What is Gdansk Christmas Market Really Like?

Heads up: This article may contain affiliate links.

I’d never been to a proper Christmas market abroad before and didn’t really know what to expect. Except for glühwein and festive decorations, of course. So, when Wizz Air dropped an offer too good to decline to Gdansk, I figured it was time to get my own first-hand experience.

Poland is one of my favourite countries in Europe, and while Gdansk isn’t my favourite city in Poland, it’s still a lovely place for a weekend getaway. I got a friend along and off we went for three nights over a weekend in December 2025.

So, what was the Gdansk Christmas Market really like? Continue reading to find out what I thought and get my best tips for spending a December weekend in Gdansk.

Affiliate Disclosure:
This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support Heritage Wanderlust and allows me to keep creating free travel guides and helpful travel content.

Introduction to Gdansk

Located on Poland’s Baltic coast, Gdansk is one of the country’s most beautiful and historically interesting cities.

Its colourful facades, narrow streets and grand architecture make the historic centre worth visiting at any time of year. In December, add Christmas lights, decorated stalls and the smell of warm food and mulled wine, and the city feels very different from a summer visit.

Gdansk is also compact enough for a short city break. Much of what you’ll want to see is within walking distance, which is particularly convenient on a winter weekend when you probably don’t want to spend half your time figuring out public transport.

Gdansk Christmas Market

The Gdansk Christmas Market, or Jarmark Bozonarodzeniowy, takes over parts of the historic centre in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Rather than being one enclosed market, stalls and decorations are spread across several streets and squares. You can wander between food stalls, small shops, Christmas decorations and different festive installations while still feeling like you’re exploring the city itself.

My first meeting with the Christmas market was just as it opened midday on a Friday. There were barely any other people except my friend and I, and the stalls opened one by one. Without any crowds, we had a good look around all the arts and craft stalls inside the Great Armory and quickly realized that this was the place for truly unique things.

Busy Weekend Vibes

The outside stalls were cute, most of them selling warming food and drinks. What was a bit disappointing, though, was that it seemed like many of the stalls were the same and the items sold were not unique to Poland.

There were several photo ops, carousels and activities for children and lots of beautiful decoration around. In bright daylight and surprisingly warm temperatures, considering we were by the Baltic Sea in December, the festive spirits were not really there.
As the afternoon went on and it got darker, the more festive it became. By Friday evening, the Christmas market and the surrounding streets were literally packed with people. And that’s pretty much how it was the rest of the weekend.

We mostly just walked around, sipping mulled wine and people watched as much as enjoying the decorations. And spilling almost as much wine as I drank due to people bumping into me.

Europe’s Best Christmas Market?

Gdansk Christmas Market has received quite a bit of international attention in recent years and was even listed as Europe’s best Christmas market in 2024.

Of course, awards and rankings only tell you so much. What matters more is what the market is actually like when you visit. Especially on a busy December weekend.

Since this was my first real European Christmas market, I don’t have much to compare it with. To me, it unfortunately was a bit too crowded and a bit too commercialised to give me any festive spirits. Perhaps coming on a weekday evening would feel different.

Christmas Throughout the City

There’s no denying that Gdansk is a beautiful city with its many ornamented, Hanseatic facades. And one thing I liked about Gdansk in December was that the festive atmosphere wasn’t limited to a single market square.

You see decorations, illuminations and festive stalls extends into the historic centre, so visiting the market becomes part of simply wandering around Gdansk rather than a separate attraction you visit once and leave.

The Long Market, Dlugi Targ, is especially pretty with lots of lights and the large Christmas tree just next to the Neptun fountain. So, you’ll definitely don’t want to limit your time to just the main Christmas Market streets.

Practical Details: Gdansk Christmas Market 2026

In 2026, Gdansk Christmas Market is open from 20^th November to 23^rd December.

Opening hours:

• Sunday – Thursday: 12:00 – 20:00
• Friday – Saturday: 12:00 – 21:00

The market is free to visit and you can wander around the stalls, enjoy the decorations and soak up the athmosphere without spending anything extra. Food, drinks, shopping and some activities cost extra.

Being on the Baltic Coast, Gdansk can get pretty cold in December. Average daytime temperatures are just a few degrees above freezing, and the wind can make it feel even colder. We were lucky with surprisingly mild temperatures and no wind, but don’t count on that when packing. Most of the Christmas Market is outdoors, so warm clothes and comfortabel shoes are a must.

