With over a thousand years worth of history behind it, Gdansk still stands as a beautiful Polish city nestled along the coast of the Baltic Sea. Its maritime heritage, medieval architecture, and modern vibrancy all blend together seamlessly to create one of Europe’s most underrated destinations. On top of having a unique history that draws in visitors from around the world every year, the Gdansk Christmas Market has also been named Europe’s Best Christmas Market 2025 – the first time a Polish city has claimed the crown.
The historic old town is turned into a Christmas wonderland, with chalets, rides, twinkling lights, and artisan stalls spread across Targ Węglowy and the surrounding streets. You’ll come across a mixture of food stalls here too, serving everything from sweet desserts to international dishes and Polish classics. If there’s one Christmas market in Europe you should visit, it has to be Gdansk.
- Gdansk Christmas Market dates 2025
- Best food at the Gdansk Christmas Market
- Where to stay in Gdansk old town
- Is Gdansk worth visiting in the Christmas period?
Gdansk Christmas Market dates 2025
The Gdansk Christmas Market runs from November 21st – December 23rd, 2025. Its typical opening hours are Sunday-Thursday from 12:00-20:00, and Friday and Saturday from 12:00-21:00. We arrived at the main square, Targ Węglowy, around 11:30 in the morning and some of the stalls had opened early. If you’re planning a trip to Gdansk on the weekend, expect larger crowds at the market compared to midweek. The evening is also much busier than during the day, so if you want to skip the queues at the food stalls you should arrive before the sun goes down.
While you’re wandering around the Gdansk Christmas Market, make sure you stop by the Visit Gdansk chalet. This is where you can find some great souvenirs and gifts to take home with you. We got a gift box that was filled with local honey, sweet treats, loose tea, and other local goods. You can also find clothing, Christmas mugs, and unique accessories at the Visit Gdansk chalet.
Best food at the Gdansk Christmas Market
Langos
One of the best things to eat at the Gdansk Christmas Market is langos. This Hungarian-style deep-fried dough is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – almost like a Beavertail in Canada. There are several versions of langos available, but we went for the classic one which is sour cream topped with cheese. For no extra cost, you can add a layer of garlic on the base too which makes it very tasty. There are a few stalls selling langos around the market, but for the freshest ones I’d suggest heading to the street called Tkacka, only a short walk from Targ Węglowy.
Price: 25 zl (with sour cream and cheese)
Pierogi
You can’t visit Poland without eating pierogi, and the Gdansk Christmas Market has some exceptional choices available. We found that many stalls sold pierogi in bundles of three and toppings like bacon and sour cream can be added for a small additional fee. The classic pierogi with cheese and potato is always a winner, but you may want to try other flavours like mushroom and cabbage or meat too. Since they’re small, they make the perfect snack to take on the go as you walk around the rest of the market. We ordered ours from a stall in Targ Węglowy.
Price: 10 zl for three pierogi
Potatoes in a cup
From the same stall selling pierogi, we also ordered a cup of potatoes. They’re freshly steamed and seasoned, meaning they’re loaded with flavour and fluffy on the inside. While there’s nothing overly special about these potatoes, they are very nice to snack on or share, and they’re a comforting reminder of Polish winter cuisine. Plus, they’re budget-friendly and quite filling if you’re pairing them with something else.
Price: 12 zl
Mulled wine
Even if you’re not a big fan of wine, like me, you should at least try a sip of mulled wine at the Gdansk Christmas Market. There are endless stalls selling mulled wine throughout the market, and all of the prices are the same. As well as classic mulled wine, what’s great about the stalls here is that there are other flavours available too, such as blueberry and raspberry mulled wine. There’s two sizes available, and you can buy a souvenir mug to take home with you as well. Having a cup of mulled wine is the perfect way to warm yourself up on a chilly winter’s day or evening.
If you opt to get your mulled wine in a mug instead of a paper cup, you’ll need to pay a deposit which is refunded to you when the mug is returned to the drop off chalet. Or, you can keep your mug as a souvenir.
Price: 22 zl small/25 zl large/54.90 zl for a souvenir mug
Christmas tree waffle
Waffles may be a common snack at Christmas markets, especially at the Brussels Christmas markets, but have you ever had one shaped like a Christmas tree? This waffle comes served on a stick and you can pay a little extra to have it covered in your favourite toppings, like Oreo pieces and pistachio sauce. It’s a good, affordable dessert option that won’t leave you feeling very full afterwards. It also adds a bit of fun to your tour of the Gdansk Christmas Market.
