Walking past a large Christmas tree, twinkling with lights in the main square, the clock of St Mary’s Basilica strikes the hour. A window opens in one of the tall towers and a trumpeter plays a tune. The air is bitterly cold and snow falls from the sky. Doorways and windows of restaurants and shops are beautifully decorated, with festive songs drifting out of the venues. A horse and carriage rides past and across the square and the Christmas Market is in full swing. The citrus and spice aromas of mulled wine drift from the market stalls and the sounds of laughter fill the air. A Christmas concert takes place on a stage under the Town Hall Tower, adding to the festive atmosphere. We’re visiting the Christmas Markets in Krakow with Jet2holidays, and spending a perfect winter weekend in the historic Polish city.
AD: This visit to Krakow was a press trip organised by Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, including flights, accommodation and expenses. As always, all views and opinions are my own.
Krakow is a popular destination packed full of stunning architecture, cultural and historic sites. The narrow streets of the Old Town are packed full of wonderful restaurants, cafes and bars making it a popular city break destination whatever the season. With the arrival of winter when the temperatures drop and the snow falls, the city becomes a magical winter wonderland that’s a joy to explore. Although there is so much to see, as a relatively compact city, a three night stay is the ideal length of time for a visit.
EXPLORING THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN KRAKOW
A December visit to a European city isn’t complete without a trip to a Christmas Market, and it’s quite possibly the main reason for choosing that destination. The Christmas Markets in Krakow are located in the main square, Rynek Główny. Running from the end of November, throughout December, the market takes up one half of the square, including a food and drink area, several rows of shopping market stalls and a large stage located under the Town Hall Tower, hosting a number of concerts and entertainment throughout the event. Throw in a couple of days of heavy snow and the scene turns very festive.
With numerous food and drink stalls, there are plenty of opportunities to sample a range of mulled wines (or Grzane Wino) alongside traditional Polish foods such as Pierogi and hearty soups. Grilled meats and sausage sit alongside traditional Oscypek smoked cheese from the nearby Zakopane region, with huge breads and cold meats also on offer. For sweet toothed visitors, chocolate, traditional gingerbread and Polish candy is widely available from the market stalls.
Grilled meats and sausage sit alongside traditional Oscypek smoked cheese from the nearby Zakopane region, with huge breads and cold meats also on offer. For sweet toothed visitors, chocolate, traditional gingerbread and Polish candy is widely available from the market stalls.
Away from the main food and drinks area, several rows of wooden market stalls in the shopping area sell Christmas decorations, ceramics, clothing, jewellery and souvenirs to name a few things. Surrounded by Christmas trees laden with snow, garlands twinkling above and carol singing concerts on the stage, the Christmas Markets in Krakow tick all the boxes for a European winter city break.
It’s not just Rynek Główny that turns festive for the Christmas period. All around the city, there are Christmas decorations and Christmas trees dotted around. Every year, a traditional Nativity Scene Contest takes place dating back to the 19th century. The Kraków szopka, or nativity scenes, are ornate structures that can be up to two metres high, normally using a popular landmark such at St. Mary’s Basilica as a backdrop. Wander around the Old Town, and you’ll see a number of the previous entrants on display in glass cases.
FURTHER READING – EXPLORING THE CITY OF KRAKOW IN WINTER
WHERE TO STAY IN KRAKOW
WYNDHAM GRAND KRAKOW OLD TOWN | Jet2holidays offer a huge range of options for accommodation when visiting the Christmas Markets in Krakow, meaning there is something to suit everyone. We opted for a hotel in the heart of the Old Town, to allow good access to the Christmas Markets in the evening, as well as a variety of drinking and dining options nearby. Our accommodation choice was the fabulous 5* WYNDHAM GRAND KRAKOW OLD TOWN (formerly the Hotel Unicus Palace), located on the popular Floriańska Street, only a short walk to Rynek Główny.
A luxurious and modern hotel, Wyndham Grand Krakow Old Town offers 60 rooms and suites across three storeys with Classic, Deluxe and Apartment options. Our Deluxe Room on the first floor was beautifully decorated with a comfortable queen bed, desk space with chair as well as two comfortable side chairs located at the bottom of the bed. With two large wardrobes which included bathrobes and slippers, there was plenty of clothes storage space.
A mini bar was located under a hot drinks station including a Nespresso machine and kettle. The decor was classic and elegant, with fabric headboards, chrome bedside lamps and thick velvet throws and curtains. The bathroom featured black stone effect floor and wall tiles, with an inset ceramic white sink, complimentary toiletries and hairdryer. A large walk in shower cubicle, with sliding glass door, was powerful and refreshing with a number of settings.
FOOD AND DRINK | The hotel features an in house dining room located within an atrium in the centre of the building, along with an Italian Restaurant – TRATTORIA DEGUSTI – both located on the ground floor. Breakfast is served in the main dining room – a spacious room with a bar and lounge area, alongside a number of dining tables spaced nicely. The breakfast offering was fantastic, with an extensive buffet of hot and cold items alongside a menu for made to order hot food, including many egg based dishes. The dining room also plays host to the Unique Taste Restaurant in the evenings, although this was not available during our visit.
We dined at the Trattoria Degusti one evening, to sample the in house dining offering. A modern Italian restaurant located on the ground floor looking out over the intersection of Florianska Street and Swietego Marka, a window table provides a great spot to watch the world go by during your meal. The menu features a wide range of pizza, pasta and main dishes. I opted for a fantastic bruschetta to start, followed by a mushroom tagliatelle dish and a couple of local beers. Total dinner bill for both of us, with starters, mains and a couple of drinks each was £42.00.
SPA | Rounding off the luxury hotel experience, Wyndham Grand Krakow Old Town features a fabulous spa area within the building basement. As well as the fantastic location of the hotel, the Spa was a really tempting selling point for us. After lots of walking and being outdoors in sub zero temperatures, a couple of hours in the Spa was well deserved and well needed. The spa features a fabulous pool located within the arches of the basement building, with a glass bridge crossing the pool to a number of relaxation areas. To one side, there is a hot tub located next to a sauna and steam room area. One treatment room is available, with a number of pre bookable massages and treatments. A couple of hours relaxing in the Spa was a great way to finish off an afternoon before getting ready to head out and explore again.
GETTING TO THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN KRAKOW
Getting to Krakow from the UK couldn’t be easier with Jet2. With non stop flights from five UK airports – Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Birmingham, there are plenty of options available. Our flights from Manchester departed early in the morning, with an evening return flight meaning we could enjoy much of both travelling days in the city. John Paul II Kraków-Balice International Airport is located approximately 15km from the city centre, with fabulous transport links including train, bus, taxi or a number of car hire options. We opted for a taxi, accessed directly outside the terminal building. The cost for a one way taxi works out to be about £22.00, and takes 25 minutes, traffic permitting.
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