Poland Christmas Markets & Culinary Traditions tour

Discover Poland’s Christmas markets on a private journey combining historic cities, local traditions and festive flavours. From Warsaw’s lively capital atmosphere and Gdańsk’s colourful streets to Wrocław’s fairytale setting and Kraków’s magnificent Main Market Square, each stop offers a different Christmas experience.

The itinerary includes a private 3-hour guided walking tour in each city, with evenings free to explore the Christmas markets at your own pace. Browse seasonal gifts, enjoy warming drinks and sample Polish specialities while taking in the festive surroundings.

Travel with your own private driver or take trains between the cities, with local transfers arranged as required. The route, duration, accommodation and sightseeing programme can all be tailored to your clients.

Exemplary program

Day 1 – Welcome to Warsaw: Christmas in Poland’s Capital

Arrival at Warsaw Chopin Airport and private transfer to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy your first encounter with Warsaw’s illuminated historic streets and festive market stalls. Try grzane wino (mulled wine) or grzane piwo (warm spiced beer), accompanied by pierogi or grilled Polish sausage. Overnight in Warsaw.

Warsaw offers a lively start to the journey. The Christmas market at Plac Defilad brings festive stalls, seasonal food and gift shopping to the heart of the capital, with the Palace of Culture and Science providing a distinctive backdrop. Combine your visit with an evening stroll through the city centre.

Day 2 – Warsaw: Royal History, Christmas Traditions & Famous Cakes

After breakfast, enjoy a private 3-hour guided walking tour of Warsaw’s historic Old Town, Castle Square, St. John’s Cathedral and the Royal Route. Learn about Wigilia, Poland’s Christmas Eve celebration, the tradition of sharing opłatek (Christmas wafer) and festive dishes such as barszcz with mushroom dumplings and pierogi with sauerkraut and mushrooms. Visit a traditional café to sample wuzetka (W-Z cake), a chocolate sponge cake with cream, or Zygmuntówka, a Warsaw speciality with meringue, cream and almonds. Enjoy the festive illuminations in the evening. Optional: Chopin piano concert, Polish Christmas food tasting or cooking workshop. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 3 – Warsaw to Gdańsk: A Baltic Christmas Wonderland

Travel north to Gdańsk by train or private vehicle. This historic Baltic port offers a different festive experience, with colourful merchant houses, amber traditions and an atmospheric Christmas market. Browse handmade ornaments, amber jewellery, gingerbread and seasonal treats. Warm up with mulled wine or hot chocolate. Discover the maritime character of the city and the flavours of northern Poland. Overnight in Gdańsk.

Gdańsk’s Christmas market combines a picturesque historic setting with imaginative decorations, handicrafts and a tempting choice of food. Its festive corners and colourful surroundings make it a particularly atmospheric place for an evening of browsing, tasting and Christmas shopping.

Day 4 – Gdańsk: Hanseatic Heritage, Amber & Baltic Flavours

Enjoy a private 3-hour guided walk along the Golden Gate, Long Street, Long Market, Neptune’s Fountain and the Motława waterfront. Learn about Gdańsk’s Hanseatic history and amber craftsmanship. For lunch or dinner, explore Pomeranian and Kashubian cuisine: Baltic herring, smoked fish, hearty soups and other regional specialities. Discover Goldwasser, the historic herbal liqueur with tiny gold flakes. Enjoy free time for cafés, museums and the Christmas market. Optional: regional dinner or amber workshop. Overnight in Gdańsk.

Day 5 – Gdańsk to Poznań: The City of St. Martin’s Croissants

Travel to Poznań. Enjoy a private 3-hour guided tour of the Old Market Square, Renaissance Town Hall exterior, merchants’ houses and Baroque Parish Church. Taste rogal świętomarciński, Poznań’s famous crescent-shaped pastry filled with white poppy seeds, nuts and dried fruit. Discover another local classic: roast duck with steamed yeast dumplings (pyzy) and red cabbage. In the evening, explore Betlejem Poznańskie, the city’s festive market. Optional: entertaining croissant-making demonstration at the Croissant Museum of Poznań, or a Greater Poland dinner. Overnight in Poznań.

Poznań’s festive celebrations, known as Betlejem Poznańskie, spread Christmas cheer across several locations. The Old Market Square offers a historic backdrop, while Plac Wolności adds a lively city-centre atmosphere. Seasonal stalls, lights and sweet treats make Poznań an enjoyable stop for both Christmas shopping and sampling local flavours.

Day 6 – Poznań to Wrocław: A Fairytale Christmas in Lower Silesia

Travel to Wrocław and enjoy a private 3-hour guided walk through the Market Square, Gothic Old Town Hall exterior and streets filled with the city’s famous dwarf statues. The Christmas market transforms the historic centre into a colourful winter village of decorated wooden chalets, handmade gifts and seasonal food. Sample Silesian dumplings (kluski śląskie), traditional roast dishes and makówki, a festive poppy-seed dessert with bread, nuts and dried fruit. Enjoy mulled wine or hot mead among the illuminations. Optional: Silesian dinner or gingerbread-decorating workshop. Overnight in Wrocław.