Planning for 2027 already? The Christmas Market is scheduled to run from 19 November to 23 December, although the organisers reserve the right to change the dates.

Visit the Christmas Market’s official website here!

Other Things to Do in Gdansk in December

Even if the Christmas market is the reason for your trip, leave some time for Gdansk itself and perhaps even do a half-day tour.

The historic centre is made for wandering. Walk along the colourful Long Market and Long Street, see the impressive Neptune Fountain and explore the streets around the waterfront.

Guided Electric Car Tours

This is a thing all over Poland. Small, open electrical vehicles / golf carts driven by a guide. I did this in Wroclaw a couple of years ago, and it was such a good tour.

We hadn’t planned anything in Gdansk, but standing next to the Neptun fountain, we were approached by a guy selling tours. Being a bit hesitant by booking a tour this way, we eventually got along when we could join to English ladies and split the cost. You pay per car, you see.

No regrets, even though the view through the plastic cover wasn’t great. Because what was great, was our guide. He spoke English and shared so much knowledge about the city and its history. On longer stops, we could go outside for a better view.

Can definitely recommend spending a couple of hours on a tour in one of these cars. Especially in winter, when it may feel too cold to do a walking tour.

Get an Eagle Eye’s View from St. Mary’s Basilica

If you’re feeling fit, highly recommend climbing the stairs to the observation deck on top of the St. Mary’s Basilica. It only cost about 20 zloty, and the view is well worth the 410 steps.

If you suffer from claustrophobia, be aware that the first part of the stairway is narrow with uneven steps. The latter part is inside the actual clock tower with normal steps and a lot more space.

Also allow time to visit the basilica itself. It’s huge, with a capacity of up to 25,000 people. I always like to take a quiet moment to light a candle for loved ones I wish was there when in Catholic churches.

St. Mary’s Basilica is the only tower you can climb in winter. In the summer season you can also climb the towers of the Main Town Hall, which I did the last time I was there. It isn’t as tall as the basilica, but no less beautiful as I remember it.

Go on a Half-Day Tour

Gdansk is part of a tricity, and the coastal town called Sopot is a popular half- or day trip destination. In summer, it’s a charming beach destination, while in winter it has its own Christmas vibe. With a smaller market and fun decorations.

Instead of Sopot, we went to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Malbork Castle. The largest brick castle in the world and the largest fortified building in Europe. You can book a tour there, but it’s super easy to do it on your own.

Trains in Poland are a charm and the fastest ones between Gdansk and Malbork take less than 30 minutes. From the train station, there’s a short walk through town (make sure you have your gps set, as the roads are a bit confusing at first) and then you can spend a couple of hours exploring the massive castle with an audio guide, before returning to Gdansk in time for a late lunch.

Do you want to book a tour instead? Click here.

Boat Trip to Westerplatte

If you’re interested in history, a visit to Westerplatte, where WW2 started, is a must. It’s located at the river mouth of the Motlawa River that runs through Gdansk.

We didn’t do a lot of research and went with the easily recognisable Black Pearl. Not really. At least not the alternative where you only stay on the boat. In December, we found it too chilly to sit outside, and inside it was cramped with load engine noise as well as a live band playing. We couldn’t really see anything through the windows, and we couldn’t hear the audio guide. To be honest, we couldn’t even talk because of the noise.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t book the Black Pearl, but if you do, make sure you have time to take the option to leave the boat on Westerplatte and get back on the next departure. The back and forth option is not worth it as long as you can’t sit outside.

You take some and loose some, I guess. And with this tour, I didn’t do enough research.

Museums and Other Things to Do

For a deeper look at the city’s history, the Museum of the Second World War is one of Gdansk’s major attractions. The European Solidarity Centre tells another important part of the city’s story and is particularly worthwhile if you’re interested in modern European history.

If you want some local but non-festive souvenirs, make sure to stop by Amber Street (Mariacka Street). Not only is it the prettiest street in Gdansk, but it’s also filled with jewellery shops. I spent more money here than at the Christmas Market. Gifts for other as well as a simple silver ring with a small amber stone for myself.

And sometimes the best December activity is simply finding a cosy café, ordering something warm and watching the winter city outside.

