It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas and, if you're planning to spend some time in Poland around this time of the year, then a visit to the Gdańsk Christmas Market should be in your calendar. So what can you expect to find here?
Panorama shot of the first day of last year's Gdańsk Christmas Markets.
The historic city's Christmas markets centre around Targ Węglowy (ENG: The Coal Market) in the picturesque historic centre of Gdańsk Old Town, which is turned into a quaint little Christmas village, offering decorations, treats, woollen scarves and socks, handmade jewellery, children's toys, mulled wine, hot cider and steaming portions of Polish food. Close to the Golden Gate, you can witness the bizarre novelty of Łoś Lucek (roughly translating as 'Luey the Moose'), a mechanical moose that tells exceptionally-dry jokes in Polish, English, and German. It doesn't end there!
Targ Węglowy Stage at the Gdańsk Christmas Market!
Passing through Brama Wyżynna and crossing the main road, the grounds around Forum Shopping Centre have scored this year's Christmas tree, as well as extra stalls and the all-important ice skating rink. In the other direction, through the Golden Gate and back down ul. Długa, you'll find another strip of crafts and food options on the next left - ul. Tkacka. The beautifully-imposing Great Armoury at the intersection of ul. Tkacka and ul. Piwna has become the 'Armoury of Arts & Crafts', hosting a number of stalls sporting artisanal goods, as well as Santa's Workshop, which has a bunch of creative arts & crafts sessions (SEE THE PROGRAM).
Mikołaj AKA Saint Nicholas AKA Santa Claus greeting the good folk of Gdańsk on the Targ Węglowy Stage. Photo by Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy Gdańsk.
What's going on at the Gdańsk Christmas Markets in 2023?
Centred around the stage at Targ Węglowy, there are a whole bunch of events taking place at the Christmas Markets in Gdańsk. After the official opening parade on the afternoon/evening of Nov 25th, there will be frequent performances and activities for children taking place right through till the late December. This includes productions from various local theatre groups and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer running regular Christmas challenges. A few sessions of Christmas Karaoke will be making a return thanks to popular demand!
From Dec 1st - 23rd, the advent gate in Targ Węglowy will be opening a new window at 18:00 daily, whilst Secrets of the Foregate Complex is an edutaining opportunity that you can take a part of every evening at 18:30. Mikołaj (the saintly version Of Saint Nicholas AKA Santa Claus) will be taking the throne and posing for your official Christmas photos! The very same Santa will be doing the honours of switching on the big Christmas tree on Gdańsk Christmas Tree on Długi Targ at 18:00 Dec 5th! The last day of the Gdańsk Christmas Markets is 23rd December 2023. We recommend you check the full program to see what’s happening at the Gdańsk Christmas Markets!
Old school vending of fresh bread at the Gdańsk Christmas Market!
What to eat at Gdańsk Christmas Markets?
From the range of traditional Polish cuisine that you'll find at the Christmas Markets, servings of Oscypki (ENG: Smoked Cheese), Pierogi and Grilled Meat from one of the BBQ stations are standard fixtures. On the latter, hardcore meat-lovers may want to enquire about Kaszanka (ENG: Black Pudding / Blood Sausage). If you want something a little more balanced (fibre is important on evenings like this), try some Bigos (ENG: Hunter's Stew) which is actually not as wet as it sounds - shredded sour cabbage with chopped meat. Those searching for something more exotic will find a Tatar food stall, which offers foods from the Central Asian republic. Burgers, chip-sticks and other Americanised-standards can also be found. Each to their own... however, we'd love you to be adventurous!
Golonka (ENG: Pork Knuckle), another Polish Christmas market favourite!
On the sweeter end of the palate, Ginger Bread makes a big appearance at Christmas time, but you'll spot other standards like Gofry (ENG: Waffles) which come with a number of toppings. Another notable non-Polish indulgence are the Hungarian Kurtosze stalls that sell 'Chimney Cakes' - steamy, hollow dough-tubes, baked and covered in sugar and cinnamon or chocolate and nuts.
