The organiser has confirmed the 2026 dates, hours and free entry. The layout and programme are not out yet, so the stalls, corners and Advent calendar on this page are last year's, from 2025, and show what to expect.
Gdańsk's Christmas stalls run along the Royal Route, from Targ Węglowy through the old city gates to the Long Market, and the Motława river is through one more gate. Walk it at noon for the stalls and again after dark; a stay of two nights covers both.
From the Upland Gate to the Motława, the route passes the Golden Gate, Długa and the Long Market, and leaves the Main Town by the Green Gate.
The main market square, inside the Upland Gate, has food and drink stalls and craft stands. Zbrojownia, the armoury on its edge, holds the makers' stalls. A cash machine stands at the corner of the square by Katownia, and last year an accessible toilet stood near the Targ Węglowy entrance.
Two streets off the main route carry their own stalls. Bogusławskiego holds the crafts and regional products zone, and last year Tkacka had a Kissing Gazebo in its own corner of the market.
The Royal Route passes through the Golden Gate and on down Długa, Long Street. Last year building work narrowed the gate passage; if it is still there, watch for other walkers.
Długa opens into Długi Targ, the Long Market, with Neptune's Fountain in front of Artus Court and the town hall tower above.
Through the Green Gate at the end of the Long Market, the Main Town meets the river. The medieval crane stands on the waterfront, lit after dark. Walk the embankment for a few minutes before you turn back.
The stalls open at noon, and a weekday lunchtime is the quietest the market gets. Eat first. By dusk the queues at the food stalls are long.
Try pierogi, a bowl of bigos or lángos, fried dough with sour cream and cheese. Give the market two to four hours on this first pass.
With the stalls shut until midday, spend the morning on the streets around them. Gdańsk's Christmas markets were first held in the 17th century around St Mary's Basilica, the brick church above Mariacka Street, and its tower can be climbed.
It is 410 steps to the top. Climb in your warmest layer, then come down Mariacka on your way to the market.
Be back on Targ Węglowy by four. The sun is down by about half past three in December, and by four the market lights are on and the evening crowd has not yet arrived.
Walk the route now, from the Upland Gate through the Golden Gate to the Long Market. The crowd builds after dark, and Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest of the week.
On those nights, book a restaurant table in the Main Town ahead. Tables fill, and going door to door for dinner can take a long time.
In 2025 the market held an Enchanted Advent Calendar every day at 18:00 from 1 December, at Santa's Corner. The corner had Santa's armchair and angels five metres tall.
Last year the weekdays had themes too, from Theatre Tuesdays to Musical Fridays. Check the market's programme page before you go, and if the calendar is back, be at Santa's Corner for six.
Order a mulled wine while you wait. Last year it came in a ceramic cup: you paid a deposit and got it back at the deposit point marked on the market map. Collector mugs were also on sale to keep, with no deposit.
SKM trains run into the evening; if you are staying in Sopot or Gdynia, check the last train before you settle in. On weeknights the stalls shut at 20:00, an hour earlier than at the weekend.
Last year the city's Christmas illuminations also lit Hevelius Square, the park on Zbytki Street and Oliwa Park, out of the centre. Go to them on a night when you want the lights without the stalls.
The SKM local trains that stop at Gdańsk Śródmieście also run up the coast to Sopot and Gdynia, the towns that make up the Tricity with Gdańsk. Trains are frequent.
Go in the morning and walk out along Sopot's pier in the winter light. Take the train back in time for dusk on Targ Węglowy.
Malbork Castle, on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is a day trip by train from Gdańsk. Take a morning train and you are back for the evening stalls.
The market closes for the year on Wednesday 23 December, on weekday hours until 20:00. It does not reopen after Christmas, so the final week is the last chance for gifts.
Długi Targ can be noisy late at night, so pick a street a little back from it. Stay in the Main Town or just outside, and you can walk to the stalls and back at any hour. The Gdańsk guide has the rest of the city.
Take the SKM local train to Gdańsk Śródmieście, the closest stop. Go through the tunnel towards Forum Gdańsk, walk straight along Wały Jagiellońskie and cross at street level by the Upland Gate.
For trams and buses, plan the trip in the jakdojade app to Targ Węglowy or the Brama Wyżynna stop, and track delays on the live ZTM map. The Main Town is easier on foot than by car.
December here sits around 0 to 4°C, and the wind off the Baltic makes it feel colder. Bring a warm, waterproof coat, gloves, a scarf, and flat boots for the wet cobbles.
Pay by card where you can, and keep some cash in your pocket: the smaller stalls may be cash only. Dogs are welcome if they cope with crowds and noise.
The cobbles are uneven in places, which is hard going with a wheelchair or a pushchair. The organiser can move the dates in exceptional circumstances, so check the market's site the week before you travel.