Wrocław’s Christmas market transforms the historic centre into a festive village of wooden chalets, colourful decorations and inviting food stalls. The Market Square and surrounding streets create a fairytale setting for browsing crafts, trying winter specialities and enjoying a mug of mulled wine.

Day 7 – Wrocław to Kraków: Christmas Traditions in Poland’s Royal City

Travel to Kraków and explore its atmospheric Main Market Square, with St. Mary’s Basilica and the historic Cloth Hall. Kraków’s Christmas market offers delicious Polish winter flavours: grilled oscypek, a smoked mountain cheese often served with cranberry sauce, pierogi, grilled sausages, gingerbread, poppy-seed cakes, mulled wine and mead. Learn about szopki krakowskie, Kraków’s colourful Christmas crib tradition recognised by UNESCO. Overnight in Kraków.

Set beside the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica, Kraków’s Christmas market offers a memorable finale to the journey. Traditional crafts, Christmas decorations and regional products reflect the city’s trading heritage. Its grand historic setting and emphasis on Polish traditions make it especially appealing to visitors discovering Christmas in Poland.

Day 8 – Kraków: Medieval Charm, Local Food & Christmas Magic

Enjoy a private 3-hour guided walking tour of the Old Town, Main Market Square, university quarter and Royal Route towards Wawel Hill, or explore the atmospheric Kazimierz district. Discover obwarzanek krakowski, Kraków’s iconic ring-shaped bread sold from street carts, with salt, sesame or poppy seeds. Enjoy pierogi, żurek (sour rye soup) or other regional dishes. Free time for festive shopping and cafés. Optional: interactive obwarzanek baking workshop, Christmas food tasting, festive cooking class, traditional Polish dinner or Wieliczka Salt Mine excursion (subject to available time). Overnight in Kraków.

Day 9 – Departure from Kraków

Breakfast, free time depending on the flight schedule and private transfer to Kraków Airport, or continuation of the tailor-made journey. End of the suggested itinerary.

Optional culinary & Christmas experiences

• Traditional Wigilia-inspired Christmas dinner: barszcz with mushroom dumplings, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, fish dishes and poppy-seed desserts

• St. Martin’s croissant demonstration and tasting in Poznań

• Obwarzanek baking workshop in Kraków

• Gingerbread-decorating or Christmas ornament workshop, subject to availability

• Regional tastings: Baltic fish, Greater Poland roast duck, Silesian specialities and mountain cheese

• Chopin concert in Warsaw or other local cultural experiences

Choose your preferred way to travel

Private vehicle with a driver
Enjoy the convenience of travelling with your own private driver/chauffeur. Vehicles can be selected according to the number of passengers, luggage and preferred comfort level, from a Volkswagen Passat to a Mercedes-Benz GLE, Vito or V-Class, or equivalent. This option allows flexible departure times and additional stops agreed in advance.

Travel by train
Take trains between Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław and Kraków, with first- or second-class tickets and local station transfers arranged as required. Private local guides meet you for the walking tours in each city. Connections and sightseeing times are selected around the travel dates.

A combination of both is also possible.

Extend your journey to Germany or Prague

The Polish itinerary can be combined with Christmas markets in neighbouring countries, particularly Germany and the Czech Republic.

Add Berlin for its choice of Christmas markets, including WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt, known for crafts, seasonal cuisine and an elegant architectural setting. Discover German Christmas markets with Bratwurst, Lebkuchen, Stollen, roasted chestnuts and Glühwein.

Alternatively, include Prague, where the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square offer festive stalls, Christmas lights and a striking historic backdrop. Explore illuminated Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, sampling roast ham, grilled sausages, medovina (mead), vánočka (traditional braided Christmas bread) and popular market pastry trdelník.

Both extensions are optional, with train or private vehicle arrangements.

International extensions can be arranged by private vehicle or rail. The order of cities and arrival or departure airports can be adjusted to create a convenient route.

A tailor-made Christmas tour for your clients

This 9-day itinerary is an example, not a fixed package. AB Poland Travel creates customised programmes for international tour operators, travel agencies and travel agents. We can adapt the route, duration (including shorter 5–6-day options), travel dates, hotel category, group size, transport mode, guiding language and optional activities. Extensions to Berlin, Prague or other destinations are possible.

Prices & Quotations

All tours are quoted individually. The final price depends on travel dates, number of participants, hotel standard, transport arrangements, selected destinations and services. Contact AB Poland Travel to request a tailor-made itinerary and quotation for your clients.