Plan Your Trip to Gdansk

No matter when you travel to Gdansk, you need to get there, have a place to stay and eat. So, before I share my best tips for visiting the Christmas Market, let’s look at some practical details.  

How to Get There

Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport has connections with numerous European cities, including direct flights from several Scandinavian airports. Wizz Air even makes this one of the cheapest direct flights from for example Bergen, my home airport.

The drive from the airport to the city centre is approximately 25 minutes. Getting from the airport into central Gdansk is straightforward by public transport, and taxis and Bolt are also available. We landed late and decided to pre-book transfer with Connecto Transfer to be sure to get to our hotel as soon as possible.

Like always, I found it worth spending a little bit extra on not having to deal with transfer options after landing.

Once you’re in the city, as long as you’re staying centrally, you’re unlikely to need much transport for sightseeing. The historic centre and Christmas market are very walkable.

Where to Stay

Gdansk is a popular destination, especially amongst Scandinavians, and there’s no lack of places to stay.

For a short Christmas market trip, I’d prioritise location over almost everything else. Staying in or close to the historic centre means you can walk to the market, restaurants and most major sights. It also makes it easy to return to your hotel for a break when you’ve had enough of the December weather.

We stayed at the Cloud One Hotel and couldn’t have been happier. The hotel itself is great, and the location is absolutely perfect. Just a short and easy walk from everything the city has on offer, but somehow still quiet. Although they don’t offer twin beds, they have a real door to the bathroom. Something two old friends who had not travelled together since 2004 appreciated.

Where to Eat

You could certainly eat your way around the Christmas market, but Gdansk has plenty of restaurants worth making room for as well. Just make sure to make reservations ahead, at least if you’re visiting during the weekend like we were.

Polish classics such as pierogi are an obvious place to start, but the city’s restaurant scene goes well beyond traditional Polish food. Because we didn’t realise exactly how busy Gdansk was on a Friday evening in December, finding a place to eat on the first night was a bit tricky.

Planning a bit better for the next night, we found a real gem of a place a short walk outside the historic centre. Eclectic and creative OSTRO Sharing offer the perfect vibe for a girl’s weekend trip and served me one of the best pizza’s I’ve had. While Ostro Sharing is a 15-minute walk from the main historic centre, OSTRO Pizza is located next to the river not far from the old crane.

I can also recommend getting lunch at Restauracja Pueblo, located just outside the main Christmas Market area. Maybe not entirely authentic Mexican, but I can 100% recommend for a fun girl’s brunch or late lunch! We stopped by here after the trip to Malbork and ended up staying till it was time to change for dinner.

My Recommendations for Visiting Gdansk Christmas Market

If I were planning the same trip again, this is what I would do:

• Try to visit on a weekday. With all the locals being off work plus all the tourists on a weekend getaway, it’s no wonder it gets crowded.
• Visit at different times of day. The market changes once darkness falls and the Christmas lights come on. If you have time, experience it both during daylight and in the evening.
• Make restaurant reservations early. Especially if visiting on a weekend.
• Don’t spend your entire weekend at the market. Gdansk has far too much history and beautiful architecture to ignore simply because it’s December.
• Dress for the weather. This is an outdoor winter experience on the Baltic coast. Warm layers, hat, gloves and winter boots can make a surprisingly big difference.
• Drink more mulled wine and eat more pierogis!

So, was Gdansk Christmas Market worth it?

100% yes. For my first proper Christmas market trip abroad, Gdansk was great. If you’ve read this far, you know I found it a bit too busy and commercialised, but I was also aware that I visited during a weekend. And Gdansk was quite crowded even on a rainy, mid-week too on my first visit in July 2018.

Not thinking about booking table for dinner on a Friday evening was also on me (us). That’s probably a good idea even outside the festive season.

I loved strolling along the illuminated streets, watching people have fun, and get some unique Christmas gifts inside the Great Armory.

Would I travel back every December purely for the Christmas market? No, but I will visit Gdansk again. Probably more than once.

Can I recommend Gdansk for a festive weekend combining Christmas atmosphere, good food, history and a beautiful city centre? Absolutely yes. As long as you’re aware that the market is crowded during weekends and that you need to reserve tables for dinner, Gdansk is a lovely place for a short festive break.

Frequently Asked Questions