Hungarian Kurtosze (ENG: Chimney Cakes) are a popular sweet market food at Polish Chrismas markets!
What to drink at Gdańsk Christmas Markets?
Christmas is the season of heated alcohol! A pint of Hot Beer (PL: Grzane Piwno) sounds fairly self-explanatory, though it is curiously-spiced with artificial ginger syrup, clove, cinnamon and other mulling spices. For some an acquired taste, for others an early Christmas present and others still an utter profanity, but an invention necessary for everyone to try at least once. Similarly popular is Grzane Wino – or Sweet Mulled Wine – which you'll find is suddenly okay to drink in public places once the holidays come around and barrels of it dispensed on Poland's market squares. You can also order it at the bar and even buy it in the shop and heat it up at home - a popular brand is Grzaniec Galicyjski. If you're looking for something with a bit more kick, take note of Polish flavoured-vodkas like Nalewki, Krupniki and others here!
A Grzane Wino stall at Gdańsk Christmas Markets. Hot wine in Polish wintertime is a necessity for many!
While reading this program, keep in mind that all of the events listed in the program are presented in Polish. The arts & crafts workshops for children, young families, and the mentally-challenged, may have some operators that speak English, though it is not guaranteed. Nevertheless, the staff is friendly, and body language and a smile goes a long way!
The Targ Węglowy Advent Gate is located on the south end near the Golden Gate, whilst the Targ Węglowy Stage is located on the opposite side (the north end). Santas Workshop is located in The Great Armoury, which is accessible from both Targ Węglowy and ul. Tkacka!
Teatr Qfer presents...
15:30 - 18:30 Targ Węglowy Stage
15:30 Christmas Hyde Park - Theatre sports for children
16:00 Emergency service in Elftown - games, fun and competitions
17:30 "Snow White and the 7 Elves" as told by Elf Koszałek Opalek
MONDAY,
27th NOVEMBER
Fair stalls are open from 12:00 to 20:00.
TUESDAY,
28th NOVEMBER
Christmas Freeze Frames with Mr. and Mrs. Orzechowski
16:30-19:30 The Great Armoury
Art Workshops - Salt Dough Decorations
Run by Gdańsk's Local Integration Center for People with Mental Disabilities
16:00 - 19:00 Foregate Complex/Targ Węglowy
Christmas Freeze Frames – Mr. and Mrs. Orzechowski
17.00-20.00
Wandering around the Christmas Fair
Snow Queen and Saint Nicholas in Ancient Egypt
17:00 - 19:00 Targ Węglowy Stage
Herald of Hope
Run by St. Mary's Basilica and Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk
13:00 START
13:15 Community Team United in Spirit
13:40 Animations and Fun
14:00 Rooted in Christ band
14:25 EKS volunteering
15:05 God's Notes
15:40 Caritas Candle Lighting
16:00 FINISH Targ Węglowy Stage
Qfer Theater presents...
16:00 Christmas Hyde Park - Theatre sports for children
16.30 "Emergency service in Elfowo" - games, fun and competitions
17.00 "A Christmas Carol" - Puppet show and masked theatre performance Targ Węglowy Stage
Sing with Santa Claus for the Hospice Foundation
13:00 Christmas Carols performed by MAGDALENA LEWANDOWSKA
13:40 Christmas Carols performed by Youth Music Band of the School of Economics and Commerce Targ Węglowy Stage
"Among the Silence" Concert
Christmas Carols by the Choir of the Medical University of Gdańsk / Conducted by Błażej Połom
19:00 Targ Węglowy Advent Gate
WEDNESDAY,
20th DECEMBER
Christmas Tree Decorations Making Workshop
16:00-19:00 Santa's Workshop
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. Photo by Patryk Kosmider.jpg)
