Krakow Christmas Market & The Winter Resort Town of Zakopane 2024

Tour Dates
Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th December 2024

Krakow's 13th century Market Square with its majestic Cloth Hall and towering St Mary's Basilica, provides the perfect backdrop to this most traditional of Christmas Markets. After soaking up the festive spirit of the City, travel on to the pretty alpine town of Zakopane.

Now accepting Bookings for 2024  - with a low deposit of £25pp

Book before 31/01/2024 and receive a discount of £50pp 

The wooden stalls of Krakow's Christmas market, with their twinkling fairy lights, have plenty to tempt Christmas shoppers. Look out for hand painted glass baubles, traditional Boleslawiec pottery tree decorations with their distinctive blue and white designs, pine wreaths, and gingerbread in all shapes and sizes. 

Christmas in Poland

 

This tour also takes you to the charming villages in the spectacular Tatras region of Southern Poland. This majestic mountain range, the highest in the Carpathian Mountains, is dotted with pretty villages made up of traditional wooden buildings. You will stay in Zakopane, one of the most breathtaking of these villages, where natural beauty and a warm welcome awaits.

 

Moutains of Poland

Enhance your holiday with a choice of optional experiences along the way: 

Our menu of optional visits offers a visit to the incredible subterranean salt mines in Wieliczka; the chance to create your own stained glass souvenir under the tutelage of a mastercraftsman; a guided tour through the wonderous artworks of Czartoryski Museum, and a sleigh ride through the magnificent Chocholowska Valley in the Tatra National Park.  

 

Christmas Offer 2023

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Krakow Holiday to  Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2023

What we love

traditional craft Christmas market weekend Krakow November 2021

Experiences you will treasure

How much is it?

Tour cost for 2024 will be in the region of £700p/p
flights from London Heathrow TBC
Single Room Supplement £280 in the region of
We can customise this tour just for you!
Like to arrive earlier or extend your stay?
Book your own flights, let us help with transport and extras.
Tatra Moutains Short break to Krakow for Christmas Market 2021
Krakow for early Christmas Holiday - Escorted Tour
Christmas decorations Krakow short break Christmas Market Holiday 2023

What's included in your holiday

Krakow short break Christmas Market Horses

Itinerary - what you will do when

Traditional Craft in Poland

Where you will be staying

Zakopane Musicians

Flights & Transport

Polish motif
Krakow Holiday to Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2023 Departure
Krakow short break Christmas Market Holiday 2023
Traditional Craft Christmas Weekend holiday Krakow 2023
Visit Zakopane Krakow Holiday to  Christmas Markets in Europe 2023

A Deeper Dive

Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, Krakow dates back to the 7th century. Once Poland's royal capital, the city has traditionally been one of the country's leading centres of academic, cultural, artistic, and economic life. A leading European City Break location, Krakow fuses medieval grandeur and pageantry with beguiling contemporary energy. 

Here are two off-itinerary treats for your free day:

 Kazimierz District: Once a separate town from Kraków but now fully integrated into the city, this area is best known as the former Jewish quarter. Starting at Plac Nowy, take a stroll along the back lanes to visit synagogues including the Old Synagogue or Remuh Synagogue, and learn about the centuries of Jewish life that came to an end with the German occupation in WWII

Gothic Collegium Maius: Now home to an impressive collection of medieval scientific instruments, the great mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus once studied here.

Did you know Krakow holds an annual Christmas Crib Making competition?

One of Kraków's most idiosyncratic Christmas traditions is the creation of 'szopki'. A cross between a nativity scene, gingerbread house and a doll's house, these unique structures date back to the 19th century and were re-popularised in 1937 with the launch of the first official Christmas Crib Competition. The Krakow Museum of History, which organises the annual competition, has kept every crib made since 1945 and the collection makes fascinating viewing.

Visiting the Crib collection is included in the tour price

© Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa

Among the 177 cribs are spectacular recreations of some the city’s most famous landmarks from St Mary’s Church tower and the city walls, to the Cloth Hall and St Florian’s Gate. Not to be missed!

image: © Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa

Princess Izabela Czartoryska was an important royal figure of the Austrian Empire, as well as a writer, art collector, and prominent figure in the Polish Enlightenment.

In 1796, Izabela ordered the rebuilding of the ruined palace at Puławy and began a museum to house a collection of national treasures to preserve Polish heritage, in keeping with her motto, "The Past to the Future." 

Historical painting of Krakow

The museum was destroyed in the Polish-Russian war, with the confiscation of the Czartoryski properties; however, most of the collection was saved and smuggled to Paris to be temporarily housed for safekeeping.  Izabela's grandson Prince Władysław (Ladislaus)
returned from life in exile to Krakow and reinstated the collection as a National Museum. 

The Museum still stands on the same site and has a wonderful permanent collection of decorative Polish objet, including glassware, porcelain, ceramics, fashion, furniture, traditional musical instruments, and heirlooms of the Royal family. There are also fantastic and well-curated temporary shows.

The Czartorysky Family were some of the most influential art patrons and collectors over several generations.  Prince Wladyslaw's father the great diplomat, Adam Jerzy Czartoryski purchased one of Poland's most important national treasures – Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine, which he brought as a gift for his mother from Italy and can be viewed in the Museum.

We offer an optional guided tour of the Museum on day three.£25p/p. 

The Krakow National Museum Lady with Ermine

Dating back to the Middle Ages, this subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and chambers has morphed from an industrial plant at the heart of the Polish economy into a world-famous tourist attraction, event location, and a health resort. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

A fascinating feat of engineering and natural artistry, the Mines have attracted visitors for hundreds of years - the first 'visitor' was Renaissance-era mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

We offer an optional visit to the Mines on day two. £50p/p Minimum two people

You can read 10 fascinating facts about the mines in our blog found via the link below:

Salt Mines of Krakow


 

Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakos


 

As you stroll through the streets of Krakow, you can't help but notice the beautiful stained glass windows decorating churches, monuments, and many of the houses in the Old Town.
Krakow has been involved in the production of stained glass for many centuries, and at the heart of this craft and industry is the oldest functioning stained glass studio in Poland. 

Stained Glass Museum in Krakow

The traditions of the prestigious S. G. Zelenski Stained Glass Company continue in the Stained Glass Museum and Workshop.  Located in an impressive Art Nouveau building on Krasinski alley, built in 1906 to meet the needs of an efficient workplace, with large windows, high ceilings, and a special basement to accommodate a large kiln, it is now a unique “living museum” combining an active stained-glass workshop with exhibition space showcasing works by contemporary designers. 

Stained Glass Mueum and Workshop


On day three, you have the option to visit to the Museum for a guided tour and exclusive stained-glass workshop with skilled craftsmen. You will make your own small stained glass object to take home as a unique souvenir. All materials are provided.  

£59pp - minimum 2 people
 

Dome Church decoration Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2021

Before you book

50.0647, 19.945

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We'd love to hear from you

We look forward to arranging your future holiday, and with over twenty years of experience we are here to help with any questions you may have.

0800 298 0588

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