Gdańsk Christmas Market: The Best in Europe (2025)

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Are you searching for a less typical Christmas market visit, connected with visiting a charming historical city and walking at the beach? Look no further; Gdańsk Christmas Market is the best option for you.

Tucked in the pretty colourful streets in the Old Town and between historical buildings, it’s one of the most charming Christmas markets in Europe. It provides a lot of attractions, shopping options, and good food. After all, it didn’t win the title of the Best Christmas Market in Europe without a reason.

I visit this market every year and can confirm how it has grown and all the positive opinions people say about it.

And when you are tired of crowds and the hassle of the market, you can easily escape to visit the next important city’s monuments, museums, and even, beaches. What’s more, the whole Old Town (and not only) has beautiful Christmas decorations and an atmosphere worth seeing.

In this blog post, I will tell you where to find these places and what to expect from Gdańsk Christmas Market. Additionally, you will find here information and tips regarding organising your trip to Gdańsk during market time.

Best Christmas Market 2025 Title

When I’m speaking about Gdańsk having the best Christmas market in Europe, it’s not only wishful thinking or ‘clickbait’. It’s true.

The competition ‘Best Christmas Market in Europe’ has been organised by an organisation called European Best Destinations for years now. In 2025 it will be already the 14th edition of the plebiscite. It’s quite a special competition, as the winner is chosen from the list of 20 markets by the public and visitors’ voting. It’s quite an interesting list, as every year you can find there well-known cities with popular markets, but also these lesser known and less obvious Christmas markets.

In past years Gdańsk was already on the list, always somewhere in the top positions. While last year, it won the competition and got the title of ‘Best European Christmas Market in 2025’ (markets get the title for the next year, so this year we will vote for the best in 2026).

For sure, you will see this information and the logo of the best markets when visiting the market this year.

Undoubtedly, the other side effect of the title will be more people visiting the market this year, which is good and bad news at the same time.

The full list of the markets participating in the competition is always introduced around October/November, and you will be able to check it (and vote) at this website.

Gdańsk Christmas Market 2025 Basic Information

Dates

Dates for 2025 are already confirmed:

21 November-23 December 2025

The market will take place between these dates, starting on Friday, 21st. It means it will cover 2 November weekends. From my experience, it’s usually a little less busy then (than during December weekends).

Weekdays are usually less busy than weekends, too.

Opening Times

The Christmas Market is open during all days:

Friday and Saturday: 12:00-21:00

Sunday-Thursday: 12:00-20:00

The location of the market is so good that you can easily visit it during the day and during the evening. I suggest seeing it in both, daylight and in the dark, as it gives different feeling.

In November and December in Gdańsk it gets dark really early, even around 4 p.m.

Location

As mentioned before, the location of the Gdańsk Christmas Market is great, as it’s right in the centre and Old Town:

Targ Węglowy, in the Armoury, on Przedbramie and on streets: Bogusławskiego and Tkacka.

The main location and entry is the Targ Węglowy, a square on which you will also see other historical buildings: Katownia (The Torture Chamber), Zbrojownia (The Armoury), Baszta (The Straw Tower) or the newer building of the theatre, Teatr Wybrzeże.

When going from Targ Węglowy to the other market locations, you will pass under the beautiful Renaissance Golden Gate. In short, when visiting the Christmas Market you are actually visiting the city at the same time.

Public Transport

If you prefer to have accommodation further from the Old Town, thanks to its central location, it’s also easy to arrive at the market by public transport.

There are many trams and buses, and most importantly, SKM, quick trains travelling through the whole Tricity.

The best stop for SKM is Gdańsk Śródmieście, very close to the market location.

As you can imagine, it’s recommended to arrive at the market with public transport, not cars, as you may get stuck in traffic and have trouble parking.

What to expect on the Market

Details regarding attractions during the Market will appear later on, closer to the date. However, based on information already provided and past years, we know what we can expect from the market more or less.

Usually, the Christmas Market is divided into different parts: Santa’s Corner, Artistic Corner or Angel Corner. There are also places with entertainment like the Venetian carousel, spinning barrels or a VR stimulator of Santa’s Sleigh. I think it’s usually one of the points with the biggest line.

The most known part for years is Moose’s Corner: a place with ‘talking’ moose. His name is Lucek. You need to stop by to listen to what he will have to say.

