Gdansk Christmas Market
Frequently asked questions about Gdansk Christmas market
Where is Gdansk exactly?
We know. We get it. Polish geography may not be everyone’s strong point so if you’re considering visiting the Gdansk Christmas market this year then it’s a good idea to know where Gdansk actually is.
Gdansk is in the north of Poland, on the Baltic coast. It is a short distance away from two other interesting coastal towns, Sopot and Gdynia, both of which are well worth exploring.
Flights to Gdansk from the UK take just under two hours and a little longer flying back. To put that into some context, a train ride from Manchester to Birmingham is only about 25 minutes shorter!
There are a number of UK airports which fly direct to Gdansk. Conveniently, Gdansk has it’s own international airport which is only a 25 minute car journey from the city centre.
All of these factors make a Gdansk Christmas break very appealing. It is great value for money compared to other Xmas break weekends, it’s around a two hour flight away and Gdansk and the area are beautiful and full of history!
Where in Gdansk is the Gdansk Christmas market held?
The Gdansk Christmas market is held at Targ Węglowy, which is just outside Gdansk’s most famous street, Ulica Długa.
Targ Węglowy is an ideal spot to hold the Christmas market in Gdansk as it’s a large open area right in the old town of the city. Unlike, Krakow, Gdansk does not have a large square for large scale events so Targ Węglowy is perfect.
The Xmas market in Gdansk is only an eight minute walk to Gdansk train station so connections are easy if you are staying outside of the city centre.
Is Gdansk Christmas market better than Krakow Christmas market?
It’s very difficult to say. Krakow’s market is bigger and the location itself is right in the heart of Krakow’s stunning medieval square. Gdansk, on the other hand have their Christmas market just outside the beautiful Ulica Długa.
The Gdansk Christmas market does have some significant advantages though.
The beautiful old town of Gdansk is just a minute or two walk from the market and from here it will lead you to Gdansk’s glorious waterfront lined with restaurants, bars and shops.
Gdansk is also part of the Tri-City area meaning that the seaside towns of Gdynia and Sopot are within easy reach by public transport or even taxi.
Will it snow in Gdansk at Christmas?
Snow in Gdansk at Christmas is not guaranteed. The weather in Gdansk in November and December are normally the rainiest months in the weather calendar but temperatures can often be bitterly cold and so there is always a good chance of snow.
Whilst Krakow is close to the foothills of the mountains in Poland, Gdansk is at the opposite end of the country so there is more chance of snow in Krakow at Christmas than in Gdansk.
However, when it does snow in Gdansk (and it does quite often) then you have the added pleasures of walking along a snow covered beach, discovering a frozen sea or going for a stroll through a snowy, pine forest. Gdansk and the surrounding area is much more naturally beautiful than Krakow and perfect for a weekend Christmas break.
What is worth seeing at Gdansk Christmas market ?
Gdansk is an ideal location to experience a Christmas market. The location of the market itself is right next to the historic centre of Gdansk, an utterly charming area which gently nudges you towards the stunning waterfront. This makes Gdansk unique amongst other Xmas market locations in Europe.
Amber jewellery from the “amber capital of the world”
If you travel to other parts of Poland or even other parts of central and northern Europe you are likely to find amber jewellery being sold however, most of the world’s amber (about 85%) actually comes from the Baltic sea. This means that when you find amber being sold at the Christmas market in Gdansk you can be confident this was likely sourced locally and not imported from China or some other faraway places
You can even go amber hunting yourself along the coast in Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia. The best time to find amber is right after a storm.
Meat, meat and more Polish meat
One thing that you cannot fail to miss when visiting the Gdansk Christmas market is the aroma of a selection of meats being cooked or grilled. It’s a smell that really gets the tastebuds going and is a signature scent for Polish Christmas markets.
Polish “kiełbasa” is a juicy meat sausage that is seasoned with different herbs and spices. It makes an ideal meat for grilling and is often served with onions.
Another popular meat you will find being served at the Gdansk market is the “golonka” which is the Polish version of a pork knuckle/ham shank/ham hock. It is usually baked for hours, often in beer and then glazed with honey. The end product is a deliciously tender meat encased in a crisp exterior and is utterly delightful.
Christmas baubles
Back home in the UK, whenever you spot an ornately decorated Christmas glass bauble then there is a good chance it was produced entirely in Poland.
Poland still has a proud tradition of creating mouth blown glass baubles which are then decorated by hand. They make a perfect Christmas souvenir of your time in Gdansk.
Alcohol at Gdansk Xmas market!
Well……where do we begin?
A Christmas market would not be complete without the opportunity to indulge and sample some drinks that you may not necessarily try back home and so Gdansk is no exception to this.
Mulled wines are normally associated with Christmas markets but Poland takes it to another level.
Mead (an alcohol based drink made from honey) is still drunk in Poland quite extensively and during the colder months it is often served warm with a variety of spices added-it really is delicious.
Or how about trying mulled beer. When beer is heated up iot can become extremely bitter so honey is added to sweeten it, cloves are thrown in along with other spices and the end result is something very nice indeed!
The Gdansk Christmas market is right next to all of the bars from the Old Town and waterfront so even if you can’t find what you’re looking for at the market then walk a few minutes and you will be spoilt for choice!
The Gdansk Xmas market dates have now been set so start looking for cheap flights and make your bookings now!