Price: 15 zl + extra for toppings
Stuffed cookie
If you’re not much of a waffle fan, you may be interested in stuffed cookies instead. These cookies are far from your average baked goods. They’re filled with gooey centres like chocolate, caramel, and Lotus, and they’re fairly chewy on the outside. What’s great about these cookies is that the stall has a microwave available for customers to use so you can warm up your cookie and eat it like it’s just come out of the oven. A cookie is also a good option to pair with a nice cup of hot chocolate on a cold day.
Price: 18 zl
Zapiekanka
A must-try food at any Christmas market in Poland is Zapiekanka. This Polish street food is a toasted open-face sandwich, usually made of a sliced baguette or similar local bread. The sliced bread is then topped with cheese and other items like mushrooms, sausage, and onions before being placed in an oven and baked until the cheese is nice and melted. Zapiekanka is an authentically Polish savoury snack that’s a big hit with market-goers in Gdansk. Don’t forget to add some sauce to your Zapiekanka too if you want the full experience.
Price: 22 zl for a small Chlopska (bacon, sausage, cheese, crispy onions)
Pasta bowl
There are a lot of great places to eat at the Gdansk Christmas Market, and while pasta may not be a traditional market-type food, it’s worth trying out if you’re feeling hungry. We ordered the carbonara after seeing the pasta being tossed inside a large cheese wheel – and it was delicious. The unique addition was some parsley sprinkled on top, which actually turned out to be very nice. You can also order other pasta dishes like alfredo if carbonara isn’t for you.
Price: 42 zl
Hot chocolate
When it comes to Christmas, nothing quite beats a nice cup of hot chocolate to warm you up. Almost every other stall at the Gdansk Christmas Market sells some type of hot chocolate, so you’ll have plenty of options.
The E. Wedel stall in Targ Węglowy is one that I’d highly recommend ordering from. This chocolate company was founded in Warsaw in 1851, and their hot chocolate is made using real melted chocolate instead of the powdered version. This means if you order a milk chocolate one, you’ll see them combining dark and white chocolate into your cup. The result? A rich, velvety hotel chocolate that’s equal to those from Geneva, Switzerland.
Price: 25 zl
Oscypek
And finally, you can’t leave Gdansk without taking a bite of oscypek. This smoked cheese is one of the most beloved foods in Polish cuisine. It’s made from sheep’s milk and traditionally crafted in the Tatra Mountains. At the Christmas market, you can order just a single piece to try that’s loaded with cranberry sauce. The combination of salty, smoked cheese and tart berries isn’t for everyone, but you should try it at least once during a trip to Poland. You can even have oscypek wrapped in bacon which is sure to enhance the flavour.
Price: 8 zl
Where to stay in Gdansk old town
If you want to stay close to the centre of the Old Town, but far enough away so your sleep isn’t interrupted by the noisy crowds, Noli Old Town Gdansk is the perfect option. We stayed in one of their studio apartments with a balcony, which had an ensuite bathroom, a fridge, storage space, and a small kitchen. They operate on a self-service check-in system, so you can arrive at any time of the evening and still have access to the building. The studio apartment is a good size for a couple of nights in Gdansk, and you’re only a 10 minute walk away from the main attractions in Gdansk Old Town which is a bonus.
Is Gdansk worth visiting in the Christmas period?
So, is Gdansk worth visiting during the Christmas period? Sure, it gets pretty cold in November and December, but as long as you come with the proper clothing you’ll have a fantastic time exploring the Gdansk Christmas Market. It’s a magical time of the year when the Old Town is transformed into an atmospheric wonderland, complete with chalets, delicious food, and unique gifts. It’s also the perfect time to pick up a Gdansk Tourist Card so you can visit some of the main attractions without the summer crowds.
If you have any questions about planning a trip to the Gdansk Christmas Market, or if you need any advice about where to stay, I’m always happy to help. You can get in touch via email or through the contact form on my website. Don’t forget to follow along with my travels on Instagram and TikTok too, where you’ll come across more travel tips to help you plan your next trip.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission from the discount codes used or when a link/ad is clicked. All purchases made will come at no extra cost to you, and I only include products and services that I would personally recommend.
Pin this blog post for later!