Obviously, there will be a lot of lights, decorations and Insta-friendly spots, and many stalls. Stalls with different handcrafted souvenirs and with food: Polish cuisine like bigos (prepared based on cabbage) and typical Christmas markets food like sausage or Hungarian langos, but also other international cuisine.

As we are in Gdańsk, amber’s capital, you can also expect stalls and exhibitions of amber. At least last year it was in special Amber Corner, but I can’t imagine it’s not going to be available this year as well.

There is also a big scene where the shows and concerts take place and many workshops, especially for children.

Before visiting the market, check out the map and programme, which are always available on the website.

I will update this information as soon as will get more details on this year’s attractions, but I think it’s safe to say it will be similar to the ones described.

Where else to search for Christmas atmosphere in Gdańsk

The Christmas Market is not the only place where you should search for the Christmas atmosphere in the city.

Not far from the market, on Długa Street (close to the Neptun fountain), there is always a big pretty Christmas tree. It’s usually lit up around the beginning of December. On Długa Street there are also nice decorations. You will also find lights decorations when you walk towards the river. Just pass the gate and you will see the shining tram.

You should also walk ‘the other direction’ from the Market, towards Forum. It’s a shopping centre, but it’s nicer than ‘normal’ shopping centres. It also has great decorations on the square in front. Check it out also inside.

If you have more time, I strongly recommend going to Park Oliwski (park in Oliwa) to see the light decorations. It’s one of the most famous spots with decorations, and it’s really great for a late afternoon/early evening walk.

It’s an easy journey and will take you less than 20 minutes on an SKM train ride from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdańsk Oliwa station.

Usually there are also decorations in Reagan’s Park, close to Gdańsk Brzeźno beach.

Markets in other cities of Tricity

Two other cities of Tricity and Gdynia and Sopot. In Gdynia, there are a few nice Christmas decorations, but no Christmas market.

Sopot, though, is very nicely decorated, and it has a small market. It usually starts much later, in the second half of December. Last year it had small but nice light shows on the building of the lighthouse.

It’s worth checking out the building of the restaurant White Merlin, as it always has pretty seasonal decorations.

Generally, if you have more time, I recommend visiting Sopot for an evening walk. You can connect it with a walk in Oliwa, as they are only 3 stations from each other.

How to organise your trip to Gdańsk during the Christmas Market

Gdańsk is a touristic destination, so it’s rather easy to organise your trip here. You will find a lot of hotels, travel and attraction options.

The busiest time in the city is summer; however, as the Christmas Market is getting so popular, you can expect a lot of tourists here then.

I will describe all the details in the next blog posts; here you can find the most useful summary.

How to get

There is a nice airport in Gdańsk, with many flights to European destinations. If you prefer standard airlines or need to have a change, look at KLM, Lufthansa, SAS or LOT-Polish airlines that fly to Gdańsk from Warsaw.

There are also many connections of so-called budget airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair, and you will easily travel with them from many UK and Scandinavian airports.

There are even special planes during December from Manchester and Birmingham by Jet2.

The number of connections has risen, so you can now fly directly to Gdańsk from Budapest, Prague, or Malaga.

Here you can read how to get from the airport to the centre.

You can also get to Gdańsk by train (from Berlin and Prague or other Polish cities) and even by ferry from Nynashamn/Stockholm and from Karlskrona to Gdynia.

Where to stay

If you are coming because of the Christmas Market, it will be best to stay around the Old Town. It’s very walkable, so you will be able to walk to the Market and to other places to visit.

Look especially at these hotels:

Hotel Puro, an elegant hotel with a more special design. They have hotels in a few Polish cities, and it’s always a good idea to stay there.

Hotel Almond is a bit out of the hassle of Old Town but close to it. Business and Spa hotel.

Hotel Gdańsk Boutique, at the river, in the interesting building and décor.

Gdańsk Christmas Market is great, but it’s not the only one in Poland worth visiting. Here you can read the summary of other Polish Christmas markets as well as potential itineraries with more markets, including the one in Gdańsk.

I hope I managed to show you it’s worthwhile destination for your Christmas market city break trip!

Check out also other Polish Christmas market, real hidden gem, in Bydgoszcz.