Gdańsk Christmas market 2026: dates, hours

The Gdańsk Christmas market has become one of the best-known in Poland: its organiser reports that it was voted best in Europe in 2025 in the Europe's Best Destinations contest, after second place in 2023. The short answer for 2026: the market runs from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, and entry is free. Stalls open at 12:00 every day and close at 20:00 from Sunday to Thursday and at 21:00 on Friday and Saturday.

Gdańsk Christmas market 2026: dates and hours

Dates and hours from the organiser, Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie (see sources), as of November 2026.

The market ends before Christmas Eve. At 34 days it is about as long as Munich's and shorter than Wrocław's:

Season: calendar days from the first to the last day.

The market sites in 2026

The organiser lists these locations for 2026:

• Targ Węglowy: the Coal Market, the main site at the edge of the Main Town
• Royal Route: from the Upland Gate to the Golden Gate
• ul. Bogusławskiego: three sections, with a crafts zone between the Golden Gate and ul. Ogarna, and a food and drink zone and the Advent Gate beside the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre
• Forum Gdańsk: the courtyard of the shopping centre
• ul. Tkacka: a short street into the old town
• Zbrojownia: arts and crafts in the Great Armoury

All of it lies close together, so you can walk the whole market in one evening. The organiser publishes a map on its website.

What to look for

Illuminations. The market is known for its light installations, called the Gdańsk Illuminations, which are best seen after dark.

Stalls. The organiser separates a food zone from a trade and crafts zone, with goods made by the exhibitors themselves and regional specialities. There are also "market corners" with attractions, plus live events, singing, theatre and shows.

The Nutcracker couple. The market's mascots are a pair of nutcrackers, and the organiser tells their story on its history page, along with the older history of Christmas markets in the city.

When to go

• Weekday evenings are the calmest time to see the lights.
• Friday and Saturday have an extra hour but are the busiest.
• The opening weekend from 20 November is lively; check the organiser's programme.
• After 23 December there is no market, so plan your visit before Christmas Eve.

Since stalls do not open until noon, the morning is for the city itself: the Long Market with Neptune's Fountain, St Mary's Church, the old Crane on the Motława river and the amber shops of ul. Mariacka. Tickets for museums and tours in Gdańsk^* are on Tiqets.

Getting there

Gdańsk Główny station is a short walk from Targ Węglowy. The organiser also describes travel to the market by SKM commuter train and by ferry on its website. Trains connect Gdańsk with Warsaw and other Polish cities; compare train and bus connections^* on Omio. On a day trip, leave your bags at luggage storage in Gdańsk^*. Travelling from outside the EU, a Poland eSIM^* from Airalo is often cheaper than roaming. Poland uses the złoty, not the euro.

Where to stay

The Main Town (Główne Miasto) puts you among the stalls and the old facades. The Old Town to the north and the Granary Island on the Motława are also within walking distance. Sopot is an option for a quieter stay by the sea, with the SKM train to the centre.

Weather in December

Gdańsk is cold, damp and often windy near the Baltic: on average about 4.5 °C by day and 0.8 °C at night, with 53 mm of rain and snow over the month (2015–2024). Bring a warm, windproof jacket and shoes with a good grip for the cobbles.

How YesTrip helps

Our Gdańsk plan connects the Main Town, the waterfront and the shipyard museums in a walking order on a map, and it fits well around an evening at the market. YesTrip shows the forecast for your travel days and suggests matching clothes in the packing list. How long to stay? See how many days you need in Gdańsk.

Other Polish markets are the Wrocław Christmas market 2026, which runs into January, the Warsaw Christmas market 2026 and the Krakow Christmas market 2026. On the Baltic coast, see the Tallinn Christmas market 2026. For more cities, read our guide to the best Christmas markets in Europe.

Gdańsk trip planDay by day, with map and tips

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