Poland. Their pools are extensive and the children’s play area was a huge hit for the seven kids we had with us. With multiple restaurants, pools, and play areas, there is something for everyone. FYI: Don’t forget your own flip flops or water shoes. Some of our group did not pack these and ended up having to purchase shoes in their gift shop since they are required when walking around.

Wrocław is the town that delivered on the vision of idyllic Christmas markets I pictured in my head while planning this trip. Their Christmas market is huge, taking up the entire medieval square of its old town. There are numerous lights, decorations, and even temporary beer halls and restaurants erected on the corners of the square to house all the revelers. Be on the lookout for the talking moose—our kids all got a kick out of him! There are stalls upon stalls of food, crafts, mulled wine, and even games and rides for the kids. I suggest arriving at the start of the day to shop before the crowds pick up later in the afternoon and evening. This was definitely one of the busiest markets we visited, so be sure to come at different times of the day to experience all its sides.

Kid-approved tip: Arrive early to the market with your kids so they can hit up the rides and games when the crowds are smaller. You can also grab a snack or two without having to wait in crazy long lines later in the evening. Finish your evening with dinner at Piwnica Świdnicka. This restaurant is located in the medieval cellars of the Old Town Hall, located right on the main square where the Christmas market takes place. You’ll be happy to have a warm, dry place to sit and eat with your kids instead of bumping elbows with the crowds of people while standing with your food at the stalls. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time to ensure a table.

The last city we visited was the capital, Warsaw. It was surprising to me that this Christmas market was the smallest of the three (Wroclaw being the largest, followed by Krakow). However, what it lacked in size, it made up for with its impressive and magical light displays. There were lights everywhere in old town Warsaw. It was really something to walk through the old town at night. We often felt like we were on a movie set. Our kids loved it!

The main square is dedicated to the ice-skating rink, which sits center stage with small stalls housing food and drink around it. The Christmas market stalls selling crafts and more food line a portion of the medieval walls around the old town center. They lead to another larger square of the old town, outside the royal palace, which had a huge, and beautifully lit, Christmas tree. I highly recommend adding Warsaw to your Polish travels, but make sure you are there when all the light decorations are turned on. We caught the Christmas lights when they were first being set up, but we were lucky to catch them all turned on and in their glory on our last two nights in Warsaw.

Kid-approved tip: Book a pierogi-making class for your family at Foodie City Warsaw. We had a blast learning how to make traditional pierogies with a real chef. It was a nice break from sightseeing and the kids loved getting their hands dirty and learning to cook with the adults. Between the food, wine, and snacks provided, it was definitely a core memory we all came home